Warwick Corvette $$ Double Buck 4-String

2006 corvette $$ 4 string fretted, ash body finished in nirvana black stain with 24 fret 34" ovankgol neck with wenge fingerboard. Dual MM MEC pickups, 2 band EQ, active/passive switch, coil tap switching (parallel, series and single coil) and 2 piece warwick bridge.
A mids control would be nice...

I play in a metal band, which this bass suits very well, it has a huge growly sound and does exactly what i want a bass to do, to back up the low end, and this bass has a HUGE low end! Put new strings on it, and the zing really brings out the natural growl of the wood, lovely! I also like to play funk occasionally which i bought a musicman bass for, but have found that i've not played that since i bought the warwick, because if you turn back the bass a bit, put it in humbucking mode and just use the bridge pickup, there's your stingray sound!

I find it fairly versatile too, the coil tap and passive switch let you get a fairly thumpy almost precision/jazz sound, depending how you use it. Not that i tend to go for that sort of thing anyway, i like my active basses with lorry loads of attack and growl, and this bass has it! However, a mid knob would make this beast even more versratile, that's the one thing i find myself wishing it had.

I haven't used this bass live yet as i only got it recently, but i have used it at band practice and the studio, and it performed really well, really backing up the low end, and the growl really coming through in the studio. Although i do find it lacking in high mids sometimes.

I bought this bass used, so i can't comment on the factory fit/finish. I really love the finish on it though, the nirvana black stain looks really nice, and i love how you can feel the grain through it. The bookmatching on the ash body is really good too, you can hardly tell it's two pieces of wood!

The action is just how i like it, not to high, not too low. I play in drop tunings a lot, so low action would mean a lot of rattle. The tuner positions look really cool, but they're not really ergonomic to use at all, like warwick claim. I'm not sure who they got to test that, people with double jointed wrists maybe? The neck feels lovely to me, i see some people commenting on the "warwick baseball bat neck", as people tend to do. It's not really something you can rate, neck profile is personal preference. Personally i love it, the jazz width is nice and fast and playable, and the thickness of it just makes it really comfortable so you can wrap your whole hand around it. The bare wood finish feels really good too, although the middle strip of wood has taken on some moisture and expanded slightly, meaning the edges sit slightly proud. It is noticable when playing, but it hasn't irritated me enough to do anything about it yet. It just needs a quick sanding.

I also love the two piece bridge, makes string changes really quick and easy, i think every bass manufacturer should develop something similar!

So far i've had the bass a few months and taken it to several band practices and carted it around outside many many times already, it's taken a few knocks, but it's fine, it feels really solid to me. The neck joint feels really solid and the hardware all feels to be really good quality. The switches do worry me slightly that they might snap if they took a good enough knock in the soft case, as they have moved before while i've been carrying it about. the soft case it came with is very solid though.

there are parts of the finish that are wearing a bit, like where i rest my thumb next to the pickup, and the finish has flaked a little in some places, a common thing with these basses it seems. Also, the goddamn jack socket. Barrel jacks do my head in. Yes they look nice, but EVERY bass i have ever owned with a barrel jack has had the jack fail on me at some point, and this is no exception. This one was actually dodgy when i got it. Yeah it's an easy fix, but it's just irrtating. A black metal plate with a regular jack would be fine, and it would last years, why not just do that? goddamn barrel jacks, i hate them, they are a pet peeve of mine. Other than that, nothing really to report, a very solid bass.

N/A

This is a very nice bass. I've been playing about 4 years now, and this is one of the best basses i've ever played. I own a musicman stingray, and this blows it out of the water in sound, versatility and comfort. The neck and body just feel so much better, particularly the small body shape. Yes, it has some small flaws, but they're minor prices to pay for a bass like this. Ever since i got it, i haven't actually used my musicman. I run it through an ashdown EB180 head with MAG 210 and 115 cabs, and it sounds great, i tend to run it almost flat with a tiny bit of bass and treble boost. I've owned a G&L tribby L-2000, a fender reggie hamilton jazz, a tobias toby pro 5, and they were all nice basses, with certain features i liked, but this bass seems to have all those features in one package. Fast neck, comfortable body, nice balance, good looks, big sound, versatility, it has it all.

