• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

rockbass by warwick

A

ARCtrooper225

May 21, 2006
405
1
Somers, New York
www.myspace.com
#1
Hi, I know warwick has a line called rock bass (I always said it was the epiphone/OLP/squier of warwick if you get what I mean) and I couldn't find a rockbass thumb. I don't know much about that "warwick tine" that everyone's always talking about but I really love Ryan Martinie's tone (mudvayne) would it be possible to get it on a rockbass corvette or streamer (I know he plays a thumb...) Thanks :bassist:
 
#2
The quality of the Rockbass line of basses is far better than most of the OLP/Squier/Epiphone type guitars, but Rockbasses don't sound anything remotely close to the German made counterparts.

A big part of the Warwick sound is the dense, exotic woods they tend to use (wenge/ovangkol/bubinga/etc). A Thumb sounds like a Thumb because of the construction and blend of woods they use. The Rockbasses tend to use cheaper, more readily available parts like ash bodies/maple necks/rosewood fingerboards and so have more traditional tones. Not necessarily a bad thing if you're going for more flexibility. But the signature Warwick sound is something you're only going to get with a German Warwick.

I've owned both and I think that getting a good used, lower-end German made Warwick is a better option that a Rockbass. An older Warwick Thumb Bolt-On (with full Wenge neck as opposed to the ovangkol) would be the best "budget" approximation of the current Warwick Thumb neck thru (and I think the older ones have better necks and feel to boot).

See the differences for yourself:
http://www.warwickbass.com/basses/
Link Removed
 
#3
To answer your question short and sweet...no, you will not be able to get the Ryan Martinie tone out of a Rockbass. Hell, I have a thumb neck-thru and still cant get his tone exactly:D ...I think its the lack of a compressor.

But if you do want something similar, i would recommend getting the Corvette Rockbass (being that it has the J pickups), slapping some DR strings on it and boosting your low mids a tad and keeping everything else on your EQ pretty flat. That can give a similar tone but it will still lack some of the Ryan-ness.

Just as a side note, the Rockbasses are excellent basses for the price and you won't be disappointed...until you try an actual Warwick that is...
 
#6
I know there used to be a Rockbass Thumb. I've seen one or two black 4 strings on ebay over the years. They must have not sold ell, are played very good or they were so good that the people who bought them never gave them up.


I've played the Rockbass Fortress, Corvette and Streamer and they are pretty good basses for the money, but they don't sound like the "real" thing.
 
#7
My son had a Rock Bass Corvette 5 string and we both hated it. It had the fattest neck I ever played, like a base ball bat. We got rid of it and it was hard to sell.

It was a lot lighter than your typical true warwick though.
 
#8
I have been playing a Rockbass Corvette for 2 years now. I also have been playing lots and lots of basses so I know what I want when It's time to upgrade.

The Rockbass won't give you the trademark Warwick thump (we'll maybe a weak version of it), but I actually like the Rockbass better than the "Real" Warwicks. If you do buy one, be careful, I've noticed the newer Rockbasses vary greatly in neck size and quality! I don't know why but some necks are like baseball bats and some are thin (mine is thin). I also had to fix a few minor things on my Rockbass but I don't mind making a few repairs. I think the wood had to adjust the first season in change in NY (resulting in some screws etc.. coming loose), but seems stable now.

Bottom line is, I can't find many Basses that play as well as my rockbass for the price I paid fo it. When I can upgrade one day, I'll probably go right to a Music Man Sterling or similar.
 
#9
I think you'd be best to get a used passive corvette 4 string, and upgrade the electronics as time goes on. The other option would be to look for some of the "standard" warwicks that were around before the rockbass. These were MIG and not too bad in quality. They had the dense necks. Might be worth a try.
 
