Warwick Thumb Basses
Warwick Thumb Basses
Warwick’s Thumb bass is a cornerstone of the brand’s catalogue. Used by John Stockman (Karnivool), Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne) and Dave Hollingworth (Dorje, Toska), there’s a reason why this particular model is so popular with progressive rock and metal players specifically, and that’s because of its powerful, focused tones and exceptional playability.
Warwick is known to experiment with its wood choices, but the majority of German-built (GPS) Thumb models have Ovangkol bodies and necks. Ovangkol is regarded for projecting a very deep sound; serving as a great tonal foundation for the typically bright-sounding MEC pickups.
Speaking of the pickups, Thumb basses feature two active single-coils; placed near the bridge to harness some extra treble and bite. This also allows for more freedom when using slapping techniques, which may be why they’re called “Thumb” basses! The sound of their pickups can be controlled via an onboard 2-band EQ, letting players tame any excessive highs or lows.