Warwick Thumb NECK DIVE (Bolt-on vs Neck-thru)

[/\/\3phist0]

Warwick thinks putting 10 lbs bodies on their basses will solve the issue. lol

The Dolphin I had was about 10lbs total.
The Thumb especially, have diminutive sized bodies,which helps keep the weight manageable , although the Dana B Goode era Corvettes could approach 13# with the solid Bubinga bodies, and Ovangkol necks

 

[Chrisk-K]

Not to hijack your thread, but does anyone know if the Neckthrough Thumb has a slimmer neck profile than the BO? I’ve always thought the thumb was a cool bass but the neck profile on the BO is a put off

I have small hands and personally find MIG Warwick 4-string necks to feel most comfortable.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I have small hands and personally find MIG Warwick 4-string necks to feel most comfortable.

Depends on the Era, the MIG distribution via DBG with Ovangkol necks had a thick D profile.

 

[SC Bassboy]

The Dolphin I had was about 10lbs total.
The Thumb especially, have diminutive sized bodies,which helps keep the weight manageable , although the Dana B Goode era Corvettes could approach 13# with the solid Bubinga bodies, and Ovangkol necks

I have a 97 Corvette 6 string that is just a touch under 14lbs. The tone though..... SO MUCH TONE.

 

[bass12]

I've owned my NT4 for over 30 years and have never had a problem with neck dive. However, due the its weight, I have always used fairly wide straps with suede inside surfaces. I'm also thinking that mine has a heavy body which possibly helps balance the neck, but it is a weighty bass.
View attachment 5390757
View attachment 5390758

The differences are subtle but I much prefer the look of the old Thumbs (like yours) to the newer ones. To me the newer ones look like a cross between a Thumb and a Corvette.

 

[Barticus]

I have a 97 Corvette 6 string that is just a touch under 14lbs. The tone though..... SO MUCH TONE.

Agree, that’s the coolest Corvette I’ve ever played, the Wenge asymmetrical neck is fantastic on that bass! Glad you’re still rocking it!

 

[Flatwound]

I have had a Thumb 6 NT, Thumb 6 BO, and a Thumb 5 BO at the same time. 6 NT was late 90’s, 12 lbs, and had the worst neck dive of any bass I’ve ever played. It was bubinga/wenge. The 6 BO was 11 lbs, all ovangkol, and not bad for neck dive. It had THE SOUND. 2003 IIRC. The 5 was less than 9 lbs, and pretty comfortable.

Alas, I have given up Warwicks due to left shoulder cramping.

 

[MattZilla]

The ones that don’t neckdive are more rare than minivans & SUV’s sold in the US with manual transmissions.

There are two ways to love them while standing & playing with it traditionally strapped on 1) up high on your belly/lower chest 2) way down on your thigh and strangling it & throwing it around

It is (and most Warwick’s are IME) a good candidate for using a performing stand instead of strapping on. (eta- or a DB style endpin)

I still love the Thumb as a couch bass.

 

[BioDriver]

Warwick thinks putting 10 lbs bodies on their basses will solve the issue. lol

And unfortunately that’s why I don’t play them anymore

 

[naetog]

Hello folks! Quick question for you...!

I have played a german Warwick Thumb 4 strings bolt-on and what a punch, what a sound! However I really noticed the usual neck-dive that the Thumb is famous for. This is a not trivial thing for me. Egonomics matter a lot... Does the neckthrough version have the same neck-dive tendency or would you say that it balances better on the strap? Since I cannot play/test beforehand, any input of the warwick "connoisseurs" will be really appreciated!

Best Regards!

I've had both models, and the NT version neck dive is actually worse than the BO.

The body shape is slightly smaller on the NT, resulting in worse dive, and it's just the way that bass is.

It sounds AMAZING, but there's a price to pay for it with poor ergonomics.

I've seen all sorts of "solutions" from ridiculously extended strap buttons, to adding weight to the bridge end of the bass, but at the end of the day it's never going to balance well.

Even the most famous Thumb player, Ryan Martinie, moved on from them and now has a Fodera with the same pickup placement. It doesn't sound exactly the same, but it's close enough, and likely WAY more fun, and easier to play.

I'm not saying buy that Fodera model at all though. If you're seriously looking for that Thumb sound, get a custom bass from your choice of luthier. You can get the pickup placement you want, a good EQ, and better ergonomics for less than a new Thumb (because new Warwicks are EXPENSIVE).

Thumbs look cool, sound amazing, but are absolutely horrible to play. Check out a Streamer Stage 2 if you've got the cash. It's a different kind of punchy, but I didn't miss my Thumb at all after I got my (used) Streamer. Or get something custom for less than a new Warwick.

 

[bass12]

I had a NT Thumb and two BO Thumbs and the BOs had much worse neck-dive than the NT (all were from the ovankol/thick neck era). So, again, I think it largely depends on the particular bass.

