Warwick (do they actually sell any basses?)

[spacey]

You either want one or you dont.
Same with any premium branded item.
If it was cheap, it would not be a premium brand

[Lw.]

I liked the way that Warwick kept it simple with "W" being the premium versions & "Rockbass" being the budget - I do feel it confused things a little with the pro series having the W but not being full German (not that it really matters) & then more so when some rockbasses were costing more than some pro series.

Does anyone (molan) know if the new pro series will be dark wood necks German style or maple like the Korean ones? I might have to raid my savings if the bring out an affordable one with an ovankol (SP?) Neck...

[molan]

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1418237320' post='2628353']
Does anyone (molan) know if the new pro series will be dark wood necks German style or maple like the Korean ones? I might have to raid my savings if the bring out an affordable one with an ovankol (SP?) Neck...
[/quote]

As far as I know they will all have Ovangkol necks with Wenge boards (apart from fretless which are Tigerstripe ebony) except for the Star Bass which will be Maple with Ekanga veneer stripes.

Is is just for the launch models. May change after that.

Edited December 11, 2014 by molan

[LukeFRC]

Ive got a 1991 SS1 and a lovely 1985 Thumb.
I don't need any other basses.




(well except the BB1200 I've sitting in the spare room)

[Lw.]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1418251287' post='2628576']
As far as I know they will all have Ovangkol necks with Wenge boards (apart from fretless which are Tigerstripe ebony) except for the Star Bass which will be Maple with Ekanga veneer stripes.

Is is just for the launch models. May change after that.
[/quote]

Very interesting, thanks!

[guitarjong]

Having just suffered a very bad case of gas for a fretless. I've just bought (about 6 weeks ago) a Pro Series Fretless Ash Corvette, the passive model, from Thomann. It is B stock, but not a mark on it.

My budget wasn't particularly large, and I was really looking at Squier's and Vintage instruments. Then noticed the Warwick on Thomann. It ended up costing me very comfortably under £400, including credit card fees on the Euro to Pound conversion.

The quality of the bass is very good, even more so when the price is considered. Do I care about country or origin? Not at all.

These Pro Series instruments are in limited supply. I say grab one before Thomann sells out. It is nearly Christmas after all....:-)

[72deluxe]

I have a Pro Series StarBass that I bought here on BC and it compares exceedingly favourably with German Warwicks that I have. I can't find a fault on it (other than one paint split mark on the neck). Of course, they have stopped making them in Korea now.

I have tried a few Rockbass basses and sad to say (for me) they don't come close to the German ones in feel or quality. Not sure on the sound as I couldn't do any critical "hand on chin" listening but I know from the feel of them that they just didn't feel right to me (rough neck finish, nasty feeling Rosewood fingerboard). The fingerboard issue might be the main one for me as I am used to the wenge and it sounds and feels distinct. The basses just felt "cheap", if such a thing can be said. I am not in any way attempting to knock Chinese manufacturing or products (I think I single-handedly keep China going through ebay purchases and resends when they don't turn up). It may have been they hadn't been "worn in" after years of sweaty playing, though.

I bought custom Warwicks early 2000s (with ovangkol necks which I personally don't mind, some hate them for their profile) and I would be struggling to see the price list through watering eyes if I had bought them now. They're insane prices - you could buy a small car!
It would be more than I could afford but they might be worth it if you had the cash? I might have been spoiled by the cheaper prices though! You can get some second-hand ones here on BC for silly low money IMHO.

I will chime in and say that I have a Corvette 6 in bubinga with onboard preamp and it weighs as much as a small car, so perhaps the German asking price is based on weight???

EDIT: Wowsers, just noticed how cheap the Pro Series (PS) ones are on Thomann! That's insane.
EDIT AGAIN: Wow, there's a Corvette $$ 5 German on there for not "car price" money, certainly not 4k. It's on for 2.5k.

