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Warwick RB Star Bass opinions?
- Thread starter UK Philip
- Start date
I think it's a gorgeous bass, personally. Check in the Warwick Club page, because I think someone just picked one of these up. The current RB line is very well made, and uses the same hardware as the German models. Considering how much a German Star Bass II goes for, I think the RB is a screaming deal.i just love the looks of this bass, and it looks like something i'd be interested in buying, but there are none near me so i'd have to order one without playing it first.
i'm okay with this, but i just wondered what talkbass thinks about them?
Full disclosure: I've never handled one of these models, but I've owned a couple Rockbass-series Warwicks.
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The StarBasses comes in 4 Versions:
Version 1:
Fully Made in Germany (CS)
Version 2:
Warwick German Pro Serie (WGPS)
crafted in Germany, assembled in China
Version 3:
Warwick Pro Series WPS (Fully Made in Korea)
Discontunied
Version 4:
Rockbass Version (Fully Made in China)
The only differences between a very expensive Made in Germany Bass (version 1) and the other versions are the different used wood and finishes for the Body and some cosmetical details. The Hardware, Frets and the PUs are identical!
The sound of the different StarBasses depends on the used wood. The sound is really "modern" and not sooo wooden like the sound of an hollow-body bass. The Starbass comes with a treble and level-control for each pickup and a pu-selector (bridge - both - neck). So you get a really versatile bass-sound. Due the massive sustain block the bass loses a little of the typical hollow-body sound, but is not feedback-prone.
The weight of the bass is 4,4 kg (9.7 lb)...
Mostly I play this bass with flat strings. I play in a top40 cover band. I used this bass for rock, punk and blues.
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The StarBasses comes in 4 Versions:
Version 1:
Fully Made in Germany (CS)
Version 2:
Warwick German Pro Serie (WGPS)
crafted in Germany, assembled in China
Version 3:
Warwick Pro Series WPS (Fully Made in Korea)
Discontunied
Version 4:
Rockbass Version (Fully Made in China)
The only differences between a very expensive Made in Germany Bass (version 1) and the other versions are the different used wood and finishes for the Body and some cosmetical details. The Hardware, Frets and the PUs are identical!
The sound of the different StarBasses depends on the used wood. The sound is really "modern" and not sooo wooden like the sound of an hollow-body bass. The Starbass comes with a treble and level-control for each pickup and a pu-selector (bridge - both - neck). So you get a really versatile bass-sound. Due the massive sustain block the bass loses a little of the typical hollow-body sound, but is not feedback-prone.
The weight of the bass is 4,4 kg (9.7 lb)...
Mostly I play this bass with flat strings. I play in a top40 cover band. I used this bass for rock, punk and blues.
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Nice bass!
The other difference is that the 'Made in Germany' four string versions are 34" scale, but the Rockbass 4 string is 32".
thank you for your replies. yeah, the 32" scale is something i'm very interested in.
all in all it seems like you get a hell of a lot for your money since it's almost half the price of a gretsch 30" hollow-body, and the tones it makes sound really fierce!
all in all it seems like you get a hell of a lot for your money since it's almost half the price of a gretsch 30" hollow-body, and the tones it makes sound really fierce!
I had one for a short time, it was a discounted one from Music123.... when I got it, there was a cold solder joint on the bridge volume pot. I was able to fix it, but really was a PITA to get to the electronics.
I liked the MEC pickups a lot. It was a fun and warm sounding bass. I used it at one gig and it didn't seem to cut through so well for me even though I liked the tone. Can't remember exactly why but I ended up sending it back while in my 30-day return window. At least on the one I had it seemed to be not constructed that great for a $900 instrument. I think the one I had may have been a used lemon which is why they had it at discount. I would like to have another one really, it's a cool little bass.
I liked the MEC pickups a lot. It was a fun and warm sounding bass. I used it at one gig and it didn't seem to cut through so well for me even though I liked the tone. Can't remember exactly why but I ended up sending it back while in my 30-day return window. At least on the one I had it seemed to be not constructed that great for a $900 instrument. I think the one I had may have been a used lemon which is why they had it at discount. I would like to have another one really, it's a cool little bass.
Jepp, the MEC-pickups are really important for that "StarBass"-Sound.
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Hi
I brought a 4 string Rockbass Starbass sight unseen (I'm a lefty so no-one has anything to try). I previously pretty much always played American Jazz Basses. When I unboxed it, I had a little buyers remorse because there were a couple of tiny flaws in the fit and finish, nothing even vaguely major - and it really is just a little cosmetics - neck and setup were spot on, but it just didn't seem quite as 'new and shiny' as a new American Fender would be - which is fair enough considering the cost.
However.....I really can't see me ever going back to Jazz basses after playing this for a while. It is SO playable, and the slightly smaller scale is great. The sound is really, really punchy.
If though you're looking for a hollow body sound, you won't really get it from this bass.
Took it to practice with a new band last week, we play Pearl Jam / Foo Fighters covers, suspicious glances then great compliments.
