Warwick Corvette Standard 4-String

below,you find a submission from me[david].this is on my warwick standard bass-active and passive electronics.i must take back everything i said about this bass.there was a preamp problem with it.ron bush at dana b goods sent me a new wiring harness and new preamp[free].the preamp is the updated version[free].how many companies would do that today-none////now i can say that my warwick kicks some major ass...warwick and danabgoods is one fantastic co.as i said below---built like a tank and now it has the sound to go along with it.great company.

playing thru a s.w.r. basic black,and a bfx-708 unit.noise[very quiet].now i can get the growl warwicks are known for or a very warm to bright sounds.stage or studio,i don't think it matters with this bass.the only fault i found was with the sound,with the new preamp-it's been taken care of.

i had the bass set-up when the work was done on the preamp.adjusted the pickups to fit my style,as you would with any bass.as i said,this bass is built to last.

this bass will outlast me.hardware is built to withstand normal use and massive misuse.strap buttons are solid-i'm going to put straplocks on it anyway.i would use this bass without a backup.

if you read the above,you already know about danabgoods and warwick support.it doesn't get any better.i had already heard how good the support was prior to getting the warwick,now i know just how good it really is[it's great].

playing for three years-s.w.r. basic black and a goliath jr.2x10 cabinet.zoom fx...if stolen,i would buy another one-a new one.buying used you just never know what your getting.now,i can't think of anything i dislike about this bass.my favorite feature is the soild feel and the neck[thin at the top-thick at the bottom].the body style,i love the body style.thats what made me want one.one more thing---i wouldn't trade it for a new one-we've bonded///////////

corvette standard 4----this warwick is 1 month old-2001 model .active p/ups-4 string-controls are volume push-pull-p/up selector-stacked tone controls..body is bubinga-neck is ovangklo-wenge fingerboard.oil finish.neck is 24 fret bolt on.the bass came with warwick soft case and tools to set bass up.

after playing this bass at home-i've made my mind up that this bass sucks.i play through a s.w.r. basic black and a s.w.r. goliath jr.i dislike it very much and can't wait to get rid of it.the warwick growl must have been left at the factory,i can't find it.the bass isn't noisy[p/ups...but it is making a sound that continues after i've stopped playing--like it resonates more than is normal.

purchased used.i've tryed to adjust it in hopes of making it sound better.i've moved the p/ups away from the strings--installed new strings--the bass is built like a tank.i love the body style.frets are great-the wood looks and feels great.everything about this bass is great[except the sound].the neck fits my hands perfect.i'm going to put it in the shop in hopes they can tell me if there is a problem that can be fixed-or if its the nature of this bass.

i think that this bass is built to last as long as you want it to.as i said[its built like a tank].i would use this bass with out a backup--the hardware is also made to last and is solid-the finish looks good and is durable-strap buttons are solid-the neck is fantastic-i'm goint to try to work on the sound.

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playing about 3 years.i wish i had never bought it.--if it were stolen i would find out who the person was and thank them.i like the way its built and the body style.i hate the way it sounds.i have a rickenbacker 4003-its like my rick. is a dodge viper and the warwick is a yugo.maybe a set of bartolins would help.people keep talking about the warwick growl-what the hell are you listenig to,are you smoking a little something while your playing?any trades???

My bass was made in 1997 and is the active electronics equipped version of the Corvette std. Its got the usual 24 brass alloy frets, Warwick nut(the older brass type) and 2 piece bridge/tailpiece. Its got a 3pc bubinga body-extremmely pretty slices of wood at that. The wenge neck is extremely stable and solid-not to mention tiny at the nut and a nice wide and flat fingerboard.
The pickups are MEC gold jazz pickups attached to the MEC 2 band preamp. The hardware is really solid, the tuners never slip much at all and the ergonomic angle is quite pleasing aesthetically. I got the standard Warwick hardshell with it, its tough but has gotten a little tight to close over the years.

I've been playing for about 7 years and was brought up in Fender camp. First a P-bass then a Japanese "Foto Flame" Jazz-the Warwick was my first pro-quality instrument. I found the pickups and electronics to be very versatile. The middle control takes the sounds from neck pickup sonic roundness( like a good Jazz with the neck pickup soloed), crunchy yet round and fat with both pickups full on, and a very good Jaco stutter with the bridge pickup soloed. My musical influences range from Phil Lesh to George Porter and i feel this bass handles alot of different situations. I always get comments on how powerful the pickups are in active mode. The active treble gets a little hissy when boosted but Warwicks are such bright sounding basses you prob won't need that much treble. I play through an Eden solid-state 4x10 combo and this bass fits that amp really well. I can get a great fat, fundamental, kind of dark tone with some low boost, low mid cut and high mid boost. Definitely a good sounding bass with lots of Fender tones. I have not recorded with it but have not had any problems EVER with it live.

