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Key elements for the Warwick sound

#21
Warwicks get that classic growl and thump based on a combination of several factors, some which are specific to certain models.

General factors:
-- choice of exotic and dense woods (bubinga, wenga, ovangkol, etc)
-- weight of the bass (I find this contributes to more girth and sustain in the sound)
-- MEC pickups and preamps (these are pretty transparent thus allowing the natural tone to shine through without much coloration)
-- consistency in the quality of their construction
-- the MEC J pickups (including the soapbars) are split-coil pickups; thus the sound is not that of a typical single-coil pickup

Model-specific factors:
-- the Thumb bass has slanted pickups which produce a more nasaly tone due to the proximity of the pickups to the bridge
-- the Double Buck bass has two MM pickups which produce high-output MM-type of sounds
-- the Streamer and Corvettes have pretty standard pickup placement which allows for the more traditional dual humbucker sounds we are all familiar with
-- the majority of the Corvettes are made out of solid bubinga which, in my opinion, have a brighter and slightly more exotic tone than the run-of-the-mill ash and alder used for a majority of other bass brands
-- a majority of Thumb bolt-on basses were made out of ovangkol, which seemed to have a warmer tone but with more pronounced mids. The newer bolt-on Thumbs are made out of bubinga

These are just some of my thoughts. I've owned several Warwicks and, to me, no two Warwicks sound alike although you can always spot the quality of their sound.
 
#24
bongostealth said:
-- the Double Buck bass has two MM pickups which produce high-output MM-type of sounds
-- the Streamer and Corvettes have pretty standard pickup placement which allows for the more traditional dual humbucker sounds we are all familiar with
Click to expand...

If not the Streamer or Corvette $$, which Double-Buck are you talking about?

Unrelated point: My Fortress Flashback is totally passive and has an ash body, Wenge BO neck, a completely different bridge from other Warwicks, and old-fashioned pickups that are unique to the model. Guess what? While distinctive, it still sounds like a Warwick!
 
#25
RCCollins said:
If not the Streamer or Corvette $$, which Double-Buck are you talking about?

Unrelated point: My Fortress Flashback is totally passive and has an ash body, Wenge BO neck, a completely different bridge from other Warwicks, and old-fashioned pickups that are unique to the model. Guess what? While distinctive, it still sounds like a Warwick!
Click to expand...

Any model that has the double-buck configuration. I have seen Thumb custom shop models with double-buck pickups.
 
#26
My favorite is my Corvette Jazzman. It's Ash body, Shedua neck and Wenge FB. It's also Active/Passive with an "M" style MEC (but possibly Duncan made?) Alnico in the bridge and an MEC J in the neck. Dead stock... it's my Go-To bass for pretty much anything. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up... it is SO choice!!!!!
 
#27
I'm not sure what all the key elements are.....but I sure love mine!

B5489BA1-F64F-4309-A4D4-CC90F1FE320C-328-0000002159BB5077.jpg
 
#28
Currently own 7 German Warwicks, Streamers, Thumbs, Corvettes etc…all with different pickups and electronics. I have owned recorded and gigged with more than I can remember. They all sounded different, played different.

I seem to find the biggest experts on Warwick here are usually the ones that know the least about them and or never owned one. After all my experience I am still by far no expert on anything including Warwicks.

I can say that even after changing pickups and preamps and different strings although subtle changes in tone there is still an inherent quality to all them I can’t fully explain and I find this to be true with almost all basses. They all definitely did not have growl or an excess of a certain frequency like low or high mids whatever but I will and can say there is a clarity and evenness of tone and notes are distinguishable all over the neck. This is with active or passive and different woods bolt on or neck through all the different configurations I can think of and still there is a common thread to the tone. I will say that it’s not me either I own many other basses as well. Spector being another huge favorite of mine I find a similar kind of thing with them but it’s a different sound but it too is present in all the Spectors I have owned and own. When I think of Warwick tone clarity articulation no mud is what comes to mind and a distinctive tone that cuts through in a mix without stepping all over everyone else and hearing much of the wood at the same time.
 
#37
To be honest, I'm not sure how they do it. It's got to be a combination of every component of the bass, and Warwick does almost everything differently from other builders.

If it was just the electronics, a Corvette would sound like any active Jazz bass, wouldn't it?
 
#38
Ian_Flash said:
Remember: "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no substitute for a good Blaster at your side!"
Click to expand...

A real Jedi needs no ancient weapons, nor blasters.

i have no idea what makes that Warwick Sound(tm). I have a German 2007 fretless Corvette with an EMG J set and BTC pre. It sounds a LOT like it did with the passive MECs in it.

I vote wood, placement, construction, bridge. Mix up the order if you want.
 
#40
I put flats on my Corvette passive 4 fretless. Does it have a 'signature' sound? Perhaps not. Does it sound as beautiful as it looks? Indeed it does. Has less 'mwaahh' than some other fretlesses, but makes up for it in its articulation.
 

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