"When in doubt get a Warwick"

[Blazer]

Well with our previous CD recordings ending in disaster, my band has brought in somebody who HAS recorded metal bands before (the first guy had NO CLUE on how to record our music) and he attended a rehearsal so he could check us out and to find out how to get the best out of us.

Peter, our bass player who's also my younger brother, was playing his eighties eighties Vantage bass (which used to be mine) through the Ampeg halfstack that was in the room and that new guy just walked towards it and actually placed his ear against the cabinet while Peter was playing at full blast.

After rehearsal he said to Peter "Have you ever tried playing with a pick? Your music would really benifit if you as a bassplayer would start playing with a pick and started using a better bass than the one you're playing now, your sound is muffled (because Peter likes to play with the tone rolled all the way off, the double P-bass pickups of his Vantage could rip you right in two when you get the tone open) and your finger style playing lacks the timing required from a rythm section." He then dropped a bombshell "Tell you what, next week I'll bring along my Warwick Thumb bass that you can borrow for the sessions, take it home, get used to it and play it on the recordings, you can even use it live if you want to."
Link Removed

When we drove home Peter went "Do you really think that playing a Warwick will make THAT much of a difference?" I told him that he was about to graduate from riding a BMX to riding a Harley. I then proposed that we should go out to a shop that has Warwick basses so he could check them out but I also warned him: compared to his Vantage and gnarly short scale Ibanez Basses a Warwick is an elite instrument, once he gets a taste of that he might not want to return to his old instruments and I told him "set aside some money because Warwicks are expensive."

But for the second time, my brother has heard from a recording engineer that he should get himself a "better" bass. And while anoyed at that, he's also excited about the guy actually lending him his bass. When he asked me about who play Warwicks I popped in a Jamiroquai album and said "That guy is" Peter is a big fan of Jamiroquai so he went "If it's good enough for Zender..."

I'll keep you guys informed.

 

[Rushyo]

Nice guy My own father keeps me away from his Thumb.

I would argue that a pick is hardly an answer to bad rhythm though. My timing is much sweeter without. That's the first thing a pick compromises for me.

I definitely think everyone who tries a Warwick risks falling in love with it too soon though. Personally, I find Warwicks suit me perfectly but Warwicks force you down a more narrow sound at an early stage than other instruments might. It's always worth shopping around for the best personal sound when you get your first 'professional' bass.

 

[Murphys Law]

No.
Theres no way a Warwick would make a metal band sound better than with a other bass.
If he sounds bad he lacks timing and equipment-setting skills, not a Warwick.

 

[meta]

using picks... depends on your background. for me, an old guitarist, it feels natural. mind you i don't mind using finger tech as well...

 

[Blazer]

Well our band plays eighties style heavy metal think Iron maiden, Judas Priest and the likes pumping out eight notes along with the drums.

This clip showcases our music.

 

[flipper_gv]

Well our band plays eighties style heavy metal think Iron maiden, Judas Priest and the likes pumping out eight notes along with the drums.

This clip showcases our music.

is he using a fuzz on his bass?

 

[Rano Bass]

Personally, I find Warwicks suit me perfectly but Warwicks force you down a more narrow sound at an early stage than other instruments might. It's always worth shopping around for the best personal sound when you get your first 'professional' bass.

That's good advise, Warwicks are really good for playing metal but they're not for everyone.
But i think your brother should listen to the engineers and get a better bass

 

[Kwesi]

I personally think that tone-wise, Warwicks are some of the best basses for metal (most of it anyway) so the new guy may be on to something. The feel is something that may be a deal breaker though. Warwicks can be heavy and unbalanced and their baseball bat necks are infamous. Tell your bro not to force himself to like the bass just because it's high-end. If he likes it, great but if not move on to something else

 

[Bass-Ment]

I owned 3 Warwick Thumb basses. I traded/sold all of them. I now own 2 Roscoes and a '75 P-Bass. I'm much happier with the sound/feel I have now.

 

[Lammchop93]

Mudvayne plays Warwick Thumb's, and his tone is just sick!

 

[Thorsoundcore]

wow,he might as well give your bro the thumb lol.he's letting him use the hell out of it from what it sounds like.and btw i DON'T think his timing will be affected by a pick,it all depends on the player...

