Warwick RB Corvette Basic 5 HVTS

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 Basic 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 single coil pickups, which together with the active two-band electronics offer plenty of flexibility in terms of sound. Given its range of features and reliable build quality, the Warwick RB Corvette is quite simply a five-string bass that offers players an outstanding price-performance ratio.

Many of the modern sub-genres of Metal and Rock place very different demands on an instrument than was the case in the '80s and '90s. Virtuoso 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 delivers exactly what players expect from a five-string bass designed for contemporary heavy styles, with its flat fingerboard, slim nut width, and 24 frets providing the foundation for precision and speed. And its tonal capabilities tell the same story: The two MEC single coils deliver a powerful bottom end complemented by the B string; at the same time, the instrument's definition is almost piano-like in its clarity. Adjustments are a breeze too, with the active electronics enabling musicians not just to reduce their sound's highs and lows, but boost them as well. The Corvette's hot output and punchy mids are, finally, perfectly suited to wringing the very last drop out of a bassist's favourite overdrive or distortion pedals.