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The Key to a Killer Warwick

#81
I have a 2002 4 string Thumb BO that I love to death, but the tone isn't what I want. I have had for 10 years and it's been a great bass. I have been thinking about switching out the stock MEC pickups and putting in Aero pickups in the bass. Plus thinking about getting the Mike Pope electronics/preamp. I love the sound of Fodera's and since I've done some research on older model's of Fodera's they used to use Aero pickups in their basses. I just wanted to know if you guys have used Aero pickups or have any input on this set up option.

I play finger style, mostly jazz and fusion. I pay the bills with a classic rock band where I use a TecAmp Puma 1000 and a Bergantino HT322.

Suggestions would be great.

-Adam
 
#82
You would be suprised at what an Audere preamp can do. BO no mid controls and control of the mids on a Thumb can give you so much more without switching out pickups. I have heard and owned Thumbs and different Wicks with EMG, Duncan, Bartolini and many preamps. I do like the Barts in a Thumb they seem to helf give some meat to the D and G strings that can sound thin at times.

Just make sure you get the size right on the pups Warwicks are same size in bridge and neck positions on Thumbs as stock. I think like 93 mm wide.

Let us know and hear what you do.
 
#85
I find it funny that people think tinkering is going to take away the Warwick growl. I have a 88 thumb with stock emg pickups and an MEC 2 band. Some Warwicks had stock barts and some had Seymour Duncan pres. Thumbs from the factory from different years sound different and have different configurations but still have Warwick growl. I think it's in the tone woods, frets hardware and construction. Nothing I've ever heard sounds like a Warwick
 
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#86
I just dropped the Seymour-Duncan STC-3a and STC-2a preamps into my Streamer LX 6 and Corvette Std 5, respectively. I'd definitely give them a serious look into how they work with the current pickups (the Streamer has MECs, and the 'vette has SD AJB-5 pickups) in the overall tonal sound.

Simply put, the 3 band in the Streamer LX gives me much more fine tuning (but we know that one already), and the 2 band working with the SD pups in the Corvette gives me a monstrous low end that borders on that vintage J sound.

I use GHS Progressives (exposed cores on the E and B) on the 5 and GHS Contact Core Super Steel (all tapered/exposed) on the 6. I've found if you buy the "narrow" bridge string saddles (as in, the ones usually used for the C, G and D strings), it allows you to better fine tune the height and intonation of the lower strings. I did this on my 'vette, and have an easier time.
 
#87
bongostealth said:
Preferred Brand of Pickups: so far my favorites are MEC and Seymour Duncan Basslines. I would have to say that I prefer the Basslines over the MECs. I find that they are brighter and slightly hotter. They beautifully capture that typical Warwick growl and just sound killer. In addition, you can get a pair of Basslines (the Phase I ASB) for $190. This is an incredible value for what you get.

:bassist:
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot bongostealth, great info. I can't seem to find the specific model of Basslines that you reference (Phase I ASB) for a 4 string passive Warwick Corvette. On Seymour Duncan's site, I see STK-J1, STK-J2, SJB-1, SJB-2, SJB-3, AJJ-1, AJJ-2. I wan't to keep the bass fully passive. Which model should I get?

Have you tried the DiMarzio Area J or Ultra Jazz? Thoughts on those? Other TB-ers stated they liked the Area J's.
 
#91
CDECA648-02CC-4747-BCAA-82764E8A90CE-5966-00000495BAB05040.jpg
 
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#92
So I switched out my EMG pickups to a set of Delano JMVC 4 fe/m2 Pickups. I LOVE the look of the delano pickups and the tone is very unique. They have incredible clarity and tend to have strong Lows and Mids but the highs dont seem to be over the top. Overall I am very happy with the tone and am excited to hear them with the new Glockenklang preamp that I ordered. The tone is very clear and it doesnt really seem to have much of its own color. I think it transfers the natural sound of the bass well and they do have a lot of punch. They are also very quiet. Let me know what you think of the tone. I recorded a clip of them and did split pickups, then bridge, then neck. I also will post a clip of my EMG pups playing the same thing and balanced in the middle. Looking forward to feedback.

