Opinions on Warwick Thumb

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Too heavy, baseball bat neck that is real heavy too. Lots of neck dive.
I rather Spectors neck throughs. Much better bass.
I still have a Warwick Infinity SN. Hardly ever break her out.

But I can play my Spectors NS4s all night long and not be tired.

Warwick Infinity SN

Three Spector USA NS4s

 

[denhou1974]

Ive heard

I have heard because of the short horn that their can be a weird stretch at times to the frets closest to the headstock, is this true from your experience or did it fit like a glove (somewhat)?

Hmmm. That subjective. I'm 6' tall and have a long reach so maybe not the best person to answer. I wear the bass so that the PUPS are about navel-level.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hello all, new to posting on TB, but not new to the site at all

This is a general question regarding the Warwick thumb(or related) from those who have played, owned, or found in the back of a red pickup truck off the side of Arizona... how is it? Do you think it was worth the price/trade for it (be it used or new)? Do you own a neck thru or Bolt on, and if so which do you prefer?

I've heard that the bass is heavy to some, to others it is average, it is "comfortable, like that of a Fender J bass" (not my quote on the matter,but read and got this reply, and that and wanted to see how some would feel about that comparison), and that it sounds damn good with lots of tone potential and options.

I have an active Warwick Corvette Standard 5 string. Yes by standards here, it’s considered a boat anchor, but really, once I start playing it, I don’t notice the weight. Now if you are standing around for a half an hour with it on not doing anything, you may get uncomfortable. As for the voice, it’s known for it’s growl, but I can cover just about anything other than a straight P-B sound.

 

[sotua]

Hello all, new to posting on TB, but not new to the site at all

This is a general question regarding the Warwick thumb(or related) from those who have played, owned, or found in the back of a red pickup truck off the side of Arizona... how is it? Do you think it was worth the price/trade for it (be it used or new)? Do you own a neck thru or Bolt on, and if so which do you prefer?

I've heard that the bass is heavy to some, to others it is average, it is "comfortable, like that of a Fender J bass" (not my quote on the matter,but read and got this reply, and that and wanted to see how some would feel about that comparison), and that it sounds damn good with lots of tone potential and options.

I had a bolt on 4 string, german made, late 90s. I think bubinga body with wenge/wenge neck. My opinions:

• Nowhere near as comfortable as a Fender JBass (I had both at the same time). In fact, sold it because of comfort issues (both insane neck dive and far out left hand reach twisting my wrist). TRY ONE before buying. With a strap. Standing up. Play difficult stuff in the first position for extended periods of time. It also had a very thick neck front-to-back. I got used to it, but it was weird after a bunch of yamahas and washburns.
• The sound was excellent. A bit dark but in a good way. Growly, aggressive, very well defined. A dream to slap and tap on. Needs a bit of a bass boost to compete with a J or P bass in the lower frequencies. Not the most versatile of sounds (I felt it didn't fit the bill well for a classic rock gig). Pairs great with distortion/dirty tone.
• Gorgeous to look at. Excellent feel in the hands (all that gorgeous waxed wood! And the wenge neck if you get one of the old ones!) The best workmanship on any instrument I've ever owned. I wish I hadn't had to sell it, but when your bass is making it painful for you to play, and doesn't fit the music you're trying to make, it's time to go.

 

[Manticore]

I tried a six briefly. They are very well made and sound wonderful. I didn't find it heavy, but my current bass is much heavier. The bass had odd ergonomics, and for the life of me, I couldn't get used to the neck profile. I moved it on shortly after I bought it.

 

[Sergius Durante]

I have a German NT4. 2013. I’ve also got Fenders, EBMMs, Rick, T-Bird. Nothing sounds like the Thumb.

It is neck heavy. It’s just plain heavy. It’s a long reach to the lower frets. I think it’s a little longer reach than my T-Bird. The neck is the thinnest of all my basses, thinner than my US Geddy Jazz. Thinner than I like. It probably lost more than half the value compared to what I paid new. I don’t care. I love it.

There were a lot of changes over the years, especially neck profiles. When you read a post saying “they’re all”, or “most are”, take it with a grain of salt.

