goonieman

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1436350535' post='2817283'] Another finish needing an acquired taste is the original USA Musicman Sub textured finish with checker plate pickguard. Strangely appealing now and if I was to be looking to buy a U.S. sub now I'd insist on it being all original and not pimped up to look like a regular Stingray. I can't work out how to post pictures on this site so I'll leave it to someone else to post a pic (presuming there's anyone left on the site with such a beastie - ah McNach has one I think!) [/quote] I had one of these in black. GREAT thumpy tone - 100% stingray, apart from the fact that the pickup is wired in series compared to the full-blown 2EQ version. Neck every bit a stingray - but the body colours were a touch fugly - especailly the maroon/wine red and greeny ones. There is a white version - but rare as hen's teeth.

[quote name='ben4343' timestamp='1436340668' post='2817148'] I'm really not a fan of the Antigua colourway either. At one point there was a matching Antigua bass [i]and [/i]strat in the window of my local music shop; I have no idea if they sold, or if they were simply removed and hidden in a dark place... [/quote] Yes, I think I heard a story about a couple Antigua's on Denmark St. having to be shifted to the roped 'censored' section at the back of a shop - along with instruments with over-zealous 50s rockabilly decals - after parents complained about the instant trauma that their small children were experiencing.

That be fugly. Is it Klingon Starship - inspired? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klingon_starships

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1436300152' post='2816938'] Yes, I've used these on a couple of my basses and on my guitar, too. In short they are great and you should definitely try them. They are a revelation really, makes you realise that over time you have got so used to your strings being wildly differing tension that you don't really notice it. Makes a lot of sense when you think about it - I think every manufacturer should at least offer them as an option. [/quote] Thanks - that's reassuring. But.. do you still use them? Why/why not?

Hi all, Anyone have experience with these? http://www.daddario.com/balanced_tension.page?sid=54b93a2d-f6d4-4528-8c42-cffd983e36fd#benefits I've read some reviews, but am still curious. There is not a lot out there actually. Currently I have some DR Fat Beams on my Warwick Corvette, and quite liking them. I don't mind nickel hex core. My main interest in the different feel and logic of balanced tension. As I setup my own basses I am very interested (read: neurotic) about appropriate relief, saddle radius and height etc. So it makes sense to finish it all off with balanced tension, right? Or do they sound rubbish? Other downsides?

yeah, the Bubinga on this bass is even more 3D-like now I have given it another layer of wax. amazing how 'dead' it was originally. I bet it had not been waxed for years beforehand! The wood was thirsty for treatment. The fretboard soaked up the mineral oil too. I've just bought a glockenklang 2-band preamp from thomann to replace the VMC - so another update coming on how that sounds by comparison!

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1436048172' post='2814630'] I've liked everything pictured so far ☺ [/quote] Ok, but surely not this... http://www.promusicdm.com/shop/antiguajazz/

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1436044679' post='2814594'] My two grandmothers died, one in 1957 and one in 1972. I don't recall any porcelain dolls. [/quote] Well, yours grandmothers had better taste than my mine. ...and now that you've posted a pic of that oldsmobile I think I may be on the way to recovery to appreciating burgundy mist. Who would have thought. Again, its all about context. If I can UNDERSTAND the colour, I can love the colour. That red above is the wrong side of candy apple red. It is not nice.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1436024014' post='2814434'] A bit late now but ... that's burgundy mist metallic and it's gorgeous. [/quote] Ok, I guess horses for courses. I think Burgundy Mist is a really kitchy tone... it smacks of a rusty Ford Mondeo, or one of those dresses from a little porcelain doll that grandmothers collect. This is just my personal experience of course... I don't want to offend anyones taste. I'm sure you have very good reasons for liking it.

New bass day!!! (technically new bass week as I got it earlier and have been making tweaks) Has bubinga body, full wenge neck (no ovangkol). Mid-size chunky neck with volute. It is one of the 'transition' prolines. The 'actual' prolines have different features - gold hardware, etc. For a while it seems Warwick left the 'proline' truss rod cover before they introduced the Corvette Standard. So i'm almost done with all the tidying... removing old DNA, basic setup, checking frets... I found a slight ski-ramp from the 15th to 20th frets on the higher strings, and the general profile of the relief was more exaggerated around 1st to 7th frets... a bit weird. So I did a full fret level. Could not get the neck dead straight as there was a slight s-curve in the neck. Nothing major, only causing some slight extraneous buzzing on the 15-20th frets. I figured maybe because it did not have steel reinforced neck on upper register. There are some indicators that Warwick introduced this is 1996 - so who knows. Anyway, flattened the frets nicely, crowned and polished. New set of DR Fat Beams (loving them!), and setup with real low action with a steady even curve and symmetrical relief all along the neck. Got rid of the rubbish plastic EMG knobs, and did a wax job. It has no bass and treble, only an EMG Variable Mid Control, which is proving very versatile, but i'll probably revert back to b/t on a passive/active push/pull. The original owner failed to tell me this in the sale... c'est la vie. No sign of the original MEC preamp I'm thinking either Glockenklang or Tone Monster SEB2-A because they have presoldered push-pull pot. At the moment i'm in growl heaven. Basically a poor man's Thumb (?!)... this might be a keeper!