F6C2010D-C704-48AB-A217-D38BCBF6DA46-2499-00000267D14C50EB.jpg


A256C0A2-0845-4923-B6C6-57C33BAF1A61-2499-000002678232C465.jpg


0A1B9448-FBEC-4E8B-BA6E-28B52F19AB9D-2499-000002678910B8AD.jpg


EE010B26-B96C-419A-B4ED-9F9B70E6300A-2499-0000026791D972A8.jpg


421893ED-31F0-4897-8656-BB96079CDFC5-2499-000002679EF22FCE.jpg


E5BFCA4E-941D-4C64-BEEE-03DD40CCDC4F-2499-00000267A7113590.jpg


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EMG PICKUPS BALANCED IN THE MIDDLE
http://soundcloud.com/daniel-meichtry/thumb-bass-groove

Delano Pickups Middle,Bridge,Neck
http://soundcloud.com/daniel-meichtry/thumb-bass-delano-jmvc
 
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#93
ilikebass7 said:
So I switched out my EMG pickups to a set of Delano JMVC 4 fe/m2 Pickups. I LOVE the look of the delano pickups and the tone is very unique. They have incredible clarity and tend to have strong Lows and Mids but the highs dont seem to be over the top. Overall I am very happy with the tone and am excited to hear them with the new Glockenklang preamp that I ordered. The tone is very clear and it doesnt really seem to have much of its own color. I think it transfers the natural sound of the bass well and they do have a lot of punch. They are also very quiet. Let me know what you think of the tone. I recorded a clip of them and did split pickups, then bridge, then neck. I also will post a clip of my EMG pups playing the same thing and balanced in the middle. Looking forward to feedback.
Click to expand...

Congratulations on the Delano install! Your bass looks absolutely fantastic! Your bass sounds incredible and with the Glockenklang preamp, your Delanos will sound phenomenal.

I myself recently installed Delano dual-coil pickups in my Thumb 6 NT. I paired the pickups with an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp. I am VERY happy with the results. It was THE tone I was looking to achieve for this bass. This bass now has some serious balls!! Delano pickups are my new standard. They are simply fantastic.

Thank you for posting this.
 
#98
I love Warwicks too, it was my first good bass as well. A friend of mine who is a phenomenal bass player, manages a music store, and recently traveled to Texas to accompany and play alongside Becky Barksdale, who was being inducted into the Texas music hall of fame(or whatever it is called) He has talked about Warwicks with me at length, and the funniest thing he has to say about them is, "Warwicks are great instruments, but they are NOT THE SOUND OF WOOD, they are the sound of electronics, a good P bass, now thats the sound of wood, I wanna hear and feel the guitar, I dont think you get that with the Warwick"

just thought it was an interesting take on it. flame on I guess.:hiding:
 
#99
almightycrunch said:
I love Warwicks too, it was my first good bass as well. A friend of mine who is a phenomenal bass player, manages a music store, and recently traveled to Texas to accompany and play alongside Becky Barksdale, who was being inducted into the Texas music hall of fame(or whatever it is called) He has talked about Warwicks with me at length, and the funniest thing he has to say about them is, "Warwicks are great instruments, but they are NOT THE SOUND OF WOOD, they are the sound of electronics, a good P bass, now thats the sound of wood, I wanna hear and feel the guitar, I dont think you get that with the Warwick"

just thought it was an interesting take on it. flame on I guess.:hiding:
Click to expand...

No reason to flame...its simply one person's opinion!

FWIW, I've heard just about every model of Warwick bass made, with every preamp/pickup combination available...they all maintain the Warwick sound.
 
#100
I don't "need" to mid my Warwick to get a good tone. I am just looking for a certain flavor to the Warwick tone. It still sounds like a Warwick it just adds a different spice to the Warwick tone. I am and always will be a huge fan of Warwick tone and playability. I prefer slim neck Warwicks but the sound is Warwick through every model I have ever tried.
 

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