Chris2112

[quote name='RhysP' post='1104686' date='Jan 27 2011, 06:27 AM']As Colin Edwin doesn't use 5 string basses it would have been drop D tuning. He also uses a Spector 4 string with a low tuning (C I think) but he didn't have this when "In Absentia" was recorded.[/quote] I remember someone here mentioning that they met Colin once and told him how they played all his songs on a 5 string bass and he had chuckled to himself!

Did they ever name that park in Florida after him? Or was it in New York?

[quote name='Russ' post='1105420' date='Jan 27 2011, 06:57 PM']Warwick attempted something a little more conventional a few years back with the Katana, and I don't think it's done all that well. I've never seen anyone play one live, not to mention it had a good thrashing with the ugly stick. [/quote] No, that model was never particularly well received, especially in it's hideous bolt on guise.

I think Rob's design was at it's peak in the 80's, when the graphite necks were a "paddle" design with wooden wings attached. They sounded incredible, and after he shortened the neck design it was never as good.

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='1104646' date='Jan 27 2011, 01:00 AM']Be aware that it's not a straight forward process. You might have a few failures before hitting the right balance between rigidity and sound. It took Status YEARS.[/quote] GMT stuff is particularly known for having "flaws" in the graphite weave, though I have seen Status basses with irregularities too. Doesn't really make a difference to the bass though.

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='1104410' date='Jan 26 2011, 09:27 PM']see, the other thing on basschat is everyone jumps up and goes.... "oooh warwicks, not as good, oh no, very nu-metal, heavy things, baseball bat necks you sure you want one" my bass is one of the lightest ive played and has an insanely thin neck.... there are good warwicks out there![/quote] My 1999 Thumb had a fairly thin neck, certainly a "classic" Warwick profile as opposed to the clubby D shape they used after 2000/2001. When they stopped using wenge as the normal neck wood, the necks seemed to get fatter and changed shape. I've played some awful Warwick necks, the one I think back to is a yellow FNA Corvette 5 string that was just awful. This was at a time when Warwick had a boom and their basses ended up everywhere, and many people got their first taste of a Warwick with a massive neck on it. I remember how popular Warwick used to be, I saw a photo of Sound Control Manchester that machines took with his phone years ago, it was wall-to-wall with Warwicks! Mind you, I traded my Thumb for a Kubicki Ex Factor, there are good deals and spots of luck like this to be had!

[quote name='ovialexm1' post='1101959' date='Jan 25 2011, 12:08 PM']I had a few basses made by Grosmann company and I can say deserves all efforts. Probably in the next future you will hear more and more about them. Take care![/quote] If you ever get a Yuka 4 string made with Bartolini pickups and then decide to sell it, let me know!

The ash bodied Strat is the nicest item, phwoar!

I really loved that strummed section between 0100-0106, that was a nice surprise!

[quote name='mart' post='1103864' date='Jan 26 2011, 03:34 PM'] [url="http://www.theguitarcollection.org.uk/gallery8/framus.html"]1959 Framus Star bass[/url] [/quote] I do of course mean new to Warwick's catalogue of basses. After all, there is no way anyone could come up with something so hideous and outdated now, so logic dictates that it must be an awful old design erroneously ressurected!

[quote name='risingson' post='1103406' date='Jan 26 2011, 11:51 AM']They've (IMO) not dated very well, and whilst I happen to think that some Warwick basses are marvelous instruments I don't think their looks will stand the test of time. That's also probably contributed to the depreciation.[/quote] I'm not sure about that, the two big designs, the Streamer and the Thumb, were both conceived in the 80's! In fact, the Streamer really goes further back than that because it's a Ned Steinberger design! Some of the newer models like the Vampyre and the Star bass are hideous, but the real Warwick classics still look good. The thing is, they've always been niche instruments, played by bassists who like to step away from the traditional Fender or Fender inspired designs. This market of players will always exist, but Warwick do go through phases of being "in" and at the moment they definitely seem to be out! Around 2000/2001, it seemed like everyone wanted a Warwick and they were very popular but they've went into decline since then. I'm not sure if they'll ever see popularity like that again but they do make some good basses!

The fretless is nicer!