Ha ha - let me know what they say. I'm genuinely curious what is going on there...

yeah, I guess I was asking for an entry level German corvette or streamer... Anyways, I got my German Corvette now and i'm loving it! Full review and pics coming soon - when the new knobs arrive...

Was looking at this post: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/263945-be-wary-warwick-streamer-1988-on-ebay-little-bit-of-false-advertising/ and see it is the same weirdo posting 'bess amplifyer', and 'boss geitar' ! http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/natallia81/m.html?item=171801897849&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 What is the deal with this person?! Seriously? What on earth is going on here? Over 20K goods for sale, and only one pic? Is this some elaborate joke?

LOLZ - interesting to see what people think of you... This was my ad, and no, I didn't get any offers for a swap... although I almost got a JV in a trade. I did get a good cash price for the Stingray though from a really nice guy in London. It was a truly great specimen of a bass. Absolutely rock solid. I miss it already... sigh Why not trade a Warwick for a Stingray? They're equivalent market prices, but very very different experiences playing and sound wise.

Maude, that is an excellent candidate - but I think you are confusing form with paint job. Don't let the truly horrendous and completely unergonomic body shape distract you... http://www.activebass.com/item--LP.DLHBASS-CPR

Worst bass colour ever. I can hardly look at it... burp , ugh, a little bit of sick... cough. I did a google image on not sure anything can really compete, unless you can find a tan brown sparkle sunburst? anyone?

exactly my question. I know Warwick introduced steel and graphite reinforcements at some point, but unsure of when that was...

Hi All, i'm curious about my '96 bubinga corvette. Anyone know whether it has the reinforced steel bars on the upper registers? I ask because it is a touch less flat there than my prev 2007 Warwick bass, which was almost deadflat from 12 to 24. My Corvette, by contrast, goes up a bit at the end. Not by much, but enough for me to be curious. I tried to see if any changes would register in a compass or magnet, but there is too much additional electromagentic noise going on to be sure. Any warwick experts on this forum? cheers

yeah, the mid-sweep is stacked. but it would be awesome if the freq selector (bottom pot) had, say, 4-5 indents on it in order to help memorise where you are. Easy enough to say 'add until it sounds good' but its not always as easy as that if using on the fly

Wow - that East U-retro is a beast! 3 stacked, with bright push-pull on the treble, and all sorts of contour ranges built-in! I now am beginning to realise the genius of Mr. East. ...and yeah, I've now realised the tone shaping is really best conducted via a VMC control, whereas bass/treble cut/boost just add sizzle or thump (for the most part - contours will vary). I still somehow feel like i'm missing out without bass/treble. The grass is always greener. Must control...the... G....A....S....

By the way, a good 'starter' low bass action for light to medium touch, with some slight rattle is 6/64ths on the low E (12th fret) and 5/64ths on the G....

What strings are you using? For medium gauge, stainless hex-cores you should be aiming at a relief of around 12 thou (depressing first and last frets, measuring BOTH E side and G side). If you're heavy handed and don't like rattle - any rattle at all - , then maybe around 16-30 thou. Buzzing at 7-11 suggests your relief is too much. You need to go flatter. However, have you sighted the neck? Bass necks are notorious for bumps, ski-ramps, goosenecks, s-curves, ... you name it, i;ve seen it, and 80% of basses have some form of these. What is your action at 12th fret across all strings? We need a lot more info to be able to provide the right diagnosis... and even then, we'd probably need photos too!

Folks - I tell ya - bit of a happy accident receiving this '96 warwick corvette with a previously undisclosed secret that was harbouring an EMG VMC instead of bass/treble preamp. I did not even know what it was, but described it as a mid-boost, then it was identified on this very forum... I'd still like the push/pull active/pasive, but the simplicity of VMC, balance and Vol is refreshing and addictive! What i've realised is that instead of tinkering for ages with bass and treble, which don't necessarily SCULPT sound that much, I can set those on the amp. I can then get to the real tone shaping with the parametric mid-sweep in the VMC. Cutting and boosting between 100hz and 1kz brings an amazing variety of more growl, less growl, scoop, and accent. I might be tempted to just leave it in there! Can't see any downsides, other than it's hard to set and remember what setting did what. Numbered knobs would be nice to assist in this respect... but that is getting a little neurotic. Anyone else have one of these? Experiences?

yeah, good luck to me for finding a 2nd hand MEC! I reckon the tone monster is the way to go. It has great reviews: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/tone-monster-sbk-preamps-anybody-here-use-them.990243/