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Warwick Streamer help request...

herbygardener

herbygardener

HerbyG
Oct 28, 2013
318
423
A Rock in the Pacific
#1
000 Full Frontal.jpg Hi gang,
I want to start by saying thank you to everyone for the countless bits of info and help that I have gleaned from these forums already. As a late budding musician (starting to learn @45) it is definitely a great resource to have handy! So now I'm going to ask for some 'serious' help...
Warwick junkies out there, I need to pick your brains on a new pawn shop find which may also help me to justify the purchase to my wife ;~) ... I have a basic idea of what I have stumbled across but I need some assistance filling in some gaps.
Here's what I think I know... I scored a Warwick neck through Streamer (Ser# on end of headstock ends in 87) 1987?? The electronics inside are not connected/not tested by me unfortunately. I said I would never buy a bass without picking it up and playing it but... the innards of the controls seem to be older MEC, the pickups (EMG-P & EMG-LJ5) look to have been new in 2006 but do not appear to have ever been soldered? The bridge is a Kahler made in USA? The tuners have 2 different stamps on them, both from W. Germany (see pics) Battery compartment has been dismantled. Body and neck seem in pretty good shape, some extra strap post holes though. I will attach pics of what I think are the pertinent bits...if you want to see something else let me know, happy to oblige.
Bass-ically, I would like to know exactly what I've gotten my hands on and what I need to do to get it working.
I'm thinking of dismantling it down to the body to give it a good cleaning and putting it back together (maybe with some new flat wounds ;~) so that I will have an intimate relationship with all the ins and outs of this curvaceous beauty.
000 Full Frontal.jpg Any detailed info on what model Streamer this is, how this compares to original state, what's involved in fixing/replacing the electronics...I mean really, I’m a newb, so please tell me about my new bass ;~)
I'm really hoping that after investing a bit of time and effort I'll end up with a dreamy bargain on a great bass, so if you don't agree please break it to me gently ;-)
Cheers
Herby
I’ve never posted pics so hope it works out…
 

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#2
well it looks like an early WW from the handmade glory years. the kahler bridge is not original; the early ones used a Schaller type bridge. EMG Pu's were factory in these years but those look too new to be original.
I owned an 88 thumb 5 NT and I researched the hell out of that bass to ensure I knew everything I could find out about those years. the nut predates the JAN I guess unless it has been replaced?
I also see the back of headstock doesn't have the carvings that mine did in 88.
depending on what you can get her for and if the neck is straight and fully adjustable, you can get her to sound real good.
these years are the best IMO for WW. the necks alone with their different radius and profiling and dots are a pleasure to play on
 
#4
Nice. Most of your investigative work is spot on already. I'm not sure they had MEC electronics back then, I think the originals would have come with EMG. The pickups would have probably been EMG or possbly Bartolini, though most were EMG at that time. With the tuners, yours may have been a transition between the Schallers they were using at the time and the Warwick branded tuners they brought in around then. Both look right, if you know what I mean, first time I've seen both on one instrument though. It looks like everything you need, electronically, is there, just needs to be soldered up. If you post this on Warwick's forum I'm sure you'll get a more knowledgable response than mine. Good luck.

For comparison pics here's an 88 Streamer Stage 1 like yours which sold over here recently
Invalid Link Removed
 
#5
Thanks Joe,
Ya the Pups say 2006 and my limited research tells me they are active.
Would the push/pull control knob be an active/passive switch or something else? In a perfect world I would end up with a passive bass...
 

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#7
herbygardener said:
Thanks Joe,
Ya the Pups say 2006 and my limited research tells me they are active.
Would the push/pull control knob be an active/passive switch or something else? In a perfect world I would end up with a passive bass...
Click to expand...

You'll never get fully passive with those EMGs. They're active pickups, the push/pull will function as a pre-amp bypass. Don't knock it until you've lived with it for a while, they're amazing sounding basses.
 
#8
Good advice, live with it for awhile and see how it sounds. Like I said, only been at this a short time.
I'm pretty stoked to get her up and running but have never dabbled in this kind of electronic work so learning something new yet again ;)
Are the EMG and MEC components compatible? Know of any good online places to get replacement parts, knobs and such?
 
