Thumb NT 5 Question about Electronics

[dnawinston]

Hello everyone! This is my first post - I've been checking out the forum off and on for a while and finally have a question to ask. Anyway, I wanted to say hi and say thanks for any help I can get with my question.

I've been playing a Corvette Standard 5 for about a year and I love the regular Warwick string spacing on 5 strings, and I am especially fond of the sound of the bass. I have pretty much stopped playing my Fender 5 strings as I just like the Corvette so much more. I've been thinking of selling off some of my other basses to help pay for a Thumb 5. I found a Thumb NT 5 at a store locally and have a question after trying it out...

On my Corvette, when I boost the bass or treble, I can notice more of a boost than on the Thumb NT - especially on the treble. I can tell that the Thumb's boost/cut is working, and we tried a new battery, I was just surprised that the boost was not as strong or powerful as on the Corvette (or at least it seemed that way to me!). I know the 2 basses have different electronics, so I was wondering if anyone had noticed something like this before.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Florin]

The "treble" pot on the corvette is 2,5 k (these are really high mids more than treble). For thumb bass, and any 3 band EQ warwick it is 8 k.
So they boost different frequencies, and 2,5 is far more audible.
Welcome to the forum, friend

 

[Martin Such]

Also, if the bass has already been in store for some time, the strings may be not-so-fresh and they may just not have that top-end anymore.

 

[Escobon]

Going along with Florin's concept, it's also true that the three-way electronics cut or boost a thinner slice of the frequency spectrum than do the two-way. You get broader changes with two-way, and more selective changes with three-way.

FWIW,

O

 

[dnawinston]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the responses. The strings seemed ok in this case, so I think it's just the differences in the electronics, as you all kindly pointed out! The treble boost on the Thumb seems to be "refining" the hi-end tones, while on the Corvette it really sounds like it is pushing more. It sounds like that is how they both are supposed to be.

Thanks again for helping me out on my first post!

 

[Florin]

Any time Now we want to see pics with your bass!

 

[dnawinston]

Well, I'm trying to figure out if I want that particular Thumb, or if I should shop around a bit more.....once I figure it out, I'll try to post some pics. I do know that I need a Thumb and I plan to call one my own soon!

Thank you again for the help!

 

[livingsyndicationbass]

I have a Thumb BO 4 with 2 way electronics and a Thumb NT 5 with 3 way, and the way the knob controls affect the EQ is exactly as described above. With the 2 way, turning up the treble lifts a wider range of frequencies, plus lowers the mids a bit, and does produce a "boost" effect to your signal a bit, especially live. Gives you lots more presence. The 3 way treble, when turned up, seems to affect the tone of the bass without raising the level quite as much, and seems to make the bass sizzle more, rather than bark more.

Am I crazy? That's sorta my take on it. Initially I was thrilled with and found the 3 way electronics much more enticing and superior to the 2 way theoretically, but over the years I'm starting to appreciate the tonal control of the 2 way electronics more. Now I don't know which I like better. Both are good, just very different.


Good luck, buy that Thumb! ; )



Andy
living.syndication

 

[Pedro]

Hello everyone! This is my first post - I've been checking out the forum off and on for a while and finally have a question to ask.

don't just wait for questions matey, jump in to other topics with your opinions and any old random comments......like this one!!!

 

[Florin]

The 3 way treble, when turned up, seems to affect the tone of the bass without raising the level quite as much, and seems to make the bass sizzle more, rather than bark more.

Am I crazy?



Andy
living.syndication

No you are not crazy (ok, not for this...)
The 2 way treble is located at 2500 Hz, and...
Oh!!! I just read below, and I've already replied to this question
Scroll the page up, and you'll see my reply, and escobon's reply

Cheers!