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Any modded Warwicks out there?
- Thread starter zackthompson
- Start date
I did a few mods to my fortress. Made it a double buck with a Delano and Bartolini MM pickup (instead of the original MEC PJ) and swapped the MEC preamp for a John East EQ-02. The scratch plate is a self-made Willis ramp concept. My next Warwick mod is the 97' Streamer Pro-M. Just changing the preamp to an Audere and slanted Delano J's instead of the split J along with another ramp.
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Sacrilige!!!!!!
Heresy!!!!!!!
All kidding aside now.
Why would anyone mod a Warwick a Rockbass sure but, a Wick?
Wicks already got that famous tone why change it unless you add more MEC pups or swap out another MEC pre for another.
I love the growl of a Wick and can't help but, cringe whenever I hear people modding it like swaping electronics or pickups or even coloring them in weird color schemes other than factory finishes. However it isn't mine so I have no rights or say in the matter so I say do as you please.
Heresy!!!!!!!
All kidding aside now.
Why would anyone mod a Warwick a Rockbass sure but, a Wick?
Wicks already got that famous tone why change it unless you add more MEC pups or swap out another MEC pre for another.
I love the growl of a Wick and can't help but, cringe whenever I hear people modding it like swaping electronics or pickups or even coloring them in weird color schemes other than factory finishes. However it isn't mine so I have no rights or say in the matter so I say do as you please.
I won a 3 band Glockenklang onboard preamp on facebook so I'll install it in my stage 2 soon & see how it compares to the stock MEC.
Results to follow soon.
Results to follow soon.
Unrepresented
Something Borderline Offensive
I swapped out the MEC pickups on my Corvette $$ for Basslines. IME it shifted the high end to a much more useable frequency range. Love the bass now.
Also added a D-tuner on the E string.
Also added a D-tuner on the E string.
Only mod I've done to my Thumb is replace a broken JAN II with a bone nut.
Much happier with the Bone Nut.
Considering a Refret. This bass has always had a flat profile fret. I'm not opposed to a more traditional material to the bell brass,...but I really want a more rounded profile. My bass has always seemed kinda dull sounding (12 years of ownership) so I think a refret will give it some new life.
Much happier with the Bone Nut.
Considering a Refret. This bass has always had a flat profile fret. I'm not opposed to a more traditional material to the bell brass,...but I really want a more rounded profile. My bass has always seemed kinda dull sounding (12 years of ownership) so I think a refret will give it some new life.
I previously had a 6 string Corvette that I installed Nordstrand Big Singles with an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp. That bass had an INSANE amount of output after that modification, but for some reason, I lost some highs. Never could understand why, and needless to say, I was a bit disappointed at the loss of highs.
I also had a BO Thumb 6 that the previous owner had installed Nordstrand Fatstacks with a John East U-Retro preamp. It was pretty good, I must say. However, the U-Retro preamp is a bit on the warmer side. AND, since this particular Thumb had a Wenge neck with Wenge fingerboard, it was a bit too warm for me with that U-Retro. I then installed an Aguilar OBP-3 on it which made it a bit more transparent. I then ended up taking out the Nordstrand Fatstacks and installing a brand new pair of custom-wound Bartolini pickups made exclusively for Roscoe basses, thinking that I would get a pretty neat Roscoe/Warwick hybrid sound. HOWEVER, not to my surprise, the bass did not really sound any different than it did with the Fatstacks, other than it had less output with the Bartolinis than it did with the Fatstacks.
I currently have a Thumb NT 6 that I'm planning on installing Nordstrand Big Singles but with an EMG 3-band preamp with sweepable mids. I'm hoping I won't lose highs this time. We'll see how that goes. If I don't like it, I will either install an Audere 4-band preamp or go back to the way it was.
I also have another Corvette 6 that I kept the stock MEC pickups but swapped the 2-band preamp with an MEC 3-band equalizer preamp that I took out of my Thumb NT 6. Now this Corvette absolutely KILLS!!
However, one of the easiest mods is the strings. I've always strung all of my Warwicks with D'Addario ProSteels. IMO, they really bring out that Warwick growl and that tasty mids crunch.
