Upgrading a warwick

If you're looking to ugrade to some active electronics, the Corvette is definitely a worthwile platform for the job. If you like the way it plays, you'll only like it better with the right set of electronics and pickups in there.

 

Own both a Spector Euro 4 neck thru LX and a Corvette (albeit fretless)
Hit me up with a private message with any questions.
-J

 

I can definitely recommend Aero pickups!!!!!! I just put a set in my active and I LOVE them Plus Larry is a real nice guy, and will be very honest with you about the sound you want to achieve. That is whether he can help you or not.

 

Well the bass was over or close to $1,000

Upgrading the premp / tone circuit would be about $150 and pickups would be another $100 or so (depending on what you want)
I am basing my prices on my upgrades for my thumb 4 string.
Basslines AJJ-1 pickups with Basslines STC-2A Tone Circuit

Pickups were over $100 and the tone circuit was $90

Would $200 be worth making your investment sound even better? I think so... if not, ebay them and get most of your cash back.

I based my mods on bassist's rigs whom I admire or like their sound. For me and my warwicks, I chose bassists from 311, Incubus, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot and others like that who use Warwicks w/ different pickups to narrow down my decision and for my style of music i play.

 

I replaced the MEC preamp in my Corvette (swamp ash/bubinga body, flame maple fretboard) with an Aguilar OBP-3 and it is MUCH better than the MEC pre was—both tremendously more transparent, and much more finess in altering the tone. Just managed to fit in both batteries.

I also replaced PUs with Barts and that was also an improvement, but not as huge. I tend to play passive more than active, but the OBP is so neutral that I'm leaving it on most of the time (there is a bit less hash when I'm practicing when in active, but with a band you'd never know it).

 

Bump. Thinking about doing this with my passive 'Vette Standard too.

 

Bartolini is the only brand I've found that goes sor that phat bottom end that I like. (Granted, I've only played out of three brands, but you get the picture.) Paired with an Aggy OBP-3, it should make you crap your pants with excitement. I'm actually hoping to do a project with either a Toby Pro or a Rock bass, and install a Bart/Aggy setup.

-ryan-

 

Before you switch pickups, get the OBP-3 and try it—the smallest twist on the bass knob adds a lot of bottom. With the MEC (stock) preamp I would occasionally put the bass up all the way, but the Agie makes the windows shake too much if I do that. And I love being able to add or pull a bit of midrange out without messing with my head. That said, the Barts do have more "blossom" then the MEC PUs did.

 

I'm minutes away from bidding on a passive warwick corvette with a bubinga body... But just out of interest, if I get it and hate the passive sound (unlikely) and decide to stick an Aguilar OBP-3 in there when I sell my Fender amp in January... Does everyone just drill another hole in the control cavity for the mid control? Or is there another way of doing it?? I've done a lot of modifications to my old bass (including ripping out the frets literally with a pair of pliars) and perhaps don't take enough care of my Traben as I should... But this bass is a PROPER bass - And I'd like to keep it in pristine condition...

 

Aguilar makes a stacked treble/bass option, so you still have just 4 "knobs." The knobs that fit their concentric shaft are a different style than the domed ones on the Warwick. I ended up drilling 2 more small holes for switches: one splits my bridge humbucker, the other is active/passive. (I'm using the pull out on the volume to switch midrange frequency; I always had problems with how easy it was to knock the volume and change from active to passive, and like the mini toggle much better.)