LowEndLobster Review: Warwick Rockbass Starbass Fretless 5 String Bass- Truly a Star?

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Hey everyone! Today we're reviewing my Warwick Rockbass Starbass Fretless 5 string bass. This bass has an odd combination of features and a big price tag to boot. Is this thing good enough to cost nearly double the price of an Epiphone Jack Casady? Let's find out!
Big thanks to Dom @ ThirdFloorGuitars for setting up my instruments. You can find him at www.thirdfloorguitars.com
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[@mb00k53]

This is probably my favorite bass channel

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks! That means a lot :)

[@edgararias6601]

+1

[@RumblinMan]

+1

[@marunikusbakufu]

This is my favourite bass channel.

[@WiezAnims]

Small note: you intonation on the fretless is pretty incredible, when you first started playing it honestly sounded like a fretted bass before the clear slides on the neck

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you! That means a lot :)

[@peekaboo4390]

Nice bass but pales to my 1974 Yamaha sa-75 MIJ, short scale wearing TI jazz flats.. A good semi hollow body has so much useful tone to offer. The Jack Cassidy smokes the Warwick with a great woody tone.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Dai! I agree, the JC really rocks the socks off of the Starbass Rockbass

[@thewomble1509]

@@LowEndLobster Hi LEL, have you tried the Ibanez Artcore semi hollow basses? No fretless model but they are very good at everything else.

[@TheBeardofDOOM]

Can't say I'm a fan of this one. I like it with the tone rolled off. Great content as always Lobster.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks! Yeah, this bass tries to do too many things and doesn't really excel at any. It's not a great fretless (though the board is nice), it's not a great sounding hollowbody, and it's not a great 5 string.... it's also way too expensive! Always appreciate your comments my friend!

[@PushSueAside]

Cheers lobster. Another honest review. Your opinion does matter. Thank you for sharing

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Tommy!

[@RumblinMan]

Great and informative job with the review man! Sweet bass too. Hoping I can get a hollowbody bass sometime soon! I like the tones.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks my friend!

[@cedcobasse]

Another great review, thanks. I prefer the excellent sound of the cassidy, nice playing on the fretless 👏👏

[@thenightlifezero9154]

Hey Lobster! Thanks for fun informative videos without a ton of fluff and filler.

[@LowEndLobster]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching :)

[@aCeruleanStateMusic]

Love this channel. Glad I found it!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you and welcome :)

[@johnrusso3893]

Lobster, thank you for the review. I bought the 5-string fretted model. I would prefer noiseless humbuckers, but good bass. I enjoy your reviews.

[@steveschenker1380]

lol I just subscribed after seeing the "China" montage. Not looking for politics in my music videos, but that was just plain funny. Bravo.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks! Not trying to be political, just humorous :). Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andrewcolwell8537]

Most honest reviews for sure on KZbin

[@degeest5571]

Love your channel Lobster, basses and cats, what more I could ask for.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you!

[@marcinszadyn5026]

Best bass channel. I agree with the few other guys👍greetings from Poland Lobster👍👌

[@johnrusso3893]

Lobster, I bought the 5-string fretted version of this bass. I love the deep, open tone. I would prefer noiseless humbuckers. Thank you for your reviews.

[@lapinus]

Last time I was here you had not even 100 subs. I really hope your channel grows into something you could like, profit from. Your videos are well crafted. I recommend studying how the youtube algorhythm (or how you spell that) works, so that you'd get an edge and a sub boost. I never tried an hollow bass but once I get by this Rhoads V kit I'm building, I'll either give one a shot or try to build one. Nice review!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you! Yeah the growth on my channel has been really surprising but definitely confidence boosting too :). I hope to grow to that point. I've seen a few hollowbody kits that look interesting, may do one of those in a future DIY video... though I do have a few of those lined up already ;). Stay tuned my friend!

[@KitBasher1]

That is the exact thing I want in a hollow body!!! OMG! 5 String fretless is my thang ; ) Five string in general, very hard to find in a hollow body - Then fretless, and then unlined fretless!

[@alessandroluppi8190]

Well, I have the 5 string fretted version and I like it a lot. I have several different basses and I find this bass one of the best, with a very good price for value ratio. I invite you to try the fretted version...probably this bass loses a lot in the version you test. However I like your channel and your style! Greetings from Italy

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you Alessandro! I definitely plan on trying out other Rockbass products including a fretted one :). Thanks for watching and welcome aboard!

[@labatarian7637]

Nice review 👍.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you!

