Fixing a Warwick Thumb w/Pics

HELLonWHEELS

HELLonWHEELS

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Jun 13, 2005
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#1
Came across a Warwick Thumb NT w/Ebony fretboard at a pawn shop. The thing was quite beat up, it had a large notch/hole (may be 1/2 inch deep) right above one of the pick ups, its like the previous owner had a sandpaper thumb... There's also quite a large crack around the control cavity, goes does about halfway through the width of the bass. It looks like it had been repaired in the past as it kinda looked like there was glue in the seem of the crack. There were some pretty deep groove in the neck pickup from e string rubbing up against it for years, the rest of the electronics checked out OK.

How difficult would it be to take on a project like this? How much less should I be willing to pay because of this kind of damage?



EDIT: Had to clarify my question to be in accordance with rules...


EDIT 2: Added pics


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#5
HELLonWHEELS said:
Came across a Warwick Thumb NT w/Ebony fretboard at a pawn shop. The thing was quite beat up, it had a large notch/hole (may be 1/2 inch deep) right above one of the pick ups, its like the previous owner had a sandpaper thumb... There's also quite a large crack around the control cavity, goes does about halfway through the width of the bass. It looks like it had been repaired in the past as it kinda looked like there was glue in the seem of the crack. There were some pretty deep groove in the neck pickup from e string rubbing up against it for years, the rest of the electronics checked out OK.

How difficult would it be to take on a project like this? How much less should I be willing to pay because of this kind of damage?



EDIT: Had to clarify my question to be in accordance with rules...
Click to expand...
I owned two thumb NT basses. The 5 and the 6. I’d probably glue the crack, fill the thumb notch and just paint the body of the bass personally to hide the work if I could get a good deal. But it would have to be a good enough deal because I wouldn’t want to sell a bass that had such repairs. They are good basses. I recommend checking the neck as out really well. Make sure the truss rod still works and there’s no twisting or anything, The pickup cover thing is no big deal imo. Warwick’s MEC pickups are sort of just their copies of the EMG pickups they used to use in the early days. For a bass like that which can sell for $2k used in good condition I wouldn’t be against changing the pickup cover or even totally replacing the pickups for the right price
 
#6
RadioactiveGuy4 said:
Its had to say. Pics would help a lot.

Do you have any previous experience in fixing finished wood?
Click to expand...

I'm going to try to go back and take some pics today.


I have a couple refinishes under my belt. I think I know what to do here and that would be to buy a piece a of scrap bubinga, sand to a powder, mix it back with some wood glue or similar and then fill the holes as best as possible, sand down the entire bass, and then recoat in wax. The only thing that throws me is that it's a neck through.

Nephilymbass said:
I owned two thumb NT basses. The 5 and the 6. I’d probably glue the crack, fill the thumb notch and just paint the body of the bass personally to hide the work if I could get a good deal. But it would have to be a good enough deal because I wouldn’t want to sell a bass that had such repairs. They are good basses. I recommend checking the neck as out really well. Make sure the truss rod still works and there’s no twisting or anything, The pickup cover thing is no big deal imo. Warwick’s MEC pickups are sort of just their copies of the EMG pickups they used to use in the early days. For a bass like that which can sell for $2k used in good condition I wouldn’t be against changing the pickup cover or even totally replacing the pickups for the right price
Click to expand...

I feel like it's blasphemy to refinish a bubinga Warwick no? I didn't check the truss rod out explicity, but the neck was straight and it played great.

I'm wondering though if this even a bass with an sort of resale value because of its damage and the fact that the BO model sells for literally half the price and AFAIK they sound almost identical.
 
#9
HELLonWHEELS said:
I'm going to try to go back and take some pics today.


I have a couple refinishes under my belt. I think I know what to do here and that would be to buy a piece a of scrap bubinga, sand to a powder, mix it back with some wood glue or similar and then fill the holes as best as possible, sand down the entire bass, and then recoat in wax. The only thing that throws me is that it's a neck through.



I feel like it's blasphemy to refinish a bubinga Warwick no? I didn't check the truss rod out explicity, but the neck was straight and it played great.

I'm wondering though if this even a bass with an sort of resale value because of its damage and the fact that the BO model sells for literally half the price and AFAIK they sound almost identical.
Click to expand...
Nah Prince had a white warwick thumb bass, Ryan martninie from mudvayne had one in black. I wouldn’t paint the back of the neck, just the body
 
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#10
HELLonWHEELS said:
Came across a Warwick Thumb NT w/Ebony fretboard at a pawn shop. The thing was quite beat up, it had a large notch/hole (may be 1/2 inch deep) right above one of the pick ups, its like the previous owner had a sandpaper thumb... There's also quite a large crack around the control cavity, goes does about halfway through the width of the bass. It looks like it had been repaired in the past as it kinda looked like there was glue in the seem of the crack. There were some pretty deep groove in the neck pickup from e string rubbing up against it for years, the rest of the electronics checked out OK.

How difficult would it be to take on a project like this? How much less should I be willing to pay because of this kind of damage?



EDIT: Had to clarify my question to be in accordance with rules...
Click to expand...

It's probably completely stable so if you don't mind the cosmetic issues and you dig the sound just play it. It's likely the crack won't ever move and can be filled with a little super glue mixed with some dust sanded off the body to match the color. Thumbs NT's can take a beating and keep playing and sounding like a million bucks.
 
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#12
I've enjoyed rescuing a few thumb basses, not a bad pick for restoration since they only have an oil/ wax rub finish. Sand it down, re- apply the finish. Using the wood dust to fill as needed, as has been recommended. Easy, lots of options to play with. Many use Gun Oil or Tung Oil to avoid dealing with the wax. A bad side to the bees wax/ lemon oil finish- folks let these dry out, you really need to keep applying the wax to keep them from suffering greatly from humidity changes. One major issue, besides cracking, is the typical separation that can happen at the lamination points. Truss rod stripping is no problem really- the dual action truss design slides right out of the neck if everything is normal, and you and slide in a new one. The ebony board is interesting, had one on a fretless once but never on a fretted. All parts are available from Warwick for all eras of nut etc. if I'm not mistaken.
Obligatory refin pic- fresh, the hot wax/ oil really pops
wax1.JPG
 
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#13
RadioactiveGuy4 said:
Its had to say. Pics would help a lot.

Do you have any previous experience in fixing finished wood?
Click to expand...

Tom Baker said:
It's probably completely stable so if you don't mind the cosmetic issues and you dig the sound just play it. It's likely the crack won't ever move and can be filled with a little super glue mixed with some dust sanded off the body to match the color. Thumbs NT's can take a beating and keep playing and sounding like a million bucks.
Click to expand...

Added Pics
 
#15
I kinna like the character it has, but beyond that, I think minor things would get it's appearance up while maintaining it's current functionality. If it is cheap enough, and was determined to be a keeper, I would snatch it up. I would not spend a lot, and would not anticipate flipping for a large profit. Damaged goods seldom pull through that way.
 
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#19
Tom Baker said:
It's probably completely stable so if you don't mind the cosmetic issues and you dig the sound just play it. It's likely the crack won't ever move and can be filled with a little super glue mixed with some dust sanded off the body to match the color. Thumbs NT's can take a beating and keep playing and sounding like a million bucks.
Click to expand...
This how I would go too, Funny how some people would pay extra for relic'd, hey wait this is relic'd, all I say is a bass lovingly played with an oops crack that could easily be repaired as Tom B mentions, buy it and play it
 
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