=The Warwick Thumb Club=

Hi all, I’d like to join the thumb club. I’ve had my 93 BO from new.
It’s for sale. Wenge neck.
General Question- will it have appreciated in value?
 

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Dedé Arneaux said:
Hi all, I’d like to join the thumb club. I’ve had my 93 BO from new.
It’s for sale. Wenge neck.
General Question- will it have appreciated in value?
Click to expand...
Hey mate and welcome, That is a lovely thumb! especially the light streak in it. As to appreciating in value it's a hard thing to know really. Thumbs are truly special basses but they're also quite unique in the bass world so who knows whether they will ever rise in value. The huge cost of the newer German built models means that there isn't going to be a huge newer market of these basses in the future and the most wanted Wenge Bubinga models are going to be the ones to have..especially in the era yours in from....At the end it is the sound and feel of the bass and honestly I dont think there is better in the world.
 
Madmaskbass said:
Hey mate and welcome, That is a lovely thumb! especially the light streak in it. As to appreciating in value it's a hard thing to know really. Thumbs are truly special basses but they're also quite unique in the bass world so who knows whether they will ever rise in value. The huge cost of the newer German built models means that there isn't going to be a huge newer market of these basses in the future and the most wanted Wenge Bubinga models are going to be the ones to have..especially in the era yours in from....At the end it is the sound and feel of the bass and honestly I dont think there is better in the world.
Click to expand...

Thanks mate, the bass is amazing. Bottom end that sounds like a piano, low action and super slim neck make it a dream to play (but you’ll know all that). I haven’t used it for 20 years so it deserves a new home.

Now listed in the gear for sale forum.
 
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Well, I travelled about 50 miles to view the 88 Thumb NT 4. Wow. I have owned 2 similar basses previously but this is the first with the scalloped headstock and EMGs. It is absolutely lovely. The sellers photos didn't do it justice and using a flash to grab shots of a wax finished Bubinga and wenge instrument is difficult anyway. I will take photos when the light is good. It is heavy, over 10lbs. The fretboard is very dark, beautifully so and the bass is in lovely organic condition. The tuners are original and I note that the black finish is complete where they are grasped and turned. The action is low and completely buzz free, the truss rod is good and the pickups are original. The pre-amp works well and turns smoothly. The jack and volume pot have been replaced in the past and work and look as they should. It growls. Who needs an EQ to add mids when you have this much mid growl? Heavy and a slight neck dive but no big issue. I'm smitten and I've only had it home for an hour or so. Of the 3 I've owned, an 89, a 91 and this, it stands out. A good price too. Photos will happen.
 
Wanted to share one unusual thumb - I visited in May the factory to get a truss rod replaced (completely stuck).
Marcus (head of production) let me freely test any of the basses, which I did... And then they have this museum section: the thumb is bubinga with bubinga fretboard, and yes it is fretless. Couldn't play this one (maybe next time)
 

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BrusselsBass said:
Wanted to share one unusual thumb - I visited in May the factory to get a truss rod replaced (completely stuck).
Marcus (head of production) let me freely test any of the basses, which I did... And then they have this museum section: the thumb is bubinga with bubinga fretboard, and yes it is fretless. Couldn't play this one (maybe next time)
Click to expand...

Very cool. It's the very 1st version... somewhere between #1 - #129. Ultra short horn, bottom of the bridge parallel with the last knob. Good stuff.

JD #99 was a Bubinga fretless board, with a brass plate at the base of the FB.
Screenshot_20191110-135119.jpg


Here's Jack playing another similar one...
downloadfile-2.jpg
 
Hoggles said:
Very cool. It's the very 1st version... somewhere between #1 - #129. Ultra short horn, bottom of the bridge parallel with the last knob. Good stuff.

JD #99 was a Bubinga fretless board, with a brass plate at the base of the FB.
View attachment 20690

Here's Jack playing another similar one...
View attachment 20689
Click to expand...

The ultra short horn surely is a challenge! Funny enough, I asked Marcus how this sounds; his dry reply: just like any ebony board. But it really looks unusual. So much to learn - thanks for your reply!
 
BrusselsBass said:
The ultra short horn surely is a challenge! Funny enough, I asked Marcus how this sounds; his dry reply: just like any ebony board. But it really looks unusual. So much to learn - thanks for your reply!
Click to expand...

The short horns are my all time favorite. They are magical works or art. I have one...and without question, it would be the last of my Wicks I'd ever part with.

Here's a thread I made a while back on the 1st year of the beloved JD :)

1985 Jd Thumb Revisions And Comparisons
 
Hoggles said:
The short horns are my all time favorite. They are magical works or art. I have one...and without question, it would be the last of my Wicks I'd ever part with.

Here's a thread I made a while back on the 1st year of the beloved JD :)

1985 Jd Thumb Revisions And Comparisons
Click to expand...
Brilliant thread, so much information, so much to learn. Thanks so much! And yes, it is the '88 thumb (my post 2 Nov) of Chris90 that found its way from the Netherlands to my home in Belgium! So I feel becoming family
 
Oh that's awesome! I thought it looked familiar :) Chris is a great guy. His #143 was the 1st short horn I ever saw a picture of. Got me interested in them.
 
I've seen Thumbs with the JD trussrod cover. I'm very interested in the history of Warwick, and Thumbs in particular. Is there a reference anywhere? JD?????
 
Hello all. I'm looking for some advice.

I'm going over my newly acquired 88 Thumb NT. I love it and fettling is very enjoyable. I need to replace the strap lock buttons as they are worn to an extent that the Schaller locks aren't locking. I've Schaller buttons on order. I think I'll wrap the originals and pop them in the cavity. The bass is a EMG 2EQ model (I guess that's standard for this era). The bass/treble pot was quite stiff and the blend pot was a little scratchy (they work just fine). Some switch cleaner/lubricant has sorted the blend pot and the treble side of the EQ pot but the lower bass element is still very stiff, to the extent that the knob is barely gripping it enough to turn it.

Are these obtainable? Ideally I'd like to purchase and fit something identical (well nearly) to the original. Is there a site that sells these older Warwick components?

Many thanks.

Peter
 
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