Tough choice of bass to buy

viewoptic

viewoptic

Joined
Jan 22, 2016
Messages
86
Reaction score
0
Debating between a new Thumb NT 5 or a new Streamer Stage 1 5 broadneck nirvana black. Both masterbuilt. Decisions.....because I really like both.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Two different basses. I would prefer the Stage 1: broad neck, much better balance, more common but classy tone.
 
Really like the sound of both alot, and the thumb tone especially.
 
Be sure to play on the thumb first, before buying. Especially with your own strap and while standing.

Balancing is _terrible_.

Comes from ex-owner of 4 Thumbs in total. ;)
 
Broadneck option is "per se" a differentation factor : do uyou like wide spacing and wide nut ? Or not ?
Do you have a possibility of trying both ? Or at least one ?
Or maybe try to find a Thumb NT5 just for a try, like Doman said, the ergonomics are peculiar.
 
Doman said:
Be sure to play on the thumb first, before buying. Especially with your own strap and while standing.

Balancing is _terrible_.

Comes from ex-owner of 4 Thumbs in total. ;)
Click to expand...

Great advice. He has stated that he's owned a Thumb 5'er in the past...so I would think he'd remember what it feels like.

I may be wrong, as I don't own an early one, but I've read that the balance is a bit better on the vintage Thumbs, due to the thinner neck profile. I wonder if that's true? And they also had a little less wood at the headstock, with no volute and a carved out tuner area.

I do know you can custom shop order an old school carved headstock...but I think the Volute has to stay.
 
Hoggles said:
I may be wrong, as I don't own an early one, but I've read that the balance is a bit better on the vintage Thumbs, due to the thinner neck profile. I wonder if that's true? And they also had a little less wood at the headstock, with no volute and a carved out tuner area.

I do know you can custom shop order an old school carved headstock...but I think the Volute has to stay.
Click to expand...

they did a non volute on the 2012 so it should be possible but why would somebody do that?

The volute is there for a reason:-)
 
the balance is a design flaw just like the BC Rich mockingbird

great instruments but if you want a good balance the thumb is plain shit.
 
Hoggles said:
I do know you can custom shop order an old school carved headstock...but I think the Volute has to stay.
Click to expand...

They also can build new necks non volute if I´m not totally wrong. Because of the 2012th LTD. When I was in Markneukirchen to check the neck variations they also presented me the 2012er LTD for testing.
 
Hoggles said:
Great advice. He has stated that he's owned a Thumb 5'er in the past...so I would think he'd remember what it feels like.

I may be wrong, as I don't own an early one, but I've read that the balance is a bit better on the vintage Thumbs, due to the thinner neck profile. I wonder if that's true? And they also had a little less wood at the headstock, with no volute and a carved out tuner area.

I do know you can custom shop order an old school carved headstock...but I think the Volute has to stay.
Click to expand...

Did he mention this in the post? I don't know this guy, don't know if he had a squier or a fodera before. I give this advice to every person that wants to buy a thumb without trying. Saved at least 2 persons from costly disappointment.

Anyway, owned a 1989 and 2005, not that much difference. Both bad.
 
schlobodan said:
the balance is a design flaw just like the BC Rich mockingbird

great instruments but if you want a good balance the thumb is plain shit.
Click to expand...

Meh, it's not that bad if you're manly enough to handle it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Doman said:
Did he mention this in the post? I don't know this guy, don't know if he had a squier or a fodera before. I give this advice to every person that wants to buy a thumb without trying. Saved at least 2 persons from costly disappointment.

Anyway, owned a 1989 and 2005, not that much difference. Both bad.
Click to expand...

He mentioned it in another thread of his. Though he's making sound like he's never touched a Thumb ;)

Good to know the balance is about the same on the vintage Thumbs.

schlobodan said:
they did a non volute on the 2012 so it should be possible but why would somebody do that?

The volute is there for a reason:-)
Click to expand...

Ahh gotcha. Yeah, I was thinking to shave a little weight...but I suppose any modern reinforcement they would have to do for a CS non Volute, would negate the weight saving of that little bit of wood.

If any of that makes sense ;)
 
schlobodan said:
they did a non volute on the 2012 so it should be possible but why would somebody do that?

The volute is there for a reason:-)
Click to expand...


Ha, that was at the same time.

Right, I would not feel comfortable without the volute any more. Even though truss rods are not easy removal anymore. Strange strategy it was to reinvent the non volute neck but not to install the one piece bridge.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The Stage I is more versatile. The Thumb has a set of tones that don't have a very large range apart from each other. A Stage I will get you whatever tone you want.

A Thumb sounds like a Thumb. A Streamer Stage I sounds like a bass.
 
Get a broad neck SS1 with similar body wood and pickup layout as a thumb, that'll do the trick ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Ive played a thumb NT5 before, owned the thumb for a very short period of time because it had a cracked ebony fretboard and I returned it, however i never put it on a strap. I do not have the chance to play a SS1 broadneck however, but im familiar with the Streamer style type of bass.
 
SSII is also a great choice, and a true Warwick flagship, same as the thumb bass.
 
What is the main difference between a SS2 and SS1 ? I like the soapbars on the SS1 and broadneck option but it appears the SS2 has neither as standard option.
 
viewoptic said:
What is the main difference between a SS2 and SS1 ? I like the soapbars on the SS1 and broadneck option but it appears the SS2 has neither as standard option.
Click to expand...

My words: the SS2 has another woods, also more pieces for the neck. In the result the sound is "darker". Otoh it´s not that responsive like the SS1. The SS1 is a high level allrounder, the SS2 shows a bit more an own character. Check this forum a bit closer, there are sound samples of both basses around here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top