[@kennthy]

Nice review, Lobster. I love hollowbody basses (hoping you can review a Gretch and/or Guild in the future), but, after your review, I'm dissapointed with the Starbass. I saw that Lee Sklar has a Signature Starbass, and that he also loves the regular German Warwick Starbass. I was specting the Rockbass version to be an alternative that I could afford, but damn 1400 for a Chinese bass that sounds mediocre is too much! A shame really :( That Casady sounds sweet though!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Kennthy! I'm hoping to snag a Starfire in the near future and do a head to head with the Jack Casady. The Starbass is definitely not worthy of that. Lee's Starbass is of the german variety and is probably 1000x better in every conceivable notion. I used to have a Thumb NT back about 15 years ago that I snagged used for $1200. The craftsmanship was incredible, no comparison with the Rockbass line. Going to be doing a video on the JC sometime soon. Thanks again my friend :)

[@jeffscott1006]

I enjoy your bass review videos a lot and am very happy to see your channel growing. Have you considered doing short, five minute or so lessons highlighting those cool licks that you play, you obviously have the skills. Doesn't need to be too involved, maybe just short lobster bites. Sincerely, el Jeffe bass (from Talkbass)

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Jeff! Glad you're enjoying them :). I kind of just make the licks up and have a hard enough time remembering what I just played haha. Not a bad idea though. Appreciate it!

[@PushSueAside]

I support the idea. More cool lobster stuff please

[@jamcam9]

Whoa, never seen a fretless hollow body before. I was hoping it would be great, maybe with some upright like boom, but it just misses the mark completely. The cassidy sounds great.

[@KitBasher1]

My jaw dropped when I saw that hollow body in a fretless five!

[@zsujsk]

wow it sounds awesome

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks!

[@DaveOnBass]

Wow! Sweet cameo! :-P

[@LowEndLobster]

We have the best cameos. Ask anyone! XD

[@nikrazman8968]

I’ve wanted a JK Epi for a while now and today I found a defretted ‘06. It’s a pity the owner had it defretted but by the photos it looks amazing, plus because of it the price is quite lower than for a unadulterated one. Before I drive 5 hours to go check it out, do you think that the tone will be massively different without the frets or not?

[@user-jk5ys4ts7q]

I bought one used yesterday for $500. Mine is a 4-string fretted in white, but with the optional racing stripes. You mention the PU's that look like sidewinders, but they are single coil from what I read, and there is hum when not playing both at the same time. I will have to disagree with the tuning machine assessment. They're just low-end, wobbly junk. The first thing I did was to install GOTOH 707'S. Otherwise, the bass seems pretty good. It balances okay, the truss rod uses a nice 5mm allen and moves freely, fretwork is okay and the jack is mounted on a plate. I definitely would NOT buy one of these new (a Vintera jazz would be a better deal) but used, these could be a great choice for gigging when you want to look kinda different.

[@mikesimmons9575]

I have a German, 5 string, version of this bass but mine's fretted. I tried them but I think the tapewounds sound too bright and thin: makes the bass sound like a toy. I ended up with a set of Warwick flatwounds and it sounds much fuller and round, like it's supposed to. You should demo with flatwounds and watch the negative comments go away.

[@braddietzmusic2429]

It’s seems upon revisiting, this is not tonally what I want, which is something more like a 5-string fretless Stingray. That said, what do you think are the aftermarket pickup options based on its pickup size? Is the low B string acoustically resonant? Does the rest of the instrument “sing” acoustically? How does that low B string response compare to other 5-strings like a Jazz Bass or Stingray?

[@nkapz627]

Hey friend! Great videos. Just my thoughts as a fretless bass player; the coated strings might be the reasoning for low output on those passive single coils. Ive dealt with it myself!

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you Noah! I made this video super early on in the channel and I think you may be right. This was before we had a 'standard' string that we used in all the reviews.

[@nkapz627]

@@LowEndLobster I’m super guilty of it it too. I enjoy my tapewound strings more than anything. Ive put them on high end custom basses and $200 import basses (sometimes I had no issues with the strings at all). I know the pickups on the rockbass aren’t of extremely high quality; but thats nothing a few pedals and a good amp can’t fix 👍🏻

[@travis8665]

@@LowEndLobster I think you need to play into a passive amp input. My Fender Pro bass is the same. No output till I remembered I have a passive input as well as an active one. It tripled the volume.

[@LowEndLobster]

I appreciate the suggestion. The amp in my videos only has one input though ;)

[@OstiguyBass]

This sounds like the bass on Zappa+Beefheart live yellow album.

[@Solelova67]

I see that ATK back there. Love them

[@LowEndLobster]

Yessir! That's my ATK810E, love that thing!

[@Solelova67]

@@LowEndLobster if you haven’t done a review yet, I’d love to see you do it. There was a you tuber named Pudsy that had many ATK300 jams and he occasionally played a fender Jazz bass too but many ATK videos.

[@LowEndLobster]

@@Solelova67 Review kzbin.info/www/bejne/enOqXmqliqyVe80

[@Al_Mac125]

Gud vid. Yep the pick ups & electronics are pretty uninspiring. The main thing I got from this review is that cheapo P bass is way better for vintage tone.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Al!

[@Jihadbearzwithgunz]

Would Simms super quads fit in that . Or add a emg bts or bqc to give it some umph

[@LowEndLobster]

Maybe? I don't know the dimensions of those MEC mudbuckers. No rear cavity access will make things a bit trickier in regards to modification. The aesthetic stuff I did on this was easy, anything further would be a PITA in my book.

