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Warrior Club Part 2

#1,061
p12bassnut said:
Ready for prime time !
Fixed a wiring issue
Installed lightweight tuners
Fret level and crown/polish
Full setup and new sunbeams
I've got to say, this is the best playing bass I have put my hands on in a long time ! Love the tone as well !
View attachment 7364154
Click to expand...
That’s a looker for sure! Very classy looking bass.

I totally love my Warrior with the Big Boy/X5 pickup configuration.
I’ve never attempted any type of independent gain buffer for each pickup.
I’ll be honest, I’ve heard (and read) where players complain about the unequal output of the two pickups in the Big Boy configuration and I guess that I don’t get where that’s an issue. I always play with a blend of the two pickups so I just use the blend control to get the tone I’m looking for. I rarely solo either pickup on the Big Boy configuration or the other type pickups on my other basses but when I do, I expect there to be output level differences between the two pickups simply because they’re located in different physical locations where string vibration differs. To me, that’s what a volume control is for.
When I first got my Warrior with the Big boy/X5 pickup configuration, I adjusted the pickup heights to optimize both and I’m quite content with the blend.

I’ve heard the same comments from players about the P/J configurations on basses too (higher output from the P than the J) and I have one and love it! All of my previous comments above apply to it too.
 
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#1,062
JOME77 said:
That’s a looker for sure! Very classy looking bass.

I totally love my Warrior with the Big Boy/X5 pickup configuration.
I’ve never attempted any type of independent gain buffer for each pickup.
I’ll be honest, I’ve heard (and read) where players complain about the unequal output of the two pickups in the Big Boy configuration and I guess that I don’t get where that’s an issue. I always play with a blend of the two pickups so I just use the blend control to get the tone I’m looking for. I rarely solo either pickup on the Big Boy configuration or the other type pickups on my other basses but when I do, I expect there to be output level differences between the two pickups simply because they’re located in different physical locations where string vibration differs. To me, that’s what a volume control is for.
When I first got my Warrior with the Big boy/X5 pickup configuration, I adjusted the pickup heights to optimize both and I’m quite content with the blend.

I’ve heard the same comments from players about the P/J configurations on basses too (higher output from the P than the J) and I have one and love it! All of my previous comments above apply to it too.
Click to expand...
Thanks,
I posted the question in the Electronics Forum and here's a response I got. -See link

sunbeast

Post in thread 'Bartolini AGDB/918-2 mated to a Bart NTMB Pre ?'

Yeah the AGDB should totally do this, as it has 12dB of adjustable gain boost available per channel so you can just boost the bridge pickup channel before its volume control. The only caveat is that you will need to swap out you Blend control (or the dual volume controls if you use that instead of blend) to active-friendly values (Bartolini suggests 25K) since the output of the buffers will make you signal active- and because of this you also won't be able to have a passive option that still incorporates the volume controls...
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I love the tone, and I adjusted PU heights but the bridge PU is still way too low to really be usable in my opinion as I always play with Volume maxed. I usually just play with either an equal blend or a bit toward the Neck PU if I want a bit more fullness.
It would be nice thought to be able to Solo the Bridge PU at times.
The mod would be reversible and the only expense would be for the parts and the time to install.
 
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#1,063
p12bassnut said:
Thanks,
I posted the question in the Electronics Forum and here's a response I got. -See link

sunbeast

Post in thread 'Bartolini AGDB/918-2 mated to a Bart NTMB Pre ?'

Yeah the AGDB should totally do this, as it has 12dB of adjustable gain boost available per channel so you can just boost the bridge pickup channel before its volume control. The only caveat is that you will need to swap out you Blend control (or the dual volume controls if you use that instead of blend) to active-friendly values (Bartolini suggests 25K) since the output of the buffers will make you signal active- and because of this you also won't be able to have a passive option that still incorporates the volume controls...
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I love the tone, and I adjusted PU heights but the bridge PU is still way too low to really be usable in my opinion as I always play with Volume maxed. I usually just play with either an equal blend or a bit toward the Neck PU if I want a bit more fullness.
It would be nice thought to be able to Solo the Bridge PU at times.
The mod would be reversible and the only expense would be for the parts and the time to install.
Click to expand...

I wonder if the newer Warriors have a hotter X5 in the bridge position because mine’s quite usable soloed.
Mine was built in late July 2024.
 
#1,065
p12bassnut said:
Most likely.
I'm going to check the coil resistance on both pickups and compare
Click to expand...

I was playing my Warrior with the Big Boy/X5 configuration this morning, and I thought I'd open Reason and see how the output of each pickup compared on the record level.
I soloed each pickup and both appear to have roughly the same signal level in the channel (which is what I discern live at a gig).
Maybe they're currently using a hotter version of the X5.
 
#1,067
Anyone looking for a nice Warrior OHSC I found these on EBay. Apparently TKL made a batch of the black simulated alligator exterior OHSC’s that Warrior never ordered and they have them for sale. They call it a Warrior Soldier Case but my DM 5’s fit perfectly in them.
I never gig using one but they’re perfect for grandkid proofing your Warrior! :laugh:


IMG_1551.jpeg
IMG_1552.jpeg
IMG_1553.jpeg
 
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#1,068
I gigged my quilt maple/alder Warrior with the Big Bot/X5 pickups yesterday (first time in 4 months since my shoulder surgery) and was reminded of how clear and phat the tone is. It played and sounded wonderful!

