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Warwick Neck Profiles

Gib82

Gib82

Mar 9, 2009
225
340
#1
Hey, I've been looking into buying a German Warwick bass. I love the look and tone of Warwick's. However, the only one that i've been able to get my hands on is a thumb bass BO. I loved everything about the bass besides the neck... I would prefer a slimmer neck profile. According to the Warwick site ALL the 4 string models have the same neck profile. Is this really the case?? I would assume with so many different models they would have at least one bass with a slimmer neck!?
I would really appreciate some input from someone with a little more experience with Warwick's...

Thanks!
 
#2
I've tried two different German Warwicks.
One is my 2006 Corvette Standard Fretless (bubinga body, ovangkol neck, ebony board, passive MEC's) and it has a very thick but also very round neck. Fairly flat at the back but it has very round shoulders. Somewhat like a thick C.
The other one is a 2011 (or 12, not sure) Custom Shop Thumb BO Fretless with Barts. Don't know the body material, but the neck was ovangkol and fretboard was ebony. That neck was insanely thin, like an Ibanez SR. While I am a total sucker for thin necks on guitars, I just couldn't intonate for the life of me on that neck.
 
#3
Warwick necks were thick since late 90s until early 2009. Thin profile was available as a Custom Shop option during that time. Then the thin profile became default, and the thicker one is now a CS option. I personally prefer the thicker one, Eskilrask described it well above, it's kind of deep front to back and the back is rather flat, it has a similar feel to some spanish guitars.
 
#4
I've got an '09 Streamer LX, and the neck on it is definitely slimmer than my J-bass, which has a 60's neck profile. It's got a pretty shallow D-shape with a very flat back, escpecially between the nut and 12th fret. I find it really comfortable, except on occasion when I'm playing down at the first two frets since it's a little cramped/narrow there. But everywhere else on the neck you can really fly around, which the smooth oil finish helps (compared to gloss).
 
#10
People exaggerate the thickness of those necks to such an absurd level it is laughable. To put it in perspective my main basses that I actively gig with a few times a week are a fat neck Corvette, MIM Jazz, and Roadworn P. It is no problem whatsoever moving between them and the Warwick is actually the 'fastest' of the three. The size of the neck actually makes a ton of sense if you play with proper technique, think about the way a DB or cello neck is shaped. The Warwick neck isn't round but the same principle applies. The thicker necks are really comfortable and playing on one for 4 hours is no problem at all.

I don't think you'll hate it at all unless you're used to wrapping your thumb over the neck like a lot of people do on Fender basses.
 
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#11
ole Jason said:
People exaggerate the thickness of those necks to such an absurd level it is laughable. To put it in perspective my main basses that I actively gig with a few times a week are a fat neck Corvette, MIM Jazz, and Roadworn P. It is no problem whatsoever moving between them and the Warwick is actually the 'fastest' of the three. The size of the neck actually makes a ton of sense if you play with proper technique, think about the way a DB or cello neck is shaped. The Warwick neck isn't round but the same principle applies. The thicker necks are really comfortable and playing on one for 4 hours is no problem at all.

I don't think you'll hate it at all unless you're used to wrapping your thumb over the neck like a lot of people do on Fender basses.
Click to expand...

Nah, never wrap, I am not a guitar player. :)

Ok good to know, thank you! I do prefer thicker neck; However, reading people complaining about the thickness of the neck kinda scared me a bit and my imagination ran wild when people called it "baseball bat."
I Left all my basses in US, so want to get one in UK whilst I am here. Figure I will do the switch from 4 to 6 because I like the deeper sound of the additional B string and ability to go higher, so thought I'll give it a shot. I tried few 6 string basses, it felt awkward a little, so hopefully I can make an adjustment. Have not played Warwick thumb yet; However, I absolutely love the sound of it.

Thanks a lot for reassuring me a bit; hopefully, I like it and finally will have a bass in my house again. 2 months without a bass, not a good life to live. :)
 

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