• 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.

Should i be gassing for a Warwick?

#61
if you are looking for a multi-dimensional bass including stingray and jazz tones, you have many options!
Not to discount Warwick, but there are many basses out there offering MM/J configurations. Lakland skyline 44-02 or 55-02 come to mind. I play an import model Human Base OCX5 which is my most versatile bass. It has 2 delano humbuckers with switchable single coil mode and 3 band preamp. What else has caught your eye? any reason you are just looking at Warwicks? They are very attractive but the ones I have laid hands on have felt chunky in the neck.
 
#66
floydman said:
They are very attractive but the ones I have laid hands on have felt chunky in the neck.
Click to expand...

Yep, it's true. My Streamer stage I is much closer to my P bass's neck than to my J bass's neck. My 77 Jazz has a very slender neck width down at the nut, but it does have some neck depth. I found I acclimated to the Wick neck after about a week of playing it though, and it was never really a problem.
 
#67
i wanna give +1 to the comment that the thumb is the warwick sound. it all happens with the wenge and the bubinga, with an active preamp. i actually had a custom bass made, that sounds like a warwick, and is as scary looking as a vampyre and an omega combined.

needless to say it weighs 13 lbs, and never gets played.

weight really is something worth considering, and i am only 34. perhaps you wont feel anything if you are a fit 22 year old
 
#70
dkelley said:
Corvette.... can i cop the tone with existing gear and eq and effects?

Or streamer lx or jazzman for trying to be versatile but can they get classic warwick bubinga tones like an old bub corvette standard?
Click to expand...

No. Not IME. Owned a bubinga active corvette for a while, and a streamer jazzman. Jazzman didn't have the growl or bottom of the corvette. I sold my corvette because at the time I wasn't fond of the weight (weight don't bother me any more), but more importantly because I had a hell of time getting it to sit right in the mix in a lot of rooms I was playing. Got a lot of uncontrollable boom (mud), or sizzly and clacky high end. Doesn't mean other can't get it to work wonderfully for them. Anyhoo... after several warwicks, I found happiness in a fortress one with a wenge neck. Has all the growl of the corvette, with a lot less weight, and it's EQed much better IMO. It didn't get the earth shaking lows the corvette did, but I didn't want em anyway. Sits nicely, easily, into any band mix I've thrown it. Also, the jazzmen aren't as versatile as the look. Not sure why either. They've got a lot going on hardware wise, but that hardware don't take it to nearly as many places as I wished it had. Sold that too. Of 5 warwicks I've owned I only held onto my Fortress One, and my Flashback. Flashback is surprisingly versatile, especially for a passive bass.
 
#71
At the moment owning a EBMM Bongo 5HSP, MIA Fender Jazz and a cheap (albeit german made) Warwick Streamer Std, I must admit the warwick is worth GASing for. The Warwick tone is unique and aggressive especially when compared to my Jazz. I'll also admit that a little taste has me craving a higher end model and the fact that I can't seem to find Warwicks in local stores anymore is probably what makes me want one more!!
 
#72
Should you be gassing for a Warwick?

Simply, yes. They're exellent instruments, beautifully made and very versatile, tonally, while still having that legendary Warwick growl on tap. They're also quite individual, which is an achievement in the world of Fender clones we live in. Are they the bass for you? Only you can answer that but I would certainly recommend getting your hands on a few and trying them out.
 
#73
After years of playing Warwick's almost exclusively, I can say they are excellent basses in every way(except the ergonomics of Thumbs). I had a Corvette 5 and two thumbs, a 4 and a 5. I prefer the more aggressive tone of the thumbs, which ultimately led me to Spectors, which I now play 80% of the time. The other 20% is split between a P Bass and, yes, a Warwick. :)

I have a Special Edition Redwood Streamer LX that I love and really need to sell, just can't get myself to do it. It's an amazing bass. Unlike the comment above, I actually find the adjustability of Warwicks to be very special and the ritual of waxing something I enjoy. I also enjoy setting up basses, so maybe that's why it doesn't bother me. Overall, great basses.

Not more than 30 minutes every few months, and some Howard's Feed n' Wax and Gargomyte for the board and brass frets is all it takes.

You can really bond with your bass when she's all stripped down and glistening wet! :)

24BFEF99-E5AD-4B95-9F9C-A7081A4F9E48_zpser4k7lsz.jpg
 
Last edited:
#74
Warwicks are very well made basses, and due to the wenge necks, very unique sounding.
The Thumb is the most 'Warwicky' of them all, mostly due to the combination of thick/wenge/ovangkol neck and bridge-pickup placement... especially the 5 stringers.
Ridiculous amounts of growl and punch (which is why I own one).
Very dry sounding, and low-mid rangey.
Excellent for rock/metal/tap and yeah, thumbing.

