Warwick Thumb
Encyclopedia
The Thumb bass is a bass guitar
designed and manufactured by the Warwick
company. The Thumb has been Warwick's
most successful bass, and it is the bass that Warwick
is best known for. The first Thumb bass was introduced in 1985.
The Thumb NT bass is crafted from selected Bubinga Pommele, Ovangkol, and Tigerstripe Ebony hard woods. These exotic woods, combined with Warwick's construction techniques, maximize the instrument's stability and maintain overall compactness.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
designed and manufactured by the Warwick
Warwick (bass guitar)
-Overview:Warwick basses were originally a premium brand offering a small range of models built from high quality and exotic tonewoods with 'Neck-through' design...
company. The Thumb has been Warwick's
Warwick (bass guitar)
-Overview:Warwick basses were originally a premium brand offering a small range of models built from high quality and exotic tonewoods with 'Neck-through' design...
most successful bass, and it is the bass that Warwick
Warwick (bass guitar)
-Overview:Warwick basses were originally a premium brand offering a small range of models built from high quality and exotic tonewoods with 'Neck-through' design...
is best known for. The first Thumb bass was introduced in 1985.
Overview
The Thumb bass is a favorite with many bass players, both for its technology and for its tone. Its elegant and innovative design, somewhat ergonomically adapted to the human body, has spawned a number of imitators. The Thumb's sound is characterized by its strong attack and well defined mid growl. The Thumb bass comes in three different pickup configurations, depending on whether the bass is a 4 string, 5 string or 6 string. The electronics give the player fast freedom to vary the timbre, but also has a big punch even on the lowest of bass notes, which remain dry and clear, combined with highs that don't become obtrusive. Effective on-board equalization permits infinite variations of timbre and the unusual arrangement of the pickups ensures that the sound is always clear and balanced. There are two basic Thumb bass models: the Thumb BO(Bolt-On) and the Thumb NT(Neck-Thru)Thumb BO/Thumb NT
Thumb BO's body of ovangkol has an arched top and a concave back. The three-piece ovangkol neck is securely fastened to the body. The gently arched wenge fingerboard with 24 frets offers a high degree of playing comfort.The Thumb NT bass is crafted from selected Bubinga Pommele, Ovangkol, and Tigerstripe Ebony hard woods. These exotic woods, combined with Warwick's construction techniques, maximize the instrument's stability and maintain overall compactness.
Notable players
- Jack BruceJack BruceJohn Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
has a signature Thumb NT model. He also uses a fretless Thumb NT. - Ryan MartinieRyan MartinieRyan Martinie is an American bassist, best known for being the bass player of heavy metal band Mudvayne. He is well known for his complex basslines and unique playing style...
owns at least 5 Warwick Thumb NT models (both 4 and 5 string). - Jeroen Paul ThesselingJeroen Paul ThesselingJeroen Paul Thesseling is a Dutch fretless bass player, most famous for his work in German death metal band Obscura and Dutch death metal band Pestilence.. He is currently active in Pestilence and his fusion-metal project Nufutic.-Biography:...
is a longtime user of fretless 6-string Thumb models. He also uses a fretless 7-string model. - Dick LövgrenDick LövgrenDick Lövgren is the bassist for the Swedish experimental metal band Meshuggah. He joined the band in 2004 as Meshuggah's third bass player.-Biography:...
owns a fretless 6-string Warwick Thumb. - Jon StockmanKarnivoolKarnivool are an Australian progressive rock band formed in Perth in 1997. The group currently consists of Ian Kenny on vocals, Drew Goddard and Mark Hosking on guitar, Jon Stockman on bass guitar, and Steve Judd on drums. Karnivool emerged from a band Kenny and Goddard formed during high school...
, bassist for Australian alternative rock band KarnivoolKarnivoolKarnivool are an Australian progressive rock band formed in Perth in 1997. The group currently consists of Ian Kenny on vocals, Drew Goddard and Mark Hosking on guitar, Jon Stockman on bass guitar, and Steve Judd on drums. Karnivool emerged from a band Kenny and Goddard formed during high school...
. - Chris Clemence, bassist for RapScallions.
- Prince (musician)Prince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, known for playing Warwick Thumb basses on recordings and on stage, notably the infamous "Eye" bass that was custom painted.