bassbora

I have often wondered the same myself. Why spend so much and put a NBD and its the best bass ever and the week after its up for sale. Well its a hobby and I guess we are all curious and want to try things out. But I am in the group that buys only second hand. There is just something about second hand guitars that I love (not these relic jobbies). And I have always known what I like so I dont need to try every single bass under the sun. So I have managed to get the basses I wanted (4) and I am set for life. All bought second hand and three blind. I rotate them and gig them most weekends so I feel I can justify it and they were exactly what I wanted. But the good thing about hobbyists is that they often spend more than the professionals would and take really good care of their gear so when they move things on the rest of us can benefit greatly. Nothing wrong with that like has been said. Thats what makes Basschat such a great place

I think you should be looking at secondhand. I have over the years had 5 Warwicks and the prices have been really good if you are a buyer last few years. I noticed that someone said prices are going up but I can’t comment on that. I have never tried any other than the older German made ones so I cannot comment on the quality of the Far Eastern models but the quality of most guitars in that price bracket has gone up considerably over the last few years. Warwicks are quite marmite and I guess either you love them or hate them but I have been playing nothing else since ‘97. I know compared to some people on here that 5 basses is not a lot (I only have currently 4 and I am not looking for any more) but these provide me with everything I ever wanted in a bass. I could probably just keep my Stage2 and be happy. I have been gigging it few times a month for years and it has never let me down.

Is it still active? I have not been in a long time because it there was hardly any activity. I might check in again.

Are the end basses Status? What model is that Warwick?

Have you checked on the Hamer forum? You might have some luck there.

All joking aside I just assumed you played 5 and 6 string basses. I started playing 5 strings in 1997 and I have never looked back. I found it an easy transition. I was also playing a lot of jazz at the time and I just got the same bass just fretless and no lines and my fingers already had the muscle memory so it was a lot easier than you think to take that plunge. It was a six string actually so playing the G and C string was a bit strange just because your eye is not used to it. It all just comes down to put in the practice time and you are good to gig.

Why go five when you can go six? Brave the elements and go 6 unlined fretless. That’s what separates the men from the boys

I have been through 7 Hamers, Charvel and Ibanez. I would really like to find an ESP and life is good lol. I love Hamer guitars and to find 5 string Hamer Chap bass with boomerangs would make my life complete. Sad really.

Justice is my all time favourite Metallica album. It was my first and of course i digested every note on puppets and lighting. I thought black album was great and i enjoyed the following album. But like most have said they just lost their way and when Jason was gone it was over. i saw them on the St Anger tour and they were good but last tour, I think it was roughly a year ago, they were not good. James delivers but Kirk was so off it was not funny. I totally love them and I actually really like Kirk but it just felt like he did not want to be there. I really like Rob. I really liked his playing in Suicidal T. And I bought the first two infectious grooves albums. He fits in Metallica but they are just not the same they were in 91 and prior which most of us want them to be. Things just move on even Metallica

There has been some great recommendations here. What I would say make sure you are comfortable with wide space if you decide to go that way. I never thought it would matter but I do have a wide spaced bass which I do gig very regularly, I rotate all my basses, but it did feel very different which never thought I would say. So you might find it uncomfortable. But you might love it.

I would love to get my hands on a 5 string one of these Jacksons. And blast through Rust in Peace

I have been doing the same thing for the last two years but with guitars. There is nothing like these pointy super strats from the 80s and 90s in crazy finishes. I can’t get enough of these.

Common sense is boring. You should have gone for it.

Totally love it. That Jackson is brilliant looking.

Well, that's a good question. I have had the Thumb for 21 years and I have put some serious hours on that bass when I was a student. I felt I could play anything on it. I was playing jazz, classical music, Motown, rock and metal and I felt the Thumb could do it all. I have always thought it responded really well to right hand technique, position attack etc. This was my main bass up to maybe 2013 or so. Then I mostly gigged the FNA Jazzman for 2 years but traded that for the Stage 2. And since then I have mostly just played that bass. I think all 3 basses could cover all styles. What I like about the Stage 2 is that the original 2 band MEC preamp had been changed to Bartolini 3 band and I mostly boost the mids. I feel like I could play anything with this bass. I my current band we go from Adale and Frozen to Black Sabbath and Foo Fighters and just adjusting right hand and I quite often add more of the neck pickup to get more aggressive and thats enough. I have only had the Stage 1 for less than a year. To get the right setup has taken me a bit of time and something I never really expected but the broad neck takes a bit of getting used to. But its a lovely bass and has a really full sound and that Warwick growl. It pains me to actually say this but I prefer the Stage basses over the Thumb. After having played that bass so much but almost being replaced. I love the look, feel and sound of Warwicks but I guess I could really be playing anything. There are so many basses to try but I prefer to play music rather than try out gear so I have settled for Warwick.

Inspired to add a picture. Leaving out the Thumb fretless. Stage 2 1991 Stage 1 1991 Thumb 1989

‘91 5st with upgraded barts. Stage1 is BN with barts Thumb 5 is ‘89 with emg Thumb 6 is ‘89 fretless with barts. I will never need another bass. This bass is perfect

Its a though call. After I got my Stage 1 last year the Thumb is not getting the love it deserves. The Stage 2 is my main bass I hate to say since I have had the Thumb for 21 years. These old Warwicks are just monster basses. And why has @warwickhunt not replied??? That man has had more Warwicks than the rest of us put together lol

Loving this thread. I did not realise that people still liked Warwicks apart from handful of us. Nothing sounds like a Warwick and this thread has made me want to gig my Thumb next weekend.

I have been playing Warwicks only since '97 (I had a fretless Stingray I did not like) and my preference has always been old neck through models. I did have a '04 FNA Jazzman 5 string and I really liked it. It had the baseball bat neck but it did not bother me at all. I gigged it for few years. The build quality was great and it was a very solid bass. I traded it for a Streamer Stage 2 '91 which I have to say I prefer a lot more and sounds way better. I have '89 Thumb 5 and 6 and a '91 Stage 1 and all these basses cut through a band mix a lot better than the FNA. I have no idea why. The B string on all five basses has been rock solid and nothing has ever failed on these basses on a gig. I gig around 2 - 4 times a month and I rotate all basses and I could not consider any other bass. I have no experience of the newer models but I would think they are very good. I just happen to prefer the older ones.

For me the holy trinity is Thumb, Stage 1 and Stage 2. Funny how we all have different ideas. New bass looks great. Hope you will be in love with it for a long time

I have 6 electric guitars currently and totally love them. Build quality is up there with the best. Have you looked at the Hamer Fan Club for basses? I see there are few currently for sale but they are in the USA.

Same combination I use and have been using last two years. Its brilliant and as I said earlier in this thread I continue to get compliments on my sound. You won’t be disappointed

Have you played a Warwick? They get quite a mixed reaction. If you have read up on them you will probably know what I mean. Stramer Stage 1 will most likely be the easiest to like of the classic Warwicks. I personally only play Warwicks (ss1, SS2 and Thumb) and I much prefer the older models because of the neck profile. Depending on the price I would go for that bass but that’s just me because I like them. I personally prefer Stage 2 but that’s just a matter of opinion. But remember it’s ok to ask about this on a forum and you will probably get as many different opinions as you get answers. Only you can really answer the question after trying.