New Bass...

I can speak highly of the Dean sledgehammer 5

I still own it and would never part with it. I actually read in the cafe somewhere where there was like, 5 or 6 pages dedicated to bashing the bass from Greg and others yet obviously none of them have played this beast.

Awesome bass fo sho.

However, I also agree that getting a used one and sprucing it up would be a cheap solution.
 
Gman said:
Ohhhh, you guys....you spoiled the surprise!!

PS - man are we gonna look silly if we've got this wrong!! :oops:

:D
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Nahh.. it's not Kyle.

And Pepper, most of our dislike (mine included) is because of its poor imitation of the Thumb. I have played one as well and it wasn't bad, but it wasn't worth the price tag.
 
Ah, you are right my friend. It wasn't worth the price tag.

I definetly should have thought before I replied. Thats a very good point.

Either way, I'd say out of all the options put forth, a used thumb fixed up would be a great cheap place to start.

PS: before I forget, I must say one last thing about the dean.

I think personally, that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Thats not just a saying. It means to me that someone respects you enough to show tribute.

I very much doubt dean sat there saying, "lets rip off our fave bass and make money off it without getting sued." They probably know they will never work for Warwick and want to give dean fans an imitation that is cheaper in price. Also, I find it doesn't completely rip off the thumb...

It has the thumb horns, but the dolphin-like rhombus style ass/ body that we know.

Anyway, I agree with you thomas. And my opinion on this matter is an old Thumb. Despite the fact the OP hasn't said anything about it in ahwile...
 
I like that they added to the SledgeHammer a humbucker. would be nice to hear what it sounds like. does it also have the concave back as the Thumb?

I would rather get a Sledgehammer by Dean since I like the abalone inlays they do on their basses (I used to have all Dean gear before meeting a Warwick) than a korean or unknown origin Thumb shaped bass made of pine or MDF. :wink:

I can not bash the Sledge Hammer because I have not played it.
 
Forget the Dean, if you want a Thumb,
get the Westfield VBS4/5, it's an exact
copy, except for being bolt-on, and made
of different woods. (Ash, not Ovangkol
or Bubinga.)
 
Avram said:
OP...

You could also do what I did...find a Thumb bass in raggedy condition and then spend less then 100 USD fixing it up! :) I refinished, I re-wired, I put copper shield tape everywhere practical; it was VERY satisfying. Now, this 'used' bass looks and feels practically new, and it is much more a part of me than a 'new' bass would be. All the time I spend curing its ills made it seem like I built it myself, well almost....Like Florin said, it would take years for me to gain the necessary experience to make a 'real' Thumb bass. But it only took me a month or so to resuscitate a dying Thumb back to fighting form.

Just a thought.... :)
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Thats what i ment buy BUILD A THUMB lol, ok i will re-word it..... how much would it cost to restore a thumb meanly if its BO thumb and half the neck is gone, change it, but that example for EVERYTHING :D
 
pure_bassist said:
Avram said:
OP...

You could also do what I did...find a Thumb bass in raggedy condition and then spend less then 100 USD fixing it up! :) I refinished, I re-wired, I put copper shield tape everywhere practical; it was VERY satisfying. Now, this 'used' bass looks and feels practically new, and it is much more a part of me than a 'new' bass would be. All the time I spend curing its ills made it seem like I built it myself, well almost....Like Florin said, it would take years for me to gain the necessary experience to make a 'real' Thumb bass. But it only took me a month or so to resuscitate a dying Thumb back to fighting form.

Just a thought.... :)
Click to expand...
Thats what i ment buy BUILD A THUMB lol, ok i will re-word it..... how much would it cost to restore a thumb meanly if its BO thumb and half the neck is gone, change it, but that example for EVERYTHING :D
Click to expand...

Avram's the man to ask about that
for sure!!! Just look at that beauty
in his avatar!!!

btw Av, again, it looks GRRRRRREAT!
 
Thank you, thank you all! 8) :lol:

I bought the bass for 800 USD. I spent 75 USD getting the neck straightened. I spent about 20 USD on sanding stuff and stain/polyurethane. I used A LOT of Ebony stain on neck and body (not fretboard), and a VERY LITTLE bit of polyurethane on the head stock (back only) and the body. I can still feel the wood grain on the body, but it has a lovely, mild all day glow to it, similar to just waxing. I did NOT put any polyeu on the neck however, left it 'natural' oil finish...I just wax the neck and polish the body and headstock with lemon oil or Smith Wax (very thin beeswax/lemon oil compound).

I don't know about 'half a neck' or whatever...if the neck is broken, it will have to be replaced. You may have to contact a distributer and beg them to sell you one. You could probably get a 'standard' Warwick neck (ovangkol w/wenge finger board). But I don't think Warwick likes to do that. Maybe you could mail them your old neck and they can replace it (for a fee of course). 8)

Refinishing a natural oil bass is really easy, since you don't have to strip any uber-thick polyeurothane or nitro whatever finish. Just take it apart, sand CAREFULLY (don't reshape the poor thing), oil it back up with lemon oil, dry, follow up with Warwick wax or, if you are lazy like me and don't want to have to wax your entire bass weekly, a light coat of 'Satin' polyeurothane gives a classy finish. Like I said, that 'freshly oiled' look. Skip the staining part if you like the color of your bass. (I wanted mine to look more antique/tobacco faux ebony).

Hope this helps, I still have yet to post my entire refinish job. I have all the images, just have to write it up. (I know, I know, I'm an incredible flake :roll: )...maybe this winter break....maybe.... :wink:
 
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