Sound difference Thumb NT to Thumb BO

bassoctopus

bassoctopus

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I've seen a promising Thumb V Fretless BO that I can afford. My only problem with this for me is that I may feel it's a poor relation next to my fretted NT (no offence meant to BO owners)

Is it a completely different sound and feel on the BO guitars? It seems to have identical MEC pickups and knob configuration to mine.

I'll be trying a few out next week anyway, but would welcome any comments from people who've tried/got both.
 
Older BO with the Bubinga body where more similar to their NT cousins.
Newer Ovangkol BO's are quite different, you'll find the Bubinga Corvette more similar.

I love the Thumb NT, it's my nr. 1 bass; on the other hand i don't care much about the BO version.
 
Thanks for your opinions. The worry I have is that if I buy a second hand BO, I may spend my life wishing that I'd spent the remaining £2-300 to get a second hand NT.

Does anyone know when they changed the woods on the BO?
 
Moreover I see you have a 1991 Thumb 5, a great bass for sure!

My 1989 Thumb is such a great bass...
No matter which other bass I may have at the moment, It'll remain for the most of its time in the closet.

Other basses come and go, the Thumb stays! 8)
 
Exactly the same for me, in fact this has been my only bass for 12 years!!!

I just fancy a fretless as well, so it'll never be a main bass, just something to play with really.

However a Streamer S2 5 string from the same era may well be added to my basses if one appears for a good price. :)
 
Mr Rabble said:
Other basses come and go, the Thumb stays! 8)
Click to expand...

Well said Max,thats exactly what it says on myspace page.Great minds think alike eh.
 
I don't know what year BO you are looking at, but the recent crop are fairly different sounding to the NT version. for one, the BO only has a 2 band eq, which is voiced differently in the high end. secondly, the body wood is different - ovangkol vs bubinga. The NT is supposed to have a smoother tone with more sustain, while the BO should have more attack due to the BO neck.
 
That's right Men.

The Thumb Bass is a modern classic.

The BO version sounds quite different from the NT, but is very handy in situations where you might want something waaaaay hotter than a Fender Jazz Bass.
 
Mr Rabble said:
Older BO with the Bubinga body where more similar to their NT cousins.
Newer Ovangkol BO's are quite different, you'll find the Bubinga Corvette more similar.
Click to expand...

wow they used bubinga before? when did they stop to use bubinga?
 
I thought that was very intersting myself.

Hmm, a bolt-on Thumb in bubinga.

Now that is a bass worth going on a search mission for!
 
Blockrocker said:
wow they used bubinga before? when did they stop to use bubinga?
Click to expand...

Yes, indeed.


Very early BO's had a Walnut body and a Wengé neck.
Soon after they replaced Walnut with Bubinga.
BO's with the Bubinga body were made in 1995-1997.
In 98 Ovangkol replaced Bubinga for the body before, and Wengé for the neck later.
 
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