Musicman Stingray 5 VS. Warwick Thumb NT 5

[4OnTheFloor]

I've owned a Stingray 5 with maple and Vintage sunburst, most beautiful bass I've owned, flawless finish, built like a tank, hated that I needed to treat the neck once in a while, but that's ok. I owned a Thumb BO4, most killer tone, ... ever, not very comfortable standing up, traded it for the fretless version, then sold the fretless. Both BO4's had the ovangkol neck. Now I'm buying the Thumb BO 5 with the wenge neck, can't wait till I get used to the string spacing. I've played the Alembic Epic, I liked the Thumb tone more, the stingray tone less. I never got along with the Stingray tone. All that scatterbrained stuff being said, my Warwick star bass 4 Pro Series still kills the thumb and ray in the useable, versatile tone category, but it's passive so apples to oranges.

 

[ectoflanger]

For the avante-garde I would go with the Thumb 5 string all the way-- not just the sound but the look is absolutely avante grade [sic]-BO or NT

 

[joebar]

I have both basses-
the SR5 (H) is sort of a one trick pony sound but it is good sound that can cover all the bases. I find them a little aggressive but I still enjoy it.
I had a vintage 88 thumb NT as well. I had an 07 thumb BO and a thumb 6 BO as well.
I thought the BO's sounded good-
when I got the NT I sold the others-it was that much better.

the NT thumb 5 is a one trick pony too; the problem is that it is a very unique sound and doesn't always fit in too many settings. very clear articulate balanced tone but a little lacking in low end. it is tremendously beautiful sound though.

 

[Vlad5]

Ferrari, Porsche and NASA make one trick ponies too...

Thumbs sit horizontal, they don't neck dive.
They are designed this way to be played this way.
Gibson Rippers, now those neck dive!

If both MM and Thumb sound the same or similar to you, go with the one that is most comfortable to play.
Many find the Thumb hard to play because of the horizontal hang.
You have to play these up over your belly button, or else hold the headstock to your ear if you want a 'classical guitar' playing position.
The MM will hang more traditionally.

 

[scowboy]

I played a Stingray 5H for a few years and though it has one pickup it could cop a lot of different tones just by virtue of right hand position alone. I kind of miss that about it.

If you want a Warwick you will buy one. They are two different animals with very little in common tonally or just about any other way.

 

[Yeti_carnage]

I personally would pick the MM. Of all the basses I've sold, I regret selling that one the most.