If you're set on getting a Warwick they have good quality control so that's not something I would worry about. It all depends what tone you're looking for. Try looking on YouTube for various clips of the two basses you mentioned, they both sound very distinctive.
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Where to test drive warwicks?
- Thread starter kdjord
- Start date
So I tracked down a warwick corvette standard to test out. Felt like it weighed a good 10 lbs or so. It had active electronics. The strings felt quite dead so keep this in mind. Unfortunately I have yet to find a thumb to test.
The tone of the corvette was thick as expected and the low b was tight, but not as tight as the lakland skyline i tested. Slap tones were pretty atrocious. It just sounded like mud. Is this typical with a corvette? Or maybe it was the strings?
The neck was also baseball bat status, especially in comparison to my ibanez, which is slim and quick. Do all warwicks have necks like this?
Compared the corvette to my sr505, I would take the sr505 any day, regardless of price.
Are the necks on warwick 6 strings slimmer? I am considering ordering a 6 string very similar to this one (seafoam green 6): Link Removed
I also have the option of building a 5 string version of that I KNOW I can order a slim neck.
Any thoughts?
The tone of the corvette was thick as expected and the low b was tight, but not as tight as the lakland skyline i tested. Slap tones were pretty atrocious. It just sounded like mud. Is this typical with a corvette? Or maybe it was the strings?
The neck was also baseball bat status, especially in comparison to my ibanez, which is slim and quick. Do all warwicks have necks like this?
Compared the corvette to my sr505, I would take the sr505 any day, regardless of price.
Are the necks on warwick 6 strings slimmer? I am considering ordering a 6 string very similar to this one (seafoam green 6): Link Removed
I also have the option of building a 5 string version of that I KNOW I can order a slim neck.
Any thoughts?
All of the Warwicks I've played have that really round profile neck. I don't find them hard to play (They aren't very wide), but they are different from most other basses.
I've never considered them muddy. In fact most have a piano type of tone. Maybe it was old strings or battery.
I've never considered them muddy. In fact most have a piano type of tone. Maybe it was old strings or battery.
I was hoping for the piano tone. Must have been dead strings.. Open E pops had nuthin'!
The neck issue is probably coming from the fact that I learned how to play bass on an ibanez sr505, which has a VERY slim nick. I might just have to get used to wider neck profiles that exist on other basses.
How does the tone of a corvette compare to a thumb?
The neck issue is probably coming from the fact that I learned how to play bass on an ibanez sr505, which has a VERY slim nick. I might just have to get used to wider neck profiles that exist on other basses.
How does the tone of a corvette compare to a thumb?
kdjord,
It has been a while since I played any Warwicks. I went through a phase where I thought I had to have one. Then eventually I changed my mind. To me, all Warwicks have a signature sound. But it isn't right for every genre, band, player, etc. I don't think there is any way you can make a Warwick sound like a Fender or whatever.
Funny thing: The first time I played a Warwick, I loved the sound and started trying them out in stores whenever I could. But I don't remember what model the first one I tried was. The Thumb is one of my favorites though. It has the same sound and feel as the Corvette, but is probably more versatile. Most people complain about Thumbs having neck dive, though.
You should try out a few more, just to get a feel for them. Maybe they're not your thing. When I was looking, I wanted to get a new "main bass" to play all the time. And I kind of decided the 'wick was a bit too pigeon holed, if you know what I mean.
Good luck.
Edit: PS, I've never played any of their sixers.
It has been a while since I played any Warwicks. I went through a phase where I thought I had to have one. Then eventually I changed my mind. To me, all Warwicks have a signature sound. But it isn't right for every genre, band, player, etc. I don't think there is any way you can make a Warwick sound like a Fender or whatever.
Funny thing: The first time I played a Warwick, I loved the sound and started trying them out in stores whenever I could. But I don't remember what model the first one I tried was. The Thumb is one of my favorites though. It has the same sound and feel as the Corvette, but is probably more versatile. Most people complain about Thumbs having neck dive, though.
You should try out a few more, just to get a feel for them. Maybe they're not your thing. When I was looking, I wanted to get a new "main bass" to play all the time. And I kind of decided the 'wick was a bit too pigeon holed, if you know what I mean.
Good luck.
Edit: PS, I've never played any of their sixers.
I have a Warwick Corvett $$ 6 String. I can confirm that the necks on the 6 strings are a lot slimmer that the 'C' shape neck on the 4 strings.
Neck profiles:
You can choose between 3 different neck profiles for our standard 4- and 5-string instruments:
Standard neck
This neck has a C-shape, it's the standard neck profile for all Warwick basses.
1. fret: 19,5 mm; 12. fret: 24 mm
Fatneck
This neck profile has an U-shape. It´s about 1.5 mm thicker than the standard neck.
1. fret: 21 mm; 12. fret: 25,5 mm
Extra Slim neck
This neck profile has a flat C-shape. It´s about 1.5 mm thinner than the standard neck.
1. fret: 18,5 mm; 12. fret: 23 mm
A broadneck feature is available for 5- and 6-string models.
Broadneck
The neck profile for 5-string broadneck, 6-string and 6-string broadneck has a flat U-shape.
1. fret: 22 mm; 12. fret: 25,5 mm
You can see the full range of neck options and images here;
http://www.warwickbass.com/modules/...P=WOOD_NECK&submenuID=14620&katID=14626&cl=EN
I have a 08 Corvette $$ and I love playing it. I have smaller hand and I was afraid the neck would be a problem. But, all in all, I love the feel of the bass and the sound is monstrous. It will get a lot of tones out of it, but like stated earlier, depends on the player, song, band..etc.
