porschephile1 Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 I love the sound of my Warwick thumb bolt on 5, but when I play it, I can't avoid string clack, particularly from between the nut to the seventh fret or so. It's practically new (2013 hardly played). I'm using .045 to .130, so there not slinky strings, and I believe the truss rod adjustment is within factory parameters. When I set it up with lots of bow, the tone suffers and it plays like a truck. When I set it up to play nicely with med-low action, it clacks when I play fast or dig in. I have two Pedulla 5's that play better and d, don't have this problem, but I love the Warwick sound. Any suggestions? Any great guitar techs near Detroit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schmieder Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 I don't even know where to start. My Warwick Thumb was in the shop more than it was available to play. It cost me $3400 new and I finally wrote it off after a number of years. I did love certain aspects of the sound, but the unevenness across the neck drove me crazy. That was the through-neck version though. I also had a bolt-on Thumb (that might have been my fretless bass at the time; I can't remember). Others here can get more technical with their replies, but it sounds like it needs major work from a technician. Whether it's worth it or not depends on how much you paid, and where you live (we don't even know which country). Warwicks have poor resale value in much of the USA, but if you're in Europe, probably you can do pretty well. To be clear, your post sounds to me like a basic description of a Warwick bass. :-( I owned a fair number of Warwick's in my naive youth (1990's). Every last one of them was a constant problem. I don't even remember if I ever fully solved the "clack" problem, but I do remember changing my playing style in a rather extreme way to accommodate all of the issues. I try Warwicks that show up at the local stories now and then, to see if anything has changed. Every last one of them is clanky. I think it might be intentional, as a lot of players WANT that sound? Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35, D'angelico SS Bari, EXL1, Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, LP 57, Eastman T486, T64, Ibanez PM2, Hammond XK4, Moog Voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porschephile1 Posted June 6, 2015 Author Share Posted June 6, 2015 Thanks for the response. Disappointing though- I find the wood, the shape and tone of the bass very appealing, but after two corvettes and two or three thumbs, it might be time to give up... The Pedulla's just work far better, with none of the issues- just love that unique Warwick tone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 If the problem is between nut & 7th fret, this indicates a very slight backbow. Try releasing the truss rod by about 1/4 turn and seeing how that feels - you may feel you need to lower the saddles slightly. G. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul K Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 And make sure one of the pickups isn't a little too high. That makes some clacky noises, fer sure. My other thoughts on a long-distance diagnosis is the two octave neck. The five frets that are "inside" the body won't bend like the rest of the neck when you do a truss rod adjustment and could therefore create issues at setup. If you never go that high on the neck or if you don't mind higher action at that extreme end, maybe get a luthier luther leither luithier to file down those last frets a tad-- the 24th fret the most, the 19th fret just a little. If it doesn't fix the problem, no one will be the wiser when you sell it anyway;) Things are just the way they are, and they're only going to get worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 Asking the (maybe) obvious question: have you taken it to a professional for a proper set-up? "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul K Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 Asking the (maybe) obvious question: have you taken it to a professional for a proper set-up? Are you talking about a luthier, luther, leither, or a luithier? Things are just the way they are, and they're only going to get worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 Take it to Lex Luthier http://statici.behindthevoiceactors.com/behindthevoiceactors/_img/chars/char_5759.jpg Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumpelstiltskin. Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Any suggestions? Any great guitar techs near Detroit? i've heard motor city guitar in clarkston does really good work. depends upon where you are in the metro area. where you live (we don't even know which country). yes. you could be from windsor. or flint. or toledo. because i like people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schmieder Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Hey Rumple, not everyone has a passport. :-) Sorry; I have a LOT of visual problems (and they can't be operated on until they get worse), so when a posting is poorly formatted and very dense/blockish, I miss stuff. I didn't see the Detroit part when I first read it. Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35, D'angelico SS Bari, EXL1, Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, LP 57, Eastman T486, T64, Ibanez PM2, Hammond XK4, Moog Voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Force Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 Any suggestions? Any great guitar techs near Detroit? i've heard motor city guitar in clarkston does really good work. depends upon where you are in the metro area. Yes to Motor City Guitar in WATERFORD (M59). Their luthier Scott Kenerson Scott Kenerson website does excellent work.Highly recommended! Steve Force, Durham, North Carolina -------- My Professional Websites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danzilla Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 Forceman lives! Hey howdy hey, stranger! "Am I enough of a freak to be worth paying to see?"- Separated Out (Marillion) NEW band Old band Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b5pilot Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 I have that same model bass. To me it sounds like a slight overbow and it needs some neck relief. If you have done that then I would suggest raising the "adjust-a-nut" adjustable nut at the headstock a bit. Really a lot of the problem could be when you are digging in. Any bass is going to clack some especially if you dig in up at the neck. The strings get pulled more and tend to arc in bigger circles greatly adding the possibility for clack. Try positioning your hand closer to the bridge when digging in. I do my own setups so I don't really know anybody in the Detroit area although I've heard they used to have a luthier at Huber and Breese in Fraser that did good work. Lydian mode? The only mode I know has the words "pie ala" in front of it. http://www.myspace.com/theeldoradosband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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