Warwick Tubepath 5.1 Head

This is a Tube amp, and was made in Germany in 2005 (and so is not in the actual Warwick User Manual you get with the amp).

I play anything from fusion bass, to funk, reggae and metal. This amp MORE than accommodates for my various playing styles and techniques. I use a very unique style of slapping, and this amp brings out the tone I want perfectly.

It is a very basic amp in the sense that you plug it in, modify the sound to your liking, and output it. There is a speakon port at the back of the amp, among other line out ports and the essential ground lift button. (This is useful for when you are using a stack and don't want noise from the speaker cables interfering with your sound.

This amp corrects any mistakes the Quad IV and VI had, making it much more reliable. This is the newest Warwick amp on the market.

My TubePath powers a Warwick NeoPro 115 (1x15) and a Warwick NeoPro 411 (4x10). This is the perfect setup for me as the speaker configuration emphasizes all aspects of the tone.

I know that by being a musician, I should buy on what SOUND suits my needs (alone), but this amp not only does that, but looks AMAZING as well. The blue Warwick "W" on the front panel lights up when the amp is turned on, and the blue LED's perfectly match the blue fleck in the carpet finish on my cabs. Being a perfectionist, the amp is designed more or less symmetrically too, (BIG bonus for all of us obsessive compulsives!)

My only reservation with this amp is that it does not come with speaker cables. This means that if the shop you are buying it from does not have any in stock, you won't be able to run anything other than headphones through it until you can hook up your speaker cables. I guess however, that I'm rating the amp on its ability to be versatile and not by the additional components it comes with. It is for that reason I have no choice but to give it a 10.

I play a Warwick Double Buck ($$) 5-String. The pickups are passive humbuckers placed in the center of the bass body. They pick up all of the tone that normal jazz pickups (seen on practically all other Warwick basses) entirely miss out. As the pickups are humbuckers, you get a real punchy and slappy sound. This bass is perfect for using with this amp.

I purchased this bass along with the amp and cabs, but before I was using a 5-String Warwick RockBass (which caused me no end of trouble with my previous amp arrangement). The previous combo I used (Yorkville XM100, 1x15) couldn't actually handle the 5th string when the bass EQ was turned up on the actually bass guitar. The amp would start clipping and distorting.

I have found that the TubePath can give enough low end, without even using the bass EQ knob on the bass guitar. All you have to do is crank up the bass on the amp, and then flick the bass boost button. The amp won't clip, and the sound will remain punchy and crisp.

As this amp is new to me, I have only tested it in my house, so I don't know what it sounds like in the field as it were. (Although it would be very interesting to hear what this amp sounds like in a large field!)

With Warwick amps, the gain knob controls the amount of clipping and distortion. The master volume is literally JUST a volume knob. So as long as the gain knob isn't causing too much clipping, the sound will be clean at a high volume.

As you would expect from any tube amp, the sound is VERY warm. This sound can be altered using the improved 'Quadramatrix' style Contour knob (as seen in the previous amp models like Quad IV and VI). This knob can be further manipulated by using the Rough/Smooth button, the true Warwick 'growl' can be achieved by setting the button to Rough, and a warm, smooth sound can be achieved by setting the button to Smooth. The EQ then gives you the opportunity to alter the fundamental sounds of the bass output. This includes one low, two mid, and one high frequency EQ knob. The low mid, gives the bass a further growl, while the higher mid gives the bass a rounder shape, and boosts the level of attack from the bass.

I've had this amp for a very short period of time, and so can't really answer this one as of yet. But as with all Warwick gear, they're built to last, and I really don't think this amp is an exception.

I spoke to the main UK Warwick guy who was very helpful indeed. I had some queries about what amp and cab configuration I should use, told him my budget, and what I needed from a stack... He then told me that this amp would be ideal for my styles of play, and helped me decide what cab configuration to go for.

Loving it. If it were stolen, I would definitely buy another one. I've never had such amazing tonal manipulation from any amp before, so this amp is definitely a keeper.

The warwick Tubepath 5.1 head is a 500watt head unit with many features, yet maintaining that ease of use. It has gain control and master volume with a 4 band eq.
Has a Hi boost button and low boost button. Also, has a mute switch and a headphone socket. Also, has a switch from rough to smooth controlled by the contour knob.
Round the back, youve got an effects send and return and a direct out. Best thing bout it is the valves!!
P.S. lovely blue neons on the buttons and the warwick symbol. Looks mint on stage

I use a musicman bongo 5 and i ran the head unit thru a 410 pro warwick cab and 115pro cab.
Once you let those warm up and get that glow, The warmth is so evident with my musicman. When playing my bongo, the characteristics can easily be picked up of the musicman. I like to put turn the rough/smooth switch to rough. U just get what u playing through ur bass and thats it. Which is great for me.
However, when im playing my aria stb series bass i flick the switch to smooth and u get this gorgeous sound!! it emphasis everything your doin wit ur pickups. its difficult to explain. Buy one and find out!
The hi boost and low boost are just unbelievable. One of the best features for me has to be the mute button. Flick it on, and u can unplug ur bass with ease and without the horrible bang and crackle.

Had it for few weeks, so i cant really say. Its a warwick, so its gonna last for years.

I would recommend this to anyone. Its versatility and its ability to adapt to any bass is awesome.
10/10

the amp was made in 2005.

the features are a 4 band eq (bass/treble can be boosted, the two mid-frequencies can be shifted), a parallel fx-loop, a switchable pre-shape (contour) filter, a additional tube-poweramp-simulation, a tuner out, d.i. out, line out, a speakon-compatible and a 1/4" speaker out, a mute knob on the front, and a headphone out.

this comes with 500 watt of juice and two tubes in the pre-amp section.

i use this head with a custom-made 6x10"/6" cab with b&c speakers.

this head is versatile and powerful enough for the stuff i'm playing (2 bands, rock & melodic-prog-metal)!

the features make all sense, no gimmicks!

therefore comes the 10

the way of my bassound->

fingers->
esp ltd f-255->
cable->
fender racktuner->
warwick tubepath->
cab

i mostly play with my fingers (normal style + some slap/pop) and this head is able to be very loud. with the master volume almost half cranked up, it hurts....(-:

i like the tube sound of the warwick, the grindy grind and the subsonic basses (very cool at higher levels, it pushes under everything else in the rehearsal room).

with the contour filter and its 2 presets (rough/smooth) you can get a clean sound, a growly sound and a reggea sound, very versatile and awesome!

the additional 2nd stage (the tube-poweramp-"simulation") you can push the signal a little bit more, it gains more "dirt", fine for solos or just a crunchy part.

fine fine fine!

i don't have it that long so i canot really rate this, but it looks like a tank!

got 2 questions asked through mail and get an answer almost the same hour!

fantastic!

awesome sound, great power, versatile enough to fit my both bands!

you've gotta love it!