Warwick Thumb or Streamer 2?

most definitely a thumb...awesome basses. i'm of a biased opinion, however, as i have a thumb 4 neck-through.

 

STREAMER !

 

They all use the Streamer.
I love my Streamer.
THe STREAMER you should get.

 

Definitely the Streamer.

 

well p nut and dirk lance use streamer II's...

 

I also play on a thumn 5 n/t, I love it more than any other bass I've had the pleasure of playing and would highly recommend it if you where looking for something used, since IMHO the newer ones (since '97) are not in the same ballpark as the rest. I've never tried a streamer stage 1 but I have tried the streamer 2 and I loved it if I were to buy another 5-string brand new it's what I'd go with.

 

I've had a Thumb b/o, a Corvette and a Streamer Standard. (Not exactly a Streamer II, but a Streamer type nonetheless.)

This might sound odd, but of all those basses, the Streamer Standard felt the best by far. The neck is unbelievably comfortable. When I play my Fender Jazz, and then pick up my Streamer, if feels more familiar and... Comfortable. It's the only way I can think of describing it. Easier to play. Faster.

The Thumb and the 'Vette both sounded better - more complex (they are active) - but the Streamer sounds great to my ear. (I play through an SWR Workingman's 15) As a result, I end up playing the Streamer more than any other bass.

The Thumb was a little neck heavy, and I'm not crazy about the 'Vette shape. I don't dislike it, it's just my least favorite Warwick shape I guess.

No matter how I try to convince myself the Thumb or the Corvette are better because they're active, have better options, etc., I always, always go back to my Streamer.

 

as an owner of a neck thru thumb, i'm not sure what to recommend.


tonewise - the thumb rules. a tone i'm proud to call MY sound. and the thumb LOOKS the coolest as well. i personally love dark wood basses with black hardware.



but, it's a bitch in terms of balance. the short strap horn makes reaching for the 1st fret painful for a small guy like me.


i dunno...how close are the SSII and the thumb in terms of sound?


jason

 

Get a Spector NS5CRFM. Seriously.



The SSII has a nicer neck IMO. I don't care for the electronics in any Warwick though.

 

It took me ten years to get my thumb 6 string N/T
and worth the wait I might add.


Chopper.

 

I've owned a neckthrough Thumb 6 and Streamer II 4, and have played several Thumb 4's and 5's (including a 5 I planned on buying but returned after taking it to one band practice...). That qualifies me to have an opinion, right?

I'd have to say go with the Streamer--it balances much better, for one thing, and is just really comfortable to play. I really liked mine, and only sold it to pay for a Wal.

With the wenge necks and the J pickups, the tones sounded fairly similar between the two, to my ears. If you're looking at 5's, the pickup positions on the Thumb 5 seemed to me to not give all that much tonal variety, and the G string seemed a bit wimpy. I never found that with the Streamer 4.

Of course, the Thumb is a lot easier to find, and usually less expensive, which may make a difference.

(FWIW, the Thumb 6 was pretty amazing--I liked it better than the 5--but it weighed a ton!)

Mike

 

I would vote streamer mostly for the body balance and I think it has a little deeper tone due to the pick ups being closer to the neck. I like the neck position more personally. The thumb has a very articulated sound that can still be kept in control.

Streamer is my vote.

 

Streamer Stage II, for more tonal diversity and for balance issues as well.

The Thumb is a beautiful bass, but has the worst ergonomics of any modern bass that I have ever played. If you are 6'6" with long arms and huge hands, the Thumb may work for you, but any smaller and you will spend half of your energy just holding the neck up.

 

Get an SS1 5 strings, 18v electronic, Bart soap bar,
wide strings option is the best .

 

hmm...so me being 5'10" with short arms and girly hands is probably my problem, you think?


jason

 

Could be. Have you tried a SSII?

 

nope. i really need to though. i can't play gigs without reaching for my musicman for most of the night out of fatigue (except with phat phunktion, where i have to play the thumb the whole nite cos everything requires a 5, and after a gig with them i hurt for a few days)


can an SSII get that same barky, midrangey tone a thumb has with everything set flat? would a dolphin come closer?


jason