What is most 'growly' Warwick bass?

[Bass Viking]

I’ve owned a Corvette $$, an Infinity, and currently own a Thumb 5 string. The Thumb is definitely the most growly. It’s a 2006 bolt on with ovangkol body + neck and a wenge fretboard. I agree that it’s the pickup placement that makes it growl.

 

[Bass Viking]

Some people think the necks from around 2006 to be too baseball bat like but I love them, very easy on the hands if you play with good technique.

Yeah, I don’t mind the baseball bat neck on my 2006 Thumb and I find it makes the narrow string spacing less noticeable too.

 

[skidmarkbass]

I played a Thumb BO 5er for years and loved the sound "Growl". What I didn't like was the weight and the tight string spacing. I sold it and went back to Fender style 4 stringers.

 

[willddd]

Biggest issue I hear sometimes with the thumb and SSII is people overdoing the bottom end, and sometimes the tops, almost as if they're afraid of the mids. The bottom end boost from the preamp can be huge, and it's a very clean and deep boost. Even with it dialled up the growl is still there, and it compresses really nicely, but out front it can cause serious issues. I often run my SSII passive, it's utterly unforgiving of sloppy playing, but the power of those low mids and the growl is insane. The thumb nt for me has even more natural growl but needs a touch of the bass boost.

 

[filwitheneff]

OK, so it seem that Thumb bass and Corvette bass will have the most growl. Corvette is less expensive, but I like thin neck, so maybe to avoid near to 2006 models and get older one. As for sound, is any configuration of electronic pieces better than another? I know for example there are humbucker and single coil models, and I think also different preamp types.

You experienced the most "growly" Warwick of them all: The Thumb! Any other Warwick will not growl on that level. I've used both a German Thumb NT and a German Corvette, and the Corvette sounded more like a Jazz Bass than a Thumb. If you want that tone, you'll need to get a Thumb.

 

[Jogobass]

In my opinion, it's the Bartolini pickups on the Warwicks that make it growl. I have a Bartolini on my Ibanez and it reminds me a lot of the Warwick sound.

 

[Jefus]

In my opinion, it's the Bartolini pickups on the Warwicks that make it growl. I have a Bartolini on my Ibanez and it reminds me a lot of the Warwick sound.

I know they do some customs, but every Warwick I've ever played had MEC pickups in it, and I do believe this is part of the magic. There are some comparison videos on YouTube with Warwicks with different pickups. For new, the MECs are part of the Warwick experience, and my Warwicks are the only basses I have that haven't had their pickups or electronics messed with.

 

[burgerdj]

I think the signature Warwick growl is due to the pickup location closer to the bridge than a standard J bass and the use of dense woods for the body and neck. A good setup is also an important factor.

My early Streamer Bolt-Ons (Cherry body, maple and bubinga necks, wenge boards) retain a great deal of the signature growl, but have a more velvety upper midrange that helps the bass blend into more traditional tone environments.

I’ve enjoyed playing every Warwick that I’ve owned or encountered with minimal exception - those being a Thumb NT4 while standing on a three hour gig and a Corvette with a baseball bat neck.

 

[Jefenator]

My Streamer Stage I looks more conventional (ie Fender-like) than most other Wick models, in terms of body shape and pickup placement. But I prize it precisely because it does not overlap with my Fender variants; it can’t sound like them and they can’t sound like it. Irrepressible growl is part of that recipe. Makes for a really killer low B string, too. I have experienced this on a Corvette as well.

 

[Jogobass]

I know they do some customs, but every Warwick I've ever played had MEC pickups in it, and I do believe this is part of the magic. There are some comparison videos on YouTube with Warwicks with different pickups. For new, the MECs are part of the Warwick experience, and my Warwicks are the only basses I have that haven't had their pickups or electronics messed with.

It's been 20 years since I last looked at warwick, my memory may be off but I think they used Barts back then. Or not. Pickup placement matters a lot. Perhaps the MEC's are comparable to barts as well.