What is this?

Gerry

Gerry

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The bass on the left is a 5 string Thumb bass with the 4 string config?
It has a one piece bridge and the pups are wider than usual with lines on them. It's on the front of the Warwick catalog just in today at GC but no pics or info inside about it. Anyone know? Nice plug for the forum on the back. Thanks.
 
I could be wrong, but I believe it is a much older Thumb. Earlier models had one piece bridges (I know that for sure). I noticed the same thing when I got this very same catalog (about 6 months ago). Hope this helps.
 
It's one of the first Thumbs. There are also several Warwick ads in magazines where they did the same thing with the Streamer Stage 2. Really cool. :D
 
That's right,it's a very early 80's Thumb Gerry with a 3d bridge.
 
I don't think so. the 3d is just at surface. The bridges that came after that were the heaviest I guess... Massive brass, 3 pieces each, now that's heavy :-)
 
I knew I wasn't crazy(actually the jury's still out on that one)for mentioning in an earlier post that this would be awesome! Turns out I was way behind. I keep staring at this thing. Only one thing left....is it available? Custom shop? re-issue? I guess you all have or get the catalog on the regular but it just got here. You know how it is bringing new porn home. Bass porn.....that is :roll:
 
Signed off too quick. First, thank you for the info everyone. Just a few questions. I can't see up close so if anyone has any pics of this bass it would be appreciated. Are the pickups mec or were they not in the picture yet? Does it have the much sought after wenge neck? Was it active? How does it's tone compare to the Thumbs today? Need some Warwick history here.
 
Hello everyone,

This bass is one of the early Thumb Basses made by hand by Hans Peter Wilfer himself. The pickup configuration is the one you see normally on a 4 strings bass. At this time, he was still trying new approaches towards the pickup positions and such.

Also not the headstock. This was one of the first attempts at what we call the Warwick headstock today.

About the pickups, these are Bill Lawrence pickups if I'm not mistaken.
 
gerrywarwick said:
I knew I wasn't crazy(actually the jury's still out on that one)for mentioning in an earlier post that this would be awesome! Turns out I was way behind. I keep staring at this thing. Only one thing left....is it available? Custom shop? re-issue? I guess you all have or get the catalog on the regular but it just got here. You know how it is bringing new porn home. Bass porn.....that is :roll:
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Gerry,This bass is an 87 Thumb 4 string,1 peice bridge & not only angled tuners,but they're raked as well,very classy bass.& it's for sale by a forum member.Check it out mate.
Please buy it & keep it in the family. :)
The owner also has a wicked early 80's Streamer bass too.
 
Thank you Thumperton, it is very close as far as the bridge goes but the one I'm after is the 5 string with the wicked pups darn near touching the bridge. I know I can't afford an original but it would be nice to see a re-issue with raked MEC pups." New-Old" Thumb ltd?
 
gerrywarwick said:
Are the pickups mec or were they not in the picture yet? Does it have the much sought after wenge neck? Was it active? How does it's tone compare to the Thumbs today? Need some Warwick history here.
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1) No, MEC pickups were introduced later, in 1990
2) 7 pieces Bubinga/Wengé
3) Some had active pickups (EMG, Seymour Duncan), other had passive pickups (Bartolini), I think that OLB pickups made by Bill Lawrence were passive too. All basses had active 2 way electronics, so definitely they were all active.
4) I much prefer the tone of older Thumbs with Wengé/Bubinga necks and brass bridge. Growlier and a tad bit darker, with a killer low midrange. I found years ago my perfect tone with a 1989 Thumb, EMG equipped, and I think that no other bass can compare with it.
But of course others prefer actual Thumbs, which are somehow brighter, more high-midrange oriented.


[
 
Thanks Mr Rabble, I was hoping you saw this post. You get my vote for official Warwick historian/expert. I may never hear this bass but at least now I have an idea of her tone. There are also a few other experts here and I'd like to thank you all and I look foward to learning about the instrument as I grow as a bass player. BTW, I'll probably keep hinting at the re-issue thing until Oliver gives me a definate "no" or makes me one himself. :) Long live Warwick.
 
gerrywarwick said:
Thanks Mr Rabble, I was hoping you saw this post. You get my vote for official Warwick historian/expert.
Click to expand...

My vote as well. Great knowledge!! Keep it coming! /Pat
 
He is the real thumbfreak!!! ( ok, octo, you too :-) )
 
gerrywarwick said:
Thanks Mr Rabble, I was hoping you saw this post. You get my vote for official Warwick historian/expert. I may never hear this bass but at least now I have an idea of her tone. There are also a few other experts here and I'd like to thank you all and I look foward to learning about the instrument as I grow as a bass player. BTW, I'll probably keep hinting at the re-issue thing until Oliver gives me a definate "no" or makes me one himself. :) Long live Warwick.
Click to expand...


It is not a re-issue bass. This picture is actually really old, and can be seen on old brochures and catalogs with a black background. Most of the special features on this bass are just not available anymore in the company.
 
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