It is heavy, the only down fall, but these things are built like tanks and you can feel the quality. I have never tried the Thumb, it's just not my thing from the sounds I've heard. Either way, Ibanez is good, but these have that famous growl that you always hear about. Once you plug one in, you will know what I mean. Another thing I would recommend, which may be hard to do, is if you ever find a Warwick dealer and like one of the basses, buy one here at TB cause you will save yourself probably close to $1000.
It is heavy, the only down fall, but these things are built like tanks and you can feel the quality. I have never tried the Thumb, it's just not my thing from the sounds I've heard. Either way, Ibanez is good, but these have that famous growl that you always hear about. Once you plug one in, you will know what I mean. Another thing I would recommend, which may be hard to do, is if you ever find a Warwick dealer and like one of the basses, buy one here at TB cause you will save yourself probably close to $1000.
I currently own a Streamer NT and Thumb NT. I have also had a Corvette $$ 5 as well as a Standard Corvette 4 Fretless.
I'd say the Corvette $$ can Thumb sound more similar, were 'my' Steamer is a very modern sounding bass. My Corvette $$ 5 was new in '08, my Thumb is a '99 and the Streamer is and '89 with an all EMG electronics package where the former are / were MEC.
If your 6'5" you will have no trouble with a Thumb bass. At 5'7" and shorter rather than longer limbs I feel like the low F on my Thumb bass is a mile away from me at times which is my sole complaint with the Thumb. The Thumb is very different feeling but wonderful instrument and it has as many have noted has a very distinctive tone. Though I do understand the 5 string version of the Thumb neck dives pretty good. I have played a couple on my knee and don't remember any significant neck dive but that seems to be the consensus.
My former Corvette $$ was a swiss army knife of bass tones. Really a neat instrument, that honestly I question if my selling it was the right idea. The only reason I sold it was that I am only playing a 4 string at this point. I personally like the Corvette body shape and there are some great buys to be had on them. They (the $$ specifically) are VERY versatile.
The Streamer is new to me. I am going to play out with it tonight. I got it because I wanted a similar feeling back up bass to the Thumb. Again the neck position on the Thumb is very different. Right away you will notice the 12th fret is very forward of where you are probably used to having it. For me it was hard to sight read a chart and switch between it and my former Stingray. The Steamer is a little better than the Stingray was but still not the same as the Thumb. With all that I am taking it tonight and intend to play it on it's own and I am looking forward to it. It's a really neat bass. Though it's is for sale in the classifieds.
Shoot me a PM if you have any specific questions. I am pretty into Warwick's right now.
I'd say the Corvette $$ can Thumb sound more similar, were 'my' Steamer is a very modern sounding bass. My Corvette $$ 5 was new in '08, my Thumb is a '99 and the Streamer is and '89 with an all EMG electronics package where the former are / were MEC.
If your 6'5" you will have no trouble with a Thumb bass. At 5'7" and shorter rather than longer limbs I feel like the low F on my Thumb bass is a mile away from me at times which is my sole complaint with the Thumb. The Thumb is very different feeling but wonderful instrument and it has as many have noted has a very distinctive tone. Though I do understand the 5 string version of the Thumb neck dives pretty good. I have played a couple on my knee and don't remember any significant neck dive but that seems to be the consensus.
My former Corvette $$ was a swiss army knife of bass tones. Really a neat instrument, that honestly I question if my selling it was the right idea. The only reason I sold it was that I am only playing a 4 string at this point. I personally like the Corvette body shape and there are some great buys to be had on them. They (the $$ specifically) are VERY versatile.
The Streamer is new to me. I am going to play out with it tonight. I got it because I wanted a similar feeling back up bass to the Thumb. Again the neck position on the Thumb is very different. Right away you will notice the 12th fret is very forward of where you are probably used to having it. For me it was hard to sight read a chart and switch between it and my former Stingray. The Steamer is a little better than the Stingray was but still not the same as the Thumb. With all that I am taking it tonight and intend to play it on it's own and I am looking forward to it. It's a really neat bass. Though it's is for sale in the classifieds.
Shoot me a PM if you have any specific questions. I am pretty into Warwick's right now.
I started with slim necked ibanez basses, and have moved through several others and even a few warwicks (just look at my profile for a list, lol). while there was a bit of a learning curve for my hand on the first Thumb 5nt i got, i find that i like it much better now than the slim neck on previous basses i've owned. I'm awaiting my next thumb 5nt, which is actually from the late 80s. I'm guessing the profile will be thinner on it based on the other 80s thumb i've had (a 4 string). I have a feeling, i'll probably pick up a newer thumb again and keep the vintage one and a newer ovangkol model.
I don't think the corvettes sound anything like a thumb from a general perspective. I think they can emulate a thumb's sound, but not quite get it. The only exception to this would be the active bubinga corvettes...They would probably get the closest. There's still something about a thumb that a corvette won't quite match, but pretty much all warwicks have the signature 'growl' that everyone loves about them.
That said, it does sound like there was an issue with the Corvette you tested. Perhaps it was a setup issue or the strings were well played. At my local GC, the instruments hanging on the wall are only slightly better than the ones within immediate reach of all the people coming in to look at them/touch them/abuse them, etc.
The thumb body is quite a bit smaller than the streamer and even the corvette. This puts the neck a little bit farther out to the left depending on how high you wear the bass.
I have to disagree with the statement in bold, only because i think the term 'neck-dive' gets tossed around quite a bit. In my opinion, neck-dive means the headstock just falls to the floor. I have had a couple basses that did this, so that's what i'm basing it on. My thumbs have not had this issue. They do tend to want to hang horizontally, though. I don't find it difficult at all to set the bass at a 45 degree angle and have it stay there with my current strap and the offset flush mount straplocks. YMMV.
