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MECs were standard in 1991. The EMGs are not bigger, same size afaik.. Bartolinis are a bit smaller. 1991 those basses were “handmade” that’s why the PU routing might be not so exact than today..today CNC..
speaking of which, allow me to introduce a very special lady in my life...
One of the first ever 5 string Thumb NTs and with an Afzelia body no less! The pickups seemed to be more severly angled as well. The bass originally came with Bill Lawrence pups but the previous owner switched them to Barts. The tone is to die for! I was skeptical at first because I thought a large part of the Thumb sound came from the Bubinga but this sounds every bit like a Thumb. Thankfully it also has the pre inside with the trim pot for the mid point so I can have this beast set to snarl or meow.
Unbelievably it only weighs 4.3kg! Of course it neck dives(not helped by replacing those god-awful plastic bushings with Warwick brass ones) but I can live with that for the tone and play-ability it otherwise offers. Neck profile is lovely and slim.
Anyway, without further ado - here she is:
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yep, pup routings in the early days were very, ummm, generous!
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for EMGs to fit - as said - the PU routings need to be “bigger”..
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Thanks mate. It is quite simply the best sounding and playing bass I have ever owned. I should mention I have owned over 60 basses and that includes Ritters, Wals, Yamaha TRB-JP etc. as well as many other high-end Warwicks. The bass really does sing so beautifully and the harmonics are clear in every position. It is almost impossible to play a wrong note as every note just sounds so beautiful.
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My playing sadly doesnt do it justice! If anyone lives near Emmelshausen (Rheinland Pfalz) is welcome to visit and knock themselves out though!
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Damn, too far away! And don’t be shy, most of us are just weekend warriors.
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Thanks mate, will give it a bash and see if I can't come up with something half decent.
It's an open offer though, I have a decent selection of 'wicks so if anyone is nearby and fancies dropping in they are welcome
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Hi all! My first post here. I was just scrolling through and admiring the many amazing Thumbs on display when I suddenly had to do a double take - I recognise that bass...
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Look at the bass in the quoted post from a few years ago...
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Perhaps I should give a little more detail... I turned 40 last year and my wife told me she'd like to buy me a bass. She didn't know where to start so asked me to think of something special.
Now, I'd never owned a Warwick before, but had desired a Thumb for many years since touring with a band whose bassist Tim played a Thumb Broadneck 5 - an astounding bass, about as far away from the Precisions I was playing at the time and honestly, not too suited to the music I was playing but I was utterly captivated by this slightly odd-looking lump of wood. I stayed good friends with Tim but living at the opposite end of the country meant I rarely got to see him.
Anyway, back to my 40th. I had a look in the classifieds and found a 2009 BO Thumb a few miles away - fate! Although very reasonably priced it was still a bit higher than I would want my wife to spend on a birthday present. I duscussed it with her and offered to pay half but she insisted on paying the lot.
I popped over to try the bass out and was immediately struck by how tiny it was - I was used to playing Thunderbirds, Ricks etc. Despite this it was a joy to play and of course I took it, at which point it was hidden away until my birthday.
Honestly it took a few months to fully come round to the small body, active electronincs etc, but I'm now at the point where it's almost all I want to play. It is an INCREDIBLE instrument. I'm not one to ever play clean, so I've had to rethink things in terms of distortion, but I'm now as close to completely happy with my tone (famous last words...)
A few months ago I achieved a 25 year dream and bought a Series Alembic. The Thumb makes me happier.
Now, I'd never owned a Warwick before, but had desired a Thumb for many years since touring with a band whose bassist Tim played a Thumb Broadneck 5 - an astounding bass, about as far away from the Precisions I was playing at the time and honestly, not too suited to the music I was playing but I was utterly captivated by this slightly odd-looking lump of wood. I stayed good friends with Tim but living at the opposite end of the country meant I rarely got to see him.
Anyway, back to my 40th. I had a look in the classifieds and found a 2009 BO Thumb a few miles away - fate! Although very reasonably priced it was still a bit higher than I would want my wife to spend on a birthday present. I duscussed it with her and offered to pay half but she insisted on paying the lot.
I popped over to try the bass out and was immediately struck by how tiny it was - I was used to playing Thunderbirds, Ricks etc. Despite this it was a joy to play and of course I took it, at which point it was hidden away until my birthday.
Honestly it took a few months to fully come round to the small body, active electronincs etc, but I'm now at the point where it's almost all I want to play. It is an INCREDIBLE instrument. I'm not one to ever play clean, so I've had to rethink things in terms of distortion, but I'm now as close to completely happy with my tone (famous last words...)
A few months ago I achieved a 25 year dream and bought a Series Alembic. The Thumb makes me happier.
I'm waving goodbye to club members, my Thumb and I have parted. I loved the sound, I just couldn't get used to the ergonomics of the bass. On the whole the neck was fantastic, but I play a lot in the first positions, and it didn't feel good having to reach out to get there. I wanted to buy a 4-string Corvette $$ as successor but none were up for sale where I live (and buying used instruments unseen and untouched is not an option, new ones are way above budget), so I ended up with an off-topic bass. I'm not completely without that W on the headstock, I used part of the cash to buy a RB Corvette 6 at a reasonable price, my first go at 6 strings.
