Dude I REALLLLLY wanna see you try one of the RockBass Corvette Basic's! I seriously fell in love with mine and the MEC pickups are absolutely incredible, super crisp and surprisingly versatile for just regular single coils. I definitely think you and I are alike when it comes to the electronics + these EMG pickups because after trying a Spector with EMG's and then trying a Spector with Aguilar's, it was a night and day difference; I just don't think I've tried any bass with EMG's that I've liked the sound of before.
Have you tried the EMG single-coils? 😄 I've really enjoyed the J and P models from them but never really liked any of the dual-coil models. The MEC pickups really are the quintessential Warwick tone though, definitely recommend those!
the problem is you can;t go passive on this bass, so the pickups will sound like the preamp, i mean coloured by it , so like crap. also I don't think they used the right kind of emgs for that kinda spacing or really just swap the preamp for a darkglass one and you got yourself a beast. Or you could get a beast of a used Warwick for 1500 quid
I luv Warwicks so much! I e owned 2 of them one was the corvette$$ with the pup switches and that was a killer bass and I’ve owned the Thumb NT5, I think the Amp sim with both pups and treble boost and bass flat was a great tone!
Thanks Johnny. Years ago a school chum was a Warwick artist/spokesperson. Never owned one myself, but never say never,. However, these days I tend to, most often, lean on my Fenders. Or for active either my (Korean) Spector or Sire M7. Maybe I'm finally ageing (64)) out of GAS. But I'm at the point where I really like what I have and not so interested in chasing after the tone dragon or another shiny bauble.
I just saw a good way to remove knobs on Dave’s world of fun stuff. He put down a piece of leather to protect the body and then used a spoon to pry off the knob. He rotated the knob while he was prying it up.
Pssst! You can use BEAD strings with any 4 string bass, they don't even check it ;) I have a Korean Warwick Thumb 4, that I tune BEAD, and it sounds great. You don't need a special bass for this.
I haven't played a bass with those style soapbar humbuckers in a long time.. Import basses are only as good as their QC. You can buy a mid 2000s German standard corvette used for a similar price range if not less. Wonder how they would match up. The problem I have with this bass is actually the EMG soapbars. I would think the Corvette with MEC jazz pickups or the $$ pickups would be the way to go.
I've owned a few German Warwicks over the years but I've never had one of their Rock Bass'. I've been thinking about getting that one because I've been looking for a good 35" scale 4 string. I currently own a Warwick Corvette $$ 6 string and I love it. I've had a few Corvette standards over the years and they are outstanding as well.
I’m interested in knowing the string gauge and scale of bass strings to use in this bass for drop c tuning (CGCF) tuning. Seeing that it’s 35” inch scale, maybe extra/super long scale strings need to be purchased? The only thing i can’t figure out is the optimal string gauge for this tuning in this scale. Any help?
I like RB Warwicks even more than the German ones because of the woods they use in them, not that special nor dense but way more light witch is a big plus for me. The finish and sound are great on both. The Taranis just needed MEC pickups to sound like a classic WW.
Great and honest review Jonny. One that I would not be interested in buying, but I get the Low B thing. Perhaps because of this you don't get the Warwick tone?(and no G) I never get why a mainstream guitar maker uses other manufactures electronics and not their own anyhow, and Adjust-a-nut? What's all that about? The nut needs to be set just right and never needs adjusting. Looks great though, and I am sure for some, it will be ideal.
Like the sound of that, some of the time ...very bassy, can't believe I'm saying this but prefer it with the bass cut. Always fancied a warwrwwick but a bit (quite a lot) too expensive for me.
My corvette rb 5 string is one of the best basses I own. Over some far more expensive ones even. It has the regular mec pickups though and I think that may be the difference here? I have 2 esp 5 strings both with emg's and they were great back when i was younger playing in metal bands but I find myself never playing them anymore. The tone I get out of my stingrays and my $550 corvette, YEAH! $550 active 5 string rockbass, not the old one that says ROCKBASS all over the headstock, looks just like this one without the soap bars. 550. Probably 10 years ago, brand new, right off the wall. Now see them for over 1000 online only. I don't know why the price spiked so much. Also I want to say mine was made Indonesia? I'll have to check when I get home tomorrow. Also just like this one the eq is very different. I can't turn the bass boost up or its just way too much and clips my head. I turn it to the halfway notch and then a up just a little bit from there. The treble I can easily run at full tilt unless I'm slapping and it sounds great. My Ray34 is kinda the opposite. Anymore than the halfway notch it becomes ridiculous and I like a lot of treble in my tone. Don't give up on Warwick. I think it's those pickups. The tone you had going at the start of this video was pretty damn good I'd say. I might just have to invest whatever that line6 modeling pedal is that you use. My hatred for p-basses runs deep and you can make them tolerable with that thing. Anyway, sorry for the novel.