Some great info in the earlier responses. Beware of inaccurate generalizations still being perpetuated.

If you see on you’re going to buy, post back with questions about the particular year. That would increase the likelihood of getting accurate responses.

Cpt Obvious: Best case scenario is that you get to play one before you buy it, of course.

I managed to try one at this Guitar Center about an hour drive away... I am sold on it. It sound’s amazing, I like the way it feels actually lol. I own a Geddy Lee Jazz and this felt so much better imho, having it more towards the left than right helped because Im quite a short individual, plus I normally play with the bass up higher, and the Jazz bass has been giving me some shoulder issues that I can’t stand anymore.

I would consider getting it but my issue is it had this scratch on the side (but I don’t mind it tbh), and the invisible fret work (they just put a thin layer of paint over it, I can see the fret sides lol).

Again, with a setup to work for me, I could CONQUER THE WORLD WITH THIS, but I may wait as I have a tendency to rush towards things

 

[Mikey F]

I’ve had 3. The Thumb is an iconic bass and does what it does better than anything. That being said, most are fairly heavy and kinda weird ergonomically. That part doesn’t really bother me, but I am 6 ft 3 260, so the neck dive thing isn’t as big of an issue. If you truly want the best that Warwick has to offer, get a streamer Stage II. It can get close to the Thumb tones, plus do a lot more. Thumbs are very “warwicky”. Very nasally and mid focused. I love that, but it’s not for everyone.

 

[Sergius Durante]

I had a bolt on 4 string, german made, late 90s. I think bubinga body with wenge/wenge neck. My opinions:

• Nowhere near as comfortable as a Fender JBass (I had both at the same time). In fact, sold it because of comfort issues (both insane neck dive and far out left hand reach twisting my wrist). TRY ONE before buying. With a strap. Standing up. Play difficult stuff in the first position for extended periods of time. It also had a very thick neck front-to-back. I got used to it, but it was weird after a bunch of yamahas and washburns.
• The sound was excellent. A bit dark but in a good way. Growly, aggressive, very well defined. A dream to slap and tap on. Needs a bit of a bass boost to compete with a J or P bass in the lower frequencies. Not the most versatile of sounds (I felt it didn't fit the bill well for a classic rock gig). Pairs great with distortion/dirty tone.
• Gorgeous to look at. Excellent feel in the hands (all that gorgeous waxed wood! And the wenge neck if you get one of the old ones!) The best workmanship on any instrument I've ever owned. I wish I hadn't had to sell it, but when your bass is making it painful for you to play, and doesn't fit the music you're trying to make, it's time to go.

The discomfort I feel with my Jbass isn’t just in my head then lol, after trying it out, my opinion is exactly this (in comparison to my Pbass and Jbass)

1.) Im considering a 5 string so it is obviously gonna be a bigger neck, but I actually like it! For a 5 string it felt thinner than I thought it would be, and I don’t mind bolt on’s (never tried a neck thru so excuse my inexperience). It also doesn’t have that colossal headstock Fender has, nor did it feel so damn long as an instrument.

2.) The belly grooves on the back are really comfortable, it felt good playing sitting down on either leg, and standing up felt better. In addition to that, the body is definitely smaller than that of a Fender Pbass or Jbass, but I liked that, the weight felt more centered than my fender which killed my shoulders

3.) Tone wise, I got what it was I wanted, I mostly play metal and it had what I needed, a beefy tone, and the pickup positions were right where I usally finger pick so another +1
The tone really is unique to the Thumb, it felt powerful, plus I like the choice between passive or active

 

[Sergius Durante]

I've got a 2002 German Thumb BO 5 string. I used to work at GC back around 2004, and at the time never liked the Warwicks they had in stock there (including the Thumbs). The necks felt too clunky. Two years ago, i played a Corvette that was in a Music Go Round and loved it. I came back to pick it up the next day and it was already gone. A week later, I found a Thumb on CL, tried it out, and bought it. Apparently 14 years was enough time for me to appreciate the thicker necks.

