Corvette Vs. Thumb?!

[Warwick_24]

Hello to all,

I had a Corvette Standard and sold it because I joined a band and needed a guitar. That was the worst mistake I made! Now the band went to crap and I want a new bass. Anyways, now that I am ready to buy again I don't know if the Vette or the Thumb would be better. I play a little of everything. I need something versitile. That is what I liked about the Vette I had. Can anyone tell me the major differances between the two? I know the price gap between them is huge. I hope this gives some understanding to my problem. If you guys could help that would be GREAT!!!!

Thanks

 

[M Maverick]

Hey dude,

I just got back from a music store and I spent half an hour playing a Thumb NT 5-string. I literately fell in love and that's saying something, seeing as I am very picky when it comes to 5-strings. I usually despise them. I've played both the basses you're looking at and I'm all for the Thumb. It's more comfortable due to the shape. The neckthrough design has a major but somehow unexplainable influence on the tone. It's beutiful. The Thumb also has MEC 3-band electronics and the Corvette only has 2-band electronics. If you can afford it I wouldn't hesitate for a second. However, everyone has a different taste which is why I advise you to go out there and try it for yourself before you buy it!

 

[boston asphalt2]

The only downside to the THumb (I havent noticed it, but others have) is the neck dive. Make sure you have a nice padded strap that has good grip. But I have a Thumb 5 Bolt on and I had a Corvetter Fretles and a Corvette 4 for a bit and I love the Thumb so much more. I think it absolutely chews through everything. The Bolt on 5 string thumb only has two b and electronics, and I find that to work well for me, so if price becomes a concern, I would go: Thumb 5 NT > Thumb 5 BO > Corvette.

 

[M Maverick]

Yeah, a lot of people are concerned with the neck dives of the Thumbs but I've only experienced this problem with the 4-string. The 5-string is fine. My personal favorite Warwick is still the Stage II though...

 

[boston asphalt2]

Yeah, a lot of people are concerned with the neck dives of the Thumbs but I've only experienced this problem with the 4-string. The 5-string is fine. My personal favorite Warwick is still the Stage II though...

I notice it more with my 5 than 4. Of course, my thumb is a Bleached Blonde, so it is super light all around.

Just remember the trick for the Thumb bass. Work the strap through your belt loop before attaching it to your bass, and it will stay up. If yoou like to swing the bass and do an "around the world" (which I only do with MusicMans that Im trying to break) then you will end up ripping your pants off, which could distract from your bands music :shock:

 

[M Maverick]

If yoou like to swing the bass and do an "around the world" (which I only do with MusicMans that Im trying to break)

Hah! A men to that! I was talking about the NT Thumbs when mentioning the neck dive issue. Does your Bleached Blonde have black or chrome hardware?

 

[boston asphalt2]

If yoou like to swing the bass and do an "around the world" (which I only do with MusicMans that Im trying to break)

Hah! A men to that! I was talking about the NT Thumbs when mentioning the neck dive issue. Does your Bleached Blonde have black or chrome hardware?

It has chrome, just the way I like it.

 

[Oil Can]

Like Maverick said above, there's something about a Thumb NT that can be difficult to explain until you play and hear one. And I'm a guy who's played 4 string basses since 1978 up until this year, and I took the plunge and scored an NT5. Some guys like Streamers & Corvettes. I do too. But everyone has a favorite and the Thumb NT is mine.

 

[bassoctopus]

I've never had a Neck Dive problem with my 91 Thumb NT 5. I play it pretty low slung though, maybe it would be different high up.

The thumb has it's own sound, it works for everything, I've played 80s metal, rock, a bit of funk, slap it just sounds great for everything if you like that sound. You can tell a thumb bass a mile a way though - have a listen to Fishbone - Reality of My Surroundings or Give a Monkey a brain and you'll have no doubt what bass Norwood is using.

 

[Mr Rabble]

If you consider a Corvette vs a Thumb bolton, I'd go Corvette without exitation.

Things change if we're talking about the Thumb neck through.... :wink:

 

[daniele]

The only downside to the THumb is the neck dive.

Well, I do actually like that diving neck.
It's much more comfortable for my two-fingers-only style.
The curved shape of my Thumb helps me a lot too.

 

[H8ER 321]

If you consider a Corvette vs a Thumb bolton, I'd go Corvette without exitation.

Things change if we're talking about the Thumb neck through.... :wink:

+1 Mr. Rabble

 

[Coop]

I'd have to disagree with Mr. Rabble on this issue. I have both a Corvette FNA Jazzman (fretted) and a Thumb BO (fretless). A lot depends on the type of sound you're looking for. The Thumb has a much more low-midrangey sound than the FNA and I find the tone much "richer" due to the ovangkol body as opposed to the swamp ash of the FNA. The FNA is great for a "stringier" sound, great for slap'n'pop, IMHO. The FNA is also much lighter, with a wider variation of tone (2 different types of pup, 3-band EQ) but I like the sound of the Thumb, so the tonal variation is not as much of an issue - I tend to stick with one tone for the most part, no matter which bass I play. I mainly got the FNA to have a backup for my Thumb and for those times when I need a fretted bass (BTW, I mainly play blues and jazz, so that affects my tonal opinions).

As far as general impressions between the two, I kind of consider the FNA like a tricked-out BMW and the Thumb like a Porsche 911. Both are great performers, but the Thumb is, to me, a more refined instrument with a better feel. If cash is the main consideration, the Corvette wins hands down. However, I'd take another Thumb BO over a Corvette any day. That said, I'd trade all of them for a fretless Thumb 4 NT, but that's for another thread...