Is it me?

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TORQN

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Hello to all from Dayton, OH! This is my first post and I am getting a Warwick within the next month or so. First off I am a guitar player that ended up playing bass to "help out". I have been helping out now for almost two years and I love it! I play in a Praise and Worship band at church and do some other stuff too. I have a MIM fender jazz 5 string active deluxe(5 years now) that has NEVER had a sound that I like. I don't know why but I can play almost any other bass and find a sound that I at least like a little. So I want a new bass! I have been playing every bass I see and going to every music store within driving distance trying to find my new bass. I have a guitar center 2 miles from my house and never played a Warwick cause I didnt really like the look. I went to another store and the guy practically demanded I try a Warwick as I had turned my nose to every bass he handed me. It was a blue corvette proline 5 and absolutley blew my mind! Thats it! Thats the sound! Its what I have dreamed of! Ok I'll calm down. So here is my delima...
I went to guitar center and played several Corvettes and really liked the looks of the $$ as the pickups look sweet and have so much to offer as far as finding different sounds. It played great and sounded great. I figured it was the humbuckers, thinking I finally found the reason I don't like my Fender, no jazz pickups. But then..I played the standard in bubinga with the yep JAZZ pickups and it was the prettiest sound I have ever heard. So is it maybe that I didn't spend enough time trying to adjust the $$ and that same sound I got off of the standard is available in the $$? So what do you think, should I go spend more time trying to find "my sound" on the $$ or should I go ahead and get the standard that seemed to be delivered by God himself for me personally?

Thanks in advance for the experienced replies.
Mark
 
If price isn't an option I think you will wet yourself over the sound an playability of a Thumb bass. It really sucks that they are not on the walls of most music stores to test, but if you get a hold of one you will go nuts.

Of course I really think the way to buy a guitar is to try out every one and see what feels good to you and get that one. The first time I played a Thumb it was at someone else's gig and the guy wouldn't part with it. I've been dying for one ever since. I'm a happy man now!

I think the Bubinga Vette with the Active (gold) MEC pickups is a great guitar. Full sound with all the 'Growl' you will want. If that is what you want get it.
 
I know where your coming from. Ten years ago I too found myself at the local GC looking for a new bass. I must have played every bass in that store that was in my budget, and a dozen or so that weren't. After two hours of testing I kept going back to the Corvette Standard Bubinga 5 with the MEC golds. It was by far the best sounding and playing of the bunch. Since then I have aquired two Thumbs, a Spector 5 and three Fenders, and in terms of ultimate tone the Corvette is still tops. Infact it gets even better with age. She is a heavy girl, but shes beautifully voiced, and if the Weight doesn't bother you, then I recommend the standard.

Peace BT.
 
you like it more than the $$ ? get the the bubinga one. An ash $$ will NEVER sound like a JJ corvette std.
 
An ash $$ is just a completely different beast than a bubinga standard. There are so many different 'Wicks to choose from and they all have totally different sounds, looks and vibes.

You're more than welcome to drive up to C-bus and play my Thumb/Fortress/Streamer for a little while to see if they give you the 'sound' you're after, or better. Most music stores only carry 'vettes for cost reasons, but a different model might better suit you. Play as many as you can before you buy one, or you'll always be craving another! I had my Fortress for 5 years before I bought a second Warwick because I had the opportunity to sample a lot of them first.
 
i own a $$ and they growl pretty hard but you can mellow them out as some one sed earlier its a different beast but if you are only going to play gospel or church music take the standard but if you are planning on playing any other style take the $$ and if you really need to mellow out the $$ put some d addario flats on and put both of the selectors back qnd it will sound a lot like the standard with a little bit of eq... wat amp r u playing though
 
Welcome aboard to the forum!

If the ProLine and the Corvette Std. gave you the sound you were looking for, then it has something to do with both the MEC J pickups and the Ovangkol neck that those two instruments share.

You will also find the Bubinga body on the Corvette Std. will be a big factor that contributes to the "Warwick growl". The Ash $$ will have a muddier, less defined, sound, especially in full humbucking mode, but it is a versatile instrument. Just don't expect it to give that "extra" in the sound that Bubinga and MEC active Js can...

The Thumb bass is a very pro sound, but is also very distinct. It stands out, cuts through, and will probably catch you by surprise and even scare you a bit! I started with a Corvette Std. passive fretless, added a $$, then added a Thumb NT and the Thumb was so distinct, I wasn't sure what to think of it, but it soon became my favorite of the Warwick Sounds. :D

In your case, it sounds to me that you are already leaning toward the Corvette Std. and I would say it's a great choice that will meet your dream tone! Also, the Corvette is a nice looking bass that fits right into any situation, and even has a Fender Jazz Bass pickup spacing. Need I say more? It's got your name on it - now, come join the family of the mighty 'W'! :wink:
 
Don't judge J-pickups by a cheap mexican Fender :wink:
J-pickups are great
 
Can i offer another option?

Streamers! especially the Stage I and II! these are the next step to corvettes IMO. i started with a bubinga corvette and now i stick to a Streamer Stage II. This thing is just amazing and the crowd and soundmen in particular just are drawn to its looks and sound. the downside?: they are hard to find and $$$$
 
bhuygen said:
Can i offer another option?

Streamers! especially the Stage I and II! these are the next step to corvettes IMO. i started with a bubinga corvette and now i stick to a Streamer Stage II. This thing is just amazing and the crowd and soundmen in particular just are drawn to its looks and sound. the downside?: they are hard to find and $$$$
Click to expand...

+1, Streamers are really wonderful. You should defnatly try out all warwicks before you buy one. As "sjw1971" offered to you that you could go by his home and try them out, I would really do it.