#9
on my 88 thumb, it was a two band EQ and was active only-the passive/active switch came later. with these basses, they will sound great with any pickup.
200 bucks!! oh man-do it all day long. if you get her up and running and the neck is good, you will easily fetch 1000-1400 or so. I would see if locating a Schaller bridge is feasible-they are cheap and at least it would look period correct. if it were all original, it would be worth 2000 or north of that.
my 88 thumb was played pretty hard and had all sorts of cosmetic flaws including drilled holes, but was all original and I fetched 1700 without even trying. if the strap pins weren't drilled out and relocated five times on that bass, I would have asked 2500 for it and got it too.
 
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#12
I contacted Dan @ Warwick Custom NY and he got back to me already! What awesome response!
He provided/confirmed this info for me...

1987 Warwick Streamer Stage One.
Body -- most likely Cherry, could also be Maple, based on color.
Neck -- definitely Wenge.
Pickups -- EMG active (replacement).
Electronics -- MEC 3 band active circuit (replacement).
Bridge -- brass Kahler tremolo (replacement).
Tuners -- They are era specific tuners. Two could have been replaced, or Warwick could have run out of one side during the transition period.
Going to take it to a professional for a once over, see what else I've got to put into it but I'm feeling pretty stoked about my little gamble ;~)
Now I've got to hunt down some info on that Kahler bridge...and replacement knobs...and flat wounds...and...
Thanks for chiming in...
Cheers
 
#16
Most important -- very likely to be a great playing and sounding bass, the mods are pretty sensible other than the bridge, which I'm sure is fine. A little TLC and you've got an A+ bass on a shoestring budget.
 
#17
It’s been a busy few days with work for me but I’ve learned a lot about this bass in that time too!
I have been in email contact with Dan from Warwick NY, Florence from Warwick Ger and sales from Kahler USA.
I had the bass looked at by a couple of musicians and technicians before I decided to give it to one of them to put back together and set up for me.
I’ve read feedback from folks on several forums (ya, I’m obsessive like that)…it’s awesome how friendly and willing to help people can be! Restores some faith in humanity! Cheers!
I have learned…this is what it left the factory like…
Bass Streamer Stage I
Year 1987
Month August
Body US Cherry
Surface Natural Oil Finish
Neck construction Neckthrough
Neck Wood Wenge Neck with Cherry Stripes
Fingerboard Wenge
Frets Bronze Warwick Frets
Nut Brass nut
Hardware Warwick Gold Hardware
Pickups Active EMG P/J Pickups
Electronics 2 Band MEC Electronic
The Battery compartment is original
This is what I have now…
Pickups -- EMG active P/J (2006)
Electronics -- MEC 3 band active. It’s a Volume/Pan on the dual switch, not an Active/Passive bypass.
“As for the tuners, two could have been replaced or Warwick could have run out of one side during the transition period. They are era specific tuners.”
From Kahler about that tremelo bridge..."2410F-W ...was made in the 80's ....Warrick bought from us...for OEM...however...it could be an after market unit"
I have had ‘best guesses’ on both sides of the bridge ;~) and the technician with 30 years experience that just worked on it thinks it may be original...
I did find one image of an ’88 Streamer Stage II with a tremolo bridge tho… No matter really… I gotta get a bar for it!
Just got in from playing it for the first time, really; for 3 hours with some buddies and WoW! I’m a thankful, spoiled man that will get to enjoy this beauty. I’ve of course read and heard about ‘the growl’ but tonight I felt more like ‘snarl’ better described the sound/feel. I hardly fiddled with any settings and am totally in love with the sound and the feel of the bass in my hands and against my body fits like a glove! I had flat wounds put on (my first time ;~) and am pretty damn sure that I won’t be being playing rounds again for some time. Feels like I could play this set-up for ever ;~)
So, add in the new light gauge Flats, a couple strap posts, a barrel jack and the techs wiring time.
I’m now into it just under $400...I think I can live with that.
I now have a lot of work to do to make myself worthy and able to bring out the potential of this wonderful instrument; can’t wait, it's gonna be a blast!!
Thanks again for all the help gang!
I look forward to further discussions.
Cheers!
Herby
 

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