Well you can't say I haven't tried.

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ianrunci

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I have been trying to get to grips with my 1998 Warwick Streamer LX 4 for the past three months and I have to admit defeat. I just can't get to grips with the neck profile.

It looks and sounds fantastic but I just don't feel comfortable with it. Try as I might I have had to conceed that its not for me.

It looks like I am going to get rid of it and replace it with something like a Music man. Sad as it makes me, I really wanted to be a Warwick man :(
 
i wanted to throw, OK just kidding, i wanted to TRADE my buzzard BO5 because after 2 months of playing, i still couldnt get the hang of it... but lo and behold... just yesterday i had an epiphany... i actually discovered things the buzzard can do that both Darklord and Vampyre SN could not!

i love my buzzard now, and i wont be trading it anymore :) not to mention, im pretty much confident to say that i have gotten used to playing a 5 string like a 4 string *lol*

its a bit weird that the "epiphany" happened when i raised the strap length 1" higher... turned the truss rod a bit in a clockwise direction ... i dont know... some factors happened

so you know... miracles can happen :) ... or maybe you should just reset up the bass or change strings? ... i know the neck seems wide, but hey, if im the same guy who cant fret the B string in an Ibanez BTB, but could play a 5 strign wick, maybe you could pull it off with your LX too.
 
`

Have you actually played a MusicMan?

If so, which one?

Even tho you have a problem with a certain 4-string Warwick you should
try both the 4- and 5-string MM's cuz it's completely different critter.

I notice that 'Voodoosnake' in Wales wants to trade a MM StingRay 4 for
a Warwick 4. His choice of Warwick 4's is kinda high flown for a StingRay
swap, but mebbe you can talk some Streamer reality to him ?

I'm just curious what bugs you on the Streamer 4 neck ..... I have a
problem with the "U" profile on a Warwick 5-string, but their chunky 4's
don't bother me at all. AAMOF, I really like them. I even like the initial
feeling with the chunky 5-string, but after an hour, my hand hurts.

`
 
I'm sorry to hear the Streamer isn't working out for you. Have a good luck finding a nice MusicMan. I recommend finding a 30th anniversary Stingray model. They're the s***!
 
*** IGNORE THIS ADVICE - my mouth got ahead of my brain! ***

You also might want to try a Warwick Corvette (Standard, $$, or $$ NT) or Thumb (BO or NT). They both have a slimmer neck, more like a Fender Jazz. When I have a customer with small hands who wants a Warwick, those are the basses I recommend. And there's one at every price point (US$1200 on up).

*** END OF IGNORE - I stand by the advice below :) ***

If you want that Warwick tone, a MM will not suffice (IMHO).
 
The Swedish Owl said:
I'm sorry to hear the Streamer isn't working out for you. Have a good luck finding a nice MusicMan. I recommend finding a 30th anniversary Stingray model. They're the s***!
Click to expand...
`

+100000000000000000000000000000 on the 30th Anniversary version.

But +100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000.......... 00000000000000000
on the "Good Luck" aspect.

I don't really know how many were made, but they are hard enuf to find
here in the States. Still, I'll chime in and say that IF you ever encounter
one, call in sick to work, drive, train, mule it, or flap your arms and fly,
but respond quickly and check it out.

OTOH, while a mahogany StingRay [the 30th Anniv version is the ONLY
one] has a unique and very usable and pleasing sound, if you are much
more of a player than a collector, don't pay any insane premium for
one. How much is insane, or too much ? Well, you can buy a fine old
StingRay with a good neck and frets and some uglee stuff happning on
the body. Then, using the beatup body as a model, you pay a luthier to
copy it in mahogany and install the neck and all the hardware and
electronics from the beater.

Whazzat all cost ? I dunno, but whatever such a custom one-off
mahogany StingRay would cost, a non-collector player would be nutzo
to pay that much [or more] for a 30th Anniversary edition. Not that it's
a sin to buy a real factory made version, if that is the more affordable
option. Right now, it may be so. But if the "collector" version starts
appreciating insanely, then "plan-B" is the route for a player.

--- - -- --- - - -- - - - --- - --- - - - ---- -- - - -- - - -- - --- - - - --- - - --- -- ----

Here's a dirty little seckret: The closest sounding "StingRay" to a Ray
30th is the S.U.B. Definitely not The Same. But let's say you find the
Ray 30th to be the best sounding Ray you ever heard. You may well find
that, ignoring fancy paint, etc, you prefer the poplar-bodied S.U.B.s to
the the fancier alder or ash StingRays [or Sterlings].