Good luck in getting you're desired tone!
 
Hey Mark,

The $$ will NEVER sound like a corvette std.
Bhuygen, you are wrong mate, sorry! Corvettes have a specific sound, streamers a different sound. Some will like corvettes much more than streamers, it is not an upgrade from vette to streamers, they are just different.
Streamers have more growl, and cut trough better, while corvette STD have more "voice" in their sound. Actually I like the corvette STD ash more and more...
Cheers, FLo
 
Dude, get the bass (Of those you have tried) that you like the most, now. Don't go running all over USA to try different basses. Get one, play it, and then start trying thumbs, streamers etc.
You need a new bass now. You'll want a new bass later ;)
 
Wow what great responses! It is so great to see so many people understand!
sjw1971, thanks so much for the offer. My brother lives in Columbus, so next time I visit him, I'll have to shoot you an email.
Mr Rabble, "Don't judge J-pickups by a cheap mexican Fender
J-pickups are great" This reply is exactally what I was hoping the case with my current bass is.
As far as more expensive models, I really didn't want to have to tell the wife I'm spending more money. Cause it started out with "I'm gonna look in the $1000 range, well now $1200, well now I want a Carvin so $1400, well now I NEED a Warwick so....." anyway you know what I mean. Plus for some reason she likes when we have enough money to buy our 4 kids food! She really needs to look at priorities! Just kidding.
Well I appreciate the responses and look forward to more. With whatever I decide, I'll for sure let you know!
Mark
 
Oh also I play through a Fender Bassman 250/115.
Mark
 
Once again, I think everything you've shared so far points you right to a Corvette Std. with active pickups (the passive version is less money, but the passive J pups are very prone to buzz).

With a Corvette Std., your wife will accept the price and your 4 kids can eat, and you will have the bass that you have already begun to fall in love with! The Corvette wil also be the most familiar to you, coming from a Fender bass, and it will sound great through your Fender Bassman amp!

But be warned: Once you go Warwick, you will be bitten with WAS (Warwick Acquisition Syndrome) and you will find yourself searching eBay for an affordable Thumb and Streamer... Well that's the story of my Warwick journey anyway! :lol:
 
broken thumb said:
I know where your coming from. Ten years ago I too found myself at the local GC looking for a new bass. I must have played every bass in that store that was in my budget, and a dozen or so that weren't. After two hours of testing I kept going back to the Corvette Standard Bubinga 5 with the MEC golds. It was by far the best sounding and playing of the bunch.
Click to expand...

I did the EXACT same thing. I "decided" in my head I was looking for a US Fender Jazz or a MM Stingray. I played the Bubinga 'Vette Standard first... and it was a one horse race. I still tried the Jazz and the Stingray (and 2 fretless, and some Ibanez, and a few Schecters...) but I kept coming back to the 'Vette and its punch, growl, and voice. I couldn't be happier.

My advice is to go to GC, grab both basses and tell the sales people to get lost, you'll let them know when you're ready to take one home. Find a amp setup like yours, and find which bass has "your voice".
 
TORQN said:
Oh also I play through a Fender Bassman 250/115.
Mark
Click to expand...
`

When I'm checking out basses in a shop, I always seek out an amp that
has no magic, an amp whose basic sound I simply don't care for, or a
really colorless "transparent" amp that would be more suited to URB or
acoustic guitar. The idea is that I'm checking out the basses, and I don't
want to be fooled by an amp that makes all basses sound extra cool.

For me, amps I don't like would include SWR Workingman series, Peavy
TNT, Nitro, etc. Then there's amps that're simply transparent, like AI, or
the amps in the acoustic guitar room. Transparent amps are great for
testing a bass to see if there's magic in the ax rather than in the amp :-)

Of course I have no objection to gigging on an amp with tons of magic !
But using it for testing basses gives false results. While I wouldn't own
an amp I don't dig the sound of, I do have both transparent amps and
amps with the magic. My preference is to gig with the magic [Eden], but
practice with the transparent [AI]. Practicing with magic amps can leave
me more satisfied than I should be about how I sound !

Do try the amps in the acoustic room. You can't crank them way loud,
cuz they don't have the heavy drivers of a bass amp, but unlike amps
for strats & teles, these amps are sooper clean and great for hearing
the true voice of a bass at modest volume. Also, it's worth it just for
the looks of horror on some of the faces in the acoutic room when
you trudge in carrying a pair of big electric basses :-)

`
 
TORQN said:
Wow what great responses! It is so great to see so many people understand!
sjw1971, thanks so much for the offer. My brother lives in Columbus, so next time I visit him, I'll have to shoot you an email.
Mr Rabble, "Don't judge J-pickups by a cheap mexican Fender
J-pickups are great" This reply is exactally what I was hoping the case with my current bass is.
As far as more expensive models, I really didn't want to have to tell the wife I'm spending more money. Cause it started out with "I'm gonna look in the $1000 range, well now $1200, well now I want a Carvin so $1400, well now I NEED a Warwick so....." anyway you know what I mean. Plus for some reason she likes when we have enough money to buy our 4 kids food! She really needs to look at priorities! Just kidding.
Well I appreciate the responses and look forward to more. With whatever I decide, I'll for sure let you know!
Mark
Click to expand...

You can pick up a used Standard Corvette Standard pretty cheap. I would suggest that. If you go to Guitar Centers web pages you can look for them under their used equipment section. I've done this and had the store that had the bass I wanted ship it directly to me. They agreed that if I found an issue with it I could return it to the local GC for a refund. I see Warwick Corvette Standard 4 strings for around 600 there.
 
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