Warwick - Love or Hate?

[Silvia Bluejay]

True dat!

[Fionn]

[quote name='maldy' timestamp='1380917393' post='2232503']
The body on the streamer was superb, but the neck was a little too chunky for me ......... Also if you don't like heavy (in weight) basses, warwicks do tend to weigh a ton! The hot rod is the anomaly. It is light ......... I've never tried a thru neck warwick and that might tempt me to get another.
[/quote]

The neck on my Streamer is really slim, but mine is an early model. The necks became chunkier later on (not sure what year). Also, it very light. Only 8.4lbs, so the hot rod is not an anomaly!

I'd recommend that you try an early Streamer (stage 1 or 2). Slim neck, light in weight, neck through body. They are the Holy Grail of Warwicks, to be sure.

[Jonnyboy Rotten]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1380911879' post='2232404']
I can't stand them.

Hate the sound & the feel of them (I really dislike oiled or waxed finishes on any bass), and I also think they are the ugliest range of basses I've ever seen - the Corvette is just an abomination IMO.

The only decent model shape they have they quite literally nicked from Stuart Spector
[/quote]

Im not their biggest fan but how can you call them an 'abomination' compared with some of the stuff you can buy?!

[Jonnyboy Rotten]

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1380911879' post='2232404']
I can't stand them.

Hate the sound & the feel of them (I really dislike oiled or waxed finishes on any bass), and I also think they are the ugliest range of basses I've ever seen - the Corvette is just an abomination IMO.

The only decent model shape they have they quite literally nicked from Stuart Spector
[/quote]

Im not their biggest fan but how can you call them an 'abomination' compared with some of the stuff you can buy?!

[4 Strings]

For me, I recognise them as well engineered and made with quality materials, and they seem to find a loved home with their players.

However, they seem a bit too geeky for me.

I like Dionne Warwick though, but would walk on by a Warwick bass for, what actually is, no good reason.

[tauzero]

[quote name='winterfire666' timestamp='1380902696' post='2232250']
i like a neck to be as slim (thin front to back) as possible and i know warwick necks vary from one model to another but they all feel wrong to me the infinity i mentioned was the closest that i liked but i think that was a custom order.
[/quote]

I bought my JD Thumb exactly because it had a very shallow neck, just like you like. Cost me an absolute fortune - I never thought I'd spend that much on a bass (£900 in 1987) but after playing that neck I just had to have it.

[tauzero]

[quote name='maldy' timestamp='1380911909' post='2232405']
So far a lot of love, or at least respect, for Warwick basses. So how come they lost their fashion appeal? Change of music scene and the bands associated with them?
[/quote]

70% of bassists have no imagination whatsoever and stick to Fenders and their clones. 25% are fashion victims and follow the latest trend.

[Cameronj279]

I love them. They just have a very specific sound that I love (especially on the thumb bass). I know the looks are very marmite but I love the shape of the thumb basses, the small body makes it feel extremely comfy to play and mine actually weighs about half of my ray.

[goblin]

I love my 'Vettes, but I remember playing someone's Streamer LX Custom, and bloody hated it. The standard 5 sounded absolutely awesome tonight at Didsbury Casino though, just listening to the recording from the desk. Nice and clear, good punch in the mids, nice trebles and a good kick in the gut from the bass department.

At the end of the day, it's a fantastic workhorse. I still look after it, but I don't worry as much about it as much as I do when I gig the Wal, or if I would be gigging a nice custom build. It just works, it's easily to insure (which it is along with the rest of my gear!) which means if anything happens to it, I can just get a settlement and get another one

The only real downfall to it is the bloody jack socket they use, the 5er had a new one fitted about 2 months ago and it's already playing up again! Might look at boring out the hole a bit and fitting a switchcraft socket.

[dmccombe7]

My Warwick Thumb 89 with EMG's was the culmination of many months searching for my ideal bass back in 1989. Tried just about every bass I could in Glasgow shops and kept going back to my Thumb bass. Neck is thin front to back and the sound was like nothing else available to me. It is a bit neck heavy but nothing drastic. I did notice at the time that neck did feel longer although same length as other basses and took me a little time to get used to what felt like an extended neck length but its down to where you sit the bass on your strap. A little adjustment and lovely.
Biggest downside for me was that when your hands sweat the back of the neck always felt a little sticky and needs more than normal cleaning or rub down with towel while gigging.
Tried couple of streamers at same time but preferred the feel of the Thumb. Early Warwicks had either black or gold fittings if I remember right. The Streamer had gold and thought it looked a bit tacky.
I love my Thumb bass and would never dream of selling it

Dave

[Johngh]

I've had 2, a Streamer 2 NT 6er and a Thumb NT 6er. Both were great basses, but the bottom of the necks were way too wide on both of them. Both have long gone.

TBH I've never been a great fan of the shape, but they sounded great.

I've also never forgiven them for making Status destroy the moulds of the Status Buzzard, which is a thing of beauty, The Warwick Buzzard on the other hand is the biggest Ogres wart you could ever wish to see.

Edited October 5, 2013 by Johngh

[stjohn]

Can't stand them I'm afraid. They are wonderfully made, great looking furniture basses but the polar opposite of what I go for. Don't like the necks as a rule and really dislike the pickups (emc's or something??). However there is always an exception, and a fretless thumb or one of them jack Bruce sg thingys wouldn't be too bad!! Gimmi a good p bass or Ricky anyday tho!
Does anyone else think this: old basses for fretted and modern (read Warwick) for fretless?