YMMV, but my experience is that I have 3 ash body MM's, all fretless,
and I like them that way. But once you add frets, it goes like this: The
mahogany is my fave, top dog, numero uno, gift from god. The poplar
S.U.B. is a frequent go-to and makes my ears happy. The alder Sterling
is up for sale, not played anymore. S.U.B.s are not the most beautiful,
but they are the cheapest MM's. Gibson would call it the "Studio" model.

`
 

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Height of the bass really makes a difference when playing. Whats it you don't get on with the neck profile?

Without knowing specifics its really hard to offer advice.

Few things that helped me get to grips with it:

- lower action - either truss rod adjustment or lower the bridge, or both(less stress on fretting - but requires a light touch from the right hand)

- light string gauge(less effort to play)

- position of the thumb on the neck - sometimes this needs to be moved to get on with a thicker neck. The U shape necks the thumb needs to be close to the middle so you had follows the under neath curve (imo this is more comfortable than a fender jazz neck as the U shape is more ergonomic)

Recently i've been messing around on 5 Warwick in shops, they are really chunky, not uncomfortable once you get use to them + going back to a 4 string it feels like a tiny twig compared to 5 string necks.

edit: you could go the other way of explaining you problem to warwick and beg them to make you a slimmer profile neck, you'll need to send your current on back first but could be something to consider....
 
Beware, cause if you couldn't make it with the Warwick neck shape, then the fat Musicman Stingray neck shape might be a bore too.
 
RocketMusic said:
You also might want to try a Warwick Corvette (Standard, $$, or $$ NT) or Thumb (BO or NT). They both have a slimmer neck, more like a Fender Jazz. ...
Click to expand...

All Warwick bolt-ons have the same neck.
 
Hmmm... I was just playing the 2008 LTD Streamer LX, and I swear the neck feels chunkier, a more pronounced U profile...

But then I went back and forth a few times between it and a Corvette Standard. And sure enough, they're the same profile.

Oh, well. I've learned something today. Thanks!
 
Iarunci, if you are a Warwick guy, you can order a STreamer LX with flat neck profile. :-)

If you buy a Music Man, I suggest you to look at the ones made until the mid ninties, I don't know why, but they seem better to me, and sound better. Look for one with metal battery plate.

Good luck man!
 
Hey, whatever works best for you. That's why there's so many different makes of basses!
 
Right you guys have convinced me to give it another go :D I played Lead guitar for years and only went back to the bass this year. Maybe thats why the problem with the profile.

I have a couple of other basses (An Aria SB1000 from the early 80s and a Fender Jazz from the mid 80s. Not too keen on the Jazz neck but the Aria is supreme. However, I will continue to try and get used to it.

It looks and sounds so lovely that it would be a real shame to give up without a fight. Cheers fellas for all the advice.

Its a 98 version by the way, wenge neck
 
I traded a stingray for my first warwick. The stingray was a great rock & slap bass, but you could not tame it for jazz, theatre etc.

If you are finding the neck too chunky, a good luthier will re radius the back for you. if its a bolt on, why not order the slimmer neck Florin was speaking about. I'd hate to see a good warwick get sold for a mass produced bongo piece of shit!

Cheers

Rusty
 
rusty said:
I traded a stingray for my first warwick. The stingray was a great rock & slap bass, but you could not tame it for jazz, theatre etc.

If you are finding the neck too chunky, a good luthier will re radius the back for you. if its a bolt on, why not order the slimmer neck Florin was speaking about. I'd hate to see a good warwick get sold for a mass produced bongo piece of sh*t!

Cheers

Rusty
Click to expand...


Funny mate - I did the same too! Had a 4-string Stingray and traded for a 5-string Fortress ('97)... wish I still had that bass, should NEVER have sold it!

Lex
 
Lex said:
Funny mate - I did the same too! Had a 4-string Stingray and traded for a 5-string Fortress ('97)... wish I still had that bass, should NEVER have sold it!

Lex
Click to expand...
`

+1.

My Rays are going to Valhalla with me ........ or I'm not going.

`
 
Wait - I had no regrets selling the 'Ray... but the Fortress? Now THAT kills me :(
 
sorry for the offtopic, but the fortress sounds INCREDIBLE on your delicatessen work! is it just natural settings?
 
kaajee said:
sorry for the offtopic, but the fortress sounds INCREDIBLE on your delicatessen work! is it just natural settings?
Click to expand...

Thanks :)

It was recorded via a DI out from a Trace Elliot V-type Head...
 
Well, let's hope my Roland supercube'll do the trick as well then!
One more week to wait!
 
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