Warwick Streamer LX 5

I ordered this bass (spring 99) through Long and McQuade in Vancouver BC. They allowed me to custom order the bass with no obligation to purchase it - and I could rent it for a couple of months first! I love that shop =) Anyways, I ordered the 5-string with a nirvana black oil finish, gold hardware, schaller tuners, three way active electronics, standard MEC pickups, original adjust-a-nut and the 18 volt system. It's a bolt on neck made of wenge. It took two months (from germany) and it included the gig bag. It did not have the original adjust-a-nut but the newer one (which I don't like). It looked great however. - the black and gold really shine together. The bass has a two piece maple body, mine does not look as nice as the pictures you see in the mags... there is a small knot in the wood grain. I don't care too much about however.

It took me a long time to get used to this bass. After the first month's rental I had almost decided to give it back. I found my sound weak as compared to my last bass, an Ibanez 805. The first answer to my problems was solved after doing a gig outdoors on a ski hill. My bass totally crapped out onstage. Turns out the batteries were dead almost from the day I got it. After I replaced the batteries my tone improved. I still had a problem with the way the bass felt. I found the string tension required me to pluck much harder than my last bass. After taking a measuring tape and laying it side by side with other basses I realized that the Warwick (because of the two piece bridge) has a bridge assembly much farther along the body so my natural fingering positions were closer to the bridge, thus increased tension. Doh!. Now that I am used to the increased tension required all other basses feel flabby. I love the tight sound I can get from it. The B string is a bit "wooly" sounding but that may more my fault than the bass. I run it 90% of the time with the active electronics off. Though I wouldn't classify the electronics as muddy I would comment that the passive mode sounds really clear and is definitely better for slap stlye. It's got a great mid-range tone that cuts through the band no matter how loaded and out of control they get. People constantly comment on how clear my sound is at gigs.

The bass was setup very well from the factory. No complaints there at all. My biggest complaint about the bass is the finish. It looks great... until you bump it. The soft maple body dents really easy. Plus the nice nirvana black finish dents white at the spot. And even covering your belt buckle with a couple of shirts does not prevent lines on the back of the bass. I am very careful with my instrument and still all of a sudden I notice a new ding. Drives me crazy. My recommendation, get either a non-oil finish (easier to resand and wax) or get the $400 CDN Poly finish. Or better yet, blow the $3000 CDN and get the Streamer Stage II with Azelia body, it's hard as a rock. All the rental maple Warwicks at Long and Mcquades have this same problem. My bass also has a split in the finish that I noticed a while back. It's a 2 inch thin line between the volume / mid controls.

Except for the finish (as mentioned above) I think this bass will last a long time. If it gets any more beat up I will have to decide what to do about the body flaws. The strap-loks are awesome, fellow musicians drool in envy. The hardware is all really nice, that super adjustable warwick bridge is daunting to look at but of excellent quality. I have gigged probably 15 times with it and the batteries died on the 2nd to last song one night - resulting in a very distorted trippy sound that the band loved. I replace the batteries every couple of months now.

Long and McQuade assures me that Warwick is good to deal with. I will be bringing my bass in for them to check out the split in the finish... then I will now how true this is.

I have been playing off and on since I was 14. I didn't really start playing until I was 25 (7 short years ago). I do small clubs/gig bars playing mostly unknown cover songs and unrehearsed dance music. I run my Warwick through a Yorkville 400b with a 15 and 4x10 and use a Zoom 506 and Bass Balls effects. I have had a fender copy, Les Paul, and a Ibanez 805. Even with my finish problems I am now a Warwick fan. I love the neck... it just feels natural now. Friends of mine with small hands find them uncomfortable however. If I had the choice now I would haved dropped the extra $1000 and bought the Streamer II, no question about it. I will probably look for a used Steamer II instead. Now that I am used to it I can't find another brand of bass that feels this nice in my hands.

This is one of Germany's finest 5 string basses. This bass has 24 frets, a natural colored flamed maple body, gold hardware, 5 piece wenge neck, and wenge fingerboard, dual MEC Gold jazz pick ups, Dunlop strap locks, and 3 band EQ with an active/passive switch with Warwick's famous two piece bridge. This bass came with a case and padded deluxe gig bag, a tin of beeswax, polishing cloth, and an adjusting tool.

This bass has an incredible sound. Crisp highs, ballsy lows, combined with growling mids. I play Funk, Rock, Acid Jazz, Hip-Hop, and smooth R&B. Running this bass through an SWR rig seems to be a perfect fit. It has a rich, warm tone, and the wenge fingerboard gives it a unique sound. Being able to go passive is a big plus in the studio. You're able to get that Jazz bass sound without having to bring another bass. It definately cuts through everybody else. This is a good bass for those bassist that always struggle to be heard. My gripe with this bass is the same with all of my other Warwicks. They pick up radio signals which drives me friggin' nuts!

I have to admit it, this bass could've been sit up any better. As for as aesthetics, there was absolutely nothing to complain about.

So far this bass has been through two tours, and no problems. I've yet to use my backup basses. One tour, I even went out without one. I've had to replace a battery once, but that's about it.

It's under warranty for about two years. The few questions I've had, they were very helpful.

I've been playing for two years. I currently 3 Warwicks, a Jazz bass , and a Muisc Man Stingray. I run all of basses thruogh an SWR 500 head with a Triad cabinet. My only complaint would the radio noises that I sometimes pick up. I guess that would be a sheilding issue. Outside fo that, I would change anything. To me, the best feature is it's looks.