Edited December 11, 2014 by 72deluxe

[VTypeV4]

When I bought mine new back in early 2001 there was only the German made series and it cost the grand sum of £1065. They're mega mega bucks now, I think last time I checked a German Streamer LX5 was just shy of £2400! And it didn't have gold hardware either (mine does) which is a 'down grade' IMO. I appreciate 2001 was a long time ago now but surely they've gone just a bit too far with their pricing as well as a complex line-up?

I think its real shame that they're 'not cool' at the minute as they're a brilliant instrument with great build quality and a sound that works perfectly for me.

[CamdenRob]

[quote name='VTypeV4' timestamp='1418311699' post='2629058']
I think its real shame that they're 'not cool' at the minute as they're a brilliant instrument with great build quality and a sound that works perfectly for me.
[/quote]

I think their time will come again... They are offering a quality product with a unique sound. All it needs is X from X-massive-young-popular-band to be seen playing one and they will be right back in everyone minds again.

[Damonjames]

Can't afford a new streamer stage ii??? Try this

http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Spector_Euro5LX_SE_2014.html

Build quality will burn anything warwick are churning out, besides the German made ones at least.

(Ducking for cover hehehehe)

[CamdenRob]

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1418312279' post='2629064']
Can't afford a new streamer stage ii??? Try this

[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Spector_Euro5LX_SE_2014.html"]http://www.bassdirec...LX_SE_2014.html[/url]

Build quality will burn anything warwick are churning out, besides the German made ones at least.

(Ducking for cover hehehehe)
[/quote]

I can obviously see the aesthetic similarities between Warwicks and Spectors (one being a direct rip off of the other) but in sound they have very little in common IMO. They are both excellent instruments but they sound very different.

[Damonjames]

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1418312196' post='2629063']


I think their time will come again... They are offering a quality product with a unique sound. All it needs is X from X-massive-young-popular-band to be seen playing one and they will be right back in everyone minds again.
[/quote]

I'm sorry that rob trujillo from metallica isn't big enough or cool enough with the kids for you Rob :-)

When I saw metallica in 2010, I was blown away by how many "kids" were there who wee screaming their heads off to every song, even the early stuff. Warwick is certainly not short of quality artists to endorse their products. IMHO, their biggest problem is their confusing product range, and limited access to mid tier instruments. The other big thing is where can you go and try one? I've not seen any warwicks in any if the music shops near me, trust me, I looked. I had crazy warwick GAS, then I saw the light and bough a spector (the original streamer!!!), while bass direct isn't convenient for me, if I was in the market for a new spector or even considering it, they carry basses from all three tiers of their range. The lack of access to their product is what it killing them, the second hand turn over rate is pretty high, and their prices hold pretty well

[CamdenRob]

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1418312733' post='2629076']
I'm sorry that rob trujillo from metallica isn't big enough or cool enough with the kids for you Rob :-)
[/quote]

Everyone is cooler than me...

[40hz]

I would add, ALL Warwicks should come with Ovangol or Wenge necks and fretboards with bell brass frets. It's such a massive part of the DNA of Warwick and what gives them that amazing signature tone. If it doesn't have these, it kinda defeats the point of buying a Warwick branded product (tonally at least), In my opinion of course. That sound is so distinctive and I would wager, possibly the main reason people are initially drawn to them (build quality goes without saying, phenomenal)

[Damonjames]

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1418312497' post='2629070']


I can obviously see the aesthetic similarities between Warwicks and Spectors (one being a direct rip off of the other) but in sound they have very little in common IMO. They are both excellent instruments but they sound very different.
[/quote]

I agree wholeheartedly, while I prefer the spector sound, but the warwick streamers do sound nice, albeit it a little more "woody", like mike inez's tone on "no excuses"
Maybe if I could try one out somewhere I might be tempted lol

[CamdenRob]

[quote name='Damonjames' timestamp='1418313795' post='2629098']
I agree wholeheartedly, while I prefer the spector sound, but the warwick streamers do sound nice, albeit it a little more "woody", like mike inez's tone on "no excuses"
Maybe if I could try one out somewhere I might be tempted lol
[/quote]

I love the tone of both instruments to be honest... They are two companies who are definitely producing something you cannot get elsewhere.

