tvickey

Okay, so there were some reception issues when I received this LX5. There is a new thread dedicated to that here:

Just to add that I've now had a chance to really jam away on the new LX5 (since it is a more reasonable hour). It became pretty obvious to me that tonally, the A, D and G strings are much different than the B or E. In fact, the B and E seem mis-matched to both the other three and to one another. It could be two or three sets on here. What a mess. Undoing the twist on the low-B string seems to have fixed some of the sound issues that I had earlier, which triggered this thread. I have also now adjusted the height of the pick-up closer to the neck, and things are sounding a bit better. But, a mis-matched set of stings on a new Warwick bass is indeed totally unacceptable. So hopefully they'll drop some in the post and send them my way soon.

Right, so other than this issue with the mixed strings and the missing fretboard protector, I'm very happy with the bass. It certainly looks brand new. I did send a couple of (polite) emails: One message to Warwick simply asking if they ever paint the ball ends on any of their strings (but the community here seems to know the answer). The other message to Peach Guitars in Colchester, who ordered the bass for me. I asked them to please have Warwick send me the fretboard protector and a new set of strings. I've asked for a set of the EMP Warwick strings. They are the higher-end and more expensive strings that come with the Master Built basses, but I'd say Warwick owes them to me now!

Silvia Bluejay, I had these exact thoughts and followed that same train of logic myself. But now have a look at the Warwick factory 'mugshot' photo that came along with this Warwick! I put the photo here with the certificate shown, and then a zoomed in photo of the 'mugshot'. You can clearly see that it's the same mixed set of strings! WTF? I have my own theory on what happened here. But first, let me add a few more clues which might be helpful in solving the puzzle. Here's what we know: o There appears to be a mixed set of strings on this bass (at least A, D and G look like D'Addario, probably E as well). o The RockCare fretboard protector from Warwick was NOT included with this bass. This seems very unusual, as I've always gotten one with other new Warwicks that I have purchased (and this is a GPS Streamer, so not all that cheap). The protector is a thick plastic sheet that Warwick also sells separately for about 5 EUR. o The strap-lock buttons came opened in a small plastic bag (photo attached), rather than in a new sealed plastic and cardboard package. A bit odd, and again totally unlike what has come together with other 'new' Warwick basses purchased. My theory is this: I put in an order for an LX5 GPS streamer in cream white but with black hardware (standard is chrome). Someone, somewhere, had a cream white LX5 with the default chrome (a music shop? a distributor?) which got returned to Warwick recently for whatever reason. While that bass with chrome hardware was in the possession of someone else, at some point some / all of the strings were changed. The strap buttons were removed from their original packaging and used on a strap. The fretboard protector got tossed out / lost. Warwick, perhaps being busy and wanting to move stock, swapped the chrome hardware on that 'returned' white LX5 bass with some that is black to fill my order. They then took a new 'mugshot', packaged everything up, and sent it to me. It's effectively a slightly used / floor-model bass. That's what I think, but I do tend to be paranoid.

Doctor J, you make an excellent point. I'm now drinking my coffee and I realize that something is not right. It dawned on me that the color scheme for the ball ends on the normal 4-string set matches the D'Addario coloring scheme. However, the low-B in a D'Addario 5-string set would have a purple ball end and not a brass one as is pictured above. According to the specs and the Warwick website, this bass is supposed to come with Black Label strings: http://www.warwick.de/en/Warwick---Products--Instruments--Pro-Serie---Teambuilt--Pro-Serie---Teambuilt--Streamer--Streamer-LX--5-string--Features.html But what in the hell is on this bass? Did someone send me a 5-string bass with a mixed set of strings? Do Black Label strings now have colored ball ends and I'm just being paranoid? Thoughts?

Have you used these on a Warwick? I saw some reviews online that reported there are issues with using these strings on basses with two-piece bridges due to the core not lining up on the saddle very well.

