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WARWICK BASSES

#41
My Warwick Thumb NT5 is such a unique bass/sound. I have a Streamer Stage I also, and while it sounds great, it’s nothing like the Thumb. I’m not sure about the cost jump, but it’s completely worth it IMHO.
It’s quite heavy, but isn’t horribly unbalanced. I don’t have the brass JAN and I don’t feel I need it. I very much like neck shape. I don’t have any issues jumping back and forth from the Thumb to a fender Jazz.
I would definitely avoid buying new. The used market has a great selection and a new Warwick is going to lose a lot of value on Day 1.

Just my thoughts. Good luck!
 
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#42
Paulabass said:
A woman's perspective on a lot of Warwicks. The ovancol, bubinga, wenge comb.
They're really brown. You look left, you see brown, you look right...more brown. Brown everywhere. Soooo much brown. If they could make brown chrome...
Beautiful if you like brown, or giant dog turds.
Nice basses.
Click to expand...
Note to self, return Brown bass I bought Paula for Christmas....
 
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#43
Get an older used Thumb 5 BO, the value build quality and value are better, not to mention the one of a kind sound. If you can find one you'll save yourself a grand or so. The only thing better would be a Zon :whistle:
 
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#44
SubNoizeRat3691 said:
My Warwick Thumb NT5 is such a unique bass/sound. I have a Streamer Stage I also, and while it sounds great, it’s nothing like the Thumb. I’m not sure about the cost jump, but it’s completely worth it IMHO.
It’s quite heavy, but isn’t horribly unbalanced. I don’t have the brass JAN and I don’t feel I need it. I very much like neck shape. I don’t have any issues jumping back and forth from the Thumb to a fender Jazz.
I would definitely avoid buying new. The used market has a great selection and a new Warwick is going to lose a lot of value on Day 1.

Just my thoughts. Good luck!
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I agree, I've got a MM J corvette and a J J streamer stage 1. They sound totally different, the vette is growly and mid-range-y. The streamer is deep and clear with some of the Warwick sound but more balanced (tone wise).
 
#46
Gorn said:
There's also no particular reason to hold out for a neck through unless you just want one. It's not gonna make the bass better in any demonstrable way.
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yeah, spoke with a owner from a bass shop, and he told me that a 90% of the thumbs they sell are the BO, that even when they lower the price from the NT to the same as the BO, people still go for the BO, punchier sound, and that Warwick sound, NT only difference is the long sustain it provides. thank you
 
#47
TolerancEJ said:
I am the proud owner of a German-built Warwick Thumb BO 6. Warwicks have a unique sound of their own. You will quickly become accustomed to that "growl" and you'll identify it in any recording. I think you'll be happy with any of the 3 you've listed.

Had you a chance to actually try a Warwick? If you can test one, make sure to try it with a strap as well so you can accurately judge its weight. Their weight tends to be on the heavy side. However, this can be remedied by using a wider strap so you have even weight distribution across your shoulder.

I also wear my basses high, which combats neckdive which other players experience from the Thumb models. My strap also has a suede backing that "grips" my shirt and stays put.
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I live in Florida and the shops around here don't carry them normally, i did get to try a Corvette $$ BO 5 string. man was it heavy, just being the nirvana black oil finish, can't imagine how much heavier a bubinga body is going to get. i thought the same about a strap, I would need to get a heavy duty one that can withstand that weight. didn't know about the neckdive problem (good to know). whats the brand of the strap?
 
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#49
FNHScar17s said:
Second the used market. A used thumb neck thru in fretted or fretless runs 2200 to about 3 grand. Just sit and wait for it. I just grabbed a 89 thumb nt 6 fretless that has been confirmed to be one of the very first fretless 6 thumbs ever made for 2200 out the door in pristine condition. I also have a 2004 neck thru nt 6 that is poly'd and is fretless. Rocking bartolini on both. Wait for it and have the money ready to snag it up you will find them on talkbass pretty often so much so you can wait for the woods you want. In my opinion their neck thrus are worth every penny especially used some of my finest instrumen's I've owned. I will be a fan for life. I will also mention the scotts bass lessons strap at only 120 bucks super high quality and cured the neck dive like no other strap, made of high quality hand stitched leather I've got 3 of em (and have bought all the others and still prefer these for my wicks).
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thanks for the advice, i will be on the look out. btw those pictures... beautyyyy!!!
 
#50
I've owned 6 various Warwicks.
All were quite different yet similar.
The streamer body is the sexiest.
The $$ electronics are considered incredible.
NT has a complexity that the BO's don't have.
The radii of the FB's are quite flat unless you go golden era; then you will get some heavenly shaped necks.
I'd look at a streamer stage 2 used if I was you.
 
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#51
I've got a Thumb BO 5 and it is an instrument I'd never be without. However, they are very different to a Squier P, but when you know you want a Thumb, nothing else will do - not even another Warwick.

