Dilemma - Jazz Bass or Warwick $$

If you’re going the Jazz Bass route consider buying a Squier and putting a Warmoth neck on it. It will save you money over a Fender. Be aware though that you will have to rout a truss rod access channel on the body.

 

I own both a Warwick $$ and various Jazz basses over the years. To me, the smaller warwick body is my favorite out of may be all instrument shapes. When standing with the warwick there's a bit more of a reach to the 1st fret then on a Jazz bass which I've heard people complain about, but doesn't bother me.

For tone my Jazz bass and Warwick are running on modded active preamp systems so tone is relatively comparable; I can get everything I need out of both. In terms of being more "mellow" I would give the nod to the Jazz (front pickup solo'd, tone rolled off, finger style close to the neck) for that more classic reggae sound.

For equal money I take the Warwick assuming it's a swamp ash model and comes in around 9lbs or less. However you can get a lot more Jazz bass for a lot less money so it's not so simple...

 

I’ll post mine later. It turned out great, although the Lindy Fralin pickups that were given to me didn’t hurt! I love Warmoth necks and currently have 2: a Wenge and a roasted maple. If you want a Warwick vibe on a Jazz bass consider a Wenge neck.

I’ve owned a Warwick $$ five string. They’re quite versatile but can be pricey.

 

Weight is the primary reason. I guess if there was an 8lb bubinga Warwick I would jump on it. In my experience they tend to be more around the 10lb mark. Personally I believe weight is significantly more important then whatever the effect of the tone wood is (especially on an active bass).

 

If you want "mellow" I'm not sure the Warwick Double Buck is going to give you that tone. That said, nothing else sounds like a Warwick, and they're great basses. So, if that's the sound you want, you can't get it anywhere else.

 

Having a Warwick Corvette STD 5 string I’ve not had an issue of getting it “Mellow” when needed, and I use round wounds. Also, having a Warwick 5 string, I’m having a hard time figuring out what you find objectionable about a Fender neck…LOL!!!

Seriously, I just read you preference of a chunkier neck. Seems like a lot of trouble to replace a neck, but if that’s the voice you are looking for and it would be lighter.

 

There's your answer. You can bring the tone to where you want to but fiddling with swapping necks and all that isn't worth it if electronics can get you there.

 

Yep, that is a thing with every Warwick. That wenge/bubinga/ovangkol sound and feel lovely but you can also use your bass as a weapon to murder someone if need be. They're heavy...

 

I'd go for the Warwick! I love their neck profile and the overall build quality is in a completely different league. Better woods too.

The classic Warwick tone is one of the various Thumb models, but I know that the $$ sounds good and shouldn't disappoint. Make certain to get one with active electronics and you'll be able to dial in a wide range of tones.

 

Another vote for the $$ here. I sold my Ibby 4 string after playing the neck on mine. It's easy to get mellow tones out of it. I agree that the ash body is a good idea for light weight--with an ash body the neck wood influences the tone most--maybe a little mellower with Ovankol vs. Wenge.

 

I suppose any bass with tons of upper harmonics like a Warwick or StingRay can be played gently and sound more pretty than aggro.

I’d be curious about the richness/up-front-ness of the harmonics of a regular JJ Corvette vs a $$, and would be inclined to expect more out of the JJ, and obviously even more than that with a JJ Thumb.

For “Inherently Gentle” however, I would go for a RW Jazz. I lack self control and a Warwick always coaxes me into any form of digging far deeper into the strings than I intend to at the beginning of any song.

 

Warwick. All day, every day.