#10
Yep... You can always hunt down a warwick corvette on ebay thats pretty cheap... I've played one and it doesnt have the growl that the thumb does... But it def. sounds awesome. I played a fretless corvette awhile back and loved it. It doesnt compare to my 6 string thumb bo... But its a warwick! And you cant go wrong with a warwick :)
 
#11
I LOVE my Rockbass Corvette 5! It was in the price range I was looking for and after trying nearly everything in the store under $1000, I couldn't find anything better (IMO). As for the German Warwick tone, I wouldn't know because I've never played one. I'm sure they're great (the company wouldn't have their great rep if they weren't) but it wasn't an option I was pursuing.

GK Club Member # V
 
#12
Barkless Dog said:
My son had a Rock Bass Corvette 5 string and we both hated it. It had the fattest neck I ever played, like a base ball bat. We got rid of it and it was hard to sell.

It was a lot lighter than your typical true warwick though.
Click to expand...

I just tried out the 5string Rockbas Corvette, and i noticed the same. The neck was way to fat. The sound was ok. But the playability sucked. Overall, it is a nice instrument - if you find it with the normal neck version.
 
#13
There was never a Rockbass Thumb.

The Rockbass line includes:

Streamer
Corvette
Fortress
Vampyre

I've owned Rockbass Corvettes and Streamers.

The Warwick Rockbasses are wonderful quality instruments - far better than OLP/Squire etc...

It is true that they lack the Warwick Growl though.....I'm convinced that's in the timber.

Rockbasses use Alder and Carolena for body timbers, Maple necks with Rosewood fretboards, and Tiger Stipe Ebony fingerboards on the fretless models.

:)
 
#14
I just bought a Warwick Rockbass Streamer Standard tonight and it was dirt cheap and plays amazing.

I bring my kids to a huge local guitar retailer 2x per week for lessons and have nothing better to do than play everything in the bass department for half an hour or so each time. After playing all of the Warwicks, Fenders, Gibsons, etc. I fell in love with the cheapest bass in the store.

I personally hate Warwick MIG basses as the sound just doesn't fit with the music I play. I have played everything in their line from the Corvette to the highest end 5 and 6 strings and I just don't like them (to each their own though!).

I play a Music Man Stingray 4 and a Bongo 5 and this Rockbass will fit nicely for gigging.

BTW, the Sunburst finish now available on the Streamer looks excellent!

The only unknown is that I have yet to play this bass at any serious volume and don't know how it will stand up to gigging (staying in tune and the like).

Seems like great value for the money IMO.
 
#15
Baird6869 said:
I just bought a Warwick Rockbass Streamer Standard tonight and it was dirt cheap and plays amazing.

I bring my kids to a huge local guitar retailer 2x per week for lessons and have nothing better to do than play everything in the bass department for half an hour or so each time. After playing all of the Warwicks, Fenders, Gibsons, etc. I fell in love with the cheapest bass in the store.

I personally hate Warwick MIG basses as the sound just doesn't fit with the music I play. I have played everything in their line from the Corvette to the highest end 5 and 6 strings and I just don't like them (to each their own though!).

I play a Music Man Stingray 4 and a Bongo 5 and this Rockbass will fit nicely for gigging.

BTW, the Sunburst finish now available on the Streamer looks excellent!

The only unknown is that I have yet to play this bass at any serious volume and don't know how it will stand up to gigging (staying in tune and the like).

Seems like great value for the money IMO.
Click to expand...


I've had two of the Rockbass Streamers.

They're seriously great basses for the money.

It'll stand up to gigging perfectly well...don't fear ;)

One thing you might find is that the pup output is very low. They sound great, but the output is low.

If your amp has sufficient gain it won't be a problem.

If you run out of gain you can use an outboard pre amp to boost the signal. I use a Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster to give me some clean boost. It works very nicely.
 
#17
Anyone ever find an good replacement for the pups for a Rockbass Corvette active? Just wondering...A new Bass insn't in the cards for me yet. I've got the action set-up nice and everything, I just I can never find the sweet spot for the stock MEJ pups. :bassist:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back