Warwick Thumb B.O. 4 String Opinions

That is a great price for that bass! I've seen them going easily for 1300-1600 recently. I've got a stock '99 thumb
B.O., so I can't speak to how the pickups will sound vs the MECs?.
I've never had a real issue playing it sitting down. There is some neck dive. But that can be remedied using a decent strap (suede/leather) that clings to you.
The only issue I've ever found, and I bought it new in '99, is that the nut is sharp as hell and can scratch you if you play F on the E sting much. That is the only complaint I've got.
Good luck if you buy it! Let us know.

 

That pickup placement is different from the standard Warwick placement and I’m wondering how that affects the sound? The price is attractive and Aguilars are high quality.

 

I've had both the BO and NT models and loved them. In terms of comfort sitting down, I thought it was okay. It balanced adequately and I didn't have to strain myself to play it. The pickups would be my concern. Arguably, Thumbs get their signature tone from the pickup location. Your bass appears to have been modified to accept a whole different pickup size, which potentially throws off the "Thumb tone". You should play it first before buying, in my opinion.

 

I don't know about better but it will be different than stock. I have a stock 98 that will go to my grave, I think it's amazing. I had a newer one like the one posted but with EMG's in the stock position. It was a really nice bass but I didn't NEED two Thumbs and the original pickups sounded way better to me.

That is a great deal for 900 as long as nothing is wrong with it. You'd likely be able to sell it and make money if you didn't like it.

 

The body and horn shape/length of a Thumb make the neck feel longer than it is and the bass is susceptible to neck dive

 

I own that german bo 4s bigger sister, thumb bo 6 with stock mec pickups and guts as well as Warwick strings.



Its a great bass and it sounds powerful. Its heavy so a good strap is needed or you have to play sitting down which you plan on doing so the size shouldnt be an issue, neither should be neck dive on a 4 string model. The bass feels great and it required some oil maintenance due to the woods being used but otherwise...

I say go for that 4. Its a good price too

If you end up getting it, come over to the Warwick club. Girls and guys there are plenty nice

Hope that was helpful

 

I think they're very easy to play sitting down. It might take some adjustment getting used to where the first frets are, it was a little uncomfortable for me until I played the bass more and got used to it. At first it felt like my arm was reaching farther or it was at a weird angle, but I was used to Fenders and Ibanez basses before that.

 

Yeah, it sounds better so that's why he's selling it.

 

I have a 5 string bolt on Thumb. There is a little bit of neck dive when sitting but it's nothing bad. A 4 string would probably be fine. You could also install Hipshot Ultralite tuners to lighten the headstock if necessary.

 

I have no experience with those aguiler pickups, but I'll say this: The thumb BO is a great bass with a very focused and distinct tone. Stock preamp is nice, has passive option. Sitting down is comfy enough. Standing up is a whole different story (I no longer own one due to reach issues).

 

Its still a 34" scale bass, so you might not notice it since you play a 35" scale. It was noticeable to me because I had never played anything longer than 34".

Like @sotua said, the reach to the first few frets feels different because of the neck placement on the body. It can feel like you're reaching farther for the first frets vs other basses.

 

Amazing bass, it'll prob sound a little less warwicky and little more "normal" with those pickups, but it's still a warwick and not all of the tone is a result of mec pickups... just part of the tone. There are many thumb basses with that pickup placement (as opposed to the other thumb pickup placement you see often with two narrower pickups closer together, possibly angled, closer to the bridge)... it likely had stock EMG soap bars in those positions before... I don't think the body was routed significantly to make the change, if at all, but maybe a smidge if the pickups aren't exact drop ins. But I doubt it had the narrower pickups before this. It may have had mecs.... you should ask him where the original pickups are, because if you can get them as part of the deal it would be interesting.

If not though, I'd totally still go for it. Ok, well, I actually wouldn't because my warwick corvette is a physical design that I like better and still is a warwick and sounds like warwick built a jazz bass, pretty much, which is awesome for me, and I like my corvette's light ash body. But.... I'd still love a thumb, and the tone of that wood, that thumb design, and so forth, will make it a unique and excellent instrument.

That price truly is excellent.

 

I wish I could find a corvette ash active 4 for that price!! I’d go for it.