Of all the basses I own, nothing cuts through the mix quite like my Thumb. It's very aggressive and mid rangey, and sounds a lot like a fretless (even though it's fretted) sitting in the mix. It's heavy, but I use an extra wide strap and don't see the same fatigue issues others have mentioned. This also helps with the neck dive, that is more prominent than my other basses but not terrible. I tune it to A standard, and so i've had to switch to pretty beefy Kalium strings to get the tension I like, and even then it still feels a little loose overall due to the 34" scale.

All that being said, I love it. It feels kinda tiny (i'm 6'0 and 220lbs), but it sounds amazing.

Thats why I love it lol, Im 5’5 and 160 (fluffy boy, I know) and compared to my J, it was nice and snug up against my belly, and the neck reach wasn’t that bad, I spent a good 2 hours at GC just trying it out, and it was honestly the most memorable moment at GC I have had lol

 

[SubNoizeRat3691]

I've had a few over the years, all five strings. '89 NT, was almost 13lbs. The other two were early 2000s BO and NT, each between 10lbs and 11lbs. The 2000s 5NT was the best sounding, with it's 18v 3band MEC pre and pickups. It just had that legendary THUMB sound, really the Warwick sound everyone seems to think of...

I played it for about 6 months gigging pretty regularly. Yes, after 3 months the weight became a real issue for me. But, it's a sound that's really hard to beat thru an Ampeg tube amp. Ultimately, as with every other bass I've ever owned, I sold it in search of something better. I've found basses a tiny bit easier to play, but not quite on par with that massive THUMB tone.

IMHO If your going to get a Thumb, its worth it to get a neck thru. It just sounds better. I prefer the sound of the 5 strings to the 4 strings. Probably has some to do with pickup placement, but I just love the B string on a 5nt.

It's totally worth the price of admission, and everyone should try a Thumb. It's an awesome bass!

 

[Sergius Durante]

I have a Thumb BO6 from 2017 and I have a fretless version on order.

Love the neck, love the small (but heavy) body.

That neck shape isn't for everyone for sure but I like it.

Every notes are clear and nothing sounds like a Thumb.

If you are going to play standing, put some money on a good strap that will counter the neck dive ... well it isn't really neck dive since it just want to be horizontal to the floor which isn't the case of the Tbird.

Check out Ryan Martini

Ryan Martini is actually why I found an interest in a Warwick, so that’s why I began this thread lol. I been meaning to get a 5 string for a while, and like the great lemmy, I wanted a bass that looked good, and the WW had been on my mind for years, now that I got the opportunity to try it, I might get the Thumb

(Whisper) also, if you know anyone willing to buy a Geddy Lee Jbass, just tell em I am around

 

[Lardass5000]

Im just gonna be the one to go ahead and say it. I would easily place any of my W Thumb basses against any bass in the world. In terms of pure tone and sound and focused voice Ive never played a better instrument in 33 years.I mean it sincerely.

My #1 fretless is a 2002 BO 5 ovangkol neck and body. Ebony fingerboard.
My #1 fretted is a 1999 BO 5 ovangkol neck and body. Wenge fretboard.
Both are "forever basses". Both as close to perfect as I have ever witnessed.

I prefer BO over NT. Ovangkol over Bubinga. I am 6" 3" and >250#. So never had an issue with neckdive. Use a good strap

Also gonna go out on a limb and say anyone who believes that tonewoods arent real...
....ill give you 5 seconds on my W Thumbs.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Hello all, new to posting on TB, but not new to the site at all

This is a general question regarding the Warwick thumb(or related) from those who have played, owned, or found in the back of a red pickup truck off the side of Arizona... how is it? Do you think it was worth the price/trade for it (be it used or new)? Do you own a neck thru or Bolt on, and if so which do you prefer?

I've heard that the bass is heavy to some, to others it is average, it is "comfortable, like that of a Fender J bass" (not my quote on the matter,but read and got this reply, and that and wanted to see how some would feel about that comparison), and that it sounds damn good with lots of tone potential and options.

I’ve owned three

Bo5

Nt5

Nt6

They are good basses. Definitely the most unique sounding Warwicks I’ve had a chance to play and I’ve played most of their basses.