Traditional, Thumbs are not; modern, they most certainly are.

A Streamer Stage II will get you the most versatility combined with that modern Warwick growl you can get, and you pay for it. A Streamer Stage I will be more traditional sounding, but still have that signature growl due to the neck.

By the way, Thumbs (at least the 5 string bolt on I have) don't neck dive, they sit horizontal, or just above, like has been mentioned already. Don't let others convince you of something so subjective as neck dive. Where you want the headstock to be as you play is relative to your taste. Of course, I had a Gibson that wouldn't even sit horizontal, and always wanted to head dive to the floor. Now that is neck dive!

You want the headstock out and just above your waistline, get a Thumb or Corvette.
You want the headstock up by your ear, get a Fortress or Streamer.
It's all relative to your needs, playing style, etc.

I say, get a used Streamer stage I or II and enjoy.
If you don't like it after a month or so of getting used to it, it will sell pretty quickly.
I'd advise against buying a new Warwick, because they are imported from Germany, and you'll pay a ton of money for one, with no hope of recouping (low resale-from-new value). Think Audi, Porsche, Mercedes...
Might as well order a custom shop one at that point and get exactly what you want for high dollar.
Which I totally wish I could.

With a used Wick, you get what you pay for, and often more.
Because again, they are very well made instruments.

Heavy? Um, it's a bass, not a ukelele.
I've tried balsa wood weighted basses, and they all seem to suck tonally. Flat and lifeless, bleh.
Unless you have serious back/neck/shoulder problems, weight shouldn't be an issue with a well made strap and regular exercise. IDK, maybe I work out more than other bass players, but weight is a none issue for me, and I'm no large mammal type human, pretty average really. Or maybe I just need to tour more. (well, I certainly need to tour more!)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: nolezmaj
#75
Great post! Something I don't read much when it comes to these Wick weight/dive issues is "adapt"! As a species we're remarkably able to adapt to most changes we encounter. Maybe bass species not so much. Bassers seem so needy in the specs they require. Maybe it's because most musicians are high maintenance in this regard specifically or just plain PIAs in general.
 
#76
Agreed... adapt.

However, I can still see why many would be turned off by the Thumb's inherent 10 degree above horizontal neck positioning.

My background is classical guitar (when I was a kid).
So when I switched to electric bass at age 19, I wanted the guitar to sit like my classical did, headstock by my left ear.
I had an Ibanez for a while that did that pretty well.

But ever since I fell in love with the Thumb bass, I got over that requirement, and now am used to fretting down at waist level, away from my body, instead of up at my chest and closer to my body. I still prefer the classical position (much more comfortable), which is why I want a Fortress One someday, just so I have that option. But I've learned to play the Thumb the way it was designed to be played. Lifting it up over the belt-line helps, and is where it was made to be played. Not as cool as down between your knees, but whatever, I look cool when I play well.

Anyway, as I mentioned, there are Wicks that balance according to everyone's needs.
Just have to try em out to see what fits.
 
#77
My carvin bb sits by ear if desired and is light nt and super easy action up to fret 24. But it has a distinct tone that i cant get away from yet. I will swap the pre to a bart to see if its better tho without taking away what i love about the carvin tone. I also have an emg vari mid sitting ready new to go into whatever i decide will be my number 1... hopefully the warwick jm im going to see today... adds versatile mid eq with transparent neutral setting.

Oddly my cheap esp ltd 6 string is an excellent bass after i set it up (nut slot filing, truss tightening, saddle lowering a LOT, new XLs) which irritates me no end because it shouldnt be so awesome.... nicer and more expressive and faster for me than much pricier btb i once had. Quality doesnt always come at a price.
 
Last edited:
#78
Ok i bought one

07 streamer lx jazzman

Setup is INSANELY high but neck has only subtle relief so presumably its nut and bridge height ill start with.

Mec preamp with passive mode. That might turn into bart ntbt 2 band with emg varimid because i have those sitting around. Ill leave it alone for now.

Not happy with giant D neck above 12th fret but lower range feels good. Lowered action and time to try it out for couple weeks...
 
#79
I just had 45 seconds with it (more later tonight) so rapidly worked out how to lower entire bridge... loosen middle screws.... lower corner screws to suit... tighten middle screws.. maybe didnt need to touch middle ones but felt safer doing it lol

Ton of difference just like that!

Will loosen strings and adjust nut later ... also ridiculously high.... but liking things so far
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back