If this bass was stolen, first i'd found out who stole it and beat them to a bloody pulp, then i'd get another! Great basses, i'd be gutted if it got stolen.

I paid hardly anything for it used too, people, now is the time to buy warwicks used, they're not too popular and with bass prices really low, now is the time to get one!

The only thing i wish this bass had is a mids knob (and maybe a hipshot detuner, but i can buy an aftermarket one.)

German made bolt on neck, 2 octave, brass frets, no fingerboard inlays, except on the players edge.. - Black satin finish - Alembic style 2 piece adjustable bridge ( height/width/length ), Schaller style machine heads by Warwick, positioned in a droopy doggy ear fashion.
2 humbuckers ( Bartolini upgrade, not MEC ) each with coil switching.
2 tone active EQ, with a passive bypass.
An 'adjust-a-nut' thingy - added schaller straplocks.

cool sounding bass.
Not as versatile as everyone makes out, but quite a few sounds that are all quite similar, although having said that, the sound is really good. Not unlike the Musicman Stingray, without a mid eq control ( sadly )
The passive sound bypasses the EQ - but handy, slightly smoother than the active sound. Tonal variations can only be made with the balance between the p'ups, and the coil switches; again, lots of variations, but again, all very similar.
You can spend hours tweaking and playing with the sound, but when you take the anorak off, you soon realise the differences are only obvious the the enthusiast!
It's not like switching to the bridge pickup on a Fender Jazz, where the difference from the combined configeration is really obvious.

got mine second hand, and the neck was like a bow for an arrow.
Nice responsive truss rod, which straightened the neck beautifully.
Natural wood finish on the back of the neck - nice.
The overall thickness of the neck, not great,not as nice as a Fender, or Musicman.
No inlays on the front of the neck - makes it look like they forgot to put them in - I miss them cos my eyes ain't that great.

The fingerboard at the body is crap! They left the corners square and sharp, instead of rounding them off like every other guitar ever made, consequently they occaisionally cut into the hand when slappin'!

The angled machine heads are supposed to be more ergonomic. They're not, they're a pain. I changed mine back to the conventional possition - much much better!

I like the small compact body on this - easy to transport, light and comfortable to wear.
The black satin finish, although well done, looks a bit cheap for such an expensive guitar. Not really practical either, as its seems really prone to scarring.
I have the Barolini upgraded pickups on my bass, they sound great, but I dont know if they're are better than the MEC standards.
Warwick want an extra ??100 or so for the upgrade.

Overall, this is a very well made bass, with quality componants, and plays very easy, with accurate intonation!

this is a reliable, and durable bass, dependable, and well made.

been in touch a few times with no response!!

been playing professionally for over 30 years.
Sessions: recording/tv/radio/ commercial
I play it all - rock/jazz/soul/funk/latin...blah blah blah.

I love this bass. I think its over priced at about ??900,but i got mine second hand for ??400, which is more like it.
I'd recommend it. It looks boring, a bit 'goth' really, as mine is black, but it it is German, and that is where the Goths originated, wasn't it??

I don't know if its an 'all rounder'. I'd say my old Fender Jazz bass is an all rounder, but this has a precise contemporary sound, which i think all good bassists should have in their arsenal.

This is a 2008, fretted model with natural oil finish, bolt-on neck, and active/passive electronics, arriving in the formidable "Rock Bag" with various tools, a comprehensive manual, and--quite handily--a container of beeswax for polishing.

I play pretty much everything ... and so does this bass. At home it goes through a Fender Bassman 250/210 combo, and when the public's guard is down, through an old GK head with Hartke 210 and Acoustic 15 cabinets. Variety is endless ... stinging highs, rumbling lows, and everything in between.

Factory set-up was excellent, with low, springy action. The local techs got a hold of it and set the action--gulp--even lower, just to see if they could. Pickups were lowered slightly ... just a turn of the screwdriver, for those slap-happy interludes. There were no flaws on this instrument, anywhere. The cliche about "solid German craftsmanship" rings true in this instance. Tight all the way through, and absolutely no noise except when I choose to make it.

This bass will take anything you can throw at it ... but make sure to keep it polished like they recommend, if you get it with the natural finish like I did. Strap buttons are solid, need for neck/truss rod adjustment rare. I'd use it without a backup based on reliability, but I like to drag other basses along anyway. Strangely, however, I never wind up using them now that I have the Double Buck ...

I dealt with the company in order to find out how to get a six-string version (available soon). Both German and American offices responded almost instantly. Superb customer service on the sales and info end ... I've yet to seek repairs.

I've been at this for over 30 years, searching for the bass that plays itself ... Fender P-Bass, Fender Jazz, Rickenbacker, Steinberger. This is the best. If it were lost or stolen, I'd replace it on the spot. I have a fretless version on order and once the 6-string version comes out in my area I'll snatch that one up as well. I've tried the Thumb, by the way, and this is lighter and better-balanced ... not to mention much less expensive, and I like the Corvette $$ better anyway. Two words: "Buy One."

2006 $$ made in Germany, fretted, black finish, the standard twin humbuckers which are selectable as series, humbucker or single coil, with active eq. Standard Stuff (came with excellent thick soft case).
Usual Swamp Ash body, & Ovangknol with wengee fretboard & bell brass frets. The neck is a dream to play, feels slim to me but I have big hands, whatever it is it works - lovely & quick & easy to play. The frets are supposed to be extra hard & resonant, they certanly seem resonant however after a year or so am seeing grooves from the E string in the 1st fret, time will tell on this.
THe nut is easliy adjustable (people complain about the new plastic nut compared with the old brass one - I have no complaints - all seems OK to me - & the E string fits much better than in my older 5 string corvette standard with old brass nut where the string seems too big for the nut groove).
The adjustable bridge is good & provides sideways adjustment as well as the usual height & intonation.
Warwick's proprietry straplocks - didn't find them as easy to use so changed for Shaller Strap Locks as that is what I use on guitars.
Comes with an excellent User Kit with truss rod adjuster, allen keys, manual, cleaning cloth, wax (not for mine as not needed with black stain finish), all in a decent folder to keep it together.
All in all it is a well featured bass

Until recently played it through an Ashdown Mag 300 combo (single 15" speaker) now changed to a Mark Bass SA450 head with 1X15" and 2X10" cabs, generally with no effects in the chain. Playing verious styles, rock & light rock, and in a concert band which has bass, guitar, drummer and usual brass & woodwind etc.

The $$ performs brilliantly for the varied styles these call for. The humbucker puckups are phenominally rich in series humbucking, still rich but tighter in paralles humbucking & softer in single coil mode. I presonally tend to run with the bridge in paralles (up) & neck in series (down) for rock numbers, the other way round gives a superb punch for more pop based rock, & single coil gives a lovely softer sound for more ballady numbers. AS you can tell I am totally sold on the versatility of this bass, have a corvette standard 5 string as well & it isn't a patch on the $$, the 5 is stuck in it's case at the moment. It is because of this (& the superb clear sound of the Mark Bass amp) that I am not using any effects at the moment, the amp & guitar can add any colour I need at the moment (the VLE/VLF controls on the amp are also superb at quickly adding a vintage or modern sound when needed), have a POD XT at home with Bass models added, but have stopped taking it out live as I just never used anything other than the tuner.

Otherwise the sound is probably what people would call typically Warwick & is the bass sound I am after - it is probably not everyones sound but I love it. Had a Precision years ago, & have tried a Jazz, but not tempted to change as I just love the sound of the $$.

Noise wise - The pickups are totally silent in humbucking mode, & as good as silent in single coil (some buzzing in single coil though the Pod with headphones at home, but through the amp live I've not noticed any unwanted noise)

Bought from new - factory set up wasn't bad but not brilliant, I have ended up tweaking it a lot over the year perhaps as I have got to know it, perhaps it has settled/worn in or perhaps it wasn't that well set up, who knows?. Also have had to adjust the string position (sideways) as out of the factory they weren't symetrical & string separation was all over the place.

How do you comment on the action - depends totally on how you play & how you set up the bass. I have it a wee bit higher than Warwick specify as I have quite a hard finger style for some styles, however it doesn't seem a high action & is really easy to play (& as I noted before the neck is just lovely to play).

Easy to adjust everything anyway.

Used most days, & at rehearsal or live once/twice a week.
Never had anything go wrong, seems solid as a rock. I take spare battery (life is very good though lasts couple of months or more) & strings, nothing else though.
Even though the finish is just a black stain, there are a few marks as it has picked up a few scratches (I never know how as I take great care of it, but they still appear occasionally). As mentioned one fret is showing a mark from the E string. Otherwise it is wearing very well, nothing rattling or falling off, change the strings regularly & it is like playing a new bass again each time.
Tuning does waver quite a bit due to temperature change (all strings together that is), however I would expect it as the band room is well cold in winter so the temperature change from home to rehearsal is pretty extreme, but once we've played for an hour it settles down nicely & hardly changes

Never needed to ask anything - never had any major problems.

The Warwick Website is very useful with tips on many things, and the manual is very comprehensive, so day to day maintenance is a doddle.

Warrenty is probably a year but can't remember.

Started playing 20 years ago (played an old USA Precision in a rock band), stopped for MANY years, started again in last couple of years playing guitar & bass, but mostly bass. Have a few guitars & one other bass (Corvette standard 5 string - modified with Bartolini humbucker in bridge & with active curcuit as well), tyhinking of getting a cheap fretless just to try it out (bidding on a warwick active on ebay now). The $$ is streets ahead of the other basses I've had or tried, the quality shows through, it is EASY & enjoyable to play, & has a real variety of superb sounds which work for me. I buy much of my gear on ebay, but bought this from new as it was so good I just wanted it.

If it were stolen I would not be a happy man, & if I couldn't get it back straight away I would be down the shop for a new one same day (wouldn't risk or wait for ebay).

This is probably the most versatile bass i've ever played,the 3 way coil tapping system is awsome,and combined with the other controls,it'll produce pretty much any sound ur looking for,and this thing is LOUD!! I used to have a corvette standard,with passive electronics,which i sold to get the $$,and it was worth it,the neck on the $$ is thinner,and a lot quicker to get around.Gotta give it to warwick,this bass came with all the usual stuff,truss rod tool,instructions,quick release strap pegs,in a solid nylon booklet which is a nice touch when ur spending this much on a bass. There are loads of features on this bass,if u know some one whos got 1,ask them for a go,u wont have enough time in the shop to get through them all!

At the minute im playing mostly original metal,through a Hartke rig,i like a clean crunchy sound with no fuzz,and this thing is perfect,rich thick sound,and cuts through perfectly. Most songs are in drop C,so had to adjust the nut a little to cure some fret buzz,but once sorted,sounded great. Versatile bass that will give u pretty much any sound you need.

Had this bass on order for a while,so when it came,the guys in the shop had a look over it and were considerin gettin one themselves! The finish on the hardware is 1st rate,as is the body,the factory set up was spot on,and gave a lovely tone and playability straight form the bag,i only had to adjust the nut a little because i use it in drop C,but for standard tuning,it was perfect. Pick ups could be a little bit further apart to allow for easier playing of finger style techniques.

I've only had the double $$ for 2 weeks,so cant give a deffinate view,but it feels very solid,everything is tight,and fits very well,the finish is what u'd expect from warwick. I gigged with my old corvette without a back up,and would have no problem doing the same with this,u can feel the quality as soon as u pick the thing up,the germans do have a talent for making things solid and reliable.

I cant rate this,i've never had a problem.

I've benn playing for about 7 years,playing different styles,using various different basses,always trying to get one better,and i dont think i need to go any further,this bass is awsome. It gives me the sound im looking for now,but gives me the sound i need for pretty much every other style of music. There is only one slight problem i have with this bass,and that is that the pick ups are just a little bit too close together,if they were an extra quarter inch apart,it would be perfect.