• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Warwick Thumb 4 string

#23
Largedon said:
I've owned a Thumb for probably 6 years now. Its a 2001 model.
Pros
1. Great tone - I play mostly funk/rock/fusion type stuff. Works great for this stuff. The only complaint some have is no control for mids, but that's never bothered me. This bass actually has a great pure tone, my favorite bass sound I get is just running direct into the board and letting the PA do its thing. Clean highs, good punch with some growl. I tend to run it direct anytime I play in a large venue with a strong PA.
2. Bridge- I've always like the bridge, lots of ways to adjust your strings, but can be a little daunting if you're not familiar with setting up basses.
3. Looks great - I've always loved natural woods and this bass is really beautiful. I recently found out though that mine was a limited edition bubinga top/ovangkol bottom one though. I believe all thumbs are Ovangkol, which still looks great.
4. Electronics cover - This is fairly minor, but I love the fact that the cover snaps on and off. You don't need a screwdriver to change the battery. Very fast and the cover has held up well, as opposed to the nut (I"ll explain later about that).

Cons
1. Fairly heavy - but I've never really had issues with the weight.
2. Nut - At least on mine, the nut is kind of crappy. The nut itself is height adjustable, which is nice, but its held on by a plastic clip which tends to break. Mine has been broken for probably 2 years now. I never have a problem with the nut moving (its kind of gouged out a little groove for itself), but you have to watch it changing strings because it will just fall off without the strings.
3. Neck - The neck is a little thicker and will feel different, but once you get used to its not much of a problem.
4. Maintenance - Not sure this is a real con, but since the wood is unfinished you have to treat the wood with the wax wood conditioner to keep it from drying out. Its not a big deal, similar to waxing a car, but some may find it annoying. It does make a difference in appearance when that wood is freshly waxed though.

I'm sure there is a lot more to say, but thats all I can think of off the top of my head.
Click to expand...

This is a great overall Pro/Con for a thumb. Mine is an '88 NT4 and i ust love it. Yes it is heavy, yes it has a bit of neck dive (hangs pretty horizontal) but i wear it fairly high so this isn't much of a prob. THe Ergonomics of the bass are great. I have a bit of a belly so the bass fits me well. +1 on the older basses but nothing agaisnt the new ones. As for the nut, as DayWalker said, you can call Dana B. Goods and get either a brass JAN I that has individual height adjustment for each string (and i find the fretted tone and the open string tone to be very similar), or a JAN III which i have no experience with but hear great things about it. Good luck in your decision.

Here is Warren!
48780b8e.jpg
 
#24
Had a 98 B0-4, loved it. Slim wenge neck, awesome tone. Neck-dove a bit, but manageable. Uppermost frets were a bit hard to hit, but I never needed to. Sold it because my gig at the time left it sitting. I also had a BO-5; sounded great but the neck dive was worse, the tight spacing killed me & IMO the PU placement took away some of the available variety of tones, relative to the 4. Also did a short stint w/a fretless BO-5; unimpressive to say the least. Little-to-no mwah, & all the other previously mentioned downsides as well. Lastly, realizing I liked 3/4" spacing at the bridge, I tried a wide-neck BO-5 for quite a while. LOVED the sound, but again, increasing neck dive plus the fact that even though it was wenge, the neck was VERY thick front-to-back was not my cup of espresso.
Of course, anyone vaguely intersted in Warwicks should know they are all heavy(I've also owned several Corvettes, & still have an FNA).

Edit: Oh, & I'm sure(but could be mistaken :D)that NT Thumbs were at least once made w/bubinga bodies.
 
#26
Non custom or limited edition models

NTs=Bubinga

BOs=Ovangkol

There are several limited edition thumbs with crazy figured tops, and there was an all maple one for a while (Bleached Blond).

I've had my BO 5er for about 8 years now and would never get rid of it. I always get compliments from bandmates on my tone. I wear it high with a wide strap so neck dive and weight aren't an issue.

+1 on the get a new nut free from Dana B. Goods. I had an issue with the original just-a-nut on mine; a 98 model. The nut sagged in the middle at the A string and I had to shim it with card stock. That really messed with my slight and not really diagnosed OCD. I contacted them via e-mail and they sent me a stronger JAN-II (maybe a JAN-III, I'm not sure when they updated them).

