Machines

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1450774411' post='2935622'] @Machines - Out of interest, how long did you give it? I found just the same, but sometimes it is good being (well) outside one's playing comfort zone. I tried a couple of time and didn't really stick at it. [/quote] Oh I put a serious amount of time into it - 2 weeks

I ventured into jazz recently when an offer came up to be in a jazz band. It was doing old standard type stuff that I can't remember the name of. All I know is I thought I'd prepared myself well by learning chord tones and the key of the song with the progressions. I crashed and burned and now I never want to play it again. For me, it was too much thought - i couldn't just play without processing what I was doing next and after that and that too. I know comfort would come from experience in that aspect, but the 10 years I have of playing mostly funk/rock etc was of little use to me.

[quote name='Froggy' timestamp='1450450597' post='2932979'] Ahh that's annoying, the one Im going for is the walnut satin. [/quote] Well, not all of them, just some i've seen. I personally dislike satin finishes as with regular usage they tend to polish to a gloss around the arm contour whilst the rest stays flat.

I'd go for the black/maple ones. The white is OK but only with a maple neck (not an option) but the satin finish ones look a bit cheap and expose the poor wood underneath in my mind.

I do like Warwick custom shop's work, but I would never pay those prices. If they need that much markup and can afford higher margins at the expense of lower sales volumes, that that is their business decision and if they remain profitable then it is viable. What I don't see however is swarms of satisfied custom shop customers stating how great everything is, i sure do see a lot of 2nd hand custom shop basses for sale at massive losses though.

Good points - gets the Stingray sound and looks like one too, great price Bad points - Narrower nut, oversized bridge plate, limited colour options.

You won't ever get a massive bargain there, but good luck finding anywhere else in Europe as well stocked. If you want 'average' products, there are many retailers already box shifting these, online or in warehouse style shops. I am biased as I have known Mark since BassDirect was being run from a converted garage in a farmyard (2008), but i've seen the business grow and evolve in what it stocks and believe I am very fortunate having such a range of top end gear and expertise only 25 mins down the M42. I am as whimsical as anyone else, and have definitely wasted his time via email and shop visits but he's never made me feel unwelcome. Even when I could see he was busy he was happy to chat to me for 10 mins, asking how my family is, or discussing the merits of the novax fret system etc. As others have said, he isn't going to tell you what you want to hear and may challenge everything you think you knew about basses - but only so you don't buy the wrong product and end up selling it on a bass forum a few weeks later at a big loss.

I remember when a German made Corvette $$5 was new for about £750. The laws of supply and demand must apply here though, are German Warwicks in such high demand they can demand these prices from customers ? I know Fodera can, but I don't get why you'd give them this much money for what is mostly a CNC'd instrument (with a LOT of mark up). If demand for Warwicks was so high, 2nd hand prices would be high too ? They're laughably terrible.

Who actually pays these prices?!

I ordered some Seymour Duncan pickups for my Cort and they didn't fit (too small for existing routing). They ordered aome Aguilar instead without any fuss. Just waiting on delivery so they can be installed (for free too). Ps Nige if you see this can you ask Jay how long they'll be please

I am suffering with this also - i'm the same in that none of the colours inspire me. I'm waiting for BassDirect to get the December shipment in so I can go check them out. I have the gear to trade to meet the value, but none of it would I be willing to lose. If they did interest free like GuitarGuitar i'd be on it, but oh well.

Currently, all Warwicks are Germany and all Rockbass are China.

I didn't know there were any Chinese made ones, are they not Rockbass ? The Standard series was built in Korea for a couple of years (I have a Corvette 4) and then moved back to Germany, i assume they didn't sell very well due to this fact but can confirm the quality is top notch.My Korean Pro Series is as good as the German Corvette 5 I had a few years ago. Thomann had a massive clearout of them last year when they got discontinued and some bargains were had. The Pro Series is not the 'Team Built' or something, is lower spec and more expensive.

It'll sound worse than it looks too.

I popped in at lunch time today to check out some 8 string guitars (don't ask). The bass stuff is decent, but seems a bit of LOTS of a few brands, although not rubbish ones (Fender/Sandberg/Musicman/Ibanez & R*ckenbacker).

I think I would never sell a bass for less than i'd be willing to pay for it myself, and often that price is what I in fact what I did pay. I'd rather keep it and let it collect dust than let someone have a better deal than I did. I'm pretty resigned to keeping my Warwick now though, it's a great bass and sounds immense, if it was a 5 string i'd probably never have put it up. Trading it in for something else isn't a real option, I think PMT Birmingham quoted me £250 on it ! Oh how I laughed.

I'm confused here. Any bass will work. Except a Hofner.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1448015484' post='2912247'] ebay? [/quote] Not free.

A fair point, but where are people selling them instead ? There isn't much on Gumtree either.

I've got a Warwick up for sale at the moment, and am amazed I haven't even had a sniff. Not even a PM with a lowball offer ! (Anyone who wishes to please go ahead, it will make me feel popular). It seems people are either skint, or don't care any more and are happy with what they have. The trend for very expensive instruments in the sale forum is also certainly increasing. I'd love to know some metrics around success rates of sales based on price brackets.

Why not a 44-02 ? It will do the Jazz bass sound and you won't lose anything the 55-02 did.