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Warwick Alternatives?

S

savethegibbons

Nov 29, 2003
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#1
I'm looking to get into bass :). I currently play 6-string guitar, and I've fiddled around plenty on a friends bass, which I have a ton of fun with! I'm quite positive I'll stick with the bass, so I would like to buy something of quite reasonable quality!

My musical style is extremely varied. I would expect to play pretty much everything on it, hence why I opted for active electronics.

Currently I'm thinking of buying a Warwick 'Vette Standard Active 5-stringer with the swamp ash body. I really dig the look of the Warwicks and the ones I've heard sound great,, but I've heard some terrible things about the weight and neck profiles. I don't have particular large hands nor am I heavily built, and I do have a preference for thin necked guitars!

Are there any alternatives with similar looks, sound and price that I cold look into? Currently I'm only really seeing the Warwicks available to me. I can't really appreciate the looks of Fender or Ernie Ball type basses sadly, so I'd like to aim for something more modern looking, with versatility and playability!

My price range is up to about $800 I would say.

Thanks for your help, and my apologies for starting yet another of these recommendation threads!
 
#2
I don't find the 'Vettes to be all that bad in terms of weight, especially the ash ones. You will get a bit of a different tone with the ash, though. I think 'Vettes are very comfortable, quite a bit more comfortable than my Warwick Thumb (tone isn't as good IMO).

They do have a chunkier neck than a lot of basses, though. I was really worried about this before I got my Thumb. I got used to it very quickly, though, and now I actually prefer that thicker neck.

Go try some 'Wicks out. Spend some time with them. You may find out that you shouldn't have worried in the first place.
 
#3
Don't let the name fool you.

Most are rather light and sound just as good as their more expensive counterparts.

unless you want to buy used.

Have you tried the now discontinued Warwick Fortress? every one I've owned has been rather light, and known to me as the best balancing bass [off] the market.

After having owned almost 30 basses, one time or another, I still await my RB Fortress 5's arrival with excitement.
 
#6
There is nothing wrong with Corvettes (and streamers) as far as weight, balance and neck dives concerned. They are in fact, light, and balanced naturaly. The new ones have ovangkol neck, and swamp ash body (the light kind). They are light. The Bubinga one is another matter, it's much more heavy, and more expensive. True, the necks are not paper thin either, like Ibanez, but I didn't find them as chunky as on my thumb, nowhere near (a thick lump of 5 piece wenge that could kill a yak). The thumbs are another kind of beast and out of your price range.

Also, give the corvette $$ a try. It's a fun one (loved a burgundy red oiled-finished one, didn't like a painted one, maybe the layers of paint stole the mojo?), put with peculiar ergonomics (the humbuckers take a lot of space) and a bit heavier.

If you can, also try Spectors. The Warwick Streamer and Spectors share a similar design (but sound different). If you are into metal-indus, the bass player from American Head Charge on War Of Art plays a Spector. It's got that peculiar 'farty' tone (for lack of better words). The bass player from Mudvayne plays a Thumb. It's a growly, nasty, monster tone, but snapy and clean when popped. The Vettes and streamer have the same basic growl, but sound less dark, more 'snarly'. Very nice too.

Really, you gotta try them first and see for yourself.
 
#7
A corvette can't be beat in the price range you have. But I would highly recommend against the Swamp Ash one. The finish is beautiful but is as soft as on the older style Fender Highway One models. Everyplace my body touched the guitar left a shinny mark. In addition, the swamp ash is extremely soft. You can easily scratch it with your fingers. I know all of this because I had one for a while. Sound wise it sounds great. If you want a Corvette I would recommend the Buginga version. The finish is very durable. I had two of those and was very pleased. I have noticed that GC seems to be carrying more of the swamp ash ones versus the bubinga ones. They have also dropped the price on the swamp ash ones. It may have to do with the availability of ash versus bubinga. I don't really know.

You mentioned Fender. Their new Highway One series is a serious threat to the Corvette at that price point. But if you are referring to the higher end MIA Fenders you might want to consider the MusicMan as an alternative.

I have owned the Fenders and now own a MusicMan. I love Fenders but there really is a quality difference between the two. As a side note, MusicMan has never advertised their basses or guitars. Word of mouth is such that they have an ongoing backlog of orders. My Sterling HS easily replicates the Fender P & J Basses as well as the so called growl of the Warwick.

Having said all of the above, I would gladly own another Corvette or Fender P/J Bass. I love them all. I just have a favorite.
 
#9
One other thing. The black control knobs on the swamp ash corvette are not black chrome like the bridge. They are actually some type of paint over brass. The black finish can come off. Another reason to pick the bubinga one since it has chrome control knobs. The black does look good though.
 

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