Bart MK-1s are single split coil with soap bar covers, the Bart MK-2s are dual-coil.
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I have 2 Ibanez basses, both under 1k, and they are amazing. They stand up very well against basses I have that cost me $2000 or more...
I've had a couple of Warwicks, one German, one Korean. Both were excellent, but as far as bang-for-your-buck, the German Warwicks shot up so high in price for new basses that they didn't seem worth it to me. I'd love the Steve Bailey 6, or the Jack Bruce CRB, but for 7 grand or more, they are pipe dreams.
I've had a couple of Warwicks, one German, one Korean. Both were excellent, but as far as bang-for-your-buck, the German Warwicks shot up so high in price for new basses that they didn't seem worth it to me. I'd love the Steve Bailey 6, or the Jack Bruce CRB, but for 7 grand or more, they are pipe dreams.
I stand corrected. Thank you.Bart MK-1s are single split coil with soap bar covers, the Bart MK-2s are dual-coil.
This is wisdom. ^^^^^^
I'll give you an example that you can relate to as a guitar player:
My son wanted to take up guitar, and told me he was going to go buy one of those cheap Epiphones because he wanted a "Les Paul Style" guitar. (the $150 bolt-neck ones) Now, they can feel decent if set up properly, but the sound is pretty "meh." I'm NOT a guitar player, but I can noodle a little, and I know a decent neck, setup, sound, etc. He's into metal, and I've been a metal guy for... well, since metal began.
So, I told him to hold off and I would find something... which I did... a Schecter Hellraiser Solo 6. Why that one? EMGs, Set-neck, 24 fret, string through, great feel, looks ALMOST like a Les Paul, (except a curly maple top and full abalone binding, and a SLIGHT difference on the upper side where the body joins the neck) and less $ than a used set-neck Epiphone that didn't sound nearly as good (from a metal perspective.)
The key there is sound, although the look was important TO HIM. That guitar has the sound that he wanted. (With the proper amp of course)! It is a quality instrument, even though it doesn't have "the name."
You really need to know what sound you are looking for, unless you are planning to modify what you buy. (And in some cases that won't even work... if you want something that sounds like a Rickenbacker, better buy a Rickenbacker!) Find some bands or players that have the bass sound you want, and see what they are playing. Want to sound like Steve Harris? Buy a P-bass. Geddy Lee? Which song? Probably want that Rickenbacker. (Not for $1000 though, ain't gonna find a decent one!) Chris Squire? Rickenbacker again. Eddie Jackson? Get a Spector. Jaco? Probably want a Jazz bass.
You should first find the tone you're looking for.
What kind of songs makes you say "oh, nice bass" ? Then try to find the instruments used.
What kind of songs makes you say "oh, nice bass" ? Then try to find the instruments used.
When I first picked up an Ibanez SR500 at GC and tried it out on a Mesa head with 2- 4x10 Mesa cabs, 8 stack, I was blown away of how active the Bass sounded, at first I thought Bart MK-1 pickups were active double humbuckers, then my jaw dropped when I read about the SR500 and it having just passive split single coil pickups and just the 3-band EQ was active with only 1 - 9volt batt. It is a very active , warm and punchy sounding Bass.
So I'm a guitar player looking to pick up a bass. I'm happy with my guitars and have little desire to get another. I would like a solid bass to play around with and record.
I'm basically choosing completely on aesthetics as I know zero about basses. I'm leaning towards buying new as I just don't feel as comfortable with used basses as I do with guitars.
I like the looks of Ibanez and Warwick basses. I have no preference for pickups, scale lengths, etc as I have never really played bass. I know ibanez budget guitars are always good so I bet their basses are too. I don't know anything about Warwick other than I like the body shapes. I feel like I want a 4 string as jumping right into anything higher could be a big mistake. Maybe not but given my current level a five/sixer seems like a bad idea.
I bet this thread is made all the time. Sorry bass players
Ibanez and Warwick are two different levels of brands. For $1000 you can get a high-middle range Ibanez or budget Warwick.
Ibanez basses are usually light, have small bodies, and fairly thin necks. You could get almost any of the high end SR series basses or the intro Premium SR1200 bass.
Now, I'm a little bit of a Warwick fan boy, so I'm not knocking them, but I'm a snob at the same time. Their higher end German models are the ones I'm most interested in. I owned a German Corvette $$ for about a year, and the body design left a lot to be desired. It has an odd center of gravity that just never felt comfortable. The 5 string wenge neck felt great to the touch, but the shape was a little difficult for someone with smaller hands like me to deal with. I would almost say you are better off going down to the Rockbass Streamer body basses than the Asian made Corvette with jazz style pickups.
