Warwick/Framus Triumph: restoring it to original

[BassAgent]

I have a Warwick Triumph from 1981. It is actually a bass from the transitional years between Framus and Warwick:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/BassAgent/31d15587.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/BassAgent/aa83a944.jpg[/IMG]
It used to be a 5-string, but one of the previous owners placed a new nut and bridge and converted it into a 4-string bass. Now that is not that much of a problem. I would, however, love to restore it back to original, if possible. That is possible with a new nut and bridge, because the tuner is still there. But there's a problem. Check out the electronics on this bass:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/BassAgent/IMG_0067.jpg[/IMG]
I don't know exactly what the original electronics layout was like... I know that there used to be a pickup with 5 polepieces and a metal cover. On this one, 1 of the polepieces and the cover are missing. I hope the guy I bought it from still has it, but I'm not sure.
The wire from the pickup where it is now goes into the cavity beneath the original position:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/BassAgent/IMG_0068.jpg[/IMG]
And ends up on the side, beneath a little plastic cover with a jack output on it. That would of course be the original pickup, which has to be replaced to the middle of the body somehow.

Then there's this:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/BassAgent/IMG_0070.jpg[/IMG]
A jack output at the tailpiece, connected to a piezo pickup that is beneath the bridge:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/BassAgent/IMG_0071.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/BassAgent/IMG_0072.jpg[/IMG]


Was that piezo pickup originally there?

It's supposed to end up like this (I think), but then as a 5-string:


Is it possible to restore the bass to original at all?:help:

[Silvia Bluejay]

I can't help, I'm afraid, but I would suggest you drop a PM to Warwick_Official on this forum - his name is Garey and he's always extremely helpful. He may be able to put you in touch with Warwick engineers or luthiers who could answer your questions. Good luck - keep us posted. And merry Christmas!

[BassAgent]

Thanks!
I have been in touch with Andreas Egelkraut of the Framus museum, who couldn't really help me. He said he'd send my question to Vlado Hansal, who owns the MEC company and was supposedly involved in designing the Triumph. I hope he has some information for me

Merry Christmas to you too!

[BassAgent]

Nobody can tell me anything?

[Silvia Bluejay]

Have you tried asking Garey, in the end?

[verb]

Hi,
I posted this on the Warwick forum a while ago,it doesn't have much info. but it might be of interest to you.

http://forum.warwick.de/showthread.php/12251-Framus-bass-alert!!!

Post no.12

Edited December 31, 2012 by verb