'97 Thumb NT 5

dave2

dave2

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I am excited that my new 1997 Warwick Thumb NT 5 arrived today. I had the pleasure of returning from work to the package as if it was Christmas day :-)
The bass is beautiful! I love the neck on it and body is really nice. I love the woods that Warwick uses - what a great instrument. I plan to take it to the gig on Friday night and see what it sounds like thru my rig.
Here are a couple of iPhone pictures I took tonight.

. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1351746943.172969.jpg

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Rocky the chihuahua-dashund loves Thumb NT basses too
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1351747016.666143.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1351747082.628528.jpg
 
Very nice bass. The Bubinga has a beautiful grain, and so does the Wengé : very dark, straight grain. Congratulations. :)
 
I am thrilled! This is Christmas for me. Warwick makes such beautiful basses - amazing!!!
 
Congratulations on your new bass! Wow, the grains are beautiful, indeed! Thanks for sharing, and enjoy your new Thumb bass!
 
It is my favorite and I have not even plugged it into an amp yet
 
I finally had a little time tonight to check out the new 1997 Thumb NT 5.

1) The B string is too low and needs adjusting a bit higher to eliminate some fret buzz. I found that as I tried to adjust the saddle in the bridge on the 'B' string that one of the hex screws does not turn.
Question : is it possible to buy a new saddle for a 1997 Thumb bass? If so I will order one from the Custom Shop in NYC.

2) The seller said he had not changed the batteries for the preamp in a while. So I opened the electronics cavity and it is an 18 volt preamp - 2 12 volt batteries are connected. I am not sure if it is a MEC preamp or, if not, which maker's preamp it is. There is a circuit board in there which lets me think it is non-MEC. I will attach photos.
Can someone tell me what preamp is in my new Thumb NT?

Thanks to this wonderful forum!

Dave

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1352009117.995802.jpg
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To answer my own question on the saddle replacement for a Thumb NT it appears that this would be the correct saddle for a B string - The online Store shows a normal black saddle with wide gap for a B:
https://shop.warwick.de/?&c=35352310012&lang=en&smk=1&modul=shop&site=article_details&article_id=D0087263001322750261A2537&article_category=D0204003001321517427A45006&nm=D0405358001321517424A43801|Warwick|D0204003001321517427A45006

and this would be the saddle height adjustment screws that a new saddle needs:
https://shop.warwick.de/?&c=35352310012&lang=en&smk=1&modul=shop&site=article_details&article_id=D0642979001322750261A2603&article_category=D0204003001321517427A45006&nm=D0405358001321517424A43801|Warwick|D0204003001321517427A45006

Correct me if I am wrong as I'd like to order this early next week. I've got a piece of cardboard stuck in there now to make the saddle level and high enough to eliminate the worst of the fret buzz (the string was buzzing too much). I want this fixed correctly.

Thanks,

Dave
 
Stunning bass!!! I've tried 95' Thumb recently and that's a bomb!!!
Yours should have the same amount of explosives inside for sure! :D
Congratulations, Dave!

New saddle should fit fine, I suppose. However, if I were you, I would order a new bridge or tailpiece at least, because older ones have too narrow cavity for B string (in case of using EB/Fender/D'addario strings, gauge - 130"), so I have to use a hammer to make the end of B string a bit thinner.
But, it's up to you ;) May be it's OK.

The preamp is an old MEC BEC III, as far as I know. and it's quite decent.
 
The preamp looks like an MEC you think? How can we tell for sure? Anyone know ? I bet Flo does.

I have been using string sets with a tapered 'B' lately - Elixirs mainly. The DR sets I have fit just fine as their 'B' strings are .125 usually.

Thanks,
Dave
 
shaft311 said:
^ How is this possible?

I wouldn't be able to wait!
Click to expand...

You must not have a wife sitting across the room saying "Turn that down!" lol

I did hear it through headphones attached to my computer last night and it sounds fantastic!!
 
dave2 said:
You must not have a wife sitting across the room saying "Turn that down!" lol

I did hear it through headphones attached to my computer last night and it sounds fantastic!!
Click to expand...

Nah. I was engaged once.. she loved my bass playing though.

Oh well.

Happier times :D
 
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