Blue 87 thumb info please

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vennottery

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Hi folks new to this site but I've had my blue thumb IV NT4 for about five years and still know nothing about it. I cant find any others in the same colour and theres no serial. It still has the protective cover on the back plate signed by the tuner on the 30/09/87. All gold furniture and bartolini pickups and a single piece bridge. I have loved playing her on occasion but She is still in mint condition. Any info would really help as i still dont know weather its a rare factory colour or a custom. . Enjoy.

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Thanks for looking.:d
 
'IF' that is genuine and original it has to be THE best condition 87 Thumb bass I have EVER seen (grub screws, pup screws etc look brand new) and I have to confess that everything looks absolutely period correct, so I have no reason to doubt it... though the cover on the exterior of the cavity plate is just SOOOO not right, why would Warwick put that on the outside stating who had tuned it!

Stunning bass; period. :eek:

I hate being such a pessimist but when I see something that good I have to think something can't be right! :lol:
 
Hello, Warwickhunt,
Thanks for your help. Would anyone know if they came out of the factory with that cover plastic on & the retailer removes it before sale? I have had it since 2004 (it cost me quite alot of cash then, but she is pretty), not played it alot because it was in such good condition. Any idea what the colour is? Thanks again for your help.:)
 
Wow never seen one that old in such condition the Whut has a point but im sure some one on here knows about it.. Great shape again it looks like a rarity to me!!

__________________
Thumb NT 4
Ampeg SVT6
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Myspace.com/knucklerock
 
Hard to fake the aged headstock, and the plastic rings for the angled tuners. I am sure it is original. You can see the original Handcrafted by Warwick on the electronics plate.
I can see the neck laminations, so it is 100% at least a few years old.
Killer bass!
 
vennottery said:
Hello, Warwickhunt,
Thanks for your help. Would anyone know if they came out of the factory with that cover plastic on & the retailer removes it before sale? I have had it since 2004 (it cost me quite alot of cash then, but she is pretty), not played it alot because it was in such good condition. Any idea what the colour is? Thanks again for your help.:)
Click to expand...

I saw Warwick basses delivered direct into my local large music store back in the 80's (I knew the manager quite well) and they didn't come with that on the back of the cover. The reason I doubt that 'the signature' on the plastic is original (not that it matters a jot) is that you may well get someone who gives the electrics or the final set-up a check and they 'might' in the early days have signed the bass inside the cover etc BUT not someone who tuned the bass! Tuning the bass matters not one iota as it would be out of tune by the time it was packed and ready for shipping.

The very first basses that were distributed in Germany or to the press may well have had a piece of plastic on the cover, I don't know about that but I think someone who owned the bass in the past may well have written that on... for whatever reason. :d

I'll say it again though, for an unmolested example I have not seen better! ;)
 
Florin said:
Hard to fake the aged headstock, and the plastic rings for the angled tuners. I am sure it is original. You can see the original Handcrafted by Warwick on the electronics plate.
I can see the neck laminations, so it is 100% at least a few years old.
Killer bass!
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong Flo, I don't doubt for one minute that the bass is not a genuine 80's Warwick. I wouldn't suggest for one minute that the bass is not what it appears to be, if someone had produced a copy they would have to be working in the Warwick factory with all of the original Warwick tooling and parts! :lol:

The thing that I find 'almost' too good to be true, is that the hardware has absolutely no wear or corrosion or ANYTHING. The bridge and pup screws etc don't look like a human has ever touched them after leaving the factory, they look like they have been stored in a vacuum. I have an Infinette that has never been gigged and only get occasional use and is waxed and adjusted simply out of pleasure and it is not as good condition as this bass. :x :lol:

<edit>

Can't keep away from these pics. LOL

The frets and nut do looks as though they show some oxidisation (which is normal and easily brought back to shiny new) which is probably what is making me think the hardware (bridge, pups, pup screws etc) looks 'too' new.
 
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"Tuned 30.09.87"
Please don't tell me the bass is perfectly tuned even now :-)
 
I think you got the term tuning wrong here:-)

tuning in German is used as synonymous expression for customized (like tuning a car).

So I think the bass was refinished and maybe the barts and
other elctronics and gold hardware where mounted in 87.


cheers

Sascha
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hello Everyone

Thanks again for all your help & comments.
Warwick customer care sent me this email. Just thought you all might like to see it.

"Dear Mr. M G,

thanks for the pictures...

- Serial Number
well, the Serial Number should be on the top of the Headstock but since your Bass is High Polish lacquered.. it maybe is not easy to read.
Through the Electronic compartment you are lucky you see still the original set up signature and your Bass is produced

Building Year 1987
Month September
Serial Number I personal guess the number must be between 500 and 700....

You can take the Schaller Bridge away and maybe under the bridge the serial Number is written by hand.. Beside that, your Bass is made in markneukirchen, it is still one from the earliest Thumb Basses but with the longer Cut-Away already but still with the Schaller Bridge so over 22 years old.. now.... the wood is bubinga for the Body and Wenge with Bubinga Strips for the Neck, fitted with Bartoline JJ Pickups and a 2 Band Electronic by MEC
in Blue Metallic... a very rarer model...
So I hope you will keep your really old warwick.. that it is still playing good and all the best. :)
 
It is a mistake there, it was definitely not made in Markneukirchen
 
Florin said:
It is a mistake there, it was definitely not made in Markneukirchen
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No disrespect but that is hardly the first time I've heard of an 'official communication' from Warwick, which has misinformed the recipient, especially when it is in reference to something 'vintage'. :(
 
All I know is I love it and I want it....I give you my right kidney...haha. Stunning Bass mate.
 
Who friggin cares what it is/isnt?
It's a beautiful vintage Thumb in excellent condition.Nothing else matters.
 
Greg said:
Who friggin cares what it is/isnt?
It's a beautiful vintage Thumb in excellent condition.Nothing else matters.
Click to expand...

obviously venottery cares or he would not have asked;-)
 
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