Hey Jonny. I agree with your review. But this is that compromise you have to deal with. Quality vs price. Just for me, EMG is the affordable side of the bass versus the normal MEC pups they would come with. To beat the price game you have to cut somewhere. Evidently it would be the electronics in this application. Not bad but you're saving money. So if you're a "mod person", you could drop some electronics in it and have a rockin axe for under the cost of the real deal. The bass also has a natural "deep scooped tone". Thunderous bass and clanky highs. For me, I'm a 5'er (I have big hands) so that's not an issue. And I'd just rock that bass. Have a good day mate and keep it Rockin ✌️😎👍🎸🥕
@@BassRacerx MEC, Bartolini or Delano pickups aren't that affordable compared to EMG. I'm not knocking EMG. They're good for the price. And that bass sounds great for the price. Rock bass has great bones. You get a lot of bass for the money. It would be easy to mod to get a premium instrument. If Jonny got a higher end Warwick and had a side by side comparison. He'd let us know the differences. But if you need an affordable Warwick tone. Rock bass is your best bet.
@@rickrolli7091 ua-cam.com/video/agqRRU5HinA/v-deo.html i found a video comparing MEC to EMG. there IS a difference but it was not as big of a difference as i was expecting. would be even harder to tell in a mix.
@@BassRacerxI think we're saying the same thing but differently. it's true in the tone department. They have the Warwick voicing without the Warwick price. They sound very similar eventhough the difference in pickups and other things. Rock bass is a good value for what you're looking for in voicing and price. And that's the whole thing. Or... for nicer creature comforts, you go with the high grade. I hope this make sense.
Wait I don’t buy the “Never heard of this issue” bit.. who designed the knobs? Surely they know the outer knob cover is glued? Surely it has happened to somebody..I mean you have to take the knobs off to get the control knob information plastic off!
Every rockbass I’ve tried made me feel like I’d be an idiot to pay even half what they are charging. For a similarly priced Spector you’d get way better everything with zero issues.
@@valendis you can find used German ones for similar levels. That’s the only way I’d consider it. The rockbasses used to be in the 500-700 area and that makes more sense for them but at this point they’re competing with themselves.
I agree my Spector pulse is very nice . it a Korean made one. I also had the same feeling about the RSD bass way too much to pay for a Chinese bass the are made in the Rockbass factory.
The main reason why you didn't get clanky crispy famous Warwick sound out of a Rockbass is mainly because the actual Pro Line and above use bell brass as fret material instead of steel like all the cheap Chinese manufactured instruments. Also using EMGs instead of the in-house MEC pick-ups is a mistake if the famous Warwick sound is what you seek. Sadly you'll have to fork over a lot more cash and get a proper pro line at least to get the real Wick tone. The only thing Rockbasses have in common with Warwick are the body shapes. Still great instruments themselves but vastly overpriced due to the label.
I like almost everything about the bass except the tone which was okay but not the Warwick sound we all love.The preamp is suspect and as you noted it sounds cheap for a Warwick.
I have a german Thumb and a Chinese Corvette. The German thumb is perfect. The Chinese corvette is OK. The sound and playability are fine but the materials are definitely not top. The knobs are also falling off of mine
Yup this did my head in...especially as one of the coolest features on a Warwick is the 3d bridge.... That allows individual string spacing among other features. I love mine but surely no one would choose to set it up like that....
Bss manufacturers need to sopt ruin their product by building them in Asia. If I'm putting money on a Warwick, I want it to be made in Germany. Simple.
Not a great sound and a really terrible body shape. The headstock doesn’t do anything for me either! Glad you didn’t pay cash money for this one Jonny.
That's odd to me it doesn't look like a penis. It's just the upper horn of the bass. Just seems really weird someone would refuse to play one like "I can't play that bass it looks like there's a penis on it" like how fragile are you? Do you refuse to use pens and pencils too? Can't put your hands on a baseball bat? Can't eat corn dogs? It's just silly, play the damn thing
This particular instrument isn't worth it, but do you really think china doesn't have decent factories beside those that make junk? Dingwall has been using chinese parts for a long time and they're top notch basses
@@ileutur6863 I would still buy Chinese parts but not a bass guitar. Never played a dingwall from videos I seen not my cup of tea. There good looking tho. I'm more into warwicks for there sound this one from China wasn't it.
