Hi all,
I’ve always liked Warwick quite a bit, and I have a (compared to some here, a small) collection. A 1984 Streamer (first year, wenge neck through, cherry wings), a 1998 Thumb NT4 (wenge neck), a 2012 30th Anniversary Streamer (wenge neck through, cherry wings). I bought a Thumb BO5 new around ’95, sold around ’99, then bought and sold another one of those (used) around 2008 (it was an ’07). Those BOs were…..ok I guess? My Streamers have very slim necks which I love, the ’98 Thumb a little chunkier. I remember my last BO Thumb (the ’07) was a very chunky neck (ovangkol).
I realized I kind of wanted a 5 string again, and since my fav and best playing bass is the 2012 Streamer, I was looking for a Streamer Stage 2, a PNut, or similar., before or after ovangkol necks. The 2021 Streamer LTDs in black korina caught my eye on Reverb many times, but only that. I thought they were very attractive, but in my price range only the bolt-ons were an option and even then at just under $4k, I thought a little overpriced.
I found one on sale. I clicked buy.
It got here today, and for a middle of the line “Teambuilt” bolt-on Warwick, here are my unexpected pleasant surprises:
Disappointments:
This is all I can think of at moment. I like it so much I almost wish I sprung for the Masterbuilt NT one just so I could have the body as thin as I want!
Light was going, so only one pic. I’ll try to take pics of the fingerboard and neck depth tomorrow.
I’ve always liked Warwick quite a bit, and I have a (compared to some here, a small) collection. A 1984 Streamer (first year, wenge neck through, cherry wings), a 1998 Thumb NT4 (wenge neck), a 2012 30th Anniversary Streamer (wenge neck through, cherry wings). I bought a Thumb BO5 new around ’95, sold around ’99, then bought and sold another one of those (used) around 2008 (it was an ’07). Those BOs were…..ok I guess? My Streamers have very slim necks which I love, the ’98 Thumb a little chunkier. I remember my last BO Thumb (the ’07) was a very chunky neck (ovangkol).
I realized I kind of wanted a 5 string again, and since my fav and best playing bass is the 2012 Streamer, I was looking for a Streamer Stage 2, a PNut, or similar., before or after ovangkol necks. The 2021 Streamer LTDs in black korina caught my eye on Reverb many times, but only that. I thought they were very attractive, but in my price range only the bolt-ons were an option and even then at just under $4k, I thought a little overpriced.
I found one on sale. I clicked buy.
It got here today, and for a middle of the line “Teambuilt” bolt-on Warwick, here are my unexpected pleasant surprises:
- Black Korina body looks very ‘open grain’ in pictures, but I think the grain is filled when they do the oil/wax job. Feels WAY better than pictures might suggest. Very smooth.
- Neck is slim! The roasted maple 5 piece finish is super smooth, it’s an oil/wax combo, like the body, that I didn’t know existed. Fretboard junction with neck on the sides is flawless.
- 2 soapbox Barts and a 3 way preamp with mid that can switch 3 different frequencies…gets close enough to a P sound that I’m pretty happy. Can also do a variation of the Warwick mid-burp if you go bridge pickup, etc etc. It’s most wide range of sounds I’ve had on a Warwick, and my PJ streamers have more of a range than the typical J/J 2-band Warwick.
- Pau Ferro fingerboard looks like a cop-out to me in pictures. I’ve played with a GC bass with Pau Ferro, and while pleasant enough, also felt like it was the “cheaper, but still nice” option. This pau ferro is planed VERY smooth, very little grain visible, and slightly glossy. It’s really beautiful, and I’m a total wood snob.
- Action, once neck relief was tweaked (it traveled quite a way to get to me)…marvelous. Best I own right now. Feels Plek’d. Makes me speculate that the Warwick “Invisible” fretwork CNC thing they tout, is doing the fret install work to Plek level. Dunno, but it’s very, very low right now and no buzzes.
Disappointments:
- I’m spoiled by thin curved Warwick bodies in my ’84 and ’12 Streamers. The bolt-on LX version of “curved” is a slight let down for me. I think the lower bout where my forearm rests, I like having the angle break there, plus the narrow body and a place for my gut to go when hitting down. This body is light on all of those things.
- That damn plastic nut. They gotta get rid of that thing already. It may be fine, it may let the strings slide better with no tuning hangups. But looks like crap.
This is all I can think of at moment. I like it so much I almost wish I sprung for the Masterbuilt NT one just so I could have the body as thin as I want!
Light was going, so only one pic. I’ll try to take pics of the fingerboard and neck depth tomorrow.
