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Bolt on or Neck through Warwick

#21
The neck heel is sufficiently different on NT and bolt-on that even with the same profile, I got a different impression picking one of each up and playing it.

For me, the Thumb 5 is very "Warwick" in NT format, and not so strong in bolt-on format.

I'd go after a streamer LX or (if possible) fortress over a Thumb BO, but I'd usually take a Thumb NT over any of them.
 
#22
humpy thumb said:
It's not possible. Warwick invests millions on state of the art CNC machines that deliver consistency to within 1 100th of a millimeter. Any difference in neck profile are so tiny it's not detectable by the human hand. Even back in the day, when they were all 100% hand made, any difference just isnt enough to be felt.
Now saying that, I too have "felt" some difference, & I put it down to feel, rather than any measurable difference in profile.
Also human hands change, even during the day. Hands are usually more swollen in the morning. Maybe from retaining fluid overnight, I dunno. If you'r hands & fingers are a little fatter on one particular hour or day, it's possible that things like guitar necks will feel different, to other times, or days.
This subject has driven me to distraction in the past, & the only measurable thing I can count on, is the neck profiles. I've gone as far as to get someone at the factory, to go around & check these things for me.Bugger me, the profiles are the bloody same!!:eyebrow::help:
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I don't see how a neck being cut on a CNC machine rules out any possibility of differences in feel when you consider any post-cutting sanding that may take place. I spent enough time with both the BOs (three of them) and the NT to know that I wasn't imagining the difference that I felt. As far as hand-made basses are concerned, I can absolutely tell the difference between the two necks on my MTD 535s that were made years apart. Mike Tobias himself told me that each batch of necks that he makes is subject to minor differences that he expects may be noticeable to a player.
 
#23
CNC machined necks are the same, day after day after day. Sanding isnt going to change anything, other than to smooth it all out.I didnt say they arent going to feel differently. On the contrary. Take a close look at your Warwick necks & you can see the marks left by the CNC machine. That will display to you how little wood is removed during sanding.
I'm actually agreeing with you about the difference in feel between some basses. But I can tell you, without any shadow of a doubt, that there is no difference in neck profile, between BO & NT Warwick basses, unless they're from different era's.
I cant speak for MTD necks.But I expect there are differences in his necks, if they're hand carved & have a compound radius.
 
#26
David1234 said:
The neck heel is sufficiently different on NT and bolt-on that even with the same profile, I got a different impression picking one of each up and playing it.

For me, the Thumb 5 is very "Warwick" in NT format, and not so strong in bolt-on format.
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This was my impression as well. My BO was a 2005 and the NT is a 2002, technically the same period. The feel was definitely chunkier on the BO, especially closer to the heel as you indicated. Note that my BO was a 1 piece ovankol and my NT is 5 piece, however, so I have to believe the differences in neck construction alone can cause discrepancies. I will say that I prefer the look of ovankol, however. I like the darker brown wood vs. lighter orangy brown of bubinga.
 

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#27
pjmuck said:
This was my impression as well. My BO was a 2005 and the NT is a 2002, technically the same period. The feel was definitely chunkier on the BO, especially closer to the heel as you indicated. Note that my BO was a 1 piece ovankol and my NT is 5 piece, however, so I have to believe the differences in neck construction alone can cause discrepancies. I will say that I prefer the look of ovankol, however. I like the darker brown wood vs. lighter orangy brown of bubinga.
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Warwick have never made a 1 piece neck. They're all multi laminated.;)
NT Thumbs have ekanga veneers between the neck laminates, while BO's dont.
 
#28
*insertcoolname said:
I own both models. Currently I'm trying to sell the BO. Realistically they're both 95% the same tonally, but I find the NT has better lows and a more natural resonance. This is most noticeable when unplugged, as I feel the NT's vibrations a lot stronger than the BO. Either way you're getting one sick bass.
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Well I am in the market for one, if you could send me some pictures I am intrested.
 
#29
pjmuck said:
...The neck was incredibly lively, however, and the responsiveness was incredible. Notes just jumped off the fretboard almost instantaneously from the moment you plucked a note. For a guy used to the lag time of a P bass, for example, this was quite a shock, but I got used to it. I'm not a tapper, but pulling off two hand tapping parts is a breeze on these basses...
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+1 - Completely agree re: my Thumb BO 6. I couldn't believe how lively the instrument played. I felt that I could transition so quickly between plucking, slapping, tapping & harmonics. Tapping is really cool on this bass.
 
#30
IMO, the reason these 'neck through versus bolt on' thread replies are always so inconsistent (i.e., some feel neck through have more punch, some more sustain, others feel the same way about bolt-ons within the same line of basses) is that IMO and IME it doesn't matter.

Differences in wood, strings, weight, and player technique will for the most part overwhelm any very subtle differences that might exist between a neck through bass and a high quality bolt on with a tight neck pocket and secure bolting.

I would NEVER choose a neck through if I have the option for a bolt-on in the same bass design. IMO.. throwing money away. I guess the only reason to choose heck through if bolt-on was available would have to do with the feel of the bolt-on versus neck through 'heel' if you play way up the neck regularly. For the most part, even that isn't an advantage for neck through any more.

IMO and LOTS of IME.
 
#31
why is it the top models,ie.,Fodera,Warwick Dolphin,Ken Smith,Spector,Alembic sell primarily NT's when it would be easier to just sell BO's? Is extended frets and accessibity to the upper registers the only reason? Mere ergonomics?

I also have a hard time understanding how a NT can have better sustain yet be compressed as someone said. Aren't these mutually inclusive qualities? Greater sustain=greater sensitivity=increased dynamics would be the implied reasoning for me.
One of my favorite basses were the old Boire NT Dolphins. These are compressed and don't slap good? Snappy as all get out but somehow compressed?
i can hear how a strat is compressed compared to a Tele but not a NT to a BO. Anyone else?
 
#37
humpy thumb said:
The NT will have a longer sustain, more present harmonics.
BO will have a different attack.
Both have that classic Thumb bass bark & growl.
The best thing to do, is try them both.
I owned the Thumb NT5 a few years, loved it, but it helped me realise I'm only truely happy on a 4 string. After trying out a Thumb BO4, I realised which I personally, would've preferred.

RE. neck profiles.
All neck profile are the same. It's the year of manufacture that sets them apart. Not NT V's BO.
pre 98 necks are C (slim) profile.
98 to 09 necks are U (fat) profile.
09 - C (slim) profile, & extra slim offered as a custom shop option.
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I have a '99 Thumb BO and it has a wonderful thin neck!! Can my bass be a left over from the '98 production run?
 
#38
It's amazing how the TC asked about Warwick and all of us ended up speaking of the Thumb.
I have a $$ 5er and a Thumb 6er fretless, and both of them are BO. I had to choose between NT and BO when I decided to buy my Thumb; I came down to these two equations:
- Fretted = NT;
- Fretless = BO:
Of course, it's a matter of tastes.
 

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