The bolt on I had was a bit lighter than the neck throughs. Bubinga is a heavy wood so the solid bubinga body nt thumb basses are surprisingly heavy for a bass with such a small body. The bad side of that for the bolt on though is it has the worst neck dive of the thumb range. On the NTs there still is minor neck dive, nothing that can’t be tamed with a good strap though.

Personally I have never and would never pay more than $2800 for a thumb bass. There’s no way I’d pay $5600 or whatever the new street price is now. They just don’t hold value anymore. I was able to get the nt6 for $1500 and put a little money in it having the electronics reinstalled.l and bought a good case for it sold it for $2k. If I had paid $5,600 and sold it for $2k that would have been a huge money loss.

 

[Sergius Durante]

I’ve owned three

Bo5
View attachment 3423581 Nt5
View attachment 3423582 Nt6
View attachment 3423584 They are good basses. Definitely the most unique sounding Warwicks I’ve had a chance to play and I’ve played most of their basses.

The bolt on I had was a bit lighter than the neck throughs. Bubinga is a heavy wood so the solid bubinga body nt thumb basses are surprisingly heavy for a bass with such a small body. The bad side of that for the bolt on though is it has the worst neck dive of the thumb range. On the NTs there still is minor neck dive, nothing that can’t be tamed with a good strap though.
View attachment 3423585

Personally I have never and would never pay more than $2800 for a thumb bass. There’s no way I’d pay $5600 or whatever the new street price is now. They just don’t hold value anymore. I was able to get the nt6 for $1500 and put a little money in it having the electronics reinstalled.l and bought a good case for it sold it for $2k. If I had paid $5,600 and sold it for $2k that would have been a huge money loss.

Damn, those things look beautiful lol

And I understand how you feel about the price, the bass I tried at GC was about 1300 with tax, and it was an 05 BO that was a little dirty, had some average wear, but damn did it play good for what it was.

I might consider getting it and fixing it up, just need to get some money *looks evilly at my Jbass for the pain it caused me*

 

[Sergius Durante]

Im just gonna be the one to go ahead and say it. I would easily place any of my W Thumb basses against any bass in the world. In terms of pure tone and sound and focused voice Ive never played a better instrument in 33 years.I mean it sincerely.

My #1 fretless is a 2002 BO 5 ovangkol neck and body. Ebony fingerboard.
My #1 fretted is a 1999 BO 5 ovangkol neck and body. Wenge fretboard.
Both are "forever basses". Both as close to perfect as I have ever witnessed.

I prefer BO over NT. Ovangkol over Bubinga. I am 6" 3" and >250#. So never had an issue with neckdive. Use a good strap

Also gonna go out on a limb and say anyone who believes that tonewoods arent real...
....ill give you 5 seconds on my W Thumbs.
View attachment 3423588

Ugh, that Fretless is so damn beautiful.

 

[Lardass5000]

Since Ive gone "fulltime" Thumb bass Ive had a hard time justifying owning other basses. I probably owned around 20 different Warwick basses over the years but have sold them all off other than my thumbs and a custom shop streamer fretless 5 and my trusty 98Corvette. I even sold all non Warwick basses.

 

[Lardass5000]

Ugh, that Fretless is so damn beautiful.

Thanks. Best sounding fretless bass in the world as far as I'm aware of.

 

[Lardass5000]

More W Thumb porn.

 

[CRich0205]

93 BO 5 string. The neck profile was my favorite neck ever. Like a lot of people the long reach finally got me and after some numbness in my fingers towards the end of a rehearsal or a show made me sell it. I loved the tone and mine wasn’t overly heavy just hung awkward for me. Suede backed strap and all they can be a bit clunky. I miss it though and really want a Pnut signature.

 

[wvbass]

My Thumb 5 BO is my #2 behind my Spector. It is a little heavy, but that doesn't bother me. I'd say it doesn't neck dive, but the picture tells a tells a different story. I will say that it doesn't neck dive in a way that bothers me.

Tone-wise, the active pickups, preamp, and pickup position make for a really bright aggressive tone. I like to take that to the max and use the brightest steel strings that I can find. I have landed on a killer finger-style tone, but am still dialing in my pick tone. It also likes a setup with very little relief and takes a nice, low action.

In short, it has its quirks, but I love it.