[molan]

The one that got me interested recently was seeing Lee Sklar live from a distance of about 3 metres.

His Star Bass into a little Hartke head and a simple Ampeg 1x15 was simply one of the very best live bass sounds I've ever heard.

I'd never have even considered a Star Bass until this but his was stunning!

[mrtcat]

[quote name='40hz' timestamp='1418211464' post='2627944']
It's now dominated by the Rockbass line, which are fine instruments in their own right I guess, but essentially £400-£800 for a Chinese made budget-line that sound NOTHING like the basses they are supposed to be aping. At least Squiers sound exactly like Fenders, Sterling by Musicman sound 99% like real Musicman's etc etc.
[/quote]

I have a Rockbass Streamer and a German stage 1 Streamer and they sound very similar and even more worryingly they both play beautifully. I'd recommend the Rockbass streamers very highly.

[Damonjames]

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1418314225' post='2629104']


I love the tone of both instruments to be honest... They are two companies who are definitely producing something you cannot get elsewhere.
[/quote]

Just out of curiosity, anyone tried an mec pick up/ pre in a Spector or vice versa? Would be an interesting experiment

[timmo]

I bought a new Warwick Streamerabout a month ago, so yes, they do sell some

[goblin]

I'm a big Warwick fan, and find it interesting to see how Warwick have changed over the years. I remember when PMT were one of the main dealers, now they have pretty much sod all. They've always been noted for losing their value though, my 2013 SS1 would've cost around £4k new apparently, yet I picked it up at around 1 year old for over £1k less than new.

The quality of them has been up and down over the years too, which hasn't helped the matters. I've got one from '96 and one from '99, and the quality is fantastic, and both are beautiful instruments. However, I had one from 2000 which I think is where things started to change, the quality didn't feel quite the same as the earlier ones I have. I then got myself a 2003 Corvette Standard, and whilst German made like the others, it didn't feel like a quality product. Needless to say, I moved it on after around 9 months. My friend's got a 2007 Corvette Standard, and that one feels absolutely dreadful. So naturally, I was sceptical to get such a new one.

It's got to be said though, the quality is back. The fit and finish of the SS1 is impeccable, and they've gone back to using Wenge for the necks too, and have a nice shape and profile. The 2007 Corvette felt a bit like playing a cricket bat! Whether I'd ever justify the cost of one new, I doubt it. It's a lot of money for a lot of bass, but as people have said here, you can get non custom Foderas and the like for less! As a second hand buy though, go for it!

[warwickhunt]

I've never heard anyone complain before of the fit and finish of Warwick basses, regardless of era. They may well have come and gone in fashion and the various efforts to improve the nut have been ludicrous (we won't mention the jack sockets ) and the neck profiles are certainly a marmite thing but construction wise I've always found them spot on with no shonky woodwork/necks etc.

[40hz]

[quote name='mrtcat' timestamp='1418510193' post='2630865']


I have a Rockbass Streamer and a German stage 1 Streamer and they sound very similar and even more worryingly they both play beautifully. I'd recommend the Rockbass streamers very highly.
[/quote]

Really? My Rockbass Streamer sounds absolutely nothing like a real Streamer.

[Cameronj279]

[quote name='40hz' timestamp='1418552012' post='2631026']


Really? My Rockbass Streamer sounds absolutely nothing like a real Streamer.
[/quote]

I've played quite a few Rockbasses and found they sound and play nothing like any German Warwick. they were all good for the price but not a Warwick in my mind.

[goblin]

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1418551414' post='2631021']
I've never heard anyone complain before of the fit and finish of Warwick basses, regardless of era. They may well have come and gone in fashion and the various efforts to improve the nut have been ludicrous (we won't mention the jack sockets ) and the neck profiles are certainly a marmite thing but construction wise I've always found them spot on with no shonky woodwork/necks etc.
[/quote]

There were no gripes with fit, finish however, ooh dear. As for the jacks, I really do wish they sorted them out years ago! I just see them as a consumable now. Apart from the SS1, all the other Warwicks have had replacements as has the G&L.