Warwicks---Yay or Nay?

I've yet to find a model that feels comfortable to me! Soon as I pick em' up, I can't even get past that to even play them. I put them down real quick and check other basses! Besides Ibanez the only other basses that felt great to me were the Modulus Q basses and a Fender Deluxe 5!

 

I like the Corvette and Thumb bodystyles, but not the Streamer, Vampyre, Buzzard, etc. they all have good sound though.

 

I think they're good basses, quality suffered a little in the highend models since they changed factory and started high-volume production, but still more value for money than other big players (read: Fender).


I'm not really a Warwick fan, but I'd buy a pre-90s when I had the chance.

 

I've played a few in stores and find them to be a quality bass at most price points the various models represent. I've also heard alot of very good players using them live with great results. I just can't get past the body shape, I'm probly just an old fart that likes the traditional style bass. I swear I first saw that body styling in an episode of The Flintstones that featured a rock band playing at Pebbles and Bam Bam's Prom.

 

I really liked the sound of the thumb 5 NT I had, too bad it was not a very well thought out design: heavy, long reach, too small of body. I liked everything about the Streamer Pro M 4 string I had, I sold it because I had 5 string envy. I'm still kicking myself for selling it.

 

The Streamer model, with it's Spector-licensed NS body, is the Warwick for those who want a trad-looking instrument. Funny how Warwick has somewhat downplayed this model in recent years in favor of the unique, but not too wack-looking Corvette body style. The sound speaks for itself, and remember, it's the sound that is most important anyway.

Viva Warwick!

 

I like the Streamer Pro M 4 string, I played one once...and I also like the Streamer Standard, as it would make for a great fretless.

On the other hand, I don't like the Thumb bass. I know I'm going to get flamed for it, but idk, the pickups are too close together for my tastes...honestly, either a neck pickup and a bridge pickup (ala Thumb 4 string) or a humbucker...just not both!

 

I'll echo what someone else said here, Warwicks frustrate the hell out of me. On the one hand, everyone I've tried sounded great, excellent electronics and hardware, chunky necks, but my big hands can adjust, but their body shapes just make my bile rise. They just scream 80's hair band, if any of you remember those days.

 

I like them...well some of them. I do not dislike the body styles of any, but I do not really like the sound of the Thumb's nor the pickup placement. Have not played all the different models (stick to sixes, Corvette, Streamer I, thumb NT/BO is all I have played) and liked them all accept the Thumb. I think the Corvette standard is one of the best bangs-for-the-buck around (got my 6 with basslines for 700).

 

They frustrate me more than anything. I love the sound, and I occasionally find one that I really, really like, but whenever I have money, a comfortable one is nigh impossible to find.

I've played both the Wenge necked ones (pre '98, I believe) and the Ovankol necks and both sound fine to me. I just have to play about 8 of them back to back to find one I like.

Favorite model that I've played is the Thumb 5, but I'd kill to wrap my hands around a Dolphin 4 or 5. The 4s on whole though, are too narrow for my meat hands, so it's mostly 5s I dig.

That, and with the numerous horror stories about MEC electronics, I'd drop in a new preamp pretty quick, even though I think they sound fine as is. Neck dive never really bothered me...

 

I used to not like Warwicks at all, but the other day at GC I played a used Thumb Necktrough Fiver, and it was awesome. After that day I could see what people liked about Warwicks.

 

Ok, for a long time the only warwick body i could stand was the streamer, and if you look at my avatar you'll see why . I thought that warwick has just knocked off Spector and was really wondering how they got away with it- thanks for the update. I really like the way most fretless warwicks sound, but the only bodies I really dig and woudl ever buy are the fortress and streamer. I suppose the Dolphin is ok looking too.

 

I have a early 90's thumb 5. It is a fantastic instrument, but it also has some negatives. It is heavy. Very heavy. Hasn't caused problems per se, but you DO notice. It is also not a good bass to sling low around your hips. The small body makes the neck want to level out. Fine if you play with it up around your belly or chest like I do, but no good if you like to lowride (and its funny, but there's a string of warwick ads with bassplayers from the crop of xerox copies you hear on the radio, most of them with a thumb bass hanging down around their knees as they strike a pose.)

Anyways. I fell in love with this bass the first time I picked it up. I did what I had to do to get one (a sweet '92 NT with a bart 3band and Lane Poor p-ups off ebay, I sweated for a week). I either already liked it's quirks, or I adjusted to them. That being said, I definately could see how someone would just not dig this bass. I don't think there'll be a concensus on whether warwicks are good or bad, but I think everyone will probably say the older ones are better than the newer ones.

 

ay

 

Warwicks are the only basses I have played (which includes many expensive high end basses) that I like more than my Spector. I'm saving up... hopefully one day I can get a green Streamer Stage 2 like the one Sam Rivers has...not because I like him, just that I like the colour.

 

i bought a Streamer Jazzman 5 not so long ago. i had been longing for one since i was 13 and 6 years later i have it. it is more than what i wished for. perfectly playable, sweet tone! deep burgundy red satin finish. i love it, and it won't be my last Warwick

 

I like them especially my 1990 Stage1 with stock EMGs and DOTS
I have 4 Warwicks,
Stage1-4str.
Stage1-6str.
StreamerLX6(6str..)
Corvette proline 5,
I love my Warwicks
.

 

As long as no-one steals my Warwick it will be my main bass for the rest of my life. It has such a gorgeous tight growly sound, dense and even from top to bottom of the neck. As a working instrument it has been (is being) modified from standard which has improved it further. Basically it started off as a 1987 Warwick Streamer with a 5-piece wenge neck with cherry stringers, wenge fingerboard, cherry body wings, those fantastic bronze frets, Schaller roller-saddle bridge, brass nut, EMG reverse P/J pickups, MEC 2-band preamp, Schaller straplocks, Schaller tuners, aluminium-alloy 2 way trussrod, 9v electronics. I still haven't weighed it buts it's not too heavy, between 8 & 9 lbs I think.

Since I've owned it I've replaced the unadjustable brass nut with a graphite just-a-nut 2 which has really improved the setup and somewhat improved the tuning stability (no change on tone). The aluminium truss-rod was snapped when I was adjusting it so it's been replaced with a stainless steel one which make the bass slightly more neck heavy (but its still very well balanced) but added a noticeable amount of growl and attack to the sound (extra stiffness I presume). I've added an ebony thumbrest/ramp between the pickups which really improves the playability for me. (The strings are critical too - it's a perfect match with LaBella Deep Talkin' Bass s/s rounds 44-110 - the current set are almost 3 years old and sound awesome).

It's about to receive the final bout of modifications - replacement of the MEC2 preamp with an Aguilar OBP-3 and upgrade of the electronics for 18v power, and the addition of a hipshot detuner on the E-string. The MEC2 has frequency centres at 100Hz and 1kHz IIRC whilst the OBP-3 has centres of 40Hz, 400Hz/800Hz and 6.5kHz - I'm really looking forward to being able to add in some really deep lows and glassier highs than the MEC2 could, plus being able to scoop some high mids out for slapping or bring the low mids up for thick pick playing will be groovy. Going to 18v should really open up the EMGs as well, more dynamics, cleaner top and deeper bottom. It's all just subtle improvements on an already fantastic sound.

The hipshot will definitely make a BIG difference though. It's going to be set to drop the E-string to B, and having experimented with this tuning I've found that (possibly thanks to using a .110 gauge E) the bass speaks really well on these low notes - it's all about having a nice stiff neck and resonant body woods to ensure the attack is strong and the notes have plenty of growl and definition. Who needs 5 strings?!

Alex