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Warwick Thumb Proline....?

#21
Blue_Whistle88 said:
I've got one of these, had it for about six months, rehearsed with it, etc. Sounds great, sounds like a Thumb with the classic growl, flexible sounds, and it's very nice to play (though factory setup QC seems to suck because the setup was just bad out of the box). After a fair bit of setup work on my part it's definitely one of the most comfortable bases I've ever played, and I am very picky when it comes to setups. It's also really solid and well put together, which are definitely big factors for me.

Anything else you wanna know about 'em? (that is, from a real owner and not some marketing guy)
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Cool! They sure sound quite a loot like my Thumb NT judging from that youtube video, but then again, it's kinda hard to tell without holding it in person!

Is it correct that the bass does not have a mid control? If so, do you miss one? I find that I tend to boost the mids a bit on my Thumb for getting "my" sound.
 
#22
Does it have a C neck or D neck? The only reason I don't like Warwick is usually because of those awful tree trunk necks, even though they sound out of this world beautiful. The 4 string corvettes I've tried though do have decent C necks. If its got a C I'd dig one in 5 string fretless!
 
#23
Ha look in the TB classifieds. A wenge necked bolt on sat in classifieds for 800 bucks. It was in there for I wanna say at least a month. Another one sold for 900. I have seen several around the 1000 mark locally. Check tb classifieds though, that's actually where I have seen them
 
#24
They sound closer to the BO Thumbs IMO; they are, after all, bolt-on. To be honest the Thumb sound IS the Thumb sound, and there are varying degrees of it, but I'd say the Pro Series is slightly more compressed because of the gloss finish (more finish = more compressed sound), rather than the typical natural finish. I don't really know the difference between a "D" or "C" neck, but my intuition tells me that it's more of a "D" cause it's got the whole nearly-flat fingerboard thing going on. But they're using the thinner necks on all the Pro Series, as they also are with the MIG models from 2011 on, so the necks are very manageable. They still have some good substance though which I like.

Yes, like the normal bolt-on Thumbs the Pro Series has a 2-band EQ, in exactly the same configuration as the bolt-ons. I have a 3-band EQ on my ESP and the mid band does certainly come in handy, but I find myself using the lows and highs more in what you would call "serious" situations. So that makes it a really good acid test for me cause I can do a direct comparison, but I don't really find I miss the mid control on the Thumb too much because it has a natural mid-boost due to the pickup placement. If it weren't for that, I would find it a bit annoying from time to time but the EQ works well as it is. I'd considered dropping a 3-band EQ in there but it isn't really worth the time and money for me, that and I like leaving instruments stock.

EDIT: Of course, I say that, but if you give me a knob I'll find a way to use it and get used to having it. But in my opinion, a lack of options can sometimes be a good way to force you to use your remaining resources more effectively.
 
#26
As far as neck profile goes: Warwick went back to the slim profile in 2009 as the standard profile. We currently offer 3 neck shapes for 4 string basses, and a 4th (Broadneck) option for 5 and 6 string basses. You can see more details about them here: Invalid Link Removed Please let me know if you've got any questions or if I can assist in any way. Thanks!
 
#27
This sure is purdy!

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#28
WarwickOfficial said:
As far as neck profile goes: Warwick went back to the slim profile in 2009 as the standard profile. We currently offer 3 neck shapes for 4 string basses, and a 4th (Broadneck) option for 5 and 6 string basses. You can see more details about them here: Invalid Link Removed Please let me know if you've got any questions or if I can assist in any way. Thanks!
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Awesome news on the neck profile! Where could I order one of these things? I'm looking for a 5 string fretless with a C neck and the brown finish. I've never even seen a Pro line Warwick in any shops across Atlanta, let alone one that happens to have these specs that I'd be a potential buy with. Thanks!
 
#29
For anyone interested in sound samples of this bass in a real band context (again, as oppose to a heavily air-brushed marketing video), I used it on the studio recordings I did for one of the band's I'm in, which can be found here: Link Removed

The Thumb was used on all three songs, and I think it should give you an idea of what it sounds like "in application", rather than by itself. IMO, that's as good if not better as a test because I've heard almost no basses that don't sound at least decent by themselves. Getting a bass to sound good in a band is a much greater challenge.

One thing I'd like to say about Thumbs in general (including the Pro Series) is that they're brilliant live basses, simply because of their natural mid-boost. It just makes it easier to cut through, and they have a very quick attack (also a consequence of the pickup placement), so the bass boost isn't as loose as some other basses.
 
