Any advice and/or wisdom for a first time Warwick Thumb NT 5 owner?

GAS KING

GAS KING

Joined
Nov 10, 2010
Messages
66
Reaction score
0
Hello all.

second post here.

I'm the owner of a Warwick Corvette $$ 5....that I really enjoy.

I happened to work out a trade of my basses for the Thumb NT 5.
Should be here Thursday.

Any tips, advice or wisdom?:?:
 
Just let it do what it does and appreciate it for what it is and you'll be fine. Most "problems" happen when people try to change it into something it's not. Pics when it arrives ok?
 
Gerry said:
Just let it do what it does and appreciate it for what it is and you'll be fine. Most "problems" happen when people try to change it into something it's not. Pics when it arrives ok?
Click to expand...

What does it do? Or what should I be expecting?

I've never actually played a Thumb. :eek:

I traded for it because I thought it was a good deal, and figured I'd love it since I'm so close with my Corvette $$ 5.

Pics are a definite.
Should be here tomorrow.
Got rehearsal, but I should be able to snap some after that.
 
Wear it really high, like a necklace :) I wear mine right under my right "Man Can"!

You might want to play it everday exclusively for a couple weeks. I found if switched basses every couple of days, it felt weird coming back to the Thumb.

The more you try to make it balance like a J bass, the more disappointed you will be. It balances perfectly for playing strapped up high.
 
always pick up the lid on the can before going and shave with a up and down motion not side ways oh wait do you mean about the bass.ok never use as a row boat padal never do a sid viscious and hit a fan in the head with it.never leave it where a wood pecker or termites might make a meal of it ha ha ha
 
Fortunately, I am not hairy. If I was, I would lean forward and let gravity take over.
I have not played in front of people in years. When I do, I will try the "Sid Vicious" swing.

Wait, what's this thread about?
 
noodles said:
Wear it really high, like a necklace :) I wear mine right under my right "Man Can"!

You might want to play it everday exclusively for a couple weeks. I found if switched basses every couple of days, it felt weird coming back to the Thumb.

The more you try to make it balance like a J bass, the more disappointed you will be. It balances perfectly for playing strapped up high.
Click to expand...

That's how I was wearing my $$ until I got a fatter strap. :o

Can holder.

After reading all of the neck dive threads, I'll probably extend the upper bout's strap button to reduce the parallel to the floor effect a little.
I would never move the strap button or drill holes though. yikes.

Isn't it hard to pick when you have the bass way up there? Or hard wrist angles?
 
Replace the tuners with light-weight ones. I did, and it does indeed help combat the inherent neck-dive of the instrument.
 
eyvindwa said:
Replace the tuners with light-weight ones. I did, and it does indeed help combat the inherent neck-dive of the instrument.
Click to expand...

neck dive and parallel to the floor are two different things IMO.

I saw the tuner mod ideas too. We'll see how much it bothers me. I didn't mind the parallel to the floor effect of the $$ too much. :o
 
GAS KING said:
That's how I was wearing my $$ until I got a fatter strap. :o

Can holder.

After reading all of the neck dive threads, I'll probably extend the upper bout's strap button to reduce the parallel to the floor effect a little.
I would never move the strap button or drill holes though. yikes.

Isn't it hard to pick when you have the bass way up there? Or hard wrist angles?
Click to expand...

I try to never let my arm rest on the body. Like Brian Bromberg says, relaxation is the key. Maybe I'm weird (yes), but if I have it too low, it dives. If I have it (right hand) around belt line, my shoulders and traps get all pumped and tired because I am shrugging. I am 260+lbs and used to compete in powerlifting, so I get pumped very easily. I just train for fun now. Anyway, If I keep it in 'Cansville, eveything relaxes.
 
For me, THE best tone out of the Thumb comes from starting with a solo'd neck pickup, and slowly blending it until you can JUST start to hear the bridge pickup. You know, the "BWAAAAAA" sound will just start to sound like "BWRRRRR" - by my estimation it's like 1/4 the way between soloing neck and both pickups on, maybe even 1/8th between the two positions.
 
Hi Gas King, and welcome to the forum :-) I owned and played live and in studio more thumb NT5's. You will probably need some time to get used to it. It has a different balance, and also it has a very different sound. When you play it with a band you will be a little bit confused, as you will not hear your sound in the mix where it used to be :-)
I don't know how to describe, it has a different position in space.

After a while, you will find it the coolest bass on the planet, and you will find all other basses dull and boring.
It is the only bass I never eq'd. All controls flat, and tweak the sound using the right hand position, and the pickup pan. It is very sensitive to the right hand position.

Congratulations :-)
 
All I can say is this: If you like Les Claypool and his tone, then pan to the bridge. For some odd reason, the Thumb can sound very Claypool-ish.
 
thefitz said:
For me, THE best tone out of the Thumb comes from starting with a solo'd neck pickup, and slowly blending it until you can JUST start to hear the bridge pickup. You know, the "BWAAAAAA" sound will just start to sound like "BWRRRRR" - by my estimation it's like 1/4 the way between soloing neck and both pickups on, maybe even 1/8th between the two positions.
Click to expand...

So a little bit fatter with definition?

How do the rest of you run your thumbs?

(today is the big day....only 6 more hours! :@)
 
Florin said:
Hi Gas King, and welcome to the forum :-) I owned and played live and in studio more thumb NT5's. You will probably need some time to get used to it. It has a different balance, and also it has a very different sound. When you play it with a band you will be a little bit confused, as you will not hear your sound in the mix where it used to be :-)
I don't know how to describe, it has a different position in space.

After a while, you will find it the coolest bass on the planet, and you will find all other basses dull and boring.
It is the only bass I never eq'd. All controls flat, and tweak the sound using the right hand position, and the pickup pan. It is very sensitive to the right hand position.

Congratulations :-)
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I obviously don't know what you're saying with the thumb, but I hear the sitting in the mix differently difference with my $$.
The $$ likes to thump. fill out that low mid end.

I really hope that is the case. Make my other basses bland. I've been wanting to settle down with just one bass for a long time.
 
you'll see. You try to find your bass low, but it is not. It is in your stomach :-)
 
It's here......only had 5 mins with it...since I'm at work. It's awesome.

Gotta rush home after work and set it up so I can use it at rehearsal tonight!8:
 
WarwickthumbNT5002n.jpg

WarwickthumbNT5009.jpg

WarwickthumbNT5010.jpg

WarwickthumbNT5011.jpg

WarwickthumbNT5012.jpg

WarwickthumbNT5013.jpg


yes!
 
Just played it at practice.

the neck dive was only a smidgen worse than my Corvette $$.

I used the same strap and it stayed in place.
If I moved around a lot it would slowly slide down to parallel but not NEARLY as bad as I expected.

The neck is comfortable. nice fat but thick C shape......it gets more D shaped towards the body.

I quick did a set up before practice.....I've got the low b at .115 @ the 17th fret with a tinnie little bit of buzz. :eek.
Awesome.
I normally go .125 as a starting point.

I thought the tone was great. the tightness of the pickup configuration is amazing.

Probably the most active sounding bass I have.
VERY clear, very distinct, and very tight.

Which is basically the opposite of what I'm typically going for.
Sounds ♣♣♣♣ing great.....but too controlled for our band.

It sat a lot higher in the mix than I'm used to.

It just played so ♣♣♣♣ing great......the ergonomics were alright. Nothing strange.
Not a Fender Jazz, but nothing I couldn't handle.

pics to follow.....
 
GAS King, you made a good trade, the Thumb NT is the flagship of Warwick, have fun with it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top