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Warwick players...


Kellboy
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HI guys, new poster here so 1st off I will say hi!!

I decided to join up and post to share my pain haha. Been playing bass on and off for over half my life now, and I used to own a 2005ish Warwick streamer stage 1 NT 5 string with the wide neck. I sold it many years ago when money was super tight and now after picking up bass again actively am GUTTED i got rid of it. I bought a fender jazz bass to give me something nice to play and it sounds amazing, but its no warwick :( .

It seems Warwick have changed alot over the years and I find the old Warwicks with the gold hardware are hard to come by and new ones dont seem as nice. Ive been watching loooads of videos of the streamer stage 1 and the Thumb, and I cant decide which sound I like more! Never played a thumb but they sound cool. Ive heard alot about neck dive issues but I play my bass pretty high up (the "proper" way ) :) and some say it isnt an issue.

Of the Thumb and streamer which do you prefer and for what style? I used my streamer for covers band doing 70s and 80 rock so didnt sound traditional but i thought it sounded great! Anyone know the weight differences between the two as well? I seem to remember the streamer feeling heavy but never had issues playing it standing up for hours.

Would love to see pics of your warwicks. heres one of the only photos of me playing mine!!

Edited by Kellboy
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Welcome to Basschat! As you say, Warwick have changed a lot in the last few years, especially as far as their necks are concerned. The necks are now standard width and depth, so should you want to revert to thick necks you'd have to check the second hand market (we have the Marketplace here, which is free to use as a buyer).
The neck dive problem is mostly in five-stringers; I have several Corvettes, only one of which is a 4, and that one is almost dive-free. It all stems from having a small body with a neck that extends further than many other manufacturers' models. I suspect that Warwicks are heavy basses because, let's face it, if they had lightweight bodies, their neck dive would become intolerable.

Can you cope with a lot of lefty Warwicks? If yes, here they are! :D


My four Corvettes:


The Fortress 5, with a couple of non-Warwick mates.

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The Fortress body is bigger than that of a Corvette, and more stable, with no neck-dive at all. That one is a Rockbass rather than the 'real deal', but it sounds and plays great. I've tuned it down half a step and the low B shows no problem with floppiness or buzz. :)

Warwick released and updated Fortress model a couple (?) of years ago, and I'm told those sound fantastic. :)

Edited by bluejay
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[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1508337999' post='3391459']
The Fortress body is bigger than that of a Corvette, and more stable, with no neck-dive at all. That one is a Rockbass rather than the 'real deal', but it sounds and plays great. I've tuned it down half a step and the low B shows no problem with floppiness or buzz. :)

Warwick released and updated Fortress model a couple (?) of years ago, and I'm told those sound fantastic. :)
[/quote]

Theres a genuine german 5 string fortress on ebay atm for a good price, brass frets and all. I think Im too set on getting a near match on my ol streamer, should never have let it go (but needing to pay rent does that)

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Here's my collection


The Fender has gone now. So, I now only have Warwicks. I used to have a 5 string Thumb.
The Thumb was heavy at 5Kg. It had neck dive and the pups are too far back to my liking. I like the sound of the neck pup.

.. but each to their own.

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[quote name='Chopthebass' timestamp='1508350110' post='3391622']
I had a Thumb through neck and whilst it looks pretty cool, the neck dive made it very tiring to play. And like you I play it quite high up. I was looking for a Streamer Stage II 5 string for ages but never came across a good used one. Expensive now too!
[/quote]

Damn, I need to try one but that's unlikely we don't have many music stores in south wales... Tell me about it, a similar build stage 1 to mine is now 4k new!!!!! I payed half that in 2006!!

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I'm a big fan of the Thumb however it took me a while to find one that balances well, happened to be an '89. I also have a Dolphin Pro 1 which has a different tone but balances perfectly and the stretch to the 1st fret is less.

If you're in South Wales you could check Bass Direct - not a million miles away and they often have some used Warwicks in stock.

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[quote name='woolf' timestamp='1508351417' post='3391636']
I'm a big fan of the Thumb however it took me a while to find one that balances well, happened to be an '89. I also have a Dolphin Pro 1 which has a different tone but balances perfectly and the stretch to the 1st fret is less.

If you're in South Wales you could check Bass Direct - not a million miles away and they often have some used Warwicks in stock.
[/quote]

Just checked their site and they do have some, still about 1hr 30 each way! They have a nice Streamer LX for 950, very nice! Not sure on that string spacing, looks tight.

