Bongo 5 Vs SS1 5

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zen

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Hi All

Im looking to get my first warwick, a ss1, and was debating between getting a four or a five.

I have a Bongo 5 and get on with that pretty well but was wondering how the neck felt compared to the wick with the differences in radius and the broad neck spacing. I do have smallish hands is there much difference playability wise?

Many thanks

Zen
 
I'd suggest a 4 string SS1 or a 5 string SS2, theres a bit difference in a 5 string SS1 because its got a wider string spacing and neck width than normal Warwicks.
 
I have rather small hands and had no trouble whatsoever playing my ss1 5. In fact when slapping it is more comfortable for both my left and right hand. Have no fear for broadnecks they are really easy and light to play even for a man who is just under 1.70m tall.
 
Thanks for the reply guys.

I suppose the thing to do would be to find somewhere to try one out,theres not anywhere local but I was thinking of going to the bass show in London or a 'Romantic' trip to Markneukirchen with the Mrs, I could just act surprised

"oh wow Warwick HQ is here, I didn't know, since we're here It would be rude not to go and have a look" ;)

Thanks

Zen
 
Owning a Bongo 5 and a Stage 1 with 16.5mm spacing (not too many of those around) I can say that a 'regular' Warwick neck and a Bongo feel about the same around the nut. By default, the string spacing is slightly thinner on the Warwick, but that's adjustable to what a Bongo is - it'll just take up 'more of the fingerboard', if you know what I mean. Radius wise, the Streamer is much flatter.

Broadnecks will be different beasts altogether, but I really don't think it'll break a deal. Switching from an 18mm Fender with a 9.5 radius to a Warwick doesn't freak me out. The completely flat fingerboard on a broadneck might take a minute or two to get used to, but that's about it.

Sound wise, however....
 
The main difference you'll notice is how flat the back of the neck of a warwick bass is compared to most other companies around. It's a flat U shape compared to the more usual C shape necks you can see most of the time.
 
zen said:
Hi All

Im looking to get my first warwick, a ss1, and was debating
between getting a four or a five.

I have a Bongo 5 and get on with that pretty well but was
wondering how the neck felt compared to the wick with the
differences in radius and the broad neck spacing. I do have
smallish hands is there much difference playability wise?

Many thanks

Zen
Click to expand...

I have no problem playing my Boingo 5. Actually I have no
problem playing most any 5-string, except for those sooper
ultra narrow 5's such as the older Steinbergers ... and ...
so sorry to say this ... the standard Warwick 5-string necks
[have owned them twice, never again]. My hands are not at
all huge, but I do enjoy 19mm 5's [aka "broadnecks"]. It's
not so much a playability [ease-of-play] issue as it's just a
matter of playing style. A 16.5mm 5 promotes a different
style of play than a 19mm 5.

Obviously, my toadal inability to enjoy a 16.5mm Warwick 5
is peculiar to moi, as everyone else is happy with theirs. That
said, I do feel that ... as the odd-man-out ... my 'problem' is
an indication that the 16.5mm Wick 5 is a different beast vs
most other 16.5mm 5's. My "Streamer 5-string" is therefor a
bit different than most. It's 16.5mm string spacing but it has
a toadally different neck profile and was built by Stu Spector
rather than by Warwick.

So, you very prolly WILL enjoy either a 16.5 or 19mm Wick
5-string, and should be able to choose according to dictates
of your playing style [not worrying about your hand size].
Just do beware that the Wick 16.5mm 5 is likely to feel really
different than the Boingo [or an SR5 or a Spector or Fender
or most anything else].
 
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