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Fender, MusicMan or Warwick Bass

Dane Coles

Dane Coles

Guest
Nov 3, 2015
66
62
39
London, ON, Canada
#1
Hi guys, recently bought a used MIM Fender PBass and really like it, but the neck is really out of whack (had it set up multiple times, still isn't right) and also upgraded the pickups to Basslines. It's great budget bass, but i am looking for opinions for my next model, and would liek to buy a professional quality American or German bass. I really like the classics - Fender Pbass, MusicMan Sting Ray, and Warwick Corvette. I like the thick tone of the MM, but found they are really heavy and big. I like the Warwick, but not sure about the value and cost. The Pbass is great, but found it doesn't have as heavy of a tone as the Warwick or MM. Any recommendations? I like to keep it simple and straightforward, play just rock and some covers.
 
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#4
Warwick German is better to buy them used, you can find a German Corvette as cheap as $550. New stingray are not that heavy, last one that I owned was around 9 pounds, Warwick are way heavier, specially if you want those bubinga bodies. If weight is a concern then I would recomend to check the Bongos, they are great basses and light weight.
 
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#5
It also depends upon the tone you hear in your head, what kind of music you play and any band, gig situation you work with. All the basses you've listed work great in any recording-gigging situation. You've got to reconcile what you want with what's going to get you in the tone arena you want to be in.

Amp & cab also figure into this.

Personally, I prefer American made Fenders, open ported cabs and tube-tone amps. I play Young Country, rock & occasionally classic R & B. Thus, my choice of tools.
 
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#6
pedroims said:
Warwick German is better to buy them used, you can find a German Corvette as cheap as $550 New stingray are not that heavy, Last one I owned was around 9 pounds, Warwick are way heavier specially if you want those bubinga bodies. If weight is a concern then I would recomend to check the Bongos, they are great basses and light weight.
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Fantastic thanks very much - not a fan of the bongo but really like the StingRay. Great to hear the new ones are light, I played a SUB and it wasn't very comfortable. Will also look into a German Corvette more if i can keep the cost low.
 
#7
Dane Coles said:
Hi guys, recently bought a used MIM Fender PBass and really like it, but the neck is really out of whack (had it set up multiple times, still isn't right) and also upgraded the pickups to Basslines. It's great budget bass, but i am looking for opinions for my next model, and would liek to buy a professional quality American or German bass. I really like the classics - Fender Pbass, MusicMan Sting Ray, and Warwick Corvette. I like the thick tone of the MM, but found they are really heavy and big. I like the Warwick, but not sure about the value and cost. The Pbass is great, but found it doesn't have as heavy of a tone as the Warwick or MM. Any recommendations? I like to keep it simple and straightforward, play just rock and some covers.
Click to expand...

Well for starters if you found MM to heavy then warwick probably won't work for you! Not to mention alot more expensive then the MM! out of the 3 i would go for the musicman stingray!!
by the way, Cant go wrong with a Fender jazz has the best of both worlds!
 
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#8
SSSTTTIIINNNGGGRRRAAAYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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#9
Dane Coles said:
Fantastic thanks very much - not a fan of the bongo but really like the StingRay. Great to hear the new ones are light, I played a SUB and it wasn't very comfortable. Will also look into a German Corvette more if i can keep the cost low.
Click to expand...

Warwick are great basses, I sold mine few months ago, make sure you get an accurate weight, Corvette bubinga are heavy, +10 pounds.
 
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#11
It really depends on the tone you are going for. They all have their positives and for me I started off my Warwick experience with a Corvette (German) and have since owned a total of 5 Warwicks. As mentioned above the used market is far easier of a pill to swallow than purchasing new.
 
#18
Ok.. here are my Skittles! The center blue and the flame green one have moved down the road.. but the others are not going anywhere!

SANY0517.JPG
 
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#19
I owned a Corvette. Bought a Musicman. Sold the Corvette.

Corvette weighed a ton, and was really deep, and really sizzly. Never sat in the mix (except for in the studio) quite the way I wanted it to. A lot of boom and click. My love for MM wound up getting me a deal with them. I now own a Sterling, a Bongo, a Stingray, and a Big AL, and I love them all. Though I cheating right now and having a torrid love affair with a Rickenbacker :).
 
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