I suspect I'll shortly get a 5 string to go with it.
I brought a 4 string Rockbass Starbass sight unseen (I'm a lefty so no-one has anything to try). I previously pretty much always played American Jazz Basses. When I unboxed it, I had a little buyers remorse because there were a couple of tiny flaws in the fit and finish, nothing even vaguely major - and it really is just a little cosmetics - neck and setup were spot on, but it just didn't seem quite as 'new and shiny' as a new American Fender would be - which is fair enough considering the cost.
However.....I really can't see me ever going back to Jazz basses after playing this for a while. It is SO playable, and the slightly smaller scale is great. The sound is really, really punchy.
If though you're looking for a hollow body sound, you won't really get it from this bass.
Took it to practice with a new band last week, we play Pearl Jam / Foo Fighters covers, suspicious glances then great compliments.
I suspect I'll shortly get a 5 string to go with it.
I bought a Chinese Rockbass Star Bass 5 string about month ago. I got the high gloss Vintage Sunburst and its stunningly beautiful. I really like the way it plays, very comfortable to play. Is the first bass I've had with strap button on the heel, as opposed to the horn, no big deal, but it does hang differently, a little strange for me at first. It's also my first passive bass & first semi hollow bass, and I appreciate the more vintage tone, its not modern sounding.
I don't know if it's just mine, or if its all the Chinese made ones, but the volume and tone pots may as well be switches, because they are either all the open or all the way closed, with a lot of useless play in between. Anyone else notice this?
I don't know if it's just mine, or if its all the Chinese made ones, but the volume and tone pots may as well be switches, because they are either all the open or all the way closed, with a lot of useless play in between. Anyone else notice this?
Here's mine from a gig yesterday (with the bassist from RaeLynn's band-Luke Kammerer). Similar colors...
Love the Star Bass 5...great B...hot pickups...jazz bass on 'roids tone. Plays great. Yeehaw!
Love the Star Bass 5...great B...hot pickups...jazz bass on 'roids tone. Plays great. Yeehaw!
Just got a used 34" korean made 4-string. Maybe for a lot of players the '32 scale makes sense. The '34 neck feels like a '36 neck due to the location of the bridge! I can manage that but I didn't expect that. I just thought: most of my basses are '34 so this one will feel the same. Just compare the location of the bridge to the location of a bridge on a P or J and you get the additional arm stretch of your fretting arm!
Can't wait to acquire one of these in the RockBass 5 version! It's on the list... Thank you Jonas
After owning and playing one for about six weeks: I really like it and play it a lot.
It isn't as comfortable as a Jazz or Precision - somehow I like that and play around with it. But it is not the first time, when I got a kind of "old but lovable design" and thought after using it: there was a reason that people improved this design.
The same is somehow true for my Fender '51 slapbody Precision reissue I own and like.
This isn't exactly fair, 'cause Warwick did something I really like - reminds me of MusicMan somehow: they didn't care about being vintage correct and kept things that don't interfer with the classic design, but are real improvements. Like the tuners, the electronics, the pickups and the hightech bridge.
There is a reason for that curve for your stomach (I'm rather underweight) on the classic Precision and Jazz designs and there is a reason for the slimmer body contours, where you rest your arm.
And there is a reason to install the bridge as close to the end of the body as Fender still does it. Your fretting hand will tell you so, 'cause you have to stretch it significantly more on a "34 scale Starbass.
I hope I made it evident enough: I love the Starbass exactly as it is and if it wouldn't have the disadvantages I described, it wouldn't be the bass it is. But players who are interested in this instrument should consider these shortcomings too.
On the other hand: if this would prevent people from mastering an instrument, noone would play classic acoustic guitars.
Tomorrow it leaves home for the first time and I take it to a rehearsal. Want to gig with it in the near future, too.
It isn't as comfortable as a Jazz or Precision - somehow I like that and play around with it. But it is not the first time, when I got a kind of "old but lovable design" and thought after using it: there was a reason that people improved this design.
The same is somehow true for my Fender '51 slapbody Precision reissue I own and like.
This isn't exactly fair, 'cause Warwick did something I really like - reminds me of MusicMan somehow: they didn't care about being vintage correct and kept things that don't interfer with the classic design, but are real improvements. Like the tuners, the electronics, the pickups and the hightech bridge.
There is a reason for that curve for your stomach (I'm rather underweight) on the classic Precision and Jazz designs and there is a reason for the slimmer body contours, where you rest your arm.
And there is a reason to install the bridge as close to the end of the body as Fender still does it. Your fretting hand will tell you so, 'cause you have to stretch it significantly more on a "34 scale Starbass.
I hope I made it evident enough: I love the Starbass exactly as it is and if it wouldn't have the disadvantages I described, it wouldn't be the bass it is. But players who are interested in this instrument should consider these shortcomings too.
On the other hand: if this would prevent people from mastering an instrument, noone would play classic acoustic guitars.
Tomorrow it leaves home for the first time and I take it to a rehearsal. Want to gig with it in the near future, too.
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