Warwick has been one of Germany's top specialists in electric basses for decades, and this expertise is written all over the Warwick RB Corvette $$ 5. In fact, the name alone almost says it all: RB stands for RockBass, and everything about the Corvette is geared toward Rock in all its forms – starting with the choice of woods and extending to the pickups and electronics. When an instrument like this is designed for Rock and Metal from the ground up, the inevitable result is a combination of authentic looks, effortless playability, and maximum punch. That punch is primarily delivered by the Corvette's bolt-on maple neck and duo of MEC humbuckers, which together with the active two-band electronics also offer plenty of flexibility in terms of sound. Given its range of features and reliable build quality, the Warwick RB Corvette is a bass that offers players an outstanding price-performance ratio.
The ash body of the Warwick RockBass Corvette $$ 5 is paired with a bolt-on maple neck, a robust construction that gives the sound plenty of attack, while the wenge fingerboard harmonises with the body's quality tonewood to produce a midrange response that will cut through the mix with ease. True to what any bassist would expect from their modern Rock or Metal five-string, the Corvette 5 features 24 frets. The high-quality chrome hardware is made in-house and includes Warwick's signature two-piece bridge and tailpiece construction, an adjustable nut, and security locks. The two MEC humbuckers – the "double bucks" referred to as $$ in this model's name – are perfect for authentic Rock and Metal tones, and for further fine-tuning the sound, the Corvette is equipped with active two-band electronics. What's more, it also ships with a gig bag and a hex key – for easy truss rod adjustments and safe transport, respectively.
The target audience for the RockBass Corvette $$ 5 is no secret – Warwick has created a five-string for Rock and Metal players to fall in love with. It starts with the visuals: The Corvette's body, with its pronounced upper horn, makes no secret of its intentions, and this model's Natural Transparent Satin finish gives the wood body a look and feel as raw as nature itself. But it's not just a pretty face. With its long scale neck and smooth-playing action, bassists can really show off their full repertoire of techniques. And it's the same story when it comes to the Corvette's sound, thanks to the two punchy humbuckers, flexible active electronics, and low B string – the perfect way to make a Metal bass growl. With its attractive price tag, the Warwick RockBass Corvette is ideal as a high-quality upgrade for ambitious Rock and Metal players looking to move on from their first instrument – or as a nice addition to an existing stable, especially for a genre-focused specialist.
Based in Markneukirchen, Saxony, Warwick, initially a manufacturer of premium basses, is known today for providing a wide range of music equipment in all sectors of the industry. The product range extends from bass guitars, bass amplifiers and cabinets (in all price brackets), bass strings and accessories, to effects units. In addition to this core business, the Warwick Distribution sales company offers almost everything that bass players, whether of four, six or even more string instruments, could require. Among them are the instruments of the Framus brand, which are remarkable for their consistently high quality. In addition to its headquarters in Markneukirchen, Warwick also has locations in Nashville and Shanghai.
Many of the modern sub-genres of Metal place very different demands on an instrument than was the case in the '80s and '90s. Virtuosic playing, switching between techniques, and ultra-low drop tunings are the norm now, not the exception – and to rise to these challenges, bassists need an instrument that's up to the task. The Warwick RockBass Corvette $$ 5 delivers exactly what players expect from a five-string bass designed for contemporary heavy styles, with its flat fingerboard, slim nut width, and hard-wearing frets providing the foundation for precision and speed. And its tonal capabilities tell the same story: The high output and pronounced mids are ideal for pushing overdrive and distortion pedals to their limits, while the dual MEC humbuckers offer not only a powerful low end, but also clarity and definition, even in the low B string's very deepest registers.
Titanium-brass frets
This Warwick bass is among the many that now feature frets made from an entirely new alloy: titanium-brass. This hard-wearing material doesn't alter the classic warm sound of a Warwick fingerboard, or its precise playability. The golden colour is eye-catching, too. The titanium is primarily intended to prevent tarnishing: Basically, the frets will look good, sound good, and feel good for longer. The ball-end frets are inserted into the tonewood via Warwick’s proprietary Invisible Fretwork Technology, with the fret slots stopping just before the edge of the fingerboard, improving resonance and comfort. Style, sound, and smooth playability: Even the smallest parts of a Warwick bass reflect their entire philosophy.