[stjohn]

Can't stand them I'm afraid. They are wonderfully made, great looking furniture basses but the polar opposite of what I go for. Don't like the necks as a rule and really dislike the pickups (emc's or something??). However there is always an exception, and a fretless thumb or one of them jack Bruce sg thingys wouldn't be too bad!! Gimmi a good p bass or Ricky anyday tho!
Does anyone else think this: old basses for fretted and modern (read Warwick) for fretless?

[maldy]

[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1380926558' post='2232640']


The neck on my Streamer is really slim, but mine is an early model. The necks became chunkier later on (not sure what year). Also, it very light. Only 8.4lbs, so the hot rod is not an anomaly!

I'd recommend that you try an early Streamer (stage 1 or 2). Slim neck, light in weight, neck through body. They are the Holy Grail of Warwicks, to be sure.
[/quote]

Absolutely. Totally agree with you and it seems to be what many others say. With regards to the hot rod being an anomaly, I meant within the small selection of W basses I've owned or tried. I've heard many legendary things about early streamers! :-)

[mikhay77]

I have had a early 90s thumb and a late 90s streamette. The thumb was my first expensive bass,bought it new for £1350 in 93. Played and sounded amazing,slim neck,great balance and tone. Got the streamette about 3 years ago,2 mec double P pups,big thick neck and not a great sound,swapped pups to emgs and still no better,Its a hate of P pups I have found. Still the later neck are like tree trunks. Still wanting an early Streamer 2 when I get the funds. So I suppose some nice some not as good.

[paul_5]

I think 'hate' is a bit strong, I absolutely adore the body shape of the 'vette but I've never really got on with the neck profile. Other than that I thonk they are (for the most part) very beautiful instruments.

Apart from the Streamer and the Dolphin. The Thumb's a bit odd too.

So to sum up. I like Corvettes!

[Josh]

Love 'em!

I must've had in the vicinity of 12 Warwicks, all of which were amazing basses. Besides a Corvette $$, they've all been either a Thumb or Streamer and have been from all different periods.

As many have said, I think Warwick make some of the ugliest basses (Adam Clayton & Stuart Zender sigs anyone?) but will all still in some way produce that classic Warwick growl which I will always love.

If I could I would have another NT Thumb bass, everything about the Thumb is just right for me, the aesthetics and that mid range snarl just work together perfectly. I blame Ryan Martinie for my years of striving after a Thumb.

I would love another SS2 in time when I can find one that isn't over £1400, I had one briefly but never put it to its paces.

Edited October 5, 2013 by Josh

[RhysP]

[quote name='Jonnyboy Rotten' timestamp='1380927687' post='2232649']
Im not their biggest fan but how can you call them an 'abomination' compared with some of the stuff you can buy?!
[/quote]

I can call them an abomination because I honestly think the Warwick Corvette is the most hideous bass design I've ever seen & I wouldn't have one of it was offered to me for nothing.

It's my personal opinion & others are of course free to feel differently if they so choose.

[marcus bell]

Nice sound but can't get on with the necks

[sblueplanet]

Personally I think Warwick Davis is a good actor :-)

I own a Thumb and it is a quality bass but I prefer my fender J and P basses these days.

[12stringbassist]

I love my two.
I didn't always like Warwicks, though. I played one (can't remember what model) at a jam night and thought the neck was like a tree trunk (far too big).

However, I came a cross the Streamer Chrome Tone and had to try it because of its utter glam rock-ness.



Later on, I came across a one-off custom shop Thumb NT and fell for that, too. Tastes can change.
I think some Warwicks are maybe seen as being [i]'of a certain period'[/i] - like Mark King's Jaydees.

Edited October 5, 2013 by 12stringbassist

[Bo0tsy]

@12stringbassist - I'm loving the Streamer Chrome Tone, is that a custom shop model?

[XB26354]

I've had a lot of Warwicks too. At one point I had three, and have probably owned about 20 overall.
The biggest thing for me was always the amazing B string on a 34" scale bass - nothing comes close to a Earwick, even with a longer scale. The bell brass frets really make each note sing, and I really like the natural waxed finish.
However, I fell out of love with them because of the chunky necks, weight and abysmal balance both seated and on a strap. Their biggest issue is that they take a 4-string and just enlarge the body for a 5 or 6 without considering the extra weight of the next and headstock. A Streamer Stage 1 6 is still my favourite Warwick but it is too heavy, too neck heavy and the neck too massive at the body end to be enjoyable to play. I've also come across more than one Warwick with neck issues - and the newer ones don't have removable truss rods. I always kept the eq flat as I don't like the tone it imparts and kept the pan away from the bridge PU as it is gutless on most Warwicks. Never liked the $$ configuration either.
I still have a soft spot for a good Warwick though

[Marvin]

I've only ever played/owned a Rockbass Corvette. Great bass in so many ways, I just couldn't get on with the neck...way to deep for me, like a baseball bat. Also, I didn't like the way it sat on the strap, the neck seemed to be an awfully long way off. All of which seemed odd to me as so many people refer to the good ergonomics of these basses. To me good ergonomics is about making things easy to use...the bass I owned definitely wasn't easy to use.

[steve-bbb]

sound

feel