0:48 Nice lil easter egg right there 😂
Almost choked when I saw that lol
Sets up the theme of the video 😅😆
Easter Seed
🧐
Dude I REALLLLLY wanna see you try one of the RockBass Corvette Basic's! I seriously fell in love with mine and the MEC pickups are absolutely incredible, super crisp and surprisingly versatile for just regular single coils. I definitely think you and I are alike when it comes to the electronics + these EMG pickups because after trying a Spector with EMG's and then trying a Spector with Aguilar's, it was a night and day difference; I just don't think I've tried any bass with EMG's that I've liked the sound of before.
I was expecring that clarity and PUNCH but just didnt really get that? Definitely need to try an MEC loaded one!
Have you tried the EMG single-coils? 😄 I've really enjoyed the J and P models from them but never really liked any of the dual-coil models. The MEC pickups really are the quintessential Warwick tone though, definitely recommend those!
I just gotta say that my early 90s Spector 5 string has EMGs and the sound is fantastic.It sounds like a Spector!
Oh,hi Patrick)
the problem is you can;t go passive on this bass, so the pickups will sound like the preamp, i mean coloured by it , so like crap. also I don't think they used the right kind of emgs for that kinda spacing or really just swap the preamp for a darkglass one and you got yourself a beast. Or you could get a beast of a used Warwick for 1500 quid
I luv Warwicks so much! I e owned 2 of them one was the corvette$$ with the pup switches and that was a killer bass and I’ve owned the Thumb NT5, I think the Amp sim with both pups and treble boost and bass flat was a great tone!
Thanks Johnny. Years ago a school chum was a Warwick artist/spokesperson. Never owned one myself, but never say never,. However, these days I tend to, most often, lean on my Fenders. Or for active either my (Korean) Spector or Sire M7. Maybe I'm finally ageing (64)) out of GAS. But I'm at the point where I really like what I have and not so interested in chasing after the tone dragon or another shiny bauble.
We are forever on that Tone chasing journey - that's half the fun!
I just saw a good way to remove knobs on Dave’s world of fun stuff. He put down a piece of leather to protect the body and then used a spoon to pry off the knob. He rotated the knob while he was prying it up.
Interesting! Can you like to the video?
@@JonnyDibble here it is ua-cam.com/video/EQuAnXYqrj0/v-deo.html
My dream bass. I love this bass. Sounds amazing, looks amazing. Just beauty all around.
Pssst! You can use BEAD strings with any 4 string bass, they don't even check it ;)
I have a Korean Warwick Thumb 4, that I tune BEAD, and it sounds great. You don't need a special bass for this.
00:49 stroke of good luck?
I haven't played a bass with those style soapbar humbuckers in a long time.. Import basses are only as good as their QC. You can buy a mid 2000s German standard corvette used for a similar price range if not less. Wonder how they would match up. The problem I have with this bass is actually the EMG soapbars. I would think the Corvette with MEC jazz pickups or the $$ pickups would be the way to go.
I agree, I think the MEC is the Warwick tone EMG is great but when you think of Warwick you think MEC
Amazing bass! …even plays itself!!! 9:25
Oh no! We love a blooper
@@JonnyDibble AUTO PILOT
Got ‘em!! 😂👏👏👏
A.I. bassist alert😂
I've owned a few German Warwicks over the years but I've never had one of their Rock Bass'. I've been thinking about getting that one because I've been looking for a good 35" scale 4 string. I currently own a Warwick Corvette $$ 6 string and I love it. I've had a few Corvette standards over the years and they are outstanding as well.
Don’t sleep on Lakland homie, they are35” also and can string through body one of the best basses I own!
Dionne War Wick , what a singer,
she makes awesome bass geetars .
I’m interested in knowing the string gauge and scale of bass strings to use in this bass for drop c tuning (CGCF) tuning. Seeing that it’s 35” inch scale, maybe extra/super long scale strings need to be purchased? The only thing i can’t figure out is the optimal string gauge for this tuning in this scale. Any help?
I like RB Warwicks even more than the German ones because of the woods they use in them, not that special nor dense but way more light witch is a big plus for me. The finish and sound are great on both. The Taranis just needed MEC pickups to sound like a classic WW.
Sounds cool and interesting that the boost is like having an OD built in
That's one way to look at it!
How about the model with passive MEC vintage humbucker pickups?
Jonny that bass sounds great....i love it👍👍👍👍🤪
Thanks!
Great and honest review Jonny. One that I would not be interested in buying, but I get the Low B thing. Perhaps because of this you don't get the Warwick tone?(and no G) I never get why a mainstream guitar maker uses other manufactures electronics and not their own anyhow, and Adjust-a-nut? What's all that about? The nut needs to be set just right and never needs adjusting. Looks great though, and I am sure for some, it will be ideal.
