rare dolphin

[NickA]

RARE 5-string broad neck, boire body, wenge neck and bartolinis ... and it's only a few miles away from me. And I spent all my money on a four string dolph that I now can't bear to part with. Please someone, buy this and save me.

if it goes for just the asking price it is a bit of a steal ... I think.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Warwick-Dolphin-Pro-I-5-String-Bass-Guitar-1991-No-16-Great-condition/152550162108?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D43781%26meid%3D5e2ea21ff46548ef84eacf254295780b%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D7%26sd%3D172020634700

[TheGreek]

I had a 4 string but found that I couldn't settle on a tone - would find "the one" I loved and used that for a couple of weeks, adjusted it slightly and that would then be "the one" - not sure if I only had two or if I had ten. They are very ergonomic though - nice profile neck, very easy to play.

[Kev]

Rare for sure, but I sold mine for £1500 last year, mint, didn't exactly fly off the shelf!

[Grangur]

I think he's optimistic. And his pics are useless

Edited May 17, 2017 by Grangur

[NickA]

Yes very bad pics.

My 2001 4-string MEC / Ovangkol body & neck / ebony fret-board) dolphin was £1600 inc flight case and delivery (missed yours Kev and another didn't come up!). £1750 doesn't seem bad for a 5-string Boire one I guess ... depends whether you prefer the Boire / Bartolini or the Ovangkol / MEC version (can't say as only ever played the MEC ones) .. but been up for 2 days and no offers yet.

Tempted to go and look.... but really, shouldn't.

[Dazed]

There were only boire bodied Bart loaded 5 strings made. Warwick didn't do a later run with MEC pickups like they did with the 4 strings.
I'm tempted but I think the price is optimistic and I'm a big dolphin fan. Broad necks can be marmite for some too.
The sound is very different between the two as well, but who knows whether that's down to the woods used or the electronics, probably both.

Still it is a rare beast, and one of Warwicks finest

Edited May 17, 2017 by Dazed

[NickA]

I didn't know that! ... tho they will make you a new one if you ask nicely (and pay through the nose ... 5400 euros! any takers?):

http://shop.warwick.de/?&lang=en&modul=shop_new&site=shop_overview&&ctree=D0746768001321517432A47035|D0780229001321517432A47059|D0784276001447163111A217|D0974340001340950964A224&modul=shop&site=article_details&article_id=D0686327001472733749A4&article_category=D0974340001340950964A224&collection_id=D0813280001455897857A2227&

I do love the clear bell like tones of my own MEC dolph, so would probably be disappointed. Had real trouble playing people's 5-strings at the Midland Bass Bash on Saturday anyway.

[alyctes]

A Peter Hammill fan, I see

[woolf]

I noticed this bass too! Shame about the pictures - I currently have '90 4 string Dolphin that's just wonderful - never tried a 5 string Dolphin - price is perhaps ambitious but if there's someone who's really after one... they don't come up too often!

[NickA]

Re price: £3000 quid cheaper than this one: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wal-MkII-Custom-Series-5-String-Bass-/121844263050?hash=item1c5e7be88a:g:tk4AAOSw0vBUka2f"]http://www.ebay.co.u...k4AAOSw0vBUka2f[/url]

This Wal bubble must surely burst. Yes they are lovely .. but not SO much more lovely than the best of the Warwicks ... and increasingly less rare

Edited May 19, 2017 by NickA

[Kev]

[quote name='NickA' timestamp='1495139068' post='3301642']
Re price: £3000 quid cheaper than this one: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wal-MkII-Custom-Series-5-String-Bass-/121844263050?hash=item1c5e7be88a:g:tk4AAOSw0vBUka2f"]http://www.ebay.co.u...k4AAOSw0vBUka2f[/url]

This Wal bubble must surely burst. Yes they are lovely .. but not SO much more lovely than the best of the Warwicks ... and increasingly less rare
[/quote]

Wals are very, very rare indeed compared to Warwicks. Only a handful are made a year and it's always been that way 🙂 Two year waiting list keeps the second hand prices high, new prices are very expensive now. Warwick new prices are insane for what is basically a machine built bass, as immaculate as they are! But even the rarest Warwicks are easy enough to find. Only custom models and perhaps elusive Ltd's like the 5th anniversary models are truly hard to get. The Dolphin Broadneck is rare because there was only one year they were built in the factory, but they have been custom orderable ever since. In the same way every Wal is a custom order.

Edited May 19, 2017 by Kev

[NickA]

Well. no bids. Seems I was wrong about it being good value! Back listed again, but at the same starting price. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Warwick-Dolphin-Pro-I-5-String-Bass-Guitar-1991-No-16-Great-condition-/152561591166?"]http://www.ebay.co.u...-/152561591166?[/url]

.. and listed AGAIN. Now £1500 but still no decent photos.

Still think it's a bargain, but still daren't go visit as not going to buy it. Just wondering if these are merely out of fashion and will soon soar in value (as per the Wal I bought in 1999). Pension fund?

As for Wals being expensive because they are rare: there are Wals coming up every week on facebook (and sometimes here) but only one 4-string pro 1 dolphin (mine) and one 5-string pro 1 (this one) I've seen in the last 12 months (lots of bolt ons - but it's not the same).

Edited September 4, 2017 by NickA