Avram
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- Jan 24, 2008
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Long story alert!!
Ok...so I'm sitting in front of my computer at work (at this job I do digital photo restoration at a small photo lab), and the computer pisses me off for the umpteenth time in like 5 minutes. I get up, tell the boss I'll be back in a few minutes, and walk out side for some much needed air and head clearing.
One of the ways I have been 'centering' myself lately at work has been to walk to the local downtown music store and handle some instruments (NHS). They usually have a sad assortment of bass guitars, mostly Staggs and used Ibanezs. But today, hanging with the other used and abused was a 2002 Thumb BO 5 string! I was amazed because here in Vermont, there is only one store that even carries Warricks (and mostly Corvette standards only), and every other store NEVER carries them new or used. (There was that whole deal with a like-new Taranis at another shop but lets skip that as that story has already been told. :wink: Anyhoo...about this Thumb:
Like I said, 2002 w/what looks like a bubinga body/neck w/wenge fretboard. (go ahead and correct me if I'm wrong here, I don't mind). MEC pickups and what appeared to be a two band active eq, push/pull knob, normal knob, and a stacked knob. I played it on a Eden Time Traveler and some kind of 210 stack (I forget which). It sounded as most of you would expect AWESOME!!:twisted: Oh yeah, no W anywhere except the headstock; not on the bridge or the tuners though they are obviously Warwick hardware.
The catch: It looks WELL used...the sound board (top) has fairly deep sweat groves on both sides of the strings, thumb and fingertips I guess; the neck side pickup cap has a sizable groove cut into it from what I guess was the B string drilling into it over the years; the neck is slightly twisted but not too bad, very slightly; and overall, it looks like the guy who owned it never waxed it, ever, or cleaned it, ever. But for all that...it still played as advertised and with much love and attention, could be helped back into prettiness again. (think about a tough, hot chick from high school that, when you see her years later, after years with some as*hole, she looks a bit strung out and dirty, but is still the same cool chick, and you suspect with a little love, exercise and healthy living, she would be that smoking hot tough chick you used to know and love but were too afraid to ask out because she was 'out of your league'. :lol:
I basically feel like the rebound boyfriend!
So the shop was selling it on consignment for $900...but after I played it and noted its less-than-stellar cosmetic condition, they agreed to sell for $800! I bought a set of DR strings and the 'music store guy' set to setting up the bass. He adjusted the rod, fixed the string height, adjusted the intonation and even oiled and smoothed out the fretboard and body! I gave them $300 as a down payment to make it mine, with the intention of paying for the rest in about a week. (Actually I think my lady may help me with this sooner!) 8) I looked online and most Thumb BO 5 strings are starting at auction for around $1100 for good condition so I think I got a pretty fair deal at $800 (plus free setup) for decidedly used condition. I don't have buyers remorse so I think I did well...
Anyway....now I have a Thumb!!
(pics to follow within a week!!)
Ok...so I'm sitting in front of my computer at work (at this job I do digital photo restoration at a small photo lab), and the computer pisses me off for the umpteenth time in like 5 minutes. I get up, tell the boss I'll be back in a few minutes, and walk out side for some much needed air and head clearing.
One of the ways I have been 'centering' myself lately at work has been to walk to the local downtown music store and handle some instruments (NHS). They usually have a sad assortment of bass guitars, mostly Staggs and used Ibanezs. But today, hanging with the other used and abused was a 2002 Thumb BO 5 string! I was amazed because here in Vermont, there is only one store that even carries Warricks (and mostly Corvette standards only), and every other store NEVER carries them new or used. (There was that whole deal with a like-new Taranis at another shop but lets skip that as that story has already been told. :wink: Anyhoo...about this Thumb:
Like I said, 2002 w/what looks like a bubinga body/neck w/wenge fretboard. (go ahead and correct me if I'm wrong here, I don't mind). MEC pickups and what appeared to be a two band active eq, push/pull knob, normal knob, and a stacked knob. I played it on a Eden Time Traveler and some kind of 210 stack (I forget which). It sounded as most of you would expect AWESOME!!:twisted: Oh yeah, no W anywhere except the headstock; not on the bridge or the tuners though they are obviously Warwick hardware.
The catch: It looks WELL used...the sound board (top) has fairly deep sweat groves on both sides of the strings, thumb and fingertips I guess; the neck side pickup cap has a sizable groove cut into it from what I guess was the B string drilling into it over the years; the neck is slightly twisted but not too bad, very slightly; and overall, it looks like the guy who owned it never waxed it, ever, or cleaned it, ever. But for all that...it still played as advertised and with much love and attention, could be helped back into prettiness again. (think about a tough, hot chick from high school that, when you see her years later, after years with some as*hole, she looks a bit strung out and dirty, but is still the same cool chick, and you suspect with a little love, exercise and healthy living, she would be that smoking hot tough chick you used to know and love but were too afraid to ask out because she was 'out of your league'. :lol:
I basically feel like the rebound boyfriend!
So the shop was selling it on consignment for $900...but after I played it and noted its less-than-stellar cosmetic condition, they agreed to sell for $800! I bought a set of DR strings and the 'music store guy' set to setting up the bass. He adjusted the rod, fixed the string height, adjusted the intonation and even oiled and smoothed out the fretboard and body! I gave them $300 as a down payment to make it mine, with the intention of paying for the rest in about a week. (Actually I think my lady may help me with this sooner!) 8) I looked online and most Thumb BO 5 strings are starting at auction for around $1100 for good condition so I think I got a pretty fair deal at $800 (plus free setup) for decidedly used condition. I don't have buyers remorse so I think I did well...
Anyway....now I have a Thumb!!
(pics to follow within a week!!)
)
