My First Vintage and My First Thumb.... 88 NT 4 Thumb Bass

[ilikebass7]

So I picked this up really cheap from a guy about 4 hours from where I live. He had no clue what he had even after owning it 18 years. Lucky for me!

So I ended up with this bad boy! I have never played a thumb but it has always been my dream bass and a vintage one is the best kind! Its in good shape just a little neglected. I took all the hardware off and that dumb sticker and started waxing. There is some light scratching on the back of the body as well. Am I ok to use 200 grit sandpaper and go up from there and then wax or do I need to go another route? Also with the hardware can I just paint it black or should I get it powder coated? The black is mainly coming off just the knobs and a few nicks here and there. Also what to use to clan the frets and nut? Hardware cleaning to?For the price it was impossible to not buy. I only played it for half an hour before tearing into it but the sound is ridiculous!!! I normally am a bridge pickup guy for jazz pickups but the neck pickup is growl town!!!

When I first got it home

Tear down goo gone and Howard's feed n wax

 

[Florin]

Beautiful bass, man! This is a gorgeus and well kept bass I think scotch brite and lemon oil should clean her enough.
Also, I'd leave the tuners as they are. You said you like it is a vintage bass, well, then it should look like a vintage one, not as one built yesterday
IMHO, of course

 

[herb vibes]

success! got to love vintage wicks....

 

[Nachobassman]

Beautiful Thumb, congrats.

So, it was like stealing a lollipop from a kid, I don´t know how you can sleep at nites.

 

[ilikebass7]

I sleep knowing I have a thumb waiting to be played. And the kid will get over it

Flo I will probably go this route for the hardware. I anything I could just clean it. Would soap and water be ideal for cleaning hardware?

 

[herb vibes]

and please don't get jealous if people say that only the 5 or 6 string sounds like a real thumb!
the 4 string version has the characteristic thumb sound as well, cuts trough the mix as any other thumb and a have great bottom end which makes in my opinion a more suitable instrument.

 

[Morgoth]

Yeah the Thumb 4str is killer. Not as growly / punchy as the 5 but it has more bottom and has a perfect mix between the Thumb / Warwick grain and a more "traditional" bass sound.

 

[ilikebass7]

I have not played a 5 but would love to here the difference. I really would love a matching fretless!!! It will e hard to find one near the price though.

I am hoping to have it sanded and waxed today!!!

 

[Florin]

I think even water and a cloth is enough

 

[ilikebass7]

Maybe I will just do thT. Maybe a toothbrush to get deep. I need to order strings to. No sure what...maybe some dr hi beams

 

[Florin]

I am using those ear buds for the bridge and places hard accessible. I like Hi beams, I thinknthey complement the thumb nicely

 

[ilikebass7]

Very nice that's what I'll be goin with. I got all the frets polished and everything waxed again! Man this bass is great! I did decide to repaint a few hardware pieces. Almost everything is perfect the knobs are just tunin brown on the bottom. I was thinking of just taking the current paint off and spray painting them gloss black. Is this a terrible idea? Also the string retainer on the bridge has a few chips. Otherwise the bass is almost dead mint.

More pics of it in the am

 

[herb vibes]

Maybe I will just do thT. Maybe a toothbrush to get deep. I need to order strings to. No sure what...maybe some dr hi beams

my 4 string thumb sounded the best with elixiers before it was defretted

 

[ilikebass7]

Please any advice on painting knobs and bridge tailpiece would be appreciated. She cleans up nicely

 

[UK Ken]

Great looking bass, and nice job making her shine 8:

 

[Nachobassman]

Nice cleaning job (btw, what´s the name of that blue tape?). Regarding repainting the hardward, I´d leave it as it is, MOJO! 8:

 

[ilikebass7]

Just 3m blue tape haha. And I used a friends Dslr for some new pics

 

[ilikebass7]

MANY PICS AND AN EMAIL WITH MR. WILFER

many thanks for your mail and please note the infos / Specs
as following to your really still beautifull Warwick Thumb NT
Bass...
♣
- Bass♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣Thumb Bass NT
♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣4 string
♣ Serial Number♣♣♣♣♣♣K 1461 88
♣ Year♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ 1988
♣ Month♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ October
♣ Number♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ 1461
♣ Neck Wood♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ Wenge Wood with Bubinga Strips
♣ Fingerboard♣♣♣♣♣♣ ♣Wenge Wood
♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ with Mother of Pearl Dots
♣ Frets♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ ♣♣♣♣♣Bronce Warwick♣Frets ♣
♣ Nut♣♣♣♣♣♣ ♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ Just a Nut Brass Version
♣ Neck construction♣♣NeckThroug hiddenneck construction
♣ Body♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ 3 pcs. solid Bubinga Wood
♣ Surface♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ Oil Finish / Beewax
♣ Pickups♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ 2 active EMG JJ Pickups
♣ Electronic♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ 2 Band MEC Electronic
♣ Hardware♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ Made by Schaller for Warwick♣ *
♣♣Made in Germany / Preztfeld (West Germany)
♣
Yes it is one of the first Thumb Basses with the new
Warwick 2 pcs Bass Bridge.

Enjoy and give feedback!!! Loving this bass! The brass hard ware gives it the most bell like harmonics. They resonate beautifully

 

[Florin]

Beautiful!!!

Another thing you could do is to level the neck laminations, to feel smooth. I think you can feel the laminations now, right?

 

[ilikebass7]

Yes indeed. How can I do that! Sand?