Thumbs!

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Benjamin

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Alright people, I'm really gassing for a thumb. And might make an investment on one in atleast five years =P
Basically, I want any info on thumbs. Positive, negative or just your thoughts. 4's 5's and 6's. BO BN NT. Seeing I very recently bought my first Warwick (check sig) I have a lot of time to think. I might also consider a custom job. Still GIVE ME INFO, PLEASE! =D
 
There is loads of information about the Thumb discussed in the past. Have you tried checking them out ?? You can use the "search" function. 8)
 
Trust me, the best thing you can do is find some even if you have to travel and play them through a rig similar to yours. They have a most unique tone and I'd hate to see yours on e-bay in 3 months :wink:
 
Vinnie said:
1 They have neckdive :(
2. They growl like no other :D
Click to expand...

I always find this comment strange! My experience of NT 4 string Thumbs (all pre '91) has been that they have 'never' suffered from any dive... am I in the minority? Is it the shape of me, rather than the Thumb?
:lol:
 
Well, my local guitar centre has the Thumb ltd 2003. Or I think it is. Is VERY similiar and has the same inlays. I've tried it and it feels really smooth. And one more, what's neckdive? Noone has ever told me what it is =P (maybe because I never asked ;D)
 
Benjamin said:
Well, my local guitar centre has the Thumb ltd 2003. Or I think it is. Is VERY similiar and has the same inlays. I've tried it and it feels really smooth. And one more, what's neckdive? Noone has ever told me what it is =P (maybe because I never asked ;D)
Click to expand...

Neck Dive - it is what it says... the neck dives :wink:

Some basses don't balance particularly well and when you remove your hand from supporting the neck the headstock slides toward the floor. The worst offender is 'probably' the Gibson Thunderbird.
 
warwickhunt said:
Vinnie said:
1 They have neckdive :(
2. They growl like no other :D
Click to expand...

I always find this comment strange! My experience of NT 4 string Thumbs (all pre '91) has been that they have 'never' suffered from any dive... am I in the minority? Is it the shape of me, rather than the Thumb?
:lol:
Click to expand...

How high up (or low down) do you have your bass? I wouldn't say my bass 'neckdives' but the balance is a little more horizontal than my Ibanez. I got used to it though.

The NT 6 I tried however really dived :shock:
 
I wear my bass so that the bottom of the bass is approximately level with my hip bone, certainly not Mark King and not Duff NcKeegan! The one thing I don't like about the Thumb is that in my normal playing position the shortness of the upper horn means that the 1st fret position is a bit too much of a stretch for my liking.
 
The best advise I can give is,try before you buy.This goes for all instruments btw. :wink:
 
warwickhunt said:
Vinnie said:
1 They have neckdive :(
2. They growl like no other :D
Click to expand...

I always find this comment strange! My experience of NT 4 string Thumbs (all pre '91) has been that they have 'never' suffered from any dive... am I in the minority? Is it the shape of me, rather than the Thumb?
:lol:
Click to expand...

I agree with you and also find the neckdive thing very strange. I have a Thumb NT 4 (2000) and it is the best bass I have ever played and am so proud to own! It doesn't give me any problems with weight issues at all. Just looks fantastic, plays like a dream, and the sound...

I also got the Thumb Dirty Blonde right before Christmas and it is 1/2 the weight of the Thumb NT because it is a bolt on made of ash/birdseye poplar top and a maple neck. Sounds nothing like my heavier bubinga pommele/ovangkol NT, which is great because I have more variety. The DB is also made into a fretless, so I really have diversity between my Thumbs! I actually prefer the Thumb DB in neck P pickup mode for funk because it gets a great slap and pop, even though it's fretless. Then when I use the TJ bridge pickup, it gets a gorgeous Jaco-like fretless sound that's to die for!

In the end, I have no problem with neckdive or weight switching between those two basses, but I do have all the "basses" covered (pun intended)!

And the Thumb just screams, "Bass!" in all its aspects.
 
NeonVomit said:
warwickhunt said:
Vinnie said:
1 They have neckdive :(
2. They growl like no other :D
Click to expand...

I always find this comment strange! My experience of NT 4 string Thumbs (all pre '91) has been that they have 'never' suffered from any dive... am I in the minority? Is it the shape of me, rather than the Thumb?
:lol:
Click to expand...

How high up (or low down) do you have your bass? I wouldn't say my bass 'neckdives' but the balance is a little more horizontal than my Ibanez. I got used to it though.

The NT 6 I tried however really dived :shock:
Click to expand...

For me, I keep my bass slightly below my chest (the Thumb's contoured body fits nicely over my pot belly :shock: :lol: ) and I use either a nice Levy's wide leather strap, or a wide Warwick strap. Haven't had any balance problems that I'm aware of, but maybe I'm just used to it and don't notice anything odd...
 
I got me a Thumb 6 BN in 2007, and it is the business!

The day I plugged it in, it roared! I swear man, I'm still in awe of how amazing this instrument it! The versatility in tone, and how stunning the bass is to look at!

The Broadneck feature is something else I have fallen in love with, makes sweeping and tapping a dream!

Neck dive??? Don't get it, maybe its a personal thing, but my thumb is the most comfortable instrument I've ever played!

I honestly think that ANYONE who acquires a Thumb bass will be over the moon!

W
 
warwickhunt said:
Neck Dive - it is what it says... the neck dives :wink:

Some basses don't balance particularly well and when you remove your hand from supporting the neck the headstock slides toward the floor. The worst offender is 'probably' the Gibson Thunderbird.
Click to expand...



I'm guessing that's prolly right. I have the Epiphone version, not the most recent, the one before it, I got it in 2000. The current Epi T-bird is at least a pound lighter in weight. Ayway it is one of only 2 basses that have any problem with neckdive. The Rickenbacker is the other. The main problem is that it makes the bass feel subjectively heavier than it really is. For the Epi T-bird that's not real bad since it's a light bass anyway, for the Ric, it is a real shoulder buster. I know guys who can't play a set with one.

I don't think the head of a Warwick is that heavy (a 6 banger might be), I know both the Streamer (4 string) and Dolphin (5 string) have no noticable neck dive.
 
I'm very fond of the Thumb Bass in either the NT or BO version.

Keep in mind, as was mentioned above you should play as many different Thumbs as you possibly can to determine which one best suits your playing style, and the type of sound that you are going for.

For the way I play, the Thumb BO works like a Jazz Bass on afterburner, and is a great bass to go giggin' with, since it is easy to get a great tone in any room. It reminds me of some of the old maple-necked Jazz Basses from a few years back, but is much hotter, and more responsive.

The Thumb NT5? Well that bass is in a class of it's own. It's the most wicked sounding bass I've ever heard. Like I say, every day can be Christmas with a Thumb Bass.

Happy Hunting,

Gary
 
Oh, well. I have my bass where my belt starts if I play punk/riff based and fast. But if I slap or play slower, bit more technical I bring it up to my stomach. Any info on neckdive from there?
I use a thick leather strap that never slides on my clothes.
 
I think the lower you have the bass the more pronuonced neckdive will be.
 
wilson said:
...I honestly think that ANYONE who acquires a Thumb bass will be over the moon!

W
Click to expand...

Agreed! I don't know anyone who felt they made a mistake in buying a Thumb of any configuration. I am over the moon and DEEP into the galaxy over these babies:
 
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