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Balance on a Thumb does seem to vary and the older models do seem to fair better than the new ones. Pretty much zero on my '89.

Quite different basses, Streamers and Thumbs. Very different tone, particularly the 5 string versions I assume you will be looking at, different neck widths as standard as well. Feel very different on strap, not just balance issues but the first position is further away from the body on a thumb, will be more noticeable the higher up you have it on the strap.

For me, Thumbs are fantastic instruments and have always preferred them to Streamers. Currently have one of each though... :)

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[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1508354315' post='3391670']
Balance on a Thumb does seem to vary and the older models do seem to fair better than the new ones. Pretty much zero on my '89.

Quite different basses, Streamers and Thumbs. Very different tone, particularly the 5 string versions I assume you will be looking at, different neck widths as standard as well. Feel very different on strap, not just balance issues but the first position is further away from the body on a thumb, will be more noticeable the higher up you have it on the strap.

For me, Thumbs are fantastic instruments and have always preferred them to Streamers. Currently have one of each though... :)
[/quote]

Pics Please !!, and this man is why I'm so interested in a thumb, that Tone is KILLER! Ryan Martinie is awesome [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmjX2S04DEQ"]https://www.youtube....h?v=wmjX2S04DEQ[/url]

Edited by Kellboy
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[quote name='Kellboy' timestamp='1508353551' post='3391661']
Just checked their site and they do have some, still about 1hr 30 each way! They have a nice Streamer LX for 950, very nice! Not sure on that string spacing, looks tight.
[/quote]
Don't forget the string spacing on a Warwick is adjustable at the bridge. At the nut, they have 2 widths: 45mm or 47mm. That will be a 45mm. If your last one was a broad neck it was probably a 47mm. I have a 45mm width on both of mine and find them fine. But each to their own...

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I've got an all ovangkol bolt on Thumb 5 and the growl is supreme, For that reason alone I prefer the Thumb to the Streamer. I actually don't find neck dick to be too much of an issue but I do wear it pretty high so the curved body is rested against my side at the height to make it sit nicely on a strap. The major ergonomic issues with Thumbs imo are weight and the distance to the first fret due to the way the bass hangs on a strap. I don't find either a problem, weight is a byproduct of using those amazing African hardwoods and the stretch to the first fret doesn't affect me, but I am not a tiny bloke so that helps.

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[quote name='Kellboy' timestamp='1508354457' post='3391671']
Pics Please !!, and this man is why I'm so interested in a thumb, that Tone is KILLER! Ryan Martinie is awesome [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmjX2S04DEQ"]https://www.youtube....h?v=wmjX2S04DEQ[/url]
[/quote]



Ryan Martinie is one of the reasons I picked up a Thumb, his work with early Mudvayne is great.

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I've owned both.
The thumb was awesome sounding. A very distinctive tone.
I sold mine because it was an awkward reach to the first fret for me (i've had shoulder surgery).
Dont know why, as i've never had issues with any other bass.
Ive got a '87 Streamer. Stage 1. Its immense. Best bass i've ever owned.
Im in south wales if you want to come and try it

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[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1508691104' post='3393828']
This looks similar to the one you had if you fancy another!

[url="http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Warwick_Streamer_Stage_I_5_NT_Wide.html"]http://bassdirect.co..._5_NT_Wide.html[/url]
[/quote]

It certainly is, and almost the same price as I payed for one brand new!!!

Would love opinions on this.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Basse-warwick-/282700113719?hash=item41d23d6737:g:qxAAAOSw~RNZl13U

Edited by Kellboy
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[quote name='Kellboy' timestamp='1508690729' post='3393826']
Neoprene huh. Well there's a nice fortress on eBay for sale. Price seems good as well. Seems the thumb basses carry a high 2nd hand market value.
[/quote]Had a Thumb BO 5-string years ago. The only thing I've ever sold at a profit.*

*The pre-CBS Fender was found in my gran's loft so that doesn't count.

Edited by spectoremg
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[quote name='Kellboy' timestamp='1508700148' post='3393913']


It certainly is, and almost the same price as I payed for one brand new!!!

Would love opinions on this.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Basse-warwick-/282700113719?hash=item41d23d6737:g:qxAAAOSw~RNZl13U
[/quote]

I have a Ltd corvette with bartolini humbuckers, it's one of the best sounding Warwicks I have owned, I bet it's a quality bass ☺️

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