 

[Thorsoundcore]

Mudvayne'S BASSIST plays Warwick Thumb's, and his tone is just sick!

there you go

 

[badboy1984]

Using pick or finger doesn't affect the timing .... It all depends on the player. Also warwick is not everyone's taste. If your bro like it then good if not try something else. Fender jazz or P is a good starting point.

 

[Blazer]

Well you guys, when our engineer showed up with his warwick it actually stank. He told me that he hadn't touched it in two years and it lay unused in his basement.

It showed, the parts were rusty, the strings were tarnished and the whole bass was covered in residue. My brother looked at the bass and then looked at me with a "I'm not sure of this" look in his eyes.

When I got it home, I cleaned the parts, used acetone to "strip" the bass of all layers of grease and goop before aplying seven layers of gun stock oil making the instrument look brand new, I then used 1000 grid flint paper to clean the tarnished frets and a set of Fresh D'addario strings finished the thing off.

I actually used it on a recording straight away, my salute to Michael Jackson.


When I handed the bass over to my brother he went wide eyed: "That's not the same bass, is it?" all of a sudden that tarnished and covered in Goop bass looked really good and after plugging it in he went "Oh man, you were right about these."

Last sunday our engineer was reunited with his bass and he too was blown away by my work. I haven't told him yet what the restauration will cost though but seeing the work I put into it, it won't be cheap.

Upcoming sunday will be the day that the Warwick will see action with our band, I'll keep you guys imformed.

 

[Dark Horse]

Well you guys, when our engineer showed up with his warwick it actually stank. He told me that he hadn't touched it in two years and it lay unused in his basement.

It showed, the parts were rusty, the strings were tarnished and the whole bass was covered in residue. My brother looked at the bass and then looked at me with a "I'm not sure of this" look in his eyes.

When I got it home, I cleaned the parts, used acetone to "strip" the bass of all layers of grease and goop before aplying seven layers of gun stock oil making the instrument look brand new, I then used 1000 grid flint paper to clean the tarnished frets and a set of Fresh D'addario strings finished the thing off.

I actually used it on a recording straight away, my salute to Michael Jackson.


When I handed the bass over to my brother he went wide eyed: "That's not the same bass, is it?" all of a sudden that tarnished and covered in Goop bass looked really good and after plugging it in he went "Oh man, you were right about these."

Last sunday our engineer was reunited with his bass and he too was blown away by my work. I haven't told him yet what the restauration will cost though but seeing the work I put into it, it won't be cheap.

Upcoming sunday will be the day that the Warwick will see action with our band, I'll keep you guys imformed.

So he loaned you his bass for the recording, you immediately did some "clean up" work to it (without asking, I presume - since you didn't mention that he OK'd it), and now you want to charge the guy for it ? Seriously ? Remind me never to be kind and loan you something. It seems to me that cleaning up the bass should be repayment for his loaning you the bass, attending a rehearsal, and caring enough to take the steps to make your recording sound good.

Just my opinion.

 

[Korladis]

I find that rolling the tone knob all the way off doesn't really work for metal. YMMV

 

[SurrenderMonkey]

That's gonna be day and night. A Thumb through a Ampeg, yummy. May not work out, but it's worth a try Should be right at home with a metal outfit, but I the balance, weight and comfort can be quite different from what he is used to.

 

[Bass-Ment]

Mudvayne plays Warwick Thumb's, and his tone is just sick!

He probably has so many effects on it that you can't tell what the Warwick actually sounds like anyway.

 

[Blazer]

So he loaned you his bass for the recording, you immediately did some "clean up" work to it (without asking, I presume - since you didn't mention that he OK'd it), and now you want to charge the guy for it ? Seriously ? Remind me never to be kind and loan you something. It seems to me that cleaning up the bass should be repayment for his loaning you the bass, attending a rehearsal, and caring enough to take the steps to make your recording sound good.

Just my opinion.

No he knew. I told him about my plan to clean it up and make it a playable instrument again, his eyes lit up when I explained to him what I was going to do.

 

[Dark Horse]

No he knew. I told him about my plan to clean it up and make it a playable instrument again, his eyes lit up when I explained to him what I was going to do.

Ah, fair enough. You might cut him a deal (or trade for recording time) as he seems to genuinely care about getting you a great recording - and want to put in the effort.