How do I get the Thumb Bass sound using a Non Thumb?

[BrentSimons]

I really like the Thumb Through neck 5 string. Bubinga body and Wenge neck, Ebony fret board. Sadly since I ordered a bass recently, I don't have 3000 bucks.....

Is there a cheap or cheaper alternative? (other than used, I already looked it up and there are none in my area)

Or must I just save and buy the thumb 5?

Thanks for all information in advance.

I hear ya!,
Pete Trewavas (Marillion/Transatlantic) is one of my favorite players and uses a Thumb neck through 4. He also plays with a pick and has such a fantastic tone. My Peavey Cirrus 4 can get somewhere in the realm if I pluck right next to the bridge but it's still missing something...
Brent

 

[Warpeg]

Just like with the Stingray, Precision bass, and most any other iconic bass...pickup placement has a LOT to do with the sound....Thumb definitely has a unique pickup placement....

Agreed. I've had multiple Thumbs; including NTs, BOs, wenge necks, ovangkol necks, bubinga bodies, MEC, EMG, etc. They've all had that specific, unique tone that's associated with a Thumb. Pickup placement is the only constant characteristic between all of them aside from the standard Warwick marks (2-piece bridge, brass frets, body shape, etc.).

 

[bass12]

Agreed. I've had multiple Thumbs; including NTs, BOs, wenge necks, ovangkol necks, bubinga bodies, MEC, EMG, etc. They've all had that specific, unique tone that's associated with a Thumb. Pickup placement is the only constant characteristic between all of them aside from the standard Warwick marks (2-piece bridge, brass frets, body shape, etc.).

So you think the 4 string Thumbs and the 5 string Thumbs sound markedly different from one another?

 

[superheavyfunk]

So you think the 4 string Thumbs and the 5 string Thumbs sound markedly different from one another?

I'm gonna jump in here and say "yeah," at least to my ears. I don't really know how to describe things like this but I'd the 4 banger is more growlier low mids, and the 5er has something happening with the upper mids and treble that I personally like less.

 

[superheavyfunk]

Yeah, good point, although a lot of Thumbs have either EMGs stock, or EMGs get dropped in. I guess you'd need to know what the specific player you are trying to emulate is using. Either way, 2 active J pickups in the right positions and a relatively "clean/hi-fi" active preamp will nail it.

Don't forget Bartolini. Almost every modded 'Wick I find has Barts installed, especially if the bass is from the 90's.

 

[blindrabbit]

I'm gonna jump in here and say "yeah," at least to my ears. I don't really know how to describe things like this but I'd the 4 banger is more growlier low mids, and the 5er has something happening with the upper mids and treble that I personally like less.

Yes, absolutely. The 5 has a unique pickup placement with those two Js at the bridge. That makes a big difference.

Don't forget Bartolini. Almost every modded 'Wick I find has Barts installed, especially if the bass is from the 90's.

Good point, how could I forget - my own Thumb 5 had Barts in it (pups and preamp). I will say this though...it seemed a little tamer to me than other Thumbs, so maybe those mellow Barts took the edge off a bit.

Agreed. I've had multiple Thumbs; including NTs, BOs, wenge necks, ovangkol necks, bubinga bodies, MEC, EMG, etc. They've all had that specific, unique tone that's associated with a Thumb. Pickup placement is the only constant characteristic between all of them aside from the standard Warwick marks (2-piece bridge, brass frets, body shape, etc.).

Yup. Pickups, pickup locations, and preamp. That's the formula (well, and scale length as well).

 

[MDBass]

I'm actually a bit surprised how unfamilar most are with the trademark, and difficult to imitate, sound of a Thumb; certainly not as iconic as a P or J bass, but absolutely more distinctive in the same way that a Wal is.

I'd recommend something like a used Stingray instead to get "close" on more of a budget....but in that case why not look for a used German bolt-on Thumb?

 

[Mikey F]

Nothing really sounds like a thumb. I had a 99 BO for a while. They sound pretty close to the NT and it seems like they are to be had around $1100. I sold mine for $750.....because I am an idiot.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Build a Warmoth out of similar materials, with the same pickups and pickup configuration.

I was looking into the Gecko models and found this video:

This bass with the pickup combination and preamp sounds so much like a Thumb that I would be fooled in a Pepsi Challenge between the two.

The player is from Melbourne, AU and very good in my opinion. It's incredibly coincidental that I actually had a business arrangement with a guitarist he used to play with back in 2010, and I only came around to making the connection just yesterday...