#30
tjnkoo said:
Awesome news on the neck profile! Where could I order one of these things? I'm looking for a 5 string fretless with a C neck and the brown finish. I've never even seen a Pro line Warwick in any shops across Atlanta, let alone one that happens to have these specs that I'd be a potential buy with. Thanks!
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The Pro-Series basses come with the standard neck profile, which is the C-shape. Basses made in Germany have the optional profiles I mentioned above. Using our Dealer Search, there are many stores that carry these in GA, with Guitar Center being the only place in Atlanta. You can also contact the US distributor, US Music Corp at the contact numbers, here:

Jay Marino
US Music Corp
[email protected]
(800)877-6863 Ext. 5288

I hope that helps, please let me know if you've got any other questions or need assistance in any way. Thanks
 
#32
Thanks man, much appreciated. I like Warwick basses anyway but the day I picked up a Thumb I was a total convert. It's just such a unique instrument, there's nothing out there that can get the same sound. The ergonomics are pretty unique too, it's just the overall feel of the neck and where the pickups are, it feels like a very "tight" and "pricise" intrument to play.

Funny story surrounding my ownership of that bass actually. I first played a NT Thumb about two years ago, and I completely and utterly fell in love with it. Problem was, it was way out of my price range ($5800; yea, sucks to live in New Zealand sometimes...). About a year later, I played a Pro Series Thumb, possibly the first in New Zealand. I was blown away; sure, it wasn't a proper German-made Thumb, but "that sound" was still there, and it was really comfortable to play. And I could afford it! The problem? I was moving to Australia the next week, permanently, and my gear was already in a container. So I just had to put it back...

Fast forward six months, and I was in the middle of ending yet another relationship with a 6-string, looking for some to replace it with (but this time another 5-string). Lo and behold, there was a 5-string Pro Series Thumb. As you can imagine, we left the store together. Now what is that, if not serendipitious?
 
#33
Blue_Whistle88 said:
Thanks man, much appreciated. I like Warwick basses anyway but the day I picked up a Thumb I was a total convert. It's just such a unique instrument, there's nothing out there that can get the same sound. The ergonomics are pretty unique too, it's just the overall feel of the neck and where the pickups are, it feels like a very "tight" and "pricise" intrument to play.

Funny story surrounding my ownership of that bass actually. I first played a NT Thumb about two years ago, and I completely and utterly fell in love with it. Problem was, it was way out of my price range ($5800; yea, sucks to live in New Zealand sometimes...). About a year later, I played a Pro Series Thumb, possibly the first in New Zealand. I was blown away; sure, it wasn't a proper German-made Thumb, but "that sound" was still there, and it was really comfortable to play. And I could afford it! The problem? I was moving to Australia the next week, permanently, and my gear was already in a container. So I just had to put it back...

Fast forward six months, and I was in the middle of ending yet another relationship with a 6-string, looking for some to replace it with (but this time another 5-string). Lo and behold, there was a 5-string Pro Series Thumb. As you can imagine, we left the store together. Now what is that, if not serendipitious?
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I had a 6 string thumb nt* and it sounded darker, deeper and softer than the korean 5 string one (on that youtube clip above). Sold it a few years later because it was too heavy :hmm:. Now, that youtube thumb pro5 reminds me (soundwise) on my old 2002 thumb bo 4** which was very punchy, tight and aggressive in the mids but not as deep as the nt6. I'm not sure that warwick's store in NY has them in stock but I would like to try a 6 string PS thumb ASAP.

Here is the thumb nt6*:

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Here is the thumb bo4**:

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PS.
I played my '02 streamer LX6 with my jazz fusion trio last week and it sounded totally awesome!

:hyper:

Here it is:

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#36
Flaked Beans said:
Thanks! Would it be inappropriate or against TB rules if I post pics of my foderas in this thread?:
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There's a Warwick club and a sponsored forum for showing off your 'wicks, and the Show Us Your Bass thread is for all apocryphal non-Warwick instruments ;)

Anyways...

I'm looking at swapping my Corvette 6er for something that suits my music and physique a bit better, and right now I'm considering all of these Pro Series models. The Thumb sounds and looks great. I like the punchy preciseness of these basses, and their ability to sound great in a mix as well as cut through without booming. Such an iconic Warwick instrument, too.
 
#40
Well yea, Thumbs have this great bass on the EQ control that can be pretty full and round, but because of the quick attack of the pickups it doesn't sound uncontrollable and flabby, just very warm. Granted though, the NT's are warmer, but I love what I've got. I generally love basses made in Korea, value-for-money wise. And yea, to those considering the 6-string option, the 6-string PS in the natural gloss finish just looks awesome, and I'm sure it'd really comfortable too because of the narrower string spacing and slimmer necks.

Oh, and Flaked_Beans: NICE. BASSES. I prefer Stage 2 Steamers personally but they're all just the sex, and yea, Streamers are fantastic for jazz/funk/fusion. Honestly though, Streamers are great at pretty much everything, and Thumbs are (in their own funky little way) as flexible, IMO.
 

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