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Just can't like Warwick I guess...

Hey gruffpuppy thanks for the advice. I haven't played a Thumb so I can't have an opinion of them. If I get a chance I'll give it a try, but it will take a lot to out run the Spector, which is what I've been leaning toward, I just love the look of the MM.

And it's ok to like Warwicks, if it works for you great. The ones I've played haven't worked for me.
 
Originally posted by Nails
Hey gruffpuppy thanks for the advice. I haven't played a Thumb so I can't have an opinion of them. If I get a chance I'll give it a try, but it will take a lot to out run the Spector, which is what I've been leaning toward, I just love the look of the MM.

And it's ok to like Warwicks, if it works for you great. The ones I've played haven't worked for me.

the thumb basses neck dive bad, lucky for me i am built like the german that makes them. the MM is a sweet looking bass but i think the Spector sounds sweeter and after all you will be playing it and not putting it in a frame. good luck
 
Another who tried to love Warwicks but just can't.

I have played the Streamer Standard, the LX, the Pro M, The Fortress, Corvette, Thumb bolt on, Thumb neck through(talk about anti-ergonomics!), Streamer Stage I and Stage II. Never had the pleasure of a Dolphin.

The only Warwick that I came close to liking was a Streamer Stage I, I played 2 of them, one with MECs and one with EMGs. That was the only Warwick that I ever played that I liked the sound of. It sounded like a Spector! Guess what, it cost dang near what a US Spector does too!

Why not get the real thing? Or if you can't afford it, get a Czech Spector. One of the best values in basses today, IMHO.

Warwicks are beautiful. I wanted to love them. After all, Jack Bruce even plays one. But the tone, and the neck profile(on all I have played except the Streamer Stage I) kept me from loving them.

I mean, I don't mind replacing the electronics in a below $500 bass, that's to be expected.

But there is no way that I would pay $1000 - $2000 for a bass that immediately needs an electronics transplant.

But hey, that's why they make so many basses, right? So we can all find what WE like the sound and feel of.

And for me at least, Warwicks are not on that list.
 
I thought I would jump here as I partially agree with Gruffpuppy (I kept the Stingray though).

I bought mine because I fell in love with it and the price. Yes the neck is out of balance (try a comfort strapp). Sound is subjective and often affected by the player.

However the biggest high is to find, design, order or make a bass you do like. Happy hunting.
 
this is why they make different basses i guess...
no other bass feels as GOOD to me as my warwick. the spacing, the neck profile, everything is just perfect for me. yeah, the neck dives, but i have a huge strap sinched up as far as it goes and it doesn't move anymore!

and i've gotten SO many compliments on my tone from the big guys around madison, it may sound pretty unique by itself but it CUTS THROUGH.

but i could definitely see how someone could find it uncomfortable, the neck is quite chunky.

jason
 
I tried a half dozen or so Warwicks and decided I liked a Streamer LX enough to plunk down the cash. Then a month later, an American Deluxe Jazz that I asked the store to stock came in. They let me try it out. I returned it the next Monday. Then I got a new amp, went back and got the Jazz and ended up returning the Warwick. Just no way I could get a decent bottom out of the Warwick. Pleasant sounding, but it just couldn't compete with the Fender.

As far as the neck, I hated the Warwick neck when I first tried them. Too flat a radius. Then I started to get used to it when I had mine. But no fret markers (only on the side) on a 24 fret bass slowed things down a bit for me. Many of the other Warwicks I tried would have something weird going on with the neck feel, like a sudden really coarse area. And the tension on the D string tuner was so high it actually slipped a tooth in the gear. Boingg! Maybe it was too loose (the tuner) but I wasn't about to fiddle with it. Then there was the radio I had to compete with (it wasn't even a good station). I had to wrap the wires in the control compartment all up with foil to get it bearable with my new amp. The quick change bridge ended up being more of a hassle to deal with than a convenience. The strings would keep popping out unless I kept tension on them as I was trying to start them on the tuning peg. And the Thumb BO I had been waiting for to blow away the Jazz was just a dead sounding instrument with hardly any tonal variation or power. At least with my Fenders I know I can always get a good sound, even with dead strings. The Warwicks have nothing once the strings are gone.

But I wish I could like them.
 
I represent Warwick in my country. In my opinion they are different playability and sound in every model of Warwick and every number of strings and every pick up you choose.
I have tried almost all model except Infinity. Some models I keep it for collection.
The models which I think is really good in terms of playability and neck shape comfort:

Thumb , bass/bolt
Streamer Stage 1

Some models with D shape neck and some models with Jazz type neck . I foundThumb bolt on 4 with Wenge neck and fretboard, while the 5 string was with 'I don't know' wood neck ,cos is different.

Versatility:
Jazzman

Sound: depend on the wood, pick up and strings you choose i.e :
Maple body and Bart , is sweet , fine
Ovankol and MEC is growly, punchy and tight.

So to say , Warwick is in a way unique because you have so many combination and choises.
Like me , some model I like , some I don't.

I read there for some people love and other hate them because perhaps they experience different Warwick.
 
Ive only found a few people that can like the warwicks! I have a older model corvette pro-line! It has the adjust a nut feature on it and i play funk bass alot! Its great to be able to lower the strings from the head as well as the bridge! I love the feel of the d shaped neck! I think one reasone people dont like them is that it took me a while to good a great tone from the beast because you can change the sound and tone so much from the bass its self! I can go from a awsome low growl like steffan from dave mathews band to a very smack you in the face slap sound just by using my bass controls! I think most basses really dont have alot of control from the bass itself! Spector was one of those to me! You turn up the treble and sounds like a fender with the treble up/turn up the bass and it sounds like a fender with the bass turned up! I like warwick because they sound like a warwick very strange sound to them that you have to get used to! I like the fact that most people cant get used to them! But ya i would tell most people to go out and get a spector because they have a very fender sound to them and i think that what most people want! By the bass that you like dont buy one from what people say! You should travel as far as you have to and try as many brands of bass as you can before deciding on one!
 
As far as alot of people not liking Warwick I can understand where their coming from. I bought my Thumb 4 Bolt-on sight unseen or played. Yes, it had the neck dive(Actually it hangs 90 degrees to the floor. And a Comfort type of strap will reduce this feeling.) Yes it has a manly neck. Yes, it sounds very unique. An hour after I got it I was like man I made a big mistake, but after repeated playing sessions and trying to slap on my Steinberger I picked up the Thumb bass again and it was like an Epiphany. It just felt right. My point is that many people pick up Warwicks (especially the Thumb) in a store and wail on them for 20 minutes or so and decide they can't get get used to them. I have been a Fender man most of the last 20+ yrs but have played and owned many, many other types of basses over the years but I wouldn't trade my Warwick Thumb for the world.
 
Originally posted by eric atkinson
Thats why i love my corvette is because it got such a awsome slap funk sound! I love how i can adjust the strings from the head and the bridge! Thats the only way to play funk to me is get those strings as low as you can!


again, why i love warwicks. they're so adjustable you can get everything just like you want it. for me...the only way to play funk is to jack those suckers up! my action is VERY high. (7 years of big band upright playing will do that to a guy)

mm....i'm gonna go play my thumb right now!!!!

jason