 

[tremor100]

Literally just tried my thumb NT with the wenge neck from late 90s (i think its 1999 but unsure) not sure what people are talking about i get almost no neck dive. It sits a bit like "straight" instead of the neck angled upwards when you let go but its also not diving at all.

Not sure if people have their thumb NT slung really low or something but i have it at about waist level and its not dipping down below a perpendicular line from my body.

 

[tremor100]

I've had both models, and the NT version neck dive is actually worse than the BO.

The body shape is slightly smaller on the NT, resulting in worse dive, and it's just the way that bass is.

It sounds AMAZING, but there's a price to pay for it with poor ergonomics.

I've seen all sorts of "solutions" from ridiculously extended strap buttons, to adding weight to the bridge end of the bass, but at the end of the day it's never going to balance well.

Even the most famous Thumb player, Ryan Martinie, moved on from them and now has a Fodera with the same pickup placement. It doesn't sound exactly the same, but it's close enough, and likely WAY more fun, and easier to play.

I'm not saying buy that Fodera model at all though. If you're seriously looking for that Thumb sound, get a custom bass from your choice of luthier. You can get the pickup placement you want, a good EQ, and better ergonomics for less than a new Thumb (because new Warwicks are EXPENSIVE).

Thumbs look cool, sound amazing, but are absolutely horrible to play. Check out a Streamer Stage 2 if you've got the cash. It's a different kind of punchy, but I didn't miss my Thumb at all after I got my (used) Streamer. Or get something custom for less than a new Warwick.

I mean... Ryan Martinie clearly moved on from Warwick because of some type of fincial dispute lol. Like he went to another company and asked to to slap a thumb bass into one of their models... kinda a wierd example. If anything if you watch videos of Ryan Martine there are several times he lets go of the bass with his left hand and it doesn't neck dive.. i really dont know where people are getting this information from considering i have one behind me and its fine... are you guys refrencing a 5 or 6 string model where the neck has more mass or something?!

 

[wysiwyg248]

Hello folks! Quick question for you...!

I have played a german Warwick Thumb 4 strings bolt-on and what a punch, what a sound! However I really noticed the usual neck-dive that the Thumb is famous for. This is a not trivial thing for me. Egonomics matter a lot... Does the neckthrough version have the same neck-dive tendency or would you say that it balances better on the strap? Since I cannot play/test beforehand, any input of the warwick "connoisseurs" will be really appreciated!

Best Regards!

I own a NT and dives a ton, can't play it while sitting down due to the round contours and the neck feels like a baseball bat. Other than that, it sounds great.

 

[naetog]

I mean... Ryan Martinie clearly moved on from Warwick because of some type of fincial dispute lol. Like he went to another company and asked to to slap a thumb bass into one of their models... kinda a wierd example. If anything if you watch videos of Ryan Martine there are several times he lets go of the bass with his left hand and it doesn't neck dive.. i really dont know where people are getting this information from considering i have one behind me and its fine... are you guys refrencing a 5 or 6 string model where the neck has more mass or something?!

Probably an irrelevant example on my end, but it doesn't change the fact that the Thumb bass balances like absolute garbage whether it's 4 or 5 string.

Have you played one, or are you just referencing a video?

I've not owned a 6, but the 4 and 5 strings, both BO and NT, are some of the worst examples of ergonomics on any instrument I've ever owned.

Obviously it works for some people, but the general consensus is it balances terribly.

When I got mine (more than once), it was all good for a month or two because it sounded so good. Then reality kicked in, the honeymoon was over, and it was very clearly not for me due to the ergonomically poor design. Fighting a bass for the sake of sound is not for me.

YMMV.

 

[Thegreatzambini]

NT will have the same neck dive issue because of where the lower horn is in relation to the 12th fret. Can't fight physics.

Do you mean the upper horn don’t you?

 

[tremor100]

Mind the mess and bedtime attire... heres a picture without me using my hands

Literally no neck dive it even sits somewhat slanted upwards which for most is ideal. AM i just a super rare case where i got lucky and there is no dive?! Because theres no dive lol..

 

[Michael Eisenman]

 

[Goatrope]

Mind the mess and bedtime attire... heres a picture without me using my hands View attachment 5391481

Literally no neck dive it even sits somewhat slanted upwards which for most is ideal. AM i just a super rare case where i got lucky and there is no dive?! Because theres no dive lol..

Yeah, very subjective. Your photo is helpful. Some folks would say anything above parallel to the floor isn't diving. Others would say anything more than 10⁰ off perpendicular to floor is diving. Really depends on personal tolerance and comfort.

Mine hung about like yours, maybe a couple degrees lower. Fine for me but not necessarily everyone.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

NT will have the same neck dive issue because of where the lower horn is in relation to the 12th fret. Can't fight physics.

The lower horn doesn't matter at all