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Thumb 5 Versatile?

Matthew_84

Matthew_84

Nov 7, 2010
6,497
5,101
Greater Toronto Area, Canada
#1
I want to get the most growly bass that I can think of, and that bass seems to be a thumb. I'd also want it to be my first and only fretted 5 string. I'd like to put DR SS Lo Riders on it as well.

This will equal the growly 5'er that I'm looking for, but I'm a bit concerned I'll turn it into a one trick pony. The neck pickup on the 5'er is still pretty close to the bridge, which is what helps with the growl.

Anybody been able to coax some pretty warm tones out of this, even with SS rounds on it?
 
#2
Matthew_84 said:
I want to get the most growly bass that I can think of, and that bass seems to be a thumb. I'd also want it to be my first and only fretted 5 string. I'd like to put DR SS Lo Riders on it as well.

This will equal the growly 5'er that I'm looking for, but I'm a bit concerned I'll turn it into a one trick pony. The neck pickup on the 5'er is still pretty close to the bridge, which is what helps with the growl.

Anybody been able to coax some pretty warm tones out of this, even with SS rounds on it?
Click to expand...

I used a Thumb 5 BO for 12 years and covered a variety of styles from rock to soul/funk and punk to reggae and pretty much everything in between. They are fantastic basses and I surely will own another one some day!
 
#3
The Thumb 5 has always been my dream bass ever since I started watching Ryan Martinie play one in Mudvayne. Just sounded so unique on L.D. 50 that it got me into wanting to replicate that myself on a Thumb.

I just got the bolt on version on eBay and it should be here Monday, I seriously can't wait to play it.
 
#4
Thumbs (I've owned a couple and played quite a few) are very focused sounding basses - lots of upper midrange and not a whole lot of bass. They can be great when that's the sound you're looking for but if I was seeking versatility I'd look elsewhere.
 
#5
bass12 said:
Thumbs (I've owned a couple and played quite a few) are very focused sounding basses - lots of upper midrange and not a whole lot of bass. They can be great when that's the sound you're looking for but if I was seeking versatility I'd look elsewhere.
Click to expand...

I've had several Thumbs and, like with any bass that has an onboard preamp, you have to know how to use your eq. I've found this bass to be very versatile. But, of course, "versatility" is subjective.

The OP is correct in that the bass is so growly because the pickups are closer to the bridge. However, this does not detract from the versatility, IMHO.
 
#6
Thanks guys,

I don't want it to be able to do everything. I just want to be able to tame the growl a bit if I need to. I guess if I focus on the neck pup, boost the bass, and cut the high mids, then it should be good enough. I have a 4 string Streamer LX that will get flats on it, when I get the thumb, so I'll cover the other end of the spectrum with that
 
#7
bongostealth said:
I've had several Thumbs and, like with any bass that has an onboard preamp, you have to know how to use your eq. I've found this bass to be very versatile. But, of course, "versatility" is subjective.

The OP is correct in that the bass is so growly because the pickups are closer to the bridge. However, this does not detract from the versatility, IMHO.
Click to expand...

Absolutely true. Very versatile bass. I've been playing my Thumb 5 NT since I bought it new in 2003 as my main bass. The EQ is very flexible. People tend to forget the range of sounds that right hand technique will get you. Play over the pickups; play over the fingerboard; use the pad of your finger; vary your attacks, etc...then use the EQ to fine tune.

I have found the Thumb to be a very unforgiving bass. When I started playing mine, I noticed everything. Every string noise, every tonal difference... It really made me clean up my playing, and helped me play with much more consistancy in my technique.

Any bass is only going to give back what you put in (well, unless its a Variax). It's up to the player to really get to know their instrument.
 
#8
I've only ever touched two very briefly (one a Pro series and the other a used German 4 string) and I'd have to say in their natural state, they are the most unique sounding bass around. They have a voice that can only come from a Thumb. I would think that means its hard to get away from just that tone, but the guys here that use them regularly would know better than I would. A 5 string has both pickups very close to the bridge, making tonal options more limited in my mind, but that's merely a guess.

What I feel 100% confident in saying is that they are an oddly designed bass with guaranteed neck dive unless you wear them high like Ryan Martinie does. Although the Pro Series model I tried was amazingly light and more well balanced, however the low grunt of the Thumb suffered from the lighter woods.

