Warwick Thumb NT5 Questions

[Jason Harris]

I have been looking at a used 1990 Thumb bass, and before purchasing was wondering some things.

1. Are there any particular bad/good years?
This bass has a wenge/bubinga neck, bubinga body and bartolini pickups

2. Anything I should know about the thumb bass?

3. Is the pickup placement annoying for fingerstyle?
I generally play over the neck pickup on a jazz or somewhere close to there

4. I've heard the versatility isn't there but it does what it does
Is the bass have a range of sounds? It doesn't have to be amazing but can it go from metal to something smoother

5. Are the B and E strings good?
95% of the time it will be in standard and the other 5 drop A or drop D
Will they be fine with the 34 inch scale compared to my 35 Inch Ibanez BTB?

Photos:

 

[Bob_Ross]

Is the pickup placement annoying for fingerstyle?

This is just second-hand info, gleaned from some research I gathered when I was considering picking up a used Thumb a year or so ago, so take it with a huge grain of salt, but there seems to be a consensus that the 5-string Thumbs with the two pickups close together like that sound better than the 4- or 6-string Thumbs with the more conventionally located pickups. (!)

Whether that impacts comfort or playability never seemed to get mentioned.

 

[Epitaph04]

1. As far as NT thumbs go, and as far as I know, not really. Some people covet the 80's era of them but having owned one each from 89' and 91' and one from 17', (and a thumb BO from 97') they're all well built and sound similarly.

2. It's a heavy, neck dive prone instrument with unique ergonomics that specializes in a sharp, articulate, mid range heavy tone.

3. You won't know until you play one, but it did not bother me. Some players are far more persnickety however.

4. Depends on the strings, EQ, and your hand technique. Again, the thumb bass specializes in a very mid forward sound.

5. In my experience, scale length has little to do with the quality of the lowest strings. The best B strings I've played from dozens of bass guitars have been on a Wal 6 string, 2 Thumb NT's, and a Bongo 6. All 34 inch scale.

 

[Jason Harris]

Thanks guys!
This has just made me want to get it more
Especially down here in Aus where they aren't so common and where the prices are outrageous
Luckily this one is cheaper from my usual dealer