Tone wise, that's totally a matter of personal taste.
You really need to play them, even if just a few minutes. The necks are different, and depending on your personal ergonomics (everyone's different), one or the other may be totally inappropriate for you.
I have always found Ibbys to be one of the best dollar values out there. I haven't had much experience with Warwicks lower end stuff, but I've always said that I'll put a $500 Ibby up against a $1,000 bass by almost every other company any day of the week
Dunno if it's been said as I didn't look through all 4 pages, but you should really just go to the guitar shop and try out all the basses. $1,000 can buy you a really nice bass. Just because you like the looks of an ibanez and a warwick doens't mean that you'll love the way the feel or sound. I started off playing bass with ibanez's in my teens cause all the metal bands i listened to played them. Then I played a Fender and later a Stingray and realized don't like Ibanez's at all. So, in the end I wasted about $2,000 on some basses the have terrible resale value.
For never playing bass before, check out Ibanez. The Warwicks always felt a bit too chunky in my hands.
I guess I'll be the guy who chimes in with this(unless I missed it already in the thread):
Get a pbass.
If you're getting this bass for recording, and you don't know much about basses, pickup configurations, etc etc., then do yourself a favor and get some kind of Pbass(Fender, G&L, Lakland, ESP, etc. etc.). You simply can not go wrong with a P for recording--it's like ground zero for recorded bass tone. It's a decent P, you'll have to go out of your way to make it sound bad in a track. If you like thinner necks, get one with a Jazz-style neck.
Get a pbass.
If you're getting this bass for recording, and you don't know much about basses, pickup configurations, etc etc., then do yourself a favor and get some kind of Pbass(Fender, G&L, Lakland, ESP, etc. etc.). You simply can not go wrong with a P for recording--it's like ground zero for recorded bass tone. It's a decent P, you'll have to go out of your way to make it sound bad in a track. If you like thinner necks, get one with a Jazz-style neck.
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I would suggest narrow string spacing since you're accustomed to guitar. I don't think brand matters in your case.
Not having read all of the replies, here's my advice: Either get a used Warwick Corvette (German), or a new Ibanez SR. The Corvette Standard is a very solid and well-constructed instrument. They're very reliable, and the German-made ones hold their used value pretty well. The Ibanez SR series with the new Nordstrand pickups, however, will get you much better tonal options, and they play like butter, and sound twice as nice The ones that sell for around $800 - $1000 are very very nice basses. That said, they do not hold their value as well as a Warwick, so you will lose more money if you do decide to sell it later.
The ones that sell for around $800 - $1000 are very very nice basses. That said, they do not hold their value as well as a Warwick, so you will lose more money if you do decide to sell it later.
if you just want to noodle around and record you need a Precision bass. Mexican Fender should do nicely.
I'm new to bass as well and found myself in a similar predicament. When I decided to buy a bass and amp I went into a local music store and upon being asked "can I help you" I was just straight out with it - "I'm here to buy a bass and amp". I ended up getting (I found this out much later) a sweet deal on a cobalt blue SR700 Ibanez and a Peavey Max 112 amp ($800), and I like the SR700, but after several months of playing with my instructor (who plays on a Mexican Fender Jazz), I've found that I really don't care for the tone of the SR700 as much as I do a Fender Jazz bass.
My point here is that several people have already stated the obvious - go out and try different basses.
My point here is that several people have already stated the obvious - go out and try different basses.
You need to try both brands out if you can because neck profiles are night and day with these models.
I had a Warwick Rockbass Corvette (what you'd get for under $1000 new), a Warwick Streamer Pro M (German, approx $1600 new at the time). I sold both for an Ibanez ATK (new, approx. $700) and it completely rips. Definitely 10x better sound, feel, everything than the Rockbass IMO and I would say it's not better or worse than the Warwick Pro M MIG model, but different.
TL;DR If you can afford a premium ATK or higher-end SR, I'd say to get it over a Rockbass Warwick. Just my opinion but a lot of people here are going to say the Warwick based on their ownership of a $4k model, not because they gigged a Rockbass and it didn't cut it. I have owned and played in bands with all 3. Post-hardcore and metal if that helps.
TL;DR If you can afford a premium ATK or higher-end SR, I'd say to get it over a Rockbass Warwick. Just my opinion but a lot of people here are going to say the Warwick based on their ownership of a $4k model, not because they gigged a Rockbass and it didn't cut it. I have owned and played in bands with all 3. Post-hardcore and metal if that helps.
