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Streamer LX Review

The Streamer has always been a staple in the Warwick line up, with models such as the Streamer Stage 1 and Stage 2 variants reaching legendary status amongst bass players. Many of us have been drawn to the Streamers through the work of artists such as Dirk Lance (Incubus), P-Nut (311), Sam Rivers (Limp Bizkit) and Stuart Zender (Jamiroquai). One of the lesser known gems in the Warwick arsenal is the Streamer LX model, which takes the proven shape and ergonomics from the Stage 1 and 2’s, and puts them into a bolt on neck variety. However this is bass is no “poor man’s” Streamer…

The bass I am reviewing here is an updated model for 2009 in a 5string version. Highly figured flame maple is now standard on this bass, with 09 models featuring extremely striking grains, due to a new stock of wood that Warwick has sourced. Other models in the Warwick line up have also had wood upgrades also.

The Streamer LX really is an eye catcher. The body is flame maple, but many of the basses on hand at Dominant Music had figures that were flamed and spalted, making each bass look quite unique. The body was beautiful weighted, and curved to hug the body. The neck was the proven combination of Ovangkol, with a Wenge fingerboard. Chrome hardware completed the classy appearance. MEC J/J pickups were fitted, with a 2 band MEC onboard preamp. 4 knobs controlled volume (with a passive pull switch), Pickup Balance, and Bass and Treble cut/boost. Other Warwick ingenuities such as the Just A Nut III, the award winning 2 Piece Bridge, and Warwick security locks complete the package to give a bass that is easily adjustable to any players particular requirements.

Through both Warwick Tubepath and Ashdown ABM rigs, the bass sat beautifully in the mix. The tone with both pickups balanced, and the EQ flat, the bass had great punch and low end, despite my assumption the bass would be overly bright from the maple body. The neck wood combination helped to give the bass the signature woody growl that Warwicks are well known for, but it was much more subdued, smooth and rounder than my Warwick Thumb Neck Thru 5 for example. The B string on the bass was of particular note, being crystal clear and balanced with the other strings on the bass.

I always find Warwicks sound best with both pickups running and either flat eq or passive mode, but experimentation found some of the traditional bass tones out there; bridge pickup, treble boost for the Jaco-eque J Bass burp, and rolling off the treble, slight boost bass and neck pickup gave the P Bass thump that sits so well in the mix for rock. As always, there was the signature Warwick tone mixed in, but this bass would be a great working tool for a bassist who needs to reference those classic tones, whilst still injecting something new.

The Streamer LX is a great bass; it sounds great, it feels great and it looks great. It would be a perfect bass for someone who needs a bass with its own inherent tone, as well as being able to legitimately reference some of the other classic bass tones out there.




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