All that said, if I won the lottery a nice Thumb would definitely be on my shopping list.
 
#9
bongostealth said:
I've had several Thumbs and, like with any bass that has an onboard preamp, you have to know how to use your eq. I've found this bass to be very versatile. But, of course, "versatility" is subjective.

The OP is correct in that the bass is so growly because the pickups are closer to the bridge. However, this does not detract from the versatility, IMHO.
Click to expand...

The Thumb BO 4 that I had was a great bass with a wonderful tone. But I could never get the bass out of it that I wanted. Even with the bass frequencies boosted 100% it wasn't enough. My neck-through 5 was a disaster. Boosting the bass would only result in muddiness. The bass was absolutely useless in a band mix. I played Warwicks exclusively for three years (I also owned a Streamer Stage 1) and had a pretty good grasp of the preamps. Having said that, I've played Thumb 5s that were much better sounding than the one I owned but, to me, they're always a little too narrow sounding (frequency spectrum-wise) for my tastes.
 
#10
my thumb 5 NT is simply glorious
it is a one trick pony in a sense; but it IS the trick.
it is the heaviest bass I have ever owned as well.
for me, it has it all going on. piano like clarity and evenness in tone.
it is the sound in my head and could listen to it all day long.
 
#11
bass12 said:
The Thumb BO 4 that I had was a great bass with a wonderful tone. But I could never get the bass out of it that I wanted. Even with the bass frequencies boosted 100% it wasn't enough. My neck-though 5 was a disaster. Boosting the bass would only result in muddiness. The bass was absolutely useless in a band mix. I played Warwicks exclusively for three years (I also owned a Streamer Stage 1) and had a pretty good grasp of the preamps. Having said that, I've played Thumb 5s that were much better sounding than the one I owned but, to me, they're always a little too narrow sounding (frequency spectrum-wise) for my tastes.
Click to expand...

Hmmm. That's interesting, but a legitimate experience nonetheless. Occasionally, these things do happen.
 
#13
joebar said:
my thumb 5 NT is simply glorious
it is a one trick pony in a sense; but it IS the trick.
it is the heaviest bass I have ever owned as well.
for me, it has it all going on. piano like clarity and evenness in tone.
it is the sound in my head and could listen to it all day long.
Click to expand...

The Thumb is not any more or less a one trick pony than a Precision or Stingray. Will you get Gibson tones out of it? No. That being said the Thumb is an incredibly well crafted instrument, on par with its price point (new). The beauty of the Thumb is in the resale value when you buy it used, there is no comparison for the cost on the used market. IMO.
 
#14
4OnTheFloor said:
The Thumb is not any more or less a one trick pony than a Precision or Stingray. Will you get Gibson tones out of it? No. That being said the Thumb is an incredibly well crafted instrument, on par with its price point (new). The beauty of the Thumb is in the resale value when you buy it used, there is no comparison for the cost on the used market. IMO.
Click to expand...

This is another excellent point. Of course this could be both good and bad. If the resale value is not as high as the seller would want, then it might be disappointing. However, it's an excellent thing for the buyer. I have bought my Thumbs used in like-new condition for less than half of what I would have paid new. I just could not beat it. By far the best values I have come across.
 
#16
I have owned a thumb 5 neck thru as well. Because of the pickup configuration and the wood choice, I do believe that the sound is more limited than other basses. The thumb has a distinct sound that is pretty easy to pick out of a recording. It is a wonderful bass, and the eq does offer some flexibility, but if I was searching for versatility, this would not be my first bass choice.
 
#17
It is versatile in that you could play any music style you wanted to on it but that said, it will always sound like a thumb. It will not be able to sound like a fender jazz or P or like a stingray... It is by far the growliest bass I have owned and also the most unique sounding.

The MEC preamp in my opinion is not suited to the 5 as it lacks a bit of the deep low end that many players seek but their preamp bass knob is centered at 100hz which only muds up the tone. The older models with the wenge necks growl a bit differently. The older thumbs with the Bart or EMG preamps also have a lower frequency center on the bass allowing them to sound deeper and more preferable to some people
 
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