I still think about having a bone nut installed though. This is a pretty common mod.

As far as mid control, don't the NTs com with a 3 band eg? I know the BOs only have 2 bands, bass and treble.
 
#27
warwick.hoy said:
Non custom or limited edition models

NTs=Bubinga

BOs=Ovangkol

There are several limited edition thumbs with crazy figured tops, and there was an all maple one for a while (Bleached Blond).
Click to expand...

Right- that's what I thought. I was just responding to a post that said 'Thumbs were ovangkol'.

Additionally, for me a wide strap never helps a neck-diver; my shoulders are narrow/scrawny & the edge of the strap nearest my neck digs in. :( Yeah, I know- waaa...
 
#29
bassteban said:
Right- that's what I thought. I was just responding to a post that said 'Thumbs were ovangkol'.
Click to expand...

Yeah; I was adding to the not all Thumbs are the same. :)

Additionally, for me a wide strap never helps a neck-diver; my shoulders are narrow/scrawny & the edge of the strap nearest my neck digs in. :( Yeah, I know- waaa...
Click to expand...

I just got a little coffee up my nose. :D
 
#31
JazzyJames said:
Thanks a lot guys. I play my bass really high up with a strap or im simply sitting down. Im going to a local store tonight to try the bass. Im just gunna keep playing it until I get used to the C neck. Im sure the weight wont bother me. Im pretty concerned about the nut breaking.
Click to expand...

I was initially put off by the profile of the neck, but I've gotten pretty used to it over the years. When I play a thinner profiled neck it feels awkward. I'm the type of guy that can get used to whatever in terms of the neck feel. As long as it doesn't have a glossy poly finish on the back of it.

I think that modern JANs (Just-a-nut) won't give you a problem. My biggest gripe with the JANs are the clips that hold them into place can jab your fingers should you get a little to inattentively crazy on stage.
 
#35
I have a question!

I’ve found Thumb 4 BO bass, 8-9 years old, for a reasonable price and I want to buy it!

"4. Maintenance - Not sure this is a real con, but since the wood is unfinished you have to treat the wood with the wax wood conditioner to keep it from drying out. Its not a big deal, similar to waxing a car, but some may find it annoying. It does make a difference in appearance when that wood is freshly waxed though."

If the present owner didn’t wax it with wood conditioner what are the consequences?
 
#36
Largedon said:
I've owned a Thumb for probably 6 years now. Its a 2001 model.
Pros
1. Great tone - I play mostly funk/rock/fusion type stuff. Works great for this stuff. The only complaint some have is no control for mids, but that's never bothered me. This bass actually has a great pure tone, my favorite bass sound I get is just running direct into the board and letting the PA do its thing. Clean highs, good punch with some growl. I tend to run it direct anytime I play in a large venue with a strong PA.
2. Bridge- I've always like the bridge, lots of ways to adjust your strings, but can be a little daunting if you're not familiar with setting up basses.
3. Looks great - I've always loved natural woods and this bass is really beautiful. I recently found out though that mine was a limited edition bubinga top/ovangkol bottom one though. I believe all thumbs are Ovangkol, which still looks great.
4. Electronics cover - This is fairly minor, but I love the fact that the cover snaps on and off. You don't need a screwdriver to change the battery. Very fast and the cover has held up well, as opposed to the nut (I"ll explain later about that).

Cons
1. Fairly heavy - but I've never really had issues with the weight.
2. Nut - At least on mine, the nut is kind of crappy. The nut itself is height adjustable, which is nice, but its held on by a plastic clip which tends to break. Mine has been broken for probably 2 years now. I never have a problem with the nut moving (its kind of gouged out a little groove for itself), but you have to watch it changing strings because it will just fall off without the strings.
3. Neck - The neck is a little thicker and will feel different, but once you get used to its not much of a problem.
4. Maintenance - Not sure this is a real con, but since the wood is unfinished you have to treat the wood with the wax wood conditioner to keep it from drying out. Its not a big deal, similar to waxing a car, but some may find it annoying. It does make a difference in appearance when that wood is freshly waxed though.

I'm sure there is a lot more to say, but thats all I can think of off the top of my head.
Click to expand...

+1 The definitive answer.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back