For my next 'Wick...

[Extra]

Alrighty - long story short, I'm already scoping out my next axe, and I'm considering a Streamer Jazzman 5, a used SSII 5, and a Corvette $$ 5. My Thumb NT is incredible and my primary player - it has a hugely cutting tone that works well. I view my Corvette as a bass with some healthy mids that will still stand out, but hangs in the pocket as well. What I'm looking for this time is something that can give me some nice rumble, a "smoother" sound with a bigger bottom that still retains character, something that can really support a track well with some low end. Truth be told, I'm also a GASaholic when it comes to basses, so I'm really just kinda looking for some opinions on another Warwick to add to the collection

My city is a black hole for Warwick gear, so I can't get my hands on any of them first. I've played some $$ Vette's before and they felt hit or miss to me... I also have a feeling that I prefer a 3-band pre. Any of my fellow addicts care to share some thoughts? I've been through the forums and listeneed to lots of clips, but am looking to gather some info on these three in particular.

 

[jester]

Without having any experience with these three basses, I would go for one of the first two, most probably the SSII...
This does not exactly match the description of what you want to do, but it's jaw dropping nonetheless...
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5C9AEqaqRw[/ame]

 

[golem]

Since you've already got a Vett and a Thumb,
you've got two basses that are both J-J, so I'd
skip the SSII and go $$ or JazzMan. Plus either
of these will get you an ash body and AFAIK
both your current Wicks are bubinga/ovangcal
[similar woods].

Yeah, the 3-band just seems to be an all round
better set up. Not related to player preference
for number of bands ... just better.

If you really wanna add to your PU choices and
tonal palette, add the piezo bridge. You'll then
have 3 PUs onboard, all intermixable ! I play a
few such hybrids ... very rewarding, but not the
way to keep costs down !

I happen to dig a J-MM [aka JazzMan] config on
various brands of basses, but I wasn't toadally
sold on my FNA JazzMan sound ... now gone. It
was kinda harsh, clangerous, and to me was a
'special purpose' ax. It has been replaced by a
J-TJ 'JazzMan', which to me is a wonderfully all-
purpose versatile set up. The normal JazzMan
is a passive-active where this J-TJ is all active.
The woods are very similar to my FNA JazzMan,
so I bleeb the difference is all in the tone chain.


---------------------------------------------------


Here are the J-TJ active/active, koa on ash, and
the JazzMan passive/active[EQ], maple on ash.
Both are basically fancy Vetts, both are 3-band
with coil splitting. Not grossly dissimilar specs,
yet worlds apart in tone. Third ax is yet another
"JazzMan", a Streamer-esque non-Warwick, all
maple, active/active, coil splitting ... "Not your
granddad's Warwick" ... or on second thought,
maybe it really IS ! !​

 

[Florin]

Extra, The STreamer LX 5 strings fits your description very well. It has that specific Warwick growl, but it is pretty deep. FOr some reason, it is very easy and nice to play, you get a huge sound with a very light touch.

 

[trujo777]

I'd go for an SS2 no doubt.. sorry to differ. Also the SS2 to me has a LOT of lows and lot of mids. it all depends on the settings on your eq

 

[Extra]

Some great info and suggestions With my current setup I can almost get there with either the 'Vette or the Thumb (the Audere pre and Bardens add nice thickness) if I add bass, play at the fretboard, favor the neck pup, etc. One thing that I've noticed is that a lot of the bands/groups/artists with this particular sound that I like play Ampeg rigs. My gear is kind of toward the opposite end of that spectrum, which is what I like to hear and sound like 90% of the time... maybe I'm looking in the wrong place in the signal chain.

 

[Florin]

Well, the Ampeg gives you something very specific, yes... The Warwick Tubepath has this vintage tubey vibe even better than most of the newer ampegs.

You can start from there...