I know this is an obvious question, but did you check the battery?
Like the sound of that, some of the time ...very bassy, can't believe I'm saying this but prefer it with the bass cut. Always fancied a warwrwwick but a bit (quite a lot) too expensive for me.
Among my Warwick collection, I have a Rockbass fretless Streamer. All I can say is, if you haven't, you're missing out.
I'm old school Warwick and own a few, including a couple of Rockbass, but im not a big Corvette fan for some reason.
The shape always put me off. But I've come around!
My corvette rb 5 string is one of the best basses I own. Over some far more expensive ones even. It has the regular mec pickups though and I think that may be the difference here? I have 2 esp 5 strings both with emg's and they were great back when i was younger playing in metal bands but I find myself never playing them anymore. The tone I get out of my stingrays and my $550 corvette, YEAH! $550 active 5 string rockbass, not the old one that says ROCKBASS all over the headstock, looks just like this one without the soap bars. 550. Probably 10 years ago, brand new, right off the wall. Now see them for over 1000 online only. I don't know why the price spiked so much. Also I want to say mine was made Indonesia? I'll have to check when I get home tomorrow. Also just like this one the eq is very different. I can't turn the bass boost up or its just way too much and clips my head. I turn it to the halfway notch and then a up just a little bit from there. The treble I can easily run at full tilt unless I'm slapping and it sounds great. My Ray34 is kinda the opposite. Anymore than the halfway notch it becomes ridiculous and I like a lot of treble in my tone. Don't give up on Warwick. I think it's those pickups. The tone you had going at the start of this video was pretty damn good I'd say. I might just have to invest whatever that line6 modeling pedal is that you use. My hatred for p-basses runs deep and you can make them tolerable with that thing. Anyway, sorry for the novel.
Thank you for another great review! Are you going to Namm?
Hey Jonny. I agree with your review. But this is that compromise you have to deal with. Quality vs price. Just for me, EMG is the affordable side of the bass versus the normal MEC pups they would come with. To beat the price game you have to cut somewhere. Evidently it would be the electronics in this application. Not bad but you're saving money. So if you're a "mod person", you could drop some electronics in it and have a rockin axe for under the cost of the real deal.
The bass also has a natural "deep scooped tone". Thunderous bass and clanky highs.
For me, I'm a 5'er (I have big hands) so that's not an issue. And I'd just rock that bass.
Have a good day mate and keep it Rockin ✌️😎👍🎸🥕
crazy to think of EMG as a "budget" alternative i'm sure OEMs get more favorable pricing but they retail in the midrange to premium price range.
@@BassRacerx MEC, Bartolini or Delano pickups aren't that affordable compared to EMG. I'm not knocking EMG. They're good for the price. And that bass sounds great for the price. Rock bass has great bones. You get a lot of bass for the money. It would be easy to mod to get a premium instrument.
If Jonny got a higher end Warwick and had a side by side comparison. He'd let us know the differences. But if you need an affordable Warwick tone. Rock bass is your best bet.
@@rickrolli7091 ua-cam.com/video/agqRRU5HinA/v-deo.html i found a video comparing MEC to EMG. there IS a difference but it was not as big of a difference as i was expecting. would be even harder to tell in a mix.
@@BassRacerxI think we're saying the same thing but differently. it's true in the tone department. They have the Warwick voicing without the Warwick price. They sound very similar eventhough the difference in pickups and other things. Rock bass is a good value for what you're looking for in voicing and price. And that's the whole thing. Or... for nicer creature comforts, you go with the high grade. I hope this make sense.
Which bassline is played from 7:50 min on?
Just me improvising ☺️
The fact that they aren't fully metal knobs to begin with is suspect, especially at this price. Even a Squier CV bass will have "real" knobs.
I was about to say Dingwall are way more expensive that £1000.
Warwick? More like Wang-wick...
I was here for the knob jokes too!
Wardick is also a good one
Now i believe im not the only one doing that when i touch a warwick
If you like that one, take a look at the Fortress 😂
Wait I don’t buy the “Never heard of this issue” bit.. who designed the knobs? Surely they know the outer knob cover is glued? Surely it has happened to somebody..I mean you have to take the knobs off to get the control knob information plastic off!
The super secret is at the 0:49 mark
The bass sounds great when playing with fuzz and a pick
Two of my favourite weapons 😈
Everything flat, or treble flat with bass cut was the only sounds I liked. It didn’t seem to take effects well to my ear.
I think you forgot to mention the knobs!
Nice playback at 9.23...
Every rockbass I’ve tried made me feel like I’d be an idiot to pay even half what they are charging. For a similarly priced Spector you’d get way better everything with zero issues.
