Chris2112

No.

[quote name='onkel_kasten' post='1107031' date='Jan 29 2011, 10:27 AM']I bought my Stage I from '92 for 350€ incl. a tank-like flightcase in december. Great bass, great deal. I think today warwicks don't come even close to the quality of the old days, check out the picture I made this week in a local shop:[/quote] Wow, that is some pretty serious delamination.

My attention is drawn back to the Thumb singlecut, How long I had dreamed of a singlecut Warwick, and how hideous it is to see in the flesh. The concept image looked alright but seeing it in person, and being a singlecut fanatic (and owner) it looks awful to me. It's bloated and lacks elegance and the wood choice is all wrong. Warwick were in a catch 22 situation, as the bass would be like a boat anchor if they used proper African hardwoods like wenge, bubinga and ovangkol to make it, so it looks like it has maple or ash used to build the body/neck and a bubinga top for finish. They may have avoided a tonne weight bass there but the woods are all wrong, those are not "Thumb" woods and I doubt it will have that amazing Thumb sound because the wood choice is intrinsic to the real Warwick sound me for me.

They need to concentrate on getting more Quantum models into this country, not making tat like this.

Because it's ugly enough already.

[quote name='tauzero' post='1106384' date='Jan 28 2011, 04:28 PM']No ovangkol in [i]proper[/i] Thumbs... [/quote] To be honest, I've always prefered the slightly squashed looks of the NT Thumb, but the BO has usually sounded better.

[quote name='Russ' post='1105744' date='Jan 28 2011, 12:20 AM']I'm amazed they still make it, to be honest. For me, the only design that they make outside of the Thumb and Streamer that really works is the Infinity. I had high hopes for the Thumb singlecut, but it ended up being disappointing...[/quote] Yes, the Corvette is another popular one that just does not work for me. I think Warwick have some part to play in devaluing their brand over the years, watering things down with ash bodies and maples necks hasn't really done them any good. To me, that classic Warwick sound comes from the Thumb, with it's wenge/ovangkol/bubinga construction and pickup placement.

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='1105858' date='Jan 28 2011, 08:26 AM']That'll be one of the Series 1 Stealth models using an MDF core A little heavy compared to the Series II design which used epoxy foam in the core.[/quote] Yes, thats the one. It was a 6 string but even then I couldn't believe how light it was. Like a feather!

I'm looking forward to someone buying one so they can tell us all about it!

[quote name='martthebass' post='1105386' date='Jan 27 2011, 06:33 PM']They make Status basses with wood in them? Well what's the world coming to [/quote] I'm sure my old Stealth 6 string was built around a wooden frame. Not that I could split it open to see, mind. That was one hell of a bass!

I still dream of getting another 6 string for Anthony Jackson style pick playing, but I am quite happy with my 4 strings.

If it's a Fender you're after, CIJ is always the way forward if bang to bang is your main concern. Their basses are usually better than the USA ones! But if you're just after a good passive jazz bass, you really can't go wrong with the Classic Vibe Jazz bass. For a little bit of cash, you get a bloody brilliant little bass. I wish I'd never sold mine!

[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!