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Warwick dilemma

G

GabeN

Feb 27, 2006
532
4
Chugiak, AK
#1
I've had my heart set on getting a Warwick Corvette 4 for quite a while, but the thread about 'worst basses' got me thinking. Everybody said that Warwick necks were either love 'em or hate 'em. Since I can't get my hands on one to try it out, should I get one?

Another bass I've been eyeballing is a Fender Jazz 24 and Aerodyne Jazz basses. I know the necks are good, but I want something that has character like a Warwick and not just an off-the-shelf fender.

First question: What necks are Warwicks most like? I've had a Rickenbacker and I loved the neck on that and it was pretty chunky, is the warwick similar?

Second Q: Should I take a leap of faith and get the Warwick or go with the Fender since I know they play fairly well?
 
#3
Well, while I can't completely answer the question, I can give you some insite.

A buddy of mine has several basses, we meet up every once in a while to play each other's basses and amps etc. I used to play a thin neck bass, but fell in love with chunky necks about a year ago. Whenever I go to his place and play his basses, the Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray feels the most comfortable in my hands.

I think if you are fine with a Stingray's neck, then you won't have too much trouble adjusting to the Warwck. I have very small hands, with fat stubby fingers, and the Warwick I own has a wonderful feel.

Also, my experience are with Warwick Thumbs, and the corvettes have thinner necks than Thumbs on the whole. People that talk about "baseball bats" are usually just exaggerating to get the point across that they prefer super thin necks. Super thin necks tend to make my hands cramp, a problem I had with the super thin neck on my Conklin.
 
#4
i say go for it. most people that say they don't like the chunky necks on some of the wicks have not really given thereselves enough time to adjust, imo, but you know, different strokes for different folkes. my first bass neck was quite thinner than my warwick thumb's neck, but after 5 minutes, well, the rest is history. i also am not a big guy(5'6, 150 pounds) so i have somewhat smaller hands, but i love the chunkiness of wick's necks. if you been wanting a vette for a while and got the cah, i say go for it. i ordered my thumb bo 4 without ever playing one, all i had to go by were bo 5's and vettes. there is nothing like a warwick, and im sure you'll be happy. and if you order from musiciansfriend, or buy from gc(i know, i know), you can usually return it within 30 days and get most of your money back if its still in new condition. hope i helped. good luck.
 
#5
I play a Corvette Standard 5--now that is, I admit, a chunky neck. But the bass is still very playable--nicely balanced, beautifully fretted, tightly put together. Last time I was in my local music store, I tried out a Thumb 4-string bolt-on for fun, but found it hard to play because the neck was too small for me! I alternate on a regular basis between the Warwick and my MIJ Precision without any difficulties. Get the Corvette Standard 4.
 
#6
depends on what year most important and what model
my old school fortress MMs are killer (wenge/wenge)
but I got a 98 streamer pro M and it was chunksville (ovankal/wenge)
and the new SSII are wide and thin but chunky to the rear apex.

IMO
get a pre 97 post 91 warwick if you can snag one.
 
#8
matt11 said:
I play a Corvette Standard 5--now that is, I admit, a chunky neck. But the bass is still very playable--nicely balanced, beautifully fretted, tightly put together. Last time I was in my local music store, I tried out a Thumb 4-string bolt-on for fun, but found it hard to play because the neck was too small for me! I alternate on a regular basis between the Warwick and my MIJ Precision without any difficulties. Get the Corvette Standard 4.
Click to expand...
I have a Corvette FNA Jazzman 5-string fretless, and love it. The neck is just as easy to play as the MIM Fender Jazz 5-string that I have. Strangely enough, the Fender is heavier to wear than the Warwick. In fact, after getting the fretless Warwick FNA, I ended up buying a fretted version of the same bass. The only thing that I found that takes a little getting used to is the frets are a little higher, but manageable and well worth the feel to get that sound! Go for it!!!:bassist:
 
#10
Someone putting a Corvette in the "worst basses" section? Now that is too much of an exaggeration. :scowl:

I've got a Corvette 6 and IMO the neck is quite thin at the first few frets. It's just 21mm at the first fret, which was on par with my Ibanez SDGR - who would call that thick?
It does get thick and D-ish however at #12 or #15, and the end of the neck is nut just thick, but a square.

If I had to list the negatives about it, the neck getting thicker as you are nearing the joint would be just a small issue. I'd list the weight, the limited balance and the long reach as the main issues.
OTOH, it's got fantastic tone, is quite responsive to technique and versatile even when playing passive, and it looks beautiful. :cool:
 
#14
you know WW necks are quite "thick".Luthier told me its because they use really hard wood so they must do thick necks cause of stability....
But this kind of construction and wood is one piece of WW typical sound....
You know I get corvette after Ibanez Blazer (P bass neck) and after ibanez, WW neck was quite thick and not so comfortable...but now i had WW at luthier and i heve played for week only on Ibanez BTB 555 (really WIDE but FLAT neck- 19mm space between strings need this) and when I had touched WW neck I thought "wow what a great little thin neck " and now think that WW has thick neck makes me laught.
So therapy for people which have problems¨on WW necks is to play some kind of REALLY thick neck :D So if have problem with WW grab 5,6,7... XX string bass play for a week and they you understatnd that WW neck is paradise on earth
 
#15
GabeN said:
I've had my heart set on getting a Warwick Corvette 4 for quite a while, but the thread about 'worst basses' got me thinking. Everybody said that Warwick necks were either love 'em or hate 'em. Since I can't get my hands on one to try it out, should I get one?

Another bass I've been eyeballing is a Fender Jazz 24 and Aerodyne Jazz basses. I know the necks are good, but I want something that has character like a Warwick and not just an off-the-shelf fender.

First question: What necks are Warwicks most like? I've had a Rickenbacker and I loved the neck on that and it was pretty chunky, is the warwick similar?

Second Q: Should I take a leap of faith and get the Warwick or go with the Fender since I know they play fairly well?
Click to expand...
How can you have your heart set on owning a bass you've never played? What are you basing your perception of this instrument upon, words and pictures? Do whatever you have to do and play one before you leap.
 

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