Help me make an informed choice on my new bass

Callum

Callum

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Right so like many others I’m looking into getting myself a new Warwick, this time with frets. So I thought I’d get some advice before I start to test drive some basses.

Basically it needs to be good for slap thus me getting a bass with frets, I’m ok at slapping nothing fancy but I want to learn how to properly slap etc so getting a great slap tone is important.

I’m planning on using it for more funk/metal incubus/RATM sort of stuff maybe some pop/rock so it needs to be sort of versatile but I still have my $$ fretless to fill in the gaps.

Last thing is number of strings, I like 4 I played 5 its always a dilemma when getting a bass whether to get a fiver or not with my $$ I settled on 4 string because on a fretless that’s all that’s needed most of the time. I have used a low b in the past but it is something I can live without. I guess my main concern is string spacing as wider strings seem easier to slap however I can see that low b coming in handy.

Right so that’s my criteria so I was thinking of looking into:

Standard Bubinga Corvette it would be like a darker brother to my current ash $$. although a white finish is very tempting (would that mean it needs to be a cs option?)

Steamer Stage I/II what difference does the woods make to the tone as in is one brighter crisper ect should I even be considering a steamer?

Last would be a thumb now I see that there are still some dirty blonds available (after I saw it I’ve been gassing for ages over it thus on the list) Or would a standard thumb suit my needs more?

OK so it’s kind of like almost a cross section of Warwick basses it’ll be a week or two until my exams finish and I get a chance to play them, funds are an issue so atm the corvette is top due to me being more capable of affording it (read get it faster ie less waiting), the dirty blond second mainly because of gas :P

So have I got the wrong idea should I look at something different. Input and opinions of the basses would be greatly received as I want to make the most informed choice I can. Oh yeh and I won’t make any final decisions until I’ve played them all both 4 string versions and 5 string ones.
 
Shopping for a new bass is a lot of fun, so congratulations! But since money is a concern, I think your lean toward the Corvette Standard (bubinga) might be you telling yourself something. I suspect everyone on this forum would dig having a Stage II, but the strong majority aren't going to spend that kind of money on a bass. If you come up with a little extra cash, maybe then you start considering the $2k or more basses...
 
i'd get a CS corvette in bubinga with that white you wanted and get the broadneck 5 string option. you could probably go NT if you wanted to pump out the money.
 
Definitely look into a Dirty Blonde in addition to the bubinga Vette's. I've had a chance to play both 4 and 5 string DB's and the 4 seemed to want me to slap it - mostly the EMP's I think - but it had an exceptionally balanced tone with perfectly sufficient 'thud' to be as strong as your ash $$, plus a really fast neck. But as you've already figured out, play them all then get the one that works best for you! Best of luck bro :) ~M~
 
I've been struggling with this decision myself. I want a slapping funk machine, which points me toward a Maple Streamer Stage I, but I really like the look and vibe of the Bubinga or Ovangkol Thumbs, with the offset pickups. I want a broadneck 5er for the low B and the slapable string spacing, but that means a bolt on instead of a neck through.

Is a Bubinga or Ovangkol Thumb a good choice for funk, or is that more for rock? I know that Stuart Zender got his incredible Warwick growl and sweet slap tone with the Streamer Stage I, but can the Thumb do that too, or does that require Maple?
 
Once again, I recommend the THUMB! :)

I find that the thumb is a funk machine... Slapping on it sounds awesome :)
 
Wow thanks for all the great and very helpful comments, the cs is an option abd a very tempting one. tbh i can get the cash for a stage II as a summer job can sort that out however it means i have to wait slightly longer + i'm planning on selling off old gear. But to reduce the time between ordering, waiting for the bass to be made (unless one is in stock that is) and playing i'm trying to keep it down as i want to spend a good part of the summer playing and not waiting :D

Thumb is definitely on my list to consider mainly from what you, thumbin and stroud have said about them, and many of the other forum members. + i dig ryan's tone after seeing a few vids that have been linked here.

i'd also like to know like maddrakkett question regarding maple.

Also with the broad neck option how wide does that make the neck? my hands aren't huge + i've broken my left arm twice (long stories :P) had plate in the first time, removed and bigger ones put in the second. Although it was a few years ago its still not recovered completely meaning a really wide neck is something i may not be able to play, its also one of the reasons for me not getting a 6 string. if someone could point me in the direction of neck specs that would be very helpful.

