PhilLawton Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I've been looking high and low for a Warwick fretless and note that the (Chinese built?) Rockbasses are all over the shop. How do they stack up against the "real" Warwicks? Would I be wasting my money? What else could I look for of the same build quality, feel and (most importantly) sound of the originals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregBass Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 As someone who owns both, Rockbasses are budget instruments that share only the Warwick name with their German counterparts. Don't get me wrong - they are perfectly playable, decent quality budget instruments. They don't, however, compare with the full blown Warwick range. Certainly the older Rockbasses don't use the same tone woods, and they tend not have the famous Warwick growl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagsieblue Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 This one : [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/189415-warwick-corvette-proline-1992-lined-fretless-defretted-nirvana-black-now-l400/page__p__2161900__hl__warwick%20fretless__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/189415-warwick-corvette-proline-1992-lined-fretless-defretted-nirvana-black-now-l400/page__p__2161900__hl__warwick%20fretless__fromsearch__1[/url] (Hello again PhilLawton) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregBass Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Wow - PhilLawton, if you want a Warwick fretless then buy that one NOW. Those early 1990s Warwick necks are a dream to play! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilLawton Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 Martyn - I may well be taking you up on that after all, so look sharp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 [quote name='PhilLawton' timestamp='1375793863' post='2165649'] I've been looking high and low for a Warwick fretless and note that the (Chinese built?) Rockbasses are all over the shop. How do they stack up against the "real" Warwicks? Would I be wasting my money? What else could I look for of the same build quality, feel and (most importantly) sound of the originals? [/quote] Where are you based? There's probably a basschatter not too far away who might have one or the other (or both) to let you see the differences. I've got both, and there is a noticeable difference. But tends to be the case, you'd be hard-pressed to say that German Warwicks are 5 times the quality of the Chinese ones (that being, very roughly, the price ratio between them). I'd also point out that the Chinese RBs were re-modelled about 2/3 years ago. Before that the quality control was a joke, but since it is better, I believe. You can tell them apart because the earlier ones had a one-piece bridge (sometimes in the right place, sometimes not ) and the newer ones have the 2-piece bridge. Plus the price tends to be quite a bit higher for the latter, of course! I've got a fretless mahogany Corvette $$ that I could probably be persuaded to part with, but I'd want a bit more money than bagsie is asking for his Corvette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregBass Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Good point, Mart. Where are you based, Phil. If you are close to me you are welcome to drop by and try my Warwicks and Rockbass to see for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Yeah go for Martyn's fretless. I've had a twirl and its a lovely bass to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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