 

[foudufafa]

The closest and least expensive way to get to thumb 5 NT is to buy a used thumb 5 BO. These go for low $1000. I sold mine a few months ago for $1200.

 

[blindrabbit]

I was looking into the Gecko models and found this video:

This bass with the pickup combination and preamp sounds so much like a Thumb that I would be fooled in a Pepsi Challenge between the two.

The player is from Melbourne, AU and very good in my opinion. It's incredibly coincidental that I actually had a business arrangement with a guitarist he used to play with back in 2010, and I only came around to making the connection just yesterday...

Yeah, as long as you can stick to just the bridge pickup (and, ideally, have that bucker run in parallel to match the two J pups in the Thumb), I'm not surprised it cops a similar tone to the Thumb 5.

And now, a lovely interlude to enjoy some delicious Thumb tones courtesy of Jack Bruce!

 

[bongostealth]

I really like the Thumb Through neck 5 string. Bubinga body and Wenge neck, Ebony fret board. Sadly since I ordered a bass recently, I don't have 3000 bucks.....

Is there a cheap or cheaper alternative? (other than used, I already looked it up and there are none in my area)

Or must I just save and buy the thumb 5?

Thanks for all information in advance.

In my opinion, the Thumb NT 5 is THE best sounding Thumb because of the pickup placement, as the pickups are closer to the bridge, and because of the Bubinga. The 4 and 6 string versions have slightly different pickup placements (less close to the bridge) which yield a slightly less aggressive tone. Therefore, below is my input in their respective order of importance (according to my experience).

1) The first and foremost thing to getting close to the Thumb tone is to emulate the Thumb 5's pickup placement.

2) You will want to use in-line split-coil pickups just like the MECs on the Thumb NT (or find a pair of used MEC pickups here on TB or eBay). Barts are a popular choice but they tend to be warmer and tamer. The MECs are the more original choice because they are brighter and have a "bouncier" tone, at least to my ears.

3) Pair the pickups with a 3-band preamp. Mids are an integral part of the equation.

4) The Thumb NT is mainly made out of Bubinga. Bubinga is a fairly bright-sounding wood. Therefore, even if you use a bass made mostly out of maple, you will get very close to a Thumb NT sound.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I own a Dean Sledgehammer (aka the Thumb rip-off, but mine is modded with the addition of a 2nd pickup). I can kinda-sorta cop a Thumb tone if I use the inside coils of both pickups....which oddly enough are in "the sweet spot"....

But the tone I can get still isn't authentic...

 

[superheavyfunk]

Nothing really sounds like a thumb. I had a 99 BO for a while. They sound pretty close to the NT and it seems like they are to be had around $1100. I sold mine for $750.....because I am an idiot.

Sadly, that's about the price they fetch on the used market... less, even. I recently bought a Thumb BO4 for CAD$800. That's US$602.55 at today's rate. I guess you didn't make out so badly, relative to that.

Buying a new Warwick almost always means losing a significant amount in resale.

 

[joebar]

I owned a vintage thumb 5 NT equipped with EMG's stock-
nothing I have ever heard sounded like that bass. so complex but very narrow in tone

 

[Spidey2112]

I can sum it up in one word...

... Bubinga... Samoan slang, for... you guessed it...

... thumb.

 

[Gizmot]

I'd have to agree with Gorn.
Try out one of these. More tones than you'll know what to do with, and active-passive to boot with a truly great passive tone.
G&L Magnetic Field Design humbuckers backed by the flexible Tri-Tone control system. The Tri-Tone system features a trio of mini toggles for pickup selection, series/parallel signal routing and passive/active/active with treble boost, operation, as well as the active boost-cut knobs.

I am fortunate to own two Warwicks and a G & L L2500. I love my G & L and it hasa nice range of tones. However it doesn't sound anything like a Warwick. It's not bad -just different. The Warwick sound has more personality to it.

This is the USA-made G&L L-2000, $1,500 or less, new, but the Tribute sells for $700 and less and they have the same USA-made pickups and electronics.
I went with the Tribute and I'm still amazed by the many different tones I can get out of mine...$529 brand new!

 

[Adam Wright]

without the pickup placement, you're not going to get that sound. NT Thumbs are incredible sounding instruments, one of my absolute favorite tones.