IMG_1571.png


 
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#1,072
Hi guys I gonna hang here at the clubhouse for a minute. I’d been jonesing for a Warrior for years. I usually check bass for sale ads once or twice a month, and have for years. I’ve lusted after a number of these things over the years. I’ll admit the usual price point is a dealbreaker for many. And honestly, my Sandburg super light California TM five has kept me from having gas for the last four or five years. About six months ago I noticed Guitar Center had a few that were under 3K I found tempting, but still expensive. Over the last six months I’ve watched the prices go down on several and I nearly bought one when it dropped below $2500. But didn’t. The other day I went back and looked and the one I liked the most with the birds eye Maple fret board was $1995. I finally couldn’t resist. Although I’ve got a number of name brand, axes, jersey Drozd, Tobias, Zon, Elrick, Tune, etc. I must say I’m totally impressed with this thing. I think I stole it at 2K.. I’m including some pictures and hoping someone can enlighten me as to whose preamp this is? The base looks like original Bartolini’s cause they have wear. So I’m thinking the preamp might well be a Bartolini but I’m not sure anybody? Also wondering if you can tell me what the switch does? I think it’s a mid range shift but not sure and the trim pots in the cavity? Wondering what their attenuating I’m guessing maybe the mid range knobs since it’s in the same neighborhood?
Also wondering if there is a code to reading the serial number to get an idea on year made. The neck is really flat and fast. The tone is wonderful. Ergonomics are perfect for me and bonus, It only weighs about 8.5 lbs
 
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#1,074
Kirk Bryant said:
Hi guys I gonna hang here at the clubhouse for a minute. I’d been jonesing for a Warrior for years. I usually check bass for sale ads once or twice a month, and have for years. I’ve lusted after a number of these things over the years. I’ll admit the usual price point is a dealbreaker for many. And honestly, my Sandburg super light California TM five has kept me from having gas for the last four or five years. About six months ago I noticed Guitar Center had a few that were under 3K I found tempting, but still expensive. Over the last six months I’ve watched the prices go down on several and I nearly bought one when it dropped below $2500. But didn’t. The other day I went back and looked and the one I liked the most with the birds eye Maple fret board was $1995. I finally couldn’t resist. Although I’ve got a number of name brand, axes, jersey Drozd, Tobias, Zon, Elrick, Tune, etc. I must say I’m totally impressed with this thing. I think I stole it at 2K.. I’m including some pictures and hoping someone can enlighten me as to whose preamp this is? The base looks like original Bartolini’s cause they have wear. So I’m thinking the preamp might well be a Bartolini but I’m not sure anybody? Also wondering if you can tell me what the switch does? I think it’s a mid range shift but not sure and the trim pots in the cavity? Wondering what their attenuating I’m guessing maybe the mid range knobs since it’s in the same neighborhood?
Also wondering if there is a code to reading the serial number to get an idea on year made. The neck is really flat and fast. The tone is wonderful. Ergonomics are perfect for me and bonus, It only weighs about 8.5 lbs
Click to expand...

Kirk Bryant said:
Some beauty shots
Click to expand...

Wow! Great deal on a beautiful Warrior!
The preamp that Warrior has used over the last 10-15 years is a modified Bartolini 3-band. Exactly how it’s modified depends on the year that you bass was built. Original, around 2012 or so, they added a sparkle circuit to the preamp with a trim pot to control the amount of sparkle; additional treble you get. Those models have two trim pots in the internal control cavity area. The other trim pot is preamp output. Some time later (2020’s) they went with a modified Bartolini 3-band (modified by Big Bottom) that also has a rumble feature that adds a significant amount of low end. Those models have 3 trim pots in the control cavity. Looking in the control cavity (left to right) the 1st trim pot controls the amount of “rumble”, the 2nd trim pot controls the preamp output (CCW -increase output; CW - decrease output) and the 3rd trim pot controls the amount of sparkle.
Recently Warrior had started referring to the Rumble feature as “the Big 3”.
The toggle switch typically is a 3 position mid switch.

As for interpreting your serial number to determine the year of manufacture, unfortunately there’s no rhyme or reason to the serialization. They may be able to provide that info at the factory.
I have 2 Warriors, a 2024 and a 2025. I had them built and in lieu of serial numbers they have names that are engraved in the rear control panels (and specified on the Warrior letter of certification). One is “Two Edge Sword” and the other is “My Testimony”.
Welcome to the Warrior club!
 
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#1,077
Kirk Bryant said:
Here’s the preamp
Click to expand...
That one has the older preamp with the Sparkle feature. I wasn’t a huge fan of this design when it first came out (lacked midrange) but I purchased a used Warrior that had one a couple years ago and it sounded awesome. It had been upgraded at the Warrior shop around 2015 and Warrior must have tweaked the design of their preamp by then because that bass because it sounded awesome. That bass had a mahogany neck and body.
 

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