I found an old Streamer Standard and really dig it, but the pickups are pretty low output and dark. MEC soap bars in a weird size, and as far as I can tell, no one really makes a direct fit replacement. Any old Warwick gurus here? The bass is pretty light, especially for a Warwick, stays in tune, and plays great!
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NBD: 25 year old German Warwick Streamer Std questions.
- Thread starter Texican
- Start date
They were the entry level basses before the RockBass line started. Made in Germany, you can tell by the ovangkol neck. They have a simpler bridge, and the body is made from a pine species with a fancier name. Pretty good basses from what I've heard, but many people mention the low output pickups. I don't know any other pickups with that form factor, so be prepared for some routing if you want to change them.
Post in the Warwick club. There are lots of people that report changing the potentiometer values really opens up those pickups.
i only remembered because i dream of that Fortress LOL
Keep the pickups and get you an LHZ 4 preamp. Should make the bass sound amazing.
I always liked those early RB from Germany. They didn't make many lefties though.
Do these Barts fit by any chance ? Great sounding pickups.
Do these Barts fit by any chance ? Great sounding pickups.
Isimy kinda beat me to the punch, I was going to say those look like they might fit the Alembic/Washburn size that several manufacturers offer, though as always, I'd get exact measurements before ordering
I spent some time with one of these back in the day that had an EMG preamp installed. Bass sounded great, plenty of body and top end. I think a modern preamp could really do the trick if you need a very bright top end.
Had one for a short time but the pups were kind of lacking and more trouble/$$ to upgrade than it was worth. Streamers and Corvettes with J pups since.
Carolena wood body. Markneukirchenese for yellow pine subspecies. But they chose the timber well.
Mostly clear straight grain bodies on those. Always seemed like high grade material.
Mostly clear straight grain bodies on those. Always seemed like high grade material.
Bartolini makes a direct fit replacement but its named their "vintage washburn" pickup.
I've also heard to replace the pot values.
When I had one, I installed a duncan pre to add +/- bass/treb and really brought out the growl.
I've also heard to replace the pot values.
When I had one, I installed a duncan pre to add +/- bass/treb and really brought out the growl.
They should fit. I would try different pots first and see what that does.
I would raise the pickups a little and compensate with pedals if I had to, but rock it AS IS. It's a classic for a reason!
That body grain looks great. I’d be hesitant to change a thing too. The Bart suggestion is a good option but I bet EMG would have something as well.
I think may be the best approach if you’re not getting what you want turning the amp gain & volume up. I always think strings first.
Bumping this thread because I have a similar situation. My streamer I adore but I think it can be opened up with a preamp. Mine is passive. So something the OP as well as anyone else can use here is that from my experience these pickups are not really the issue. They do the Warwick thing. They are not as high output as others but the quality of tone is there. If one wants to make Thier bass louder I'd be looking at preamps or at the very least an 18 volt adapter if they already have a preamp. That will definitely get the most out of these pickups.
I know this is an old thread, but for anyone reading now, I agree that changing the volume pots to a higher value may help and is a lot cheaper and less invasive than changing pickups or installing a preamp. According to Google, the stock value is only 25K, so a bump up to 250K or 500k would make a big difference.
