1988 Warwick Thumb Bass NT – Made in West Germany

Here’s a genuinely special early Warwick Thumb Bass from 1988. These very early Thumbs have a character and level of craftsmanship that is quite difficult to find in modern production instruments, and this example is a wonderful illustration of why the Warwick Thumb has become such an iconic bass.

Built in West Germany, this is the neck-through Thumb NT, constructed from a three-piece solid Bubinga body with a Wenge neck incorporating Bubinga laminations and a Wenge fingerboard with mother-of-pearl dot inlays. The combination of beautifully selected timbers, the sculpted body shape and exceptionally precise construction gives the bass an almost sculptural quality. Early Warwick instruments were built with an extraordinary attention to detail, and there is a real sense that every part of the design was considered rather than simply assembled.

The brass Just-A-Nut is another excellent example of that approach. The original adjustable brass nut allows the string height to be individually set at the nut, while the Schaller-made hardware and Warwick's distinctive brass 3-D bridge provide a superbly solid foundation for the strings. The bridge's unusual angled positioning was designed to optimise the string geometry and contributes to the distinctive response of these early Thumbs.

Electronics are equally well thought out. This early Thumb is fitted with the period active MEC J/J pickup system and active two-band electronics. The controls are remarkably effective, giving a master volume, pickup balance and active bass and treble control, allowing the fundamental character of the bass to remain intact while providing plenty of scope for shaping the sound. The original design also incorporated very effective shielding, contributing to the impressively quiet operation of the electronics.

And it sounds every bit as good as you would hope. There is an immediate, powerful quality to an early Thumb, with a deep and authoritative low end, strong, articulate mids and a wonderfully clear top end. The active electronics give it plenty of headroom and punch, while the combination of Bubinga, Wenge and the neck-through construction produces exceptional sustain and note definition. It can deliver enormous modern-sounding bass tones, but there is also a woody, organic character underneath the amplification that makes these early instruments particularly appealing. It is an exceptionally responsive bass and one that rewards a confident player.

This example has certainly seen some use, and there is honest wear to the finish above the neck pickup, doubtless caused by the player's thumb resting in this area over the years. Aside from this, there is nothing significant to note and the bass remains in very good overall condition for a 1988 instrument. Replacement strap buttons have been fitted.

We have given it a full workshop setup and it plays magnificently. The neck feels superb, the electronics are working as they should and the bass has the kind of immediate response and effortless playability that makes it very difficult to put down. Machine heads and hardware all work as they should including saddle adjustment.

It comes with a very old and rather tatty moulded hard case which has clearly suffered some damage while doing its job. It has nevertheless protected the bass over the years and remains functional, and importantly gives us a safe way of packaging the instrument for shipping.

Early Warwick Thumbs are becoming increasingly sought after, and for good reason. They are beautifully engineered, wonderfully individual instruments with an unmistakable voice. This is a particularly appealing 1988 example with genuine early-production character, superb build quality and a tone that remains seriously impressive.

A proper piece of Warwick history and a very serious player's bass.

Warwick Thumb Bass Made in Germany 1988