Ive had my bass for some years now and the neck is still rock solid and stable. The factory setup is always pretty good on Warwicks too.
The pickups sit on springs rather than foam so you never run into smooshy pickups like on Fenders.
The finish is the beeswax/oil? combo that really lets the natural woody sound come through. Bubinga is really dense and tough, but I've got the usual minor dings and scratches on the body that come from playing and gigging.
The Warwick nut is awesome-Ive gone from Light gauge Flats to Heavy roundwounds and just adjust the bridge, nut , tweak the neck and Im good to go. The nut on my bass has actually come loose and i've since crazy-glued it back. Watch the bridge saddles when you change strings-you don't want to lose those.

This is a really versatile, pleasantly organic looking, and durable bass. They are definitely made to withstand years of playing. The bell brass frets last forever too. All the components are solid and well built-like German car type quality.
I'll mention the few slight things that have gone wrong-the loose nut, the patented Warwick control cavity door has a loose hinge( which i taped with electrical tape)the stacked treble/bass control has become a little loose, and the finish needs to be kept up on.

Haven't dealt with Warwick-Im sure theyre all nice people though.

This bass has definitely left a lasting impression-Ive always loved the Warwick look, body woods and sound. After playing Fenders, this bass seems like a good upgrade, yet it can still cop a wide range of modern and traditional tones that come with traditional basses.
If i lost it I'd probably cry like a schoolgirl and have to go get another-maybe a 5-string. I love the flowing body (quasi-teardrop), the depth and color of the bubinga, the effortless never-sticky wenge neck, the versatile pickups. If i had one everlasting complaint about this bass and other Warwicks is the weight-Ive definitely felt sore in the shoulder after jamming for a couple hours straight.Thats the price you pay for a body made of solid, beautiful African hardwood though, I guess.
P.S.-
I feel the Corvette stds made now are of lesser qualitiy-i dont think the woods are as nice. They use ovangkol instead of wenge for the neck now and the tonal qualities and strengths of the woods are different. They also changed the nut-i like snappy brass nuts instead of composite plastic ones.

Made in 1998, in Germany. 24 frets, fretted, Bubinga body, 4 string.
Passive electronics, JJ type, MEC.
Natural finish, brown colour (bubinga)
Not too many features, since this is a passive bass, but its simplicity makes its charm. This is a really beautiful bass, the chrome hardware really compliments the brown colours body. The neck without marks (except on the side) adds to the classy touch.The body is a made of three pieces. You feel with your finger where the pieces have been assembled. Another critic is regarding the strap buttons. They seem big enough, but the long upper horn make that the strap just doesn't keep in place, and I had to change them against security strap buttons from Schaller. For this I give it a 8

This bass is incredibly loud unamplified. From all my basses, this is the best sounding when unplugged.
I play through a Hartke 3500 with SWR Workingsman 2 x 10" and SWR Bassic 2-Way 15". I mostly play rock and blues. For rock, this bass is perfect. It has a punchy sound that cut across anything. It has a real presence, and it is difficult to be in the backgroud really. For blues, I would not recommend this bass though. Too much presence in my ears. For blues I use my P-Bass, where the mids can be much more controlled. But else, slapping and funkin' and everything, this bass rules. And you do not even have to cope with lots of buttons, since the bass is passive : Volume, Pan, and Tone, that is it.

I bought it 2nd hand. I adjusted it to my tastes. Very easy. The bridge is very effective, and does the job. Only when restringing I hate this bass, because when no tension, the strings are not maintained, so if you do not watch out, you wind the peghead, but the string is not attached to the bridge any more. But this is not a big issue. Else, this bass does not require any special adjustments, the tuners are really accurate. Very fine workmanship really. I love it.

This bass is very durable, no doubt. Not a scratch on it, though it is now 3 years old. I do not understand the previous review stating soft wood. The bubinga body of mine is hard and really does the job. I would use it without a backup, no doubt about it.

I had to deal with Warwick for having informations about the maintenance. They proved helpful and nice. Really top notch guys there in Germany

I have played it now for some time, but as I own a lot of basses, I play it less regularly now, since I play mostly in a blues band now. Though I am always touched by its sheer beauty when I look at it, and regularly have to grab it for a few runs and slaps. I love it really for its easthetics and natural feel. Warwick's motto is "The sound of wood" and this bass is perfectly in line with it.

Check out review below.

Check out review below.

I have had this bass for almost two months now and you can check out my previous review of this bass below. I feel somewhat obligated to give some categories an extra review due to the fact that I had just reviewed the bass the same day (or maybe the day after) I bought it. Here we go...

The ash-body is pretty soft, so if you have a tendency to abuse your axe on stage then expect some serious marks after the set! I feel that I have to polish it everyday, but the wood remains soft and almost unprotected... I even have beltmarks on the back of the bass. Therefore I give this category a 7 due to the soft wood.

As said above, the wood is soft, so be gentle or else you'll probably dig a hole in the bass! Especially, slappers should consider laquering the bass, because your nails would tear the body apart... eventually! So far I have had no problems, but I have changed my playing style from playing hard with a pick to playing soft with my fingers.
For bassplayers who stands still and focuses 100% on their lines this is not a problem, but for those who like to give a bit more stage-performing: beware! Tap your finger once on the body and it is marked forever!!!

Check out review below.

If I knew about the softness of the wood, I would think a bit extra before buying the bass! Don't get me wrong, I don't regret buying the bass, but it is a hassle to keep up the maintenance and being aware of the "fragile" wood could limit your usage on stage. Maybe I should've bought the Corvette Std with the bubinga body? Or is that one as fragile as well? If anyone has the answer to this or any comments, please feel free to e-mail me.

If you want to know about the features on this bass, you could see the other reviews or log on to www.warwickbass.com. Furthermore, this is the passive 4-string version with the ash body and two jazz pick-ups: everything I need.

The bass came with a deluxe gig-bag (really thick and waterproof), hex keys, thrussrod tools, 6 meter cable and, of course, a box of Warwick bees-wax... all of this with no extra charge!

I play a form of dynamic and progressive hard-rock, kinda like Tool, and this bass suits me fine! Warm low-end, punchy mids and cutting treble, everything depending on how you play (finger-style, pick or thumb/slap).

For now, I play through a Peavey 600watt power-amp, an Ampeg SVP-PRO pre-amp and a Carvin 2x15" cabinet... Fantastic!
The bass dishes out a natural tone, but if you want a more versatile sound you should check out the active versions.

The action was fairly low, which I don't like, but it was easy to fix to my own comfort with Warwick's "just-a-nut" and the pick-ups were set at an acceptable height.

The bass itself, however, contained several "stains" which I think can be explain by the fact that the people at the music-store didn't polish the bass regurarly. The first thing I did when I came home was polish the bass and that seemed to work! The body received a beautiful shine and a certain "flawlessness".

Other than that, there's nothing more to add, but the music-store should've polished the bass more often. That's why I don't give this category a full pot!

I've just purchased this bass, but I know that it would withstand live playing! It doesn't need any batteries and the strap buttons are so solid that you'd think it was moulded from the wood (if it wasn't chrome-coloured, of course...). I also have a ESP/ltd b-105 bass, but I don't think I would need it on a concert, but I'll probably have it near by in case I pop a string.

Never dealt with them.

I tried out other Warwick basses (Thumb bolt-on, FNA Jazzman and Streamer LX) before buying this one and I chose the Warwick Corvette Standard for three reasons:
1) Pretty cheap... for a Warwick.
2) Phenomenal and versatile sound.
3) It's a Warwick, so you know you'll get the finest quality.

Perfect tone for my music-style, rock-solid and affordable. However, due to the passive pick-ups it isn't so versatile and therefore not a bass for everyone.

2001 Warwick What is there to say, although I have purchased this bass recently I have already played a good hundred hours on it. It came with a good factory setup and was ready to play when I took it home. I lowered the action slightly which is easy with Warwicks just a nut system. It came with a gig bag, tool, surface finisher, extra set of strings, and manual. Unfortunately, I had to complain to get the accessories that come standard with any warwick bass.

I play mostly jazz and funk so the two j-style pickups fit in perfectly. I plug into a Peavey Combo 115 and am able to get a harsh slap to a warm thumb-pluck. This bass has an amazing ability to pick up only beautiful , crisp notes while I am slapping which is the complete oppostie of my old Yamaha RBX 760. It has that famous Warwick "Growl" and even though it is passive can get a large variety of sounds without using an effect pedal or two. Amazing!

Great Factory setup. Made of Bubinga and looks beautiful. One downside of this bass is that you need to wax it weekly which I have done religiously. Amazing action.

Although I have only had this bass for a short time, but like with all Warwick equipment it is built to last. I need to wax it weekly and the wood is soft so if you are going to slap cut your thumb-nail real short. Anyway I would play it on a gig without backup even though I carry my cheap Yamaha in case I pop a string.

Had this bass for two months never had any problems.

I have been plaing for six years and own a Yamaha RBX 260, Raven 5-string, and my new Warwick Corvette Standard. Although I wish it had active electronicccs I also didnt have the extra $400 to spend. I have played many basses and this one beats all that I have tried for under $1200, and all non-Warwicks for under $1500, I have found this bass compares to a Musicman Stingray4 and costs substantially less. Great bass!

This has a relatively simple setup but I give it a 10, since it's really all you need for this particular setup. It has one master volume, one fader pot for the two jazz type pickups, with a ?notch? at the 50/50 point, and a master tone. Nothing fancy, but plenty of versatility to go easily from finger style to slapping with only a minor tweak of the tone pot. It also has 24 jumbo size frets which I've grown to like a lot. Also, the adjustable bridge and nut lets dial in the "perfect" setup.

This is where this bass shines. I tried 3 or 4 other Warwicks before choosing the Corvette Standard. I was first interested in the FNA Jazzman. But the active pickups seemed a bit ?colored? by the onboard preamp. I tried the regular FNA, and the corvette proline and both of them seemed to lack that certain sparkle that the Standard has. I play in a blues band, where a classic jazz bass tone is a must, but I also play in a funk group where I need a good R&B growl as well as a good round tone for slapping. It?s easy to get all of these tones from this bass. I think this bass could do just about any style, but it?d kill me to see anybody using a pick with this bass!!! I play through a SWR Bass 350 head and a SWR Triad cab. I also add a 2x10 SWR for larger shows. I don?t think there?s a better sound in the world for just about any kind of music than this setup.

I guess the CNC equipment has removed the possibility of any sort of flaws. The neck pocket is snug, the routings are all super clean. It?s almost annoying how perfect this thing is built. The only variations in these basses are in the wood grain, which by the way, I don?t actually like so much. The body is bobinga (sp?), which is a fine tone wood, but the grain look reminds me of the coffee table my parents had in the 70?s. I?m considering stripping the wax and oil, and staining the body with a translucent black or blue finish. I don?t know if anybody else has done this, but I know the early versions of the Standard came in several different finish options. But other than my personal dislike for harsh wood grain, this is one of the best built instruments I?ve ever owned.

No battery to worry about, solid wood. It?s built like a tank and will probably be my main bass for many years to come.

I didn?t get my little tin of wax when I bought it (stupid GC), and I emailed Warwick about it. They got back to me in less than 2 days with advice. ?Go back and get what you?re supposed get!? Also, online info is helpful since I do my own setups.

I play a Stingray5, and this Warwick 4 string. I kinda go back and forth between the two, depending on the situation. But for funk stuff, the tone of the Standard Corvette is THE sound.

Not sure of the year it was made. 24 fret, 4 string, bubinga body, 2 style passive pickups with a volume, pickup balance and tone control. Natural finish which is part of the joy of owning this instument. It must be waxed about 1 a month or the wood will dry out and crack. Chrome hardware and some of the best engineered bridge/nut assemblies made. The nut height is adjustable (really cool) and the bridge allows all of the standard adjustments as well as the ability to adjust the string spacing. Well made and engineered. The neck is very round. It is a serious piece of wood. The neck does not have a finish either so you have to get used to feeling the grain of the wood in your hand. I know they make an active version of the bass now, but I wish this one was active with more tonal options.

This is one the best sounding basses I have ever played. I have been playing for 23 years and have had everything from rics to musicman stingrays, ibanez', yamahas etc... Sceptical at first becuase I thought it might be a tad too warm to cut through a band, it blew me away. The bass has a very rich full tone yet it is still able to cut through a band and sound full. Wow! The first rehearsal the band could not stop commenting on how awesome this bass sounded. A lot of punch for a non-active set of pickups. The bass does have a small yet noticable hum when your not touching the strings or bridge, but it is not worth knocking the bass down over this. I play more of a pop jazz in my home studio ie. Rippingtons, Special EFX etc., and I play pop/praise music with the band. The bass stands out in both categories. An excellent slap bass for jazz. I know will only use my Yamaha 6 string when I need to.

I bought the bass used, so it is hard to give a comment on the manufacturers setup, but given the workmanship on the rest of the bass I can't imagine them doing a poor job in this category.

I have a feeling that this bass is going to outlast me. I hope to hand it down to my son some day in the future. Very well built with attention to detail. I would most certainly play this bass without a backup even if I was in a band that trashed their instuments

This is by far the best customer support I have ever dealt with. When I bought the bass (over the internet) the previous user failed to tell me that one of the tuning machines was missing the bushings that hold the tuning key away from the tuning machine. I tried various guitar store to no avail. I sent an email to Warwick USA on Wednesday afternoon regarding this problem. Later that day! I got a resonse saying "no problem, what your address well send you the parts for free". Needless to say I was blown away! I expected they would tell me who the closest dealer was and to go order them from that store. Thank You Warwick!!!

I have been playing for 23 years. I own a Yamaha John Myung model 6 string, hartke kickback 12 (great small amp) and an entire home studio worth of equipment. If this bass were stolen I would replace it that day! I think this is one of the best basses in this price category. That being said, I don't know if it is for everybody. Play before you pay. The neck is very round so it takes a bit to get used to, but once you do I don't think you will ever go back. At first I thought the bass was going to be a tad heavy and the neck would cause fatigue because it is so round, but both of these thoughts proved to be untrue. At first real playing I found the bass very easy to carry all night long and even easier to play. No fatigue at all. This really is a great sounding bass for the money, and I don't think you can truly appreciate how good it sounds until you play it with you entire band. It really shines when it is played in context.

Neck Type: 3-piece bolt-on Wenge neck
Fingerboard: Wenge fingerboard, bronze alloy frets
Body Type: American swamp ash, two-piece
Finish: Natural oil finish
Pickup(s): Twin J-type passive pickups
Controls: Volume, pickup balance, tone (treble cut)
Gig bag and tool set included

I'm very impressed with this bass, for all sorts of reasons! But the real important side of any bass is the sound, and this bass doesn't disappoint. The tone is rich and mellow, and when the action is set properly the harmonics really sing all the way up the neck. This
Corvette Standard is the all-passive model - I've also used the active Warwick Corvette Pro-Line for a couple of years and that has quite a good range of tones, but somehow the passive version seems to have a very pure, natural tone to it (and it's a lot cheaper too!). But if you want that active sound, this isn't it - you'd have to go for the active version or choose another bass.

This is a beautiful bass to own and play. It's the ideal instrument for the typically English bassist - tasteful, refined, subtly understated looks but with a real depth of quality about it :-)
It's made in Germany and you can feel that unmistakable German engineering quality as soon as you pick it up. The shape looks a bit strange, with a long straight top horn, but that's the clever thing about the design - when you strap it on it just falls naturally into place and makes playing really comfortable. There's a slight difference in colour between two of the laminates in the neck, but this is just cosmetic and doesn't show much. It's sometimes easy not to properly engage the strap buttons (which fit on the strap) into the straplocks, which could be disastrous, so I'd mark it down a point for this.

There are some nice features on this bass. The angled tuners on all Warwicks are quite handy if you've got short arms like me, and the bridge is fully adjustable and very well made. The nut is also adjustable so you don't need to fiddle with the bridge just because you've changed your string gauge. The straplocks are very neat and are recessed into the body, giving a smooth profile to the instrument. The body needs waxing once a month, and that's the only drawback here, but it's worth it to keep the finish looking good. (If you're buying a used one, it pays to check whether it's been waxed regularly, otherwise there's a risk of the wood drying out and cracks appearing). It comes supplied with a gig bag, but for an instrument of this quality it pays to keep it in a hard case - fortunately it fits quite well inside a standard Hiscox case. I'd use it without a backup at a gig, it's just so well made it's unlikely to break down (unless you drop it), and there's no battery or pre-amp to fail either.

I e-mailed Warwick with a query, and within an hour had a reply from Hans Wilfer (the CEO) himself, and the UK importer. Both replies were really thorough, Mr Wilfer even taking the trouble to reply in English! I haven't needed to use them for anything else as I haven't had any problems with this bass.

I've been playing for 17 years. I use this bass mostly in a jazz trio, and whether it's at an exclusive lounge gig or a 2000-seat auditorium the sound is always just right with minimal EQ on the monitor and at the desk. I also use a pair of Hohner B2A Steinberger-copy basses for portability and flexibility, but for a 'proper' bass this is a major-league instrument. For me, of all the basses I've played, this is my personal favourite.