 

[Means2nEnd]

I have owned over 20 German Warwicks and I can say there are no basses that sound like a NT Thumb not really even other Warwicks except maybe one. I know mine is but an opinion but I have gigged and recorded for over 8-9 years with nothing but Warwicks and it is many things like the pickup placement, woods, fret material, but I think mostly the dense heavy unforgiving thick bubinga body and clean active pickups/preamp and their placement that really shapes the sound. If you have owned and played one and still say wood doesn't matter you were born without ears. Part of the wide range of criticisms you will read are from owners or players that have had a Warwick from one particular time period. They have changed so much over the years. MEC preamp designs, thicknesses of the neck, truss rod material and size, neck laminate woods.

The do use CNC machining but of all their models the thumb seems to be the one with the most subtle to big difference from one to the next. You may love one and hate another even from the same year. It's best if you can play it before you buy it and count on switching the tuners to Ultralites to help with neck dive. You will find it nasally and thin sounding at times and not best suited for all types of music. Much of what you may hear from a professional recording of one has more going on that just the bass trust me it's mostly the wizard not the wand. Most will rely on at least some compression to help thicken the tone but the other side is if you are looking for more of a unique voice and to not run with the norm they are just outstanding.

Funny the split coil Bartolini Warwick uses on the 5 string basses and most will install aftermarket have the split directly under the A string and it will always sound weaker than the rest so I don't suggest them for Warwicks. I changed mine to EMG and it still had all it's Warwick growl but with a little more umff in the lower mids and helped thicken the tone up IMO.

The closest thing you will find to that tone would be a Warwick Corvette with a solid bubinga body from Germany with the active "gold" stamped MEC pickups and two band MEC preamp. You will still get that woody growly midrange and almost a sort of African drum percussive tone that the bubinga body Warwicks have just not as nasally due to pickup placement you may find you like the tone and balance even better. Used they are usually less than half of what you are looking to spend and then I totally agree with MDBass for whatever reason the next best closest thing to me was a Musicman Stingray 5 with rosewood fingerboard and playing it back by the bridge. My opinion all those other basses mentioned might sound good but not even close to a thumb.

 

[FNHScar17s]

I have owned over 20 German Warwicks and I can say there are no basses that sound like a NT Thumb not really even other Warwicks except maybe one. I know mine is but an opinion but I have gigged and recorded for over 8-9 years with nothing but Warwicks and it is many things like the pickup placement, woods, fret material, but I think mostly the dense heavy unforgiving thick bubinga body and clean active pickups/preamp and their placement that really shapes the sound. If you have owned and played one and still say wood doesn't matter you were born without ears. Part of the wide range of criticisms you will read are from owners or players that have had a Warwick from one particular time period. They have changed so much over the years. MEC preamp designs, thicknesses of the neck, truss rod material and size, neck laminate woods.

The do use CNC machining but of all their models the thumb seems to be the one with the most subtle to big difference from one to the next. You may love one and hate another even from the same year. It's best if you can play it before you buy it and count on switching the tuners to Ultralites to help with neck dive. You will find it nasally and thin sounding at times and not best suited for all types of music. Much of what you may hear from a professional recording of one has more going on that just the bass trust me it's mostly the wizard not the wand. Most will rely on at least some compression to help thicken the tone but the other side is if you are looking for more of a unique voice and to not run with the norm they are just outstanding.

Funny the split coil Bartolini Warwick uses on the 5 string basses and most will install aftermarket have the split directly under the A string and it will always sound weaker than the rest so I don't suggest them for Warwicks. I changed mine to EMG and it still had all it's Warwick growl but with a little more umff in the lower mids and helped thicken the tone up IMO.

The closest thing you will find to that tone would be a Warwick Corvette with a solid bubinga body from Germany with the active "gold" stamped MEC pickups and two band MEC preamp. You will still get that woody growly midrange and almost a sort of African drum percussive tone that the bubinga body Warwicks have just not as nasally due to pickup placement you may find you like the tone and balance even better. Used they are usually less than half of what you are looking to spend and then I totally agree with MDBass for whatever reason the next best closest thing to me was a Musicman Stingray 5 with rosewood fingerboard and playing it back by the bridge. My opinion all those other basses mentioned might sound good but not even close to a thumb.

Beautiful collection my friend. I absolutely agree with you. I didn't like how thin the mec were on my thumb nt 6 so when I got it defretted I put Barts in( pres and pickups). it really sounds so good and as far as fretless tone it kills with rounds on the poly like to me it just sounds right. I have never heard anything like it. absolutely love it I am a fan for life. It will be passed down to my children like my 70s jazz bass. I will get another one day and hopefully will have such a beautiful collection such as yours.