Whats the ifference between through neck and bolt?
From what i gather through neck is more expensive due to the construction technique and that increases sustain? tonal qualities? looks?

Sorry about all these questions i'm just arming my self with knowledge here.

ps i remembered i haven't posted pick of my $$ yet :shock:...i'll get on that as soon as my exams are over
 
Here are the specs for comparing Broad Neck and non-Broad Neck 5-string Thumbs, taken from the Products page:

5-string
A: 45 mm B: 61 mm C: 21 mm D: 25,5 mm R: 664 mm (26" )

5-string BN
A: 47 mm B: 72 mm C: 21 mm D: 25,5 mm R: 1200 mm (47" )

A = Width at Nut
B = Width at 12th fret
C = Thickness at 1st fret
D = Thickness at 12th fret
R = Radius
BN = Broad Neck (20 mm string spacing at the bridge)

As for Neck Through, you are correct that it costs more due to increased construction techniques and the Neck Through does sustain more, as the strings are attached at both ends to a solid piece of the same wood for better transfer of vibrations. This produces a meatier sound as well and a more solid "feel" over all to the instrument. But there are many who also prefer the snappier sound of a Bolt On for slap style, though the NT slap very well too. Looks wise, the NT has a better look to me because the fingerboard doesn't have to extend so far past the body. The body to neck looks better from the front on a NT IMO. It's also easier to access the upper frets on a NT because of that. That's not to say that there aren't plenty of people who prefer the look of a Bolt On and with a Bolt On, you can completely different woods for the body and the neck and you can even have the neck painted or finished, which Warwick will not do with a NT. Most feel that the NT is the "better" option, but really it is a matter of personal preference. Just because a Bolt On costs less doesn't mean the NT is necessarily "better."
 
if you want that metal, funk, RATM sound, a SSII is definitely fit for you.

It 100% nails the Incubus tone right out of the box, especially with new strings and a strong hard attack from your right hand.

P-NUT used to get some ridiculous slap tones out of it back in the day. I'm not sure if Dirk Lance used a SSII to record the first incubus album, but if he did, those are some great slap tones as well.

here's a sample of PNUT slap sound: [video=youtube;QLIBv1y9wYI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLIBv1y9wYI[/video]

here's a sample of how it can do the famous warwick deep growl: [video=youtube;Hsw7yaFGNQw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsw7yaFGNQw[/video]

here's an Incubus song that shows great growl: [video=youtube;FheR322VaKM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FheR322VaKM[/video]

My understanding is that the SS1 will sound a lot brighter, making it better for funk and slapping, but it won't sit as well for rock and possibly get lost in the mix a little more than the SS2 would. If you can't afford a used SS2 (about 1800), then look into a bubinga corvette.
 
Dirk Lance used a 90' Streamer Stage II with the old Wenge-neck and Seymour Duncan Basslines. I never played a full stock SSII, but this is definately the first choice for having an Incubus/P-Nut funky sound, slapped or fingerstyle!
 
seriously... can't go wrong with a thumb... neither NT (which I own) or a BO (which a friend of mine owns) Both awesome basses.
 
My vote goes for a BO for slapping :)

IMO a BO gives more pop and bite to the sound than a NT does.
 
thumbin said:
My vote goes for a BO for slapping :)

IMO a BO gives more pop and bite to the sound than a NT does.
Click to expand...

Both will work fine. I really like how my NT basses sound with slap.
 
Well... if you want a good RATM sound than the Proline dominates that scene. Slaps like a mothabitch to.
 
My Prolines good for that Living Colour/Fishbone funk metal bass tone too. Although I think a thumb would be better in that area perhaps.
 
I'll add the proline to my list of basses to test. Atm though my oppinion is headed towards the thumbs and bubinga corvette. Just something i noticed when browsing thumb specs, the BO thumbs are ovangkol compared to the NT being in bubinga(something i didn't know i assumed they were all bubinga). So would that make a huge difference to tone and how heavy is ovangkol?
 
both the BO and NT thumbs have that "thumb" sound, although they do sound a little different. the bubinga is maybe has a little more growl and the ovankol has a little more treble to it. there is not a huge difference though. the weight is also similar but both are reasonably heavy basses
 
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