Okay, so after seeing quite a few of your comments I unwound and completely unseated the low-B, and it was indeed twisted around by quite a bit. Sounds better to me now, although it's late and the neighbors have most certainly gone to sleep... so I better give it another go tomorrow. Thanks for your quick comments and advice! All very helpful and much appreciated!

No, sorry if I wasn't clear. The strings are the same brand. They're just whatever Warwick puts on Team Built GPS Streamers at the factory. I was saying that I have a few different brands in-hand which I could consider putting on the bass instead (and I would change them all simultaneously... i.e., completely remove the Warwick strings).

Thanks a lot, all really excellent suggestions. Would you happen to have a recommended pickup height? The bridge pick-up is currently ~2.5 mm below the string and the neck pick-up is sitting at ~3.5 mm.

My other 5-string LX5 which has an ebony fretboard... but the ebony one was purchased used, so I never heard it with one of these tapered Warwick low-B strings on there.

So, the Warwick LX5 Streamer with black hardware arrived today. However, I'm not so impressed with the sound of this low-B string. Have a look at the bridge photo... could the problem be the tapered low-B that Warwick gives you? The low-B just sounds incredibly disappointing. This fretboard is Wenge... I have some Ernie Balls here that I could put on... or D'Addario tapewounds. Think either of those will help?

The headphone input is really convenient too... if I'm at home and don't want to bother the fam while I jam away.

Which cabinet did you choose?

I'm taking my GK Legacy 800 into the recording studio with me at the end of February. I'll give a go at using the low-Z out, as well as putting a mic on a cabinet. We'll see how that goes!

Another teaser photo of the LX5 streamer... I've been out of the UK for awhile, so actually haven't received either of these yet!

Ray Burton – father of late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton – has passed away on Wednesday, aged 94. https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/ray-burton-father-of-cliff-burton-dies-at-94/

The white LX5 Streamer was 'Team Built' and so cost just as much as a standard Warwick LX5 (not Rockbass) you'd find in your local music store, I just got to specify colors, etc. The black satin LX4 Streamer was 'Master Built' and so is higher-end than the LX5... but not insanely expensive.

These are not LEDs... indeed that was quite an expensive option!

It comes with a mini-USB cable for re-charging!

The LX5 is not nearly as nice... regular GPS Streamer LX5 but simply with all black hardware on white cream. It has a Wenge fretboard on an Ovangkol neck. Today I heard that it's ready too! Teaser photo attached...

Full details on the bass specs: Nut: Just-A-Nut III Brass Mechineheads: Schaller Machine Heads with wooden knobs Neck Wood: Wenge neck, 3 laminations Fretboard: Tigerstripe Ebony (Dark) Led or Fluorescent Side Dots: lluminated Side Dots Fingerboard Radius: 20" Scale length: 34" (long scale) Width Nut: 38,5 mm / 1.5" Width 12th fret: 54,0 mm / 2.1" Width 24th fret: 62,1 mm / 2.4" Fret quanitiy material and size: 24 Jumbo Bronze (extra hard) frets (width: 2.9 mm / height: 1.3 mm) Frets: IFT - Invisible Fretwork Technology Body Shape: Curved Body shape Bodywood (Topwood / Backwood): AAA Coloured Flamed Maple body Pickups: Active MEC P/J pickups with brushed Metal Cover Electronics: Active Warwick 2-way electronics with rechargeable Lithium Battery Pot layout: Volume P/P / Balance / Treble / Bass Bridge system: 2-piece solid Brass Warwick Bridge Strap system: Warwick security locks Construction: Bolt-On Colour: Solid Black Satin Hardware colour: Black String label / String gauges: Warwick EMP strings 045" - 105" (38200M) Weight: 3.9 kg Included accessories: Warwick User Kit including hex key tools and Cleaning cloth (RB PROD 50990 B COMP) Packing: Handmade Genuine Leather Bag by RockBag ( RB 20205 B W) Certificate: Individually issued certificate of authenticity