similar sounding basses to warwick thumb

[CapnSev]

It’s one of the greatest sounding, and worst feeling, basses ever made.

 

[Munjibunga]

I've played a few basses that sound a bit like Thumbs but funnily enough, nothing sounds truly like a Thumb. The closest thing I've heard to a Thumb is funnily enough, a Warwick Dolphin but they're even more expensive than Thumbs. The old Corvettes with bubinga bodies weren't miles away from the Thumb sound but even they don't mimic them perfectly.

Not to be confused with funnelly.

 

[socialleper]

I am going to add my voice to the chorus of people that are saying you need to save up for a Thumb if you want that sound.
First you have the "Warwick sound" which is pretty unique in of its self. The design and woods are pretty particular to them.
Then you have the design of the Thumb its self. The small body, and distinct pickup placement are unique.
There are a handful of boutique basses that get a similar growl and glassy high end, but they are still over $2k.
Warwick had an Asian built bolt on version with a gloss finish that had 80% of the sound of a German made Thumb. They came in around $1400, but I don't know if they are still in production.

 

[Mr.Ace]

I had a thumb bo5 for a couple years. I’ve never encountered anything like it. Very good bass.

 

[socialleper]

FYI, as others have pointed out, the design of a Thumb is a little quirky. They really only sit well if you wear them at your stomach or higher, and the neck goes way off to the left.

 

[India_Sierra]

As with any bass, the location of the pickups is the greatest contributor to the tone (actually, "voice" or "character" would be a better word).

The biggest reason for the unique tone of Thumb basses is the location of the pickups (both near the bridge and slanted). Find another bass with the same pickup location/configuration and you'll find a similar tone.

Other things come into play too (woods, construction, bridge, etc.) but the pickup location makes the biggest difference (and often is the most overlooked factor).

The pickup placement is important. The 'Thumbiest' sounding Thumb I've played was my old BO 4 string with a wenge neck. By contrast, I had a 5 string broad neck Thumb with an ovangkol neck and two soap boars in 'jazz' positions. That just sounded boomy and rather toneless. My brother has an 5 string BO with an ovangkol neck with two singlecoils slanted right by the bridge which is somewhere in the middle (I haven't played it enough to see what the tone is really like).

I find myself preferring the sound of the NT Thumbs more now, with their slightly more pronounced upper mid tone.

 

[somebrains]

Go thru a junk pile and find a Hamer XT.
Add EMGs and a MEC preamp but splice in another 9v.

EMG + OBP is a good choice also.

There, you get something surprising for under $400.

 

[deniz2415]

Go thru a junk pile and find a Hamer XT.
Add EMGs and a MEC preamp but splice in another 9v.

EMG + OBP is a good choice also.

There, you get something surprising for under $400.

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I need to know what that sounds like. please tell me you have some sound demos or something