[quote name='icastle' post='1103108' date='Jan 26 2011, 04:44 AM']I'd guess that, being a relatively new technology, they were making it up as they went along with what materials were available. I suspect that things are a lot different these days... [/quote] It was more quality control issues than anything that people seemed to complain about, silly things like the screw holes on the neck not matching up with the bass making it impossible to fit, or the screw holes being poorly done with stripped threads. When people got on with them, they seemed to be very positive about them.

Well, Warwick have always suffered terrible depreciation. I don't know why, as they are amazing instruments and they are real bargains on the used market. I paid £590 for my BO Thumb, which was a 1999 model with a wenge neck that look as though it was brand new, it was that good. I don't think Fender could made a bass that good at all, unless you're thinking about a custom shop Urge bass. Mind you, bassists are typically a closed minded bunch and sticking with those tired Fender designs is an easy choice. The Warwick market doesn't look to be improving, as although I'm seeing a few basses being pitched on here with amibitious prices they don't seem to be selling.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='1102361' date='Jan 25 2011, 04:59 PM']Although Jennifer's comments are perfectly valid, and probably represent a more mature attitude, I have found myself banging my head against the proverbial brick wall on a couple of occasions. Once a soundman said "you're not using THAT EQ" and then started to mess with the EQ on my amp. Another guy wouldn't let me use my rig at all. I think they're both pretty unreasonable situations and i'm sure there are many more examples.[/quote] At the end of the day, it depends who is calling the shots. If you're a good band with a good following, you should be telling him what is what. If you're playing down the Dog and Bollock and he's the house soundman, getting in a rick with him won't do you much good, it will just mean you're not asked back. Generally though I'd advocate some communication with the soundman, you should speak to him regarding your sound as a whole and let him know what you want. If you have a specific request or complaint, let him know later. In my time playing live, I've never really come across any soundmen who were completely unreasonable.

[quote name='BTS_Spacebass' post='1103066' date='Jan 26 2011, 01:03 AM']Interesting, didn't really think about the manufacture and how costly that would make things. Cheers for the heads up. The moses website is quite interesting too[/quote] Well, I quite like Moses necks, but back in the day they had a reputation for being poor quality and a lot of US customers were less than impressed. By all accounts, I think they've gotten better these days.

Yes, these are very specialised items, not typically the sort of thing you can get custom made off the bat like you would a wooden neck. They are made from moulds, where graphite fibres are laid up to form the shape of the neck. The moulds are extremely expensive to make, hence why Status, Moses, Modulus, Zon et al don't do custom neck profiles.

I keep my ACG and Kubicki basses in hardcases. I often think I could make do with one hardcase since I only ever take one out at a time.

The old T bass was a nice super jazz but I do think the chrome hardware is a little tacky. The new ones are fantastic though, but they are considerably more expensive. They are great though.

It's sad to hear Paul coming out with statements like that. Since about 1980, he's had some of the greatest basslines in pop, and some of the greatest players too. Abe Laboriel, Anthony Jackson, Bakithi Kumalo...he's not struggling to find amazing musicians willing to play the bass for him. So for him to turn around and say that, especially when he's had the honour of having these guys play for him is just insulting.

I'm a massive Paul Simon fan but this does seem to be continuing the downhill trend since Graceland. It just sounds so derivative and lame, those irritating panned acoustic guitars sound terrible and it needs a bass pulse. Vampire Weekend do better Paul Simon these days than he does!

Yes, even when he had a US Ken Smith I believe he was playing his Burner more. However, he's had that Fodera for a little while now, jumping on that Matt Garrison led trend that Janek Gwizdawa and Tony Grey got onto. I like it though, it looks great and sounds better than his Ken Smith. In fact, that pretty much fits in line with my expectations of Fodera, to be better than Ken Smith!

[quote name='ovialexm1' post='1097469' date='Jan 21 2011, 01:27 PM']Chris, K-sad from France bought that bass from me. [/quote] Bugger, still too far for me to buy it then! That Russian luthier who made that awesome Monarch bass for you, I loved that. If he was selling those in the UK he'd make a killing!

Thats a shame, I've always dreamed of going to Alan with a particular shape I've had in mind and getting him to build it for me. No crazy Michael Manring style Piezo kit though!