vincbt Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 (edited) Hoping to pick some knowledge from the Warwick experts on the forum. I am looking at a second hand 1990 Thumb from a pro seller quite far from me. They can ship, but I wanted to spot any issue before taking the plunge if I can. The bass looks pretty good, the only mod I've made aware of is the installation of a plug to power the active pre-amp via an external power adapter. I haven't seen the cavity of a model from that age to compare, so wanted to confirm this mod shouldn't have made any unnecessary mess with the circuits and perhaps it can just be removed if not used? The plastic cover can be replaced easily so that's ok. Thanks in advance! Edited January 25, 2022 by vincbt photos added Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincbt Posted January 25, 2022 Author Share Posted January 25, 2022 Photos added Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDrill Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 Thought I was going to be able to help, but my '91 has totally different innards, sorry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 (edited) There is an awful lot going on in there. It doesn't look original to me, the 2 band MEC preamp from that era is a black box filled with white epoxy, rather than that circuit board, and is usually attached to the base of the cavity, rather than the side. I'm almost certain Warwick/MEC were not using those detachable cable sockets in 1990. And the left pot looks much newer than the rest. The only thing I recognise is the thick white pickup wire. Warwick did change things up often though. Edited January 25, 2022 by Kev 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 Quick look online this is the kind of thing I'd expect to see in a 1990 Thumb Cavity: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 1. The overall route shape is period correct and looks original. 2. The output route however looks to be enlarged. Can't say for sure from that pic but it looks to be freshly drilled timber. 3. As Kev said, for this period you'd expect to see a sealed epoxy MEC preamp and also as pointed out, wiring was all solder joints not push fit connectors. None of the pots look original but that is fine if you don't want vintage correct and like the upgrades. 4. That external power thing just looks a pain in the derrière! How do you actually plug it in? D you have to take out all of the screws etc? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincbt Posted January 25, 2022 Author Share Posted January 25, 2022 Thanks guys, very useful! The power thing is meant to be using the hole they made in the plastic cover, no idea exactly how but it doesn't sound like someone would want to use. Warwick did get around to installing USB plugs at the back but that's a very different story... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 Yeah, basically I would buy it expecting the preamp to be entirely non original. I wouldn't attach too much value to that, personally, but I guess budget for replacing it if its a mess. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDrill Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 Just for reference, here's the insides of my '91 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincbt Posted January 25, 2022 Author Share Posted January 25, 2022 40 minutes ago, warwickhunt said: 1. The overall route shape is period correct and looks original. 2. The output route however looks to be enlarged. Can't say for sure from that pic but it looks to be freshly drilled timber. 3. As Kev said, for this period you'd expect to see a sealed epoxy MEC preamp and also as pointed out, wiring was all solder joints not push fit connectors. None of the pots look original but that is fine if you don't want vintage correct and like the upgrades. 4. That external power thing just looks a pain in the derrière! How do you actually plug it in? D you have to take out all of the screws etc? Thanks, your comment on the enlarged output route made me look back and check as closely as possible the output jack. Something doesn't look right there, as if they had covered a hole. I'll give this a pass and wait until I find a bass I can go and see in person in my area.... Thanks again, you saved me an expensive one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 Oh yikes, what is going on there? For what it's worth, the non original stacked pot visible in that pic indicates it likely isn't even a 2 band preamp in the bass, so nothing about that area is period correct or original, except perhaps the pickups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincbt Posted January 25, 2022 Author Share Posted January 25, 2022 (edited) Not sure, by now it's got too many non declared red flags to pick it up without inspecting it and trying it in person... I'm sure it's a cracking bass but it pays to be forthcoming and flag upgrades / changes from the start, as people do on this forum Edited January 25, 2022 by vincbt typos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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