 

[Extra]

I'm not necessarily looking for a vintage sound - just big and deep. I don't know... maybe even upgrading the pre in my 'Vette to something that would knock the bass freq. down to 40 Hz or so. So many options

 

[grifff]

I'm not necessarily looking for a vintage sound - just big and deep. I don't know... maybe even upgrading the pre in my 'Vette to something that would knock the bass freq. down to 40 Hz or so. So many options

I'd first try switching the pre in your vette before doing anything. If it's not your thing then at least you're not down a huge amount of money. You can most likely use the pre in some other bass. Try buying a SansAmp VT. They give a really nice Ampeg-like tone for around $150USD. If neither one of those things work then you should consider getting a new bass.

 

[Florin]

The Sans Amp has nothing to do with the AMpeg sound. I know they say this, but it is simply not true.
It has a nice sound though, so I think buying a SA is a good idea.

 

[Extra]

Wow - y'all are steering me towards the cheaper options... unusual

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

If you want thunderous lows, in my mind, you're asking for mahogany or swamp ash...

 

[golem]

If you want thunderous lows, in my mind,
you're asking for mahogany or swamp ash...

+1.

'Hog seems to have faded from popularity
over a few decades ... not disappeared, but
been eclipsed by "more exotic" woods. But
maple, despite the lack of an exotic name,
remains in fairly common use ... perhaps
due to the shift in tastes toward a brighter,
spanky-slappy bass style ?

Anywayz, I think 'hog would make a major
comeback if called by one of it's alternate,
more exotic, local names. IIRC, "limba" is
really just 'hog. Hog can be especially tasty
sandwiched with maple, which provides a
lotta eye appeal [and brings out the mids].

A maple-cured hog sammich is way tasty.
Acoarst too many of these will really bring
out the PLAYER'S mids .......

​

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

I loves me some 'buckers on 'hog! Apparently we're a dying breed, golem...

 

[Mr Praline]

Smoother sound, definitely a jazzman.

 

[golem]

I loves me some 'buckers on 'hog!
Apparently we're a dying breed, golem...

If there's a few ultimate versions of that,
one has gotta be an early GnL L2000 with
opaque finish. "In the Beginning ... " any
GnL with opaque finish was solid hog and
those GnL MFD humbuggers can rip a
black hole a new @$$hole, twist off its
head, and spit down its throat !

Acoarst a hog L2K has in itself approx the
gravity of a black hole ... cool sit-down ax!
Mine gots an ebony blank plank and the
"lawsuit" headstock. IOW it's an L2000-e.

Hog, ebony, and maple ... how olde skool
rude and crude. Sound? Olde skool, crude,
and waaaayy ruuude ! Try lurking around
a GnL forum and you don't find a whole
lotta talk about how to 'cut thru the mix'.
Geetards hate L2K's !
​

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

My ultimate version of "solid hog and humbuggers" has to be my Wals, which can also "rip a black hole a new @$$hole, twist off its head, and spit down its throat!" Unfortunately, they too "approx the gravity of a black hole"!

As we've discussed previously, the LTD 2009 Warwick has been an excellent compromise in a more gravity-friendly weight class (~8 lbs.). Let's call it a black hole somewhere between the Wal galaxy and the MusicMan galaxy, shall we?

I'm not sure how the newer ash-bodied G&L's fit in just yet, but then again, I've only had one for about a week...

 

[EVOLVEBASS]

Sorry, Brain. I didn't mean to hijack your post.

Of the 3 you list, I'd vote for either the JazzMan or the $$. While the ash body is a factor, I suggest those two because a 3rd bass with active J's just won't give you many new flavors than what you already have, considering you are looking for something different...

 

[golem]

+1. If you're already doubled up on
bubinga J-J basses, get you at least
1 humbugger on a non-bubinga body.

Swamp ash may not have an exotic
African name, but it does conjure up
some cool imagery ... something all
gray-green and scaley roaring outa
some muck and swill ... [insert here
any remarks about mothers-in-law
or ex-wives ... ].
​

 

[Lex]

My city is a black hole for Warwick gear, so I can't get my hands on any of them first. I've played some $$ Vette's before and they felt hit or miss to me... I also have a feeling that I prefer a 3-band pre. Any of my fellow addicts care to share some thoughts? I've been through the forums and listeneed to lots of clips, but am looking to gather some info on these three in particular.

you could always take a trip to NYC and check out the showroom!