This is inspiring me to get a Spector
Just get a second hand German one, I never understood the prices of the rock bass line...
@@JonnyDibble the legend series is excellent but the pulses are around the 1k mark if you’re looking for an equivalent price bracket.
@@valendis you can find used German ones for similar levels. That’s the only way I’d consider it. The rockbasses used to be in the 500-700 area and that makes more sense for them but at this point they’re competing with themselves.
I agree my Spector pulse is very nice . it a Korean made one.
I also had the same feeling about the RSD bass way too much to pay for a Chinese bass the are made in the Rockbass factory.
The main reason why you didn't get clanky crispy famous Warwick sound out of a Rockbass is mainly because the actual Pro Line and above use bell brass as fret material instead of steel like all the cheap Chinese manufactured instruments. Also using EMGs instead of the in-house MEC pick-ups is a mistake if the famous Warwick sound is what you seek. Sadly you'll have to fork over a lot more cash and get a proper pro line at least to get the real Wick tone. The only thing Rockbasses have in common with Warwick are the body shapes. Still great instruments themselves but vastly overpriced due to the label.
Exactly!! The German bell brass and MEC is what you think of when you think Warwick and have played the real German ones
I like almost everything about the bass except the tone which was okay but not the Warwick sound we all love.The preamp is suspect and as you noted it sounds cheap for a Warwick.
Shame!
I have a german Thumb and a Chinese Corvette. The German thumb is perfect. The Chinese corvette is OK. The sound and playability are fine but the materials are definitely not top. The knobs are also falling off of mine
Interesting! I used ti really not like Thunbs, now I think they're really cool!
@@JonnyDibble OMG! I didn't think you read the comments. I love your channel! Thank you for the great content!
@Radu Vatca I'm no big-time-tuber so I read and try to reply to most comments 😁 Thanks so much!
What secret?
Don’t know what you’re talking about my rock bass is one of the best I own fenders and squires as well smh
You own this bass?
00:49 🤣
😅😅😅
It sounds sooooo scooped. Good way to get lost in the mix.
Dingwall do the same, made in china £1500
Yep!
@@JonnyDibble and no one seems to knock Dingwall for it, was the point I wanted to make.
Change the preamp!
I no longer have the bass I'm afraid
The standard Dingwalls are made in China, they are very, very good!
Break out the Slipknot riffs.
Couldn’t you have just cut the plastic instead of pulling the knobs off?
Potentially, yes. But this one is being sent back, so I didn't want to damage that - ironic!
@@JonnyDibble that’s a good point! I didn’t consider that.
uneven string spacing
Yup this did my head in...especially as one of the coolest features on a Warwick is the 3d bridge.... That allows individual string spacing among other features. I love mine but surely no one would choose to set it up like that....
I love warwicks but hate the rockbass line... They sound/look cheap
Ugly headstock whew. Beautifull sound.
Bss manufacturers need to sopt ruin their product by building them in Asia. If I'm putting money on a Warwick, I want it to be made in Germany. Simple.
Not a great sound and a really terrible body shape. The headstock doesn’t do anything for me either! Glad you didn’t pay cash money for this one Jonny.
That's odd to me it doesn't look like a penis. It's just the upper horn of the bass. Just seems really weird someone would refuse to play one like "I can't play that bass it looks like there's a penis on it" like how fragile are you? Do you refuse to use pens and pencils too? Can't put your hands on a baseball bat? Can't eat corn dogs? It's just silly, play the damn thing
It IS silly, and that's why it's all good fun
Completely agree with you... That never bothered me the sounds speak for itself
A rockbass is never worth it. They're basically squiers that cost twice as much. Aside from looks, none of the warwick sound is there
I shall have to try a German made one!
@@JonnyDibble Believe me they are amazing. I don't own one but several friends do
Put your face closer to the camera please.
Not worth it!!!
I was wondering why you say that thinking about getting one maybe you know something I don’t please let me know
Sounds awful…..
Not worth that price ,,,no way
The Thumb bass is like a white guy when the Corvette is like a black man………if you know what I mean😅
Nope I wouldn't pay $1000 for something made in China. 👎👎👎
This particular instrument isn't worth it, but do you really think china doesn't have decent factories beside those that make junk? Dingwall has been using chinese parts for a long time and they're top notch basses
@@ileutur6863 I would still buy Chinese parts but not a bass guitar. Never played a dingwall from videos I seen not my cup of tea. There good looking tho. I'm more into warwicks for there sound this one from China wasn't it.
How about an iphone?
@@klaymeister what you on about? I never mentioned I phones
fing booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooring.