What exaclty do I have here?

[Jay May]

I started this account to find out exactly what I have in my hands. This is what I know about it......

My friend was the original and only owner. It is a Warwick, 5 string Thumb bass with EMG pick ups and a through neck. The entire thing is made of African Bubinga hardwood. The backing plate has an inscription saying that it is Handcrafted in West Germany by Warwick Bass guitars. Two of the tuning pegs appear to have been replaced. The two that are replaced say made in Germany on them and the other 3 originals have Warwick engraved on them and say made by Schaller W. Germany.

I have not been able to find a serial number on it anywhere. I don't know what year it is. I was told by one individual that it was a "JD" Warwick Thumb NT5 from about 1987 with the early one-piece pre-alembic-style bridge. Interested in seeing what you experts have to say.

Mod edited to keep within rules

 

[lat]

Weird. Are the pickups not supposed to be slanted the other way, to accentuate highs on the higher strings?

 

[Jay May]

Weird. Are the pickups not supposed to be slanted the other way, to accentuate highs on the higher strings?

I don't know.......going to contact Warwick tomorrow and find out exactly what I have here.

 

[Lesfunk]

80s thumb bass?

 

[lat]

I don't know.......going to contact Warwick tomorrow and find out exactly what I have here.

Yeah, sorry I can't help you with the bass itself, but I just found that odd. I'm sure there will be some Warwick aficionados that will be able to help you. Gorgeous bass though.

 

[smcd]

The "Made in West Germany" markings put it pre-1990. Did you check the top of the headstock, along the edge, for the serial number. It's been a while since I've owned a Warwick, but that's where I recall the serial number being.

 

[Inara]

Weird. Are the pickups not supposed to be slanted the other way, to accentuate highs on the higher strings?

I don't think there's a "supposed to" ... They just have different tone goals. I believe the idea with this way is like the reverse P pickup philosophy: makes the lows tighter and keeps the high strings warmer. I personally prefer them this way.

Gorgeous bass, OP!

 

[lat]

I don't think there's a "supposed to" ... They just have different tone goals. I believe the idea with this way is like the reverse P pickup philosophy: makes the lows tighter and keeps the high strings warmer. I personally prefer them this way.

Gorgeous bass, OP!

Yeah, after I posted that, I started thinking to myself that maybe the bass was so warm and thumpy that it needed brightening and tightening... would be interesting to find out the rationale behind doing that.

EDIT: Or maybe not brightening so much as evening out...

 

[Flaked Beans]

it says thumb jd on the headstock. yep another german made bass in the country indeed. good luck.

 

[lasanchorb]

Oh damn, that looks like a very old Thumb. I hope to hear what Warwick has to say about it, but if I were you, I would be delighted to have it!

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Check this out:

SOLD - Very Rare - 1986 Warwick JD Thumb Bass 5-string (picture heavy!)

According to the photos in the link, serial number is on top of the headstock:

 

[Avezzano]

You have a quite rare and precious beast in your hands! 1986, according to

Thumb/All Warwick Basses

"Then, in 1986 comes the 5 stringer Thumb. Bubinga Body, 7-pieces Wengé / Bubinga Neck and Wengé Fretboard. It has the PU's slanted at a very "extreme" angle, more than on the later ones. At that time those basses were handcrafted, with the Schaller one-piece 3D Bridge and EMG PU's (BEC Preamp 2 Ways).

In 1987, Warwick started using their own bridge, the Alembic-ish one. Especially on 4 stringers, since the 5 still has (for some of them), the Schaller one. Those were made of brass for several years, before it changed for an alloy which is still used nowadays."