This morning was a good morning. I unboxed a new amp, and a couple hours later, I picked up my bass from a local tech who installed a new neck I received from Warwick. This is a 1999 Thumb Bolt-On, which I bought new way back when. This bass had been my main bass for many years, traveling all over the country with me, baptized with blood, sweat and beers.
A few years back, it developed a weird twist in the neck and buzzed like crazy. I guess this was somewhat common amongst these basses from that era. What used to be incredibly low and fast action, could only be set very high to make it sound decent enough. The tone still sounded great, but lost the mojo in the feel. I tried correcting it many times, took it to a couple of techs, and even sent the neck off to be straightened by a specialty shop. It was straight when I got it back and played well for about 48 hours, and then it reverted back to its twisted ways. I retired the bass to its case for several years, pulling it out every now and then, only to be reminded and disappointed.
So I finally ordered a new neck from Warwick and took it to a popular local tech so it could be sanded to fit the neck pocket and have holes drilled with a drill press to line up correctly. I brought it home, tweaked the saddles and Adjust-a-Nut to my preference, and it's back baby! It is simply amazing again. Smooth, fast, and growly. The neck does feel a little bit chunkier than the original, but I guess that's the new spec. I got used to it quickly. I believe the neck wood is also now Ovangkol rather than Wenge, but the fingerboard is still Wenge. Regardless, I have fallen back in love.
When I got it home, I plugged it right into my new GK Legacy 212 combo, and it's a match made in low end heaven. I have a drink-n-jam session with some friends tonight, so I'm really looking forward letting these two really get to know each other. Cheers!