I was actually talking to my brother about the Thumb as a design earlier this evening and it really is a unique bass, it's quite different even to other basses in the Warwick line. The body is small (especially on the BOs), very heavy and the way the weight is distributed gives some people issues with neck dive. THe way it sits on the body means the 1st fret is quite a long way away, compared to where it would be a on a P bass. If you wear a Thumb on a strap, it hangs over to the left of your body, if you wear a Fender P or J it hangs over to the right. I use a Warwick strap, it's pretty wide and grippy and I don't have issues with neck dive. My Thumb is an ovangkol body and neck and it does weigh a lot. Those dense, heavy woods are part of what makes the sound - the way a Thumb resonates when you play it is like no other bass, Streamers, Corvettes etc just don't feel the same.

The pickup postioning on the 5 is a key to the classic Thumb sound too imo, the two single coils slanted and stacked as close to the bridge as possible really helps to emphasise the punch and growl the Thumb is known for. When it comes to growl, all Warwicks growl to a degree but the Thumb is the one that really has the guts and growl more than others, however it's not exactly a versatile sound and you can tame the aggression but never really remove it.

Try to avoid the broadnecks if you can't play one first. They really are huge, brutal things to play. None of the necks are tiny on the Thumbs, But the BNs are massive.

I'd probably aim to buy a used one, there seem to be plenty in circulation and some bargains can be had on second hand basses.

The jump from a Squier to a real German-made Warwick might seem like a big jump, but truth be told, when you want a Thumb there is no substitute. No Streamer or Corvette will do the job.
 
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#53
I have a 99 NT4, and an 02 NT5 (Thumbs). I was going to say I have 2 thumbs, but that was just too funny! Anyway, I have had many basses over the years, and I cant say enough about a Thumb. They sound great, play great, look great... they are my sound, along with Ampeg......BUT..... they feel a lot different from other basses, and are not for everyone. They are heavy, and they do neck dive worse than the Corvettes I have owned. The body is relatively small, so it leaves it a little unbalanced. The 4 string is a lot more versatile than the 5 because of the placement of the pickups. I can pan to the neck pickup on the 4 and get a much softer tone, not so much different on the 5. With the music you play, i dont think that will be an issue.

I will second buying used, i have less than 2k in each of mine, and they are in excellent condition.
 
#55
LegendSTA said:
thanks for the advice, i will be on the look out. btw those pictures... beautyyyy!!!
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Thanks I can't help but stare at them sometimes. like others have said when you want a thumb there is nothing else that will suffice. Both my thumbs are incredible and it does take a little bit to get used to if ur not used to flat boards. Getting used to the feel will pay off because the tone for what I need it for is sublime and my entire band prefers the thumb sound to all my other basses, especially thru a tube amp. You know it is a sweet bass when you tell your band you grabbed another thumb and they're excited for you to use it for your side project band (the drummer in the other band is in the side project and the guitar player has had me play our stuff with my other thumv but I don't like doing it since it's a different tuning).

Wait, anticipate, save, pounce (instrument wasp method lol). Then when you see the one scoop it up before everyone else....it will be totally worth it.
 
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#57
LegendSTA said:
I live in Florida and the shops around here don't carry them normally, i did get to try a Corvette $$ BO 5 string. man was it heavy, just being the nirvana black oil finish, can't imagine how much heavier a bubinga body is going to get. i thought the same about a strap, I would need to get a heavy duty one that can withstand that weight. didn't know about the neckdive problem (good to know). whats the brand of the strap?
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Warwicks in general will be heavy. If someone else didn’t already advise you, please be aware that bubinga was also added to CITES’ protected species list. (There’s a lengthy stickied topic at the top of this forum for more information.) You can choose any brand of strap. Just make sure it is wide (4 1/2 to 5 inches wide) and as I mentioned, it helps if you get one with a rough suede back so it grips your shirt & stays in place better.

The neckdive seems to be more prevalent for those who let the bass hang low when they play.

Here’s a picture of my Thumb BO 6 to give you incentive. Now, go find your instrument!:thumbsup::bassist:
Sl2z9wm_d.jpg
 
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#59
+1 on the easy to get a great sound I can plug these babies into anything and with a few turns of my knobs and it sounds fantastic whether it has bartolini or stock eq or individual pickup ctrl or even pickup panning. They are fantastic.... my 70s Mia fender jazz bass is scowling at me right now

I respect your opinion paula as far as wicks being brown but I have to say warwicks are easily some of the prettiest basses around in my opinion. A lot of em are brown but the wood graining and the different shades of red bubinga takes it just puts me in awe. Not to mention the way the grains glow and shimmer with almost a cheetah type pattern after a nice waxxing (depending on the cut of course).
 
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#60
I own two Warwicks- and I love both of them. I bought one brand brand new and one used and I got a smoking deal on my used one. I’ve been playing Warwicks for 13 years, so I have plenty of experience.

I absolutely love the neck profile - the rounded back is just like an upright. Once you get used to it, the feel is better than anything else.

Warwicks are fantastic and I know you’ll love them too
 
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