I also had a BO Thumb 6 that the previous owner had installed Nordstrand Fatstacks with a John East U-Retro preamp. It was pretty good, I must say. However, the U-Retro preamp is a bit on the warmer side. AND, since this particular Thumb had a Wenge neck with Wenge fingerboard, it was a bit too warm for me with that U-Retro. I then installed an Aguilar OBP-3 on it which made it a bit more transparent. I then ended up taking out the Nordstrand Fatstacks and installing a brand new pair of custom-wound Bartolini pickups made exclusively for Roscoe basses, thinking that I would get a pretty neat Roscoe/Warwick hybrid sound. HOWEVER, not to my surprise, the bass did not really sound any different than it did with the Fatstacks, other than it had less output with the Bartolinis than it did with the Fatstacks.
I currently have a Thumb NT 6 that I'm planning on installing Nordstrand Big Singles but with an EMG 3-band preamp with sweepable mids. I'm hoping I won't lose highs this time. We'll see how that goes. If I don't like it, I will either install an Audere 4-band preamp or go back to the way it was.
I also have another Corvette 6 that I kept the stock MEC pickups but swapped the 2-band preamp with an MEC 3-band equalizer preamp that I took out of my Thumb NT 6. Now this Corvette absolutely KILLS!!
However, one of the easiest mods is the strings. I've always strung all of my Warwicks with D'Addario ProSteels. IMO, they really bring out that Warwick growl and that tasty mids crunch.
I modded my Warwick corvette std ash. It as the original nirvana black but the back was sanded off :rollseyes: , knobs were crappy, neck was bowed forward like a banana and the neck was coated in nail polish. I sanded it down to natural finish and tung oiled it nice nice, got the neck reasonably straight but still a tad high and replaced the knobs with some abalone inlay knobs. She's a beauty. And tone out the pooper.
Also figured you would like these
Also figured you would like these
I recently modded my Streamer Jazzman with new electronics. Delano pickups and Audere 4 band preamp. They really brought out the best in this bass. I knew the MEC preamp wasn't the best, but I didn't realize how close to useless it was.
I've been looking into the Audere 4 band pre for a while now. Was really interested in it's low mid & high mid section. I'm glad to hear someone likes that combo of pickups and preamp because I'm going in that same direction. I just got a streamer pro M and wanted to swap for delano+audere 4band. The whole two separate MEC preamp thing seemed cool but to me it's pretty unnoticeable. The John East EQ-02 is great for honing in on mid freqs but is very sensitive so tweaking it live is a pain.
I have replaced the MEC electronics with EMG on my Buzzard and added LED's to the bass as well.
In my opinion the EMG pickups were a significant improvement, but may be changed to Bartolini later.
In my opinion the EMG pickups were a significant improvement, but may be changed to Bartolini later.
I played a thumb neckthru 4 (1998?) for a while that was gutted and modded passive with Barts. Simple Vol/Vol setup. Great bass-sold it on here for way less than what is was worth.....
I had a Warwick Streamer LX for a very long time and always found the sound sterile and boring. Ripped out the MEC pups and pre, put some nordies in and it sound SO much better.
I had a Thumb NT with Joe Barden pups and an Audere 4-band for a long time. Really liked that preamp, as the full range of adjustment was usable, and the z-modes were surprisingly cool as well.
Planet Boulder
Hey, this is a private residence...man
- Nov 10, 2001
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- I once had impure thoughts. Oh, and I pluck my ear hair.
I have two 90s 'Wicks and I've swapped out the pickups (and pre on the Fortress) on both for Barts. I've never cared for MEC electronics at all, to be honest, and I am a Bartolini fan, so the swap was logical for me.
Sounds like this is right up my alley! If I don't like the Nordstrand Big Singles/EMG preamp combination, then I think I will go the Delano dual-coil humbuckers w/ Audere 3ZB 4-band preamp route. THEN, if I'm not happy with that, well.... then I guess I'll just go play a P-bass the rest of my life as punishment.
I've been considering gutting the Preamp out of my Thumb BO and finding some hot passive pickups for it.
Or,...replacing the pickups and moving to a 3 Band Preamp Ala like the Thumb NTs.
Or,...replacing the pickups and moving to a 3 Band Preamp Ala like the Thumb NTs.