[@bigoldnoob]

Replacing pots/caps is no complicated feat at all. I modded mine (a fretted MIK ProSeries Star Bass 5, after trying many RockBasses mine doesn't feel or sound any different, just holds better value) to basically have VVT as in a Jazz Bass, plus a 5 position rotary selector for cap values between 10nF and 57nF and it is WAY better than stock. No issues tonally either, my Star Bass growls like mad and always sounded like it should (an extra warm/thick Jazzy tone), This is no hollow body nor plays or sounds like one, no honk, no microphonics, no feedback, for practical effects it's used exactly like a solid body (which it is, center block runs the central 3rd of the body all along its length, plus hollow wings). Can do a more "hollow" tone on flatwounds, but it's just not for everybody, feels like cheating compared to any other semi-hollow/hollow. It's the semihollow for people that don't really like semihollows (my case). The other un-hollow thing I did to mine was to relocate the stupid strap button from the heel to the upper horn, where it should be to hang decently (both reduces neckdive and the bass rotating face down -sucks big time, no matter how "purist" it is to put the strap button there-). kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoaaqIh3pseNqrs

[@braddietzmusic2429]

For the price, I wouldn’t want to spend even more money dumping into better electronics. Maybe if it was priced at $800 I would. Shame. I’d love to have a five-string semi-hollow Fretless bass, especially WITHOUT fret lines. It has the perfect set of features that together would be the only way I’d buy a semi-hollow bass… but the price and tone will keep me looking elsewhere. Maybe some day if someone has one of these used, in as-new condition… maybe.

[@marcinszadyn5026]

Mexican P-bass is a winner even though it has frets👍Jack Cassidy sounds better too.

[@bertsnow80]

What have you got on there for strings? Tape wounds? Thanks!

[@LowEndLobster]

These were black beauties. I don't really use them anymore haha.

[@klaymeister]

Will Dimarzio Model One fit in this bass?

[@LowEndLobster]

I have no idea TBH. I think so?

[@kirtfulcher6288]

Looks like you're able to get the action pretty low... I don't see you needing to "push down" much when your fingers are already in position.

[@LowEndLobster]

It's setup how I like it. I'm not a super low action player, I prefer medium action because I have a pretty hard attack. Mine usually sits at .15"-.2".

[@manuelvillanueva8232]

Sound good, but not for the price

[@LowEndLobster]

Exactly my thoughts! Cut the price in half and then it would be a contender, but at where it's at now... no thanks! Thank you for watching and commenting my friend!

[@jazzman1954]

Neck dive? Weight? Scale length?

[@user-jk5ys4ts7q]

32" scale; balances okay, but can be encouraged to head to the floor with a little coaxing. medium weight..about the same as a not-too-heavy solid body.

[@jazzman1954]

@@user-jk5ys4ts7qThanks. I don’t understand why these ‘expert’ reviewers forget about neck dive.

[@pwokaren]

I think the German built Warwicks, as with Sandberg, are great. The quality of sound, feel and output are second to none. This unit made in China didn’t sound that great. Low output from a semi hollow yes. Shouldn’t have poor tones though.

[@nickpicc]

Seems like it would be a great bass for half the price, but not 1400...

[@LowEndLobster]

Right? That price tag is insane for what it is. 700-800 bucks would make this much more competitive.

[@ethanlancaster76]

The Jack Cassidy bass kills this bass imho. With that being said I just don’t think it’s nearly worth the asking price.

[@NicholasANappiNick]

Put gold hardware on a bass again and I’ll make a lobster roll out of you!

[@Jitobass]

I don't know in USA, but IMHO in Europe at least the whole Rockbass line is a nonsense. If you are patient you can find real German made Warwicks for 500€ or even less (+-550$ I think).

[@LowEndLobster]

Yeah, I don't see them selling that well here either. The low end streamers maybe, but they're like 3-400 vs 1400. Warwick themselves aren't much of a presence here in the USA anymore compared to 10-15 years ago.

[@Jitobass]

@@LowEndLobster yeah, I can understand why. at least here, they have a lot of problems with the trust rod (too hard neck woods) I know at least 3 colleagues in my province who had to repair or change the neck, and i'm not talking about the cheapest models...... :(

[@9999plato]

There is nothing budget for a Chinese bass in this price range. Once it gets over $400 I look elsewhere. Buy a nice used American made Warmoth that was properly assembled. I always got a great deal on them. I got a nice 4 string Jazz bass for $450 a few years ago. Why give money to China? I would prefer the P bass over the Warwick too. It's one of the few I don't have though I have a fretless Jazz bass special that has a p bass neck pup so it's in the ballpark.

[@LowEndLobster]

Agreed! I also tried the Sadowsky MetroExpress from the Chinese Warwick factory and was majorly let down.

[@fabiolimadesiqueira]

🎼👤🩶🔝🇧🇷

[@Nerotique]

Can we still talk about F-holes on KZbin?

[@LowEndLobster]

LOL

[@bartonamon]

That bass, for some reason, sounds very “plinky”, like you’re playing with a pick when you are using your fingers.

[@skepticsinister]

Thank you fellow bass crustacean 🦞