Warwick bass

[relentless]

Ok I have around £1000 to spend on a Warwick bass guitar, but I have found these basses to be quite rare to find in shops, could any one who plays a Warwick bass give me some info on sound and what the best series of Warwick bass would be for aggressive slap and pop style playing?

 

[Unrepresented]

First thing that comes to mind with slap and pop is the Thumb bass. It has pickups positioned closer to the bridge to give a lot more high end bite. Never played one, but they're on my short list.

I'm a satisfied Corvette $$ owner.

 

[bassteban]

The Thumbs do slap well, but for some the ergonomics are not ideal(true of any bass, I think)- I have a BO-4 & love it but going directly from my P to the Thumb mid-set sometimes feels just a tad awkward. IME/IMO Corvettes hang slightly more *Fender-like*. THAT said, a nicely slapped Thumb sounds GREAT(IMO); can't comment on 'Vette tone.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Any Warwick I've ever played or owned (except a fretless) was an excellent slap bass. I'm a huge fan of the wenge necks though. Haven't played or owned an ovankle necked warwick yet that I've bonded with. Wenge is rock hard and I believe adds to the snap and growl of a warwick.

 

[SoVeryTired]

I'm guessing you're located in the UK from the use of £...

Bass Direct in Warwick (strangely enough) tend to have some second-hand in store (6 at the moment looking at their website)

Bass Merchant always seemed to have a large stock according to their website but, on checking, it looks like there's a change of ownership and the showroom's moving from Colchester to Thurrock this month.

The Bass Gallery in Camden also seems to have plenty listed on their website.

GAK in Brighton also has lots on their site.

There may be lots of other well-stocked UK Warwick dealers - these are just the ones I've heard of and/or visited. There are plenty of Warwicks out there, but you might have to travel to try them out!

 

[Unrepresented]

The Thumbs do slap well, but for some the ergonomics are not ideal(true of any bass, I think)- I have a BO-4 & love it but going directly from my P to the Thumb mid-set sometimes feels just a tad awkward. IME/IMO Corvettes hang slightly more *Fender-like*. THAT said, a nicely slapped Thumb sounds GREAT(IMO); can't comment on 'Vette tone.

It's not just your Thumb, switching between my Corvette and my Jazz bass is a bit weird for me. The Jazz neck always feels two frets off from my hand position with the Corvette is, with the Fender's larger body. Certainly not insurmountable, however.

I also want to echo Joe Nerve's comments that Warwicks in general can make excellent slap basses. I am not much of a slapper, but I think that the tone on mine is excellent when I'm doing so.

 

[GHOST AT]

The wenge necked Warwicks are harder to find but worth it, (played an 85 Thumb once Major Gas!)Ovankol just don't get it, the necks just sound dull to me IMo. Have you tried Spector? Better sound, better playability IMO and the originators of the NS body shape.

 

[TomA1234]

GAK in Brighton also has lots on their site.

GAK had 3 wicks actually in their shop when I went in a few months ago, a used Thumb 5 NT (which I played), a corvette 6 an a lefty corvette $$. Most were out of your price range, IIRC the Thumb and corvette 6 were closer to £2K but I think the $$ was just under £1000 (but a lefty) so you could actually go there and try them.
Another shop nearby had a Streamer jazzman.

I would suggest trying a streamer stage 1 because they are used by Dirk Lance (on the first 2 Incubus albums he does some slapping) and he gets a really good sound IMO.

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

I have a 4 string Dolphin pro 1. Every Warwick I've ever played has a very characteristic low-mid growl that, while certainly present on other basses I own or have owned, it just never quite sounds like that of a Warwick. It is highly addictive.

BTW, I have played a number of Wenge necked Wicks, as well as a number of ovangkol necked Wicks. While I love the feel of the wenge, I have nothing but love for my ovangkol necked Dolphin. It is satiny smooth and resonates like crazy. I can feel the low E string growl right through that neck. It makes my fingers tingle!

 

[sratas]

+ 1
ovangkol is a great hardwood, it has some grunt, grind and a burpy addictive midrange. I own a jazzman and a thumb. I do a little slap, but for slap there is an absolute icon, THE STREAMER STAGE 2. If someone wants a soulful yet dynamic and percussive aggressive modern slap tone, in my opinion has to test a stage 2. Exceptionally hard Afzelia body, single coils. But for sure it does cost a bunch, even in the used market. here in Italy it is possible to find a stage II for 1700-1800 euros (1400-1500 translated in the UK value).
Pay attention at what kind if slap tone you are after, no Wick can do the 70' Jazz bass, if this is your tone...

I have a 4 string Dolphin pro 1. Every Warwick I've ever played has a very characteristic low-mid growl that, while certainly present on other basses I own or have owned, it just never quite sounds like that of a Warwick. It is highly addictive.

BTW, I have played a number of Wenge necked Wicks, as well as a number of ovangkol necked Wicks. While I love the feel of the wenge, I have nothing but love for my ovangkol necked Dolphin. It is satiny smooth and resonates like crazy. I can feel the low E string growl right through that neck. It makes my fingers tingle!

 

[C5DEMON]

I own a Thumb b/o 5 and I think that for what you're looking for a Corvette or something with a front pickup may be better suited. On my other basses with neck and bridge pickups I like to set my balance knob in the middle so i get the depth of the front pickup and tightness of the back for slapping. With my thumb I don't feel that i get as much depth. It's still great for whatever you want to use it for, I still slap on it, but I'd try to find something with a front and back pickup. A Corvette Std., Double Buck or even a used Proline or FNA, Infinity s/n, Katana. There are even Streamer LX basses again which would be good too. Honestly, I don't think you'd be dissatisfied with any of them, but don't buy warwicks new. The resale value is like 50% of what it costs new.

 

[grendle]

The dolphin pro 1 was designed for slappers I believe. That or a thumb NT gets my vote. Just gotta find one for the price.