Warwick Alien (handmade Vietnamese with Fishman Preamp) £1050 Derbyshire, UK

[HeadlessBassist]

Hi everyone, to save a load of questions, firstly a little history - the first 101 Warwick Aliens were German made in the 90's by Lakewood Handmade Guitars - this one is quite an early example (#173) of the hand crafted Vietnamese ones (2000-2010) that were around before production moved to Korea (for some prototypes), leading to the cheaper mass produced Chinese models from 2011 onwards.

 

The build quality is excellent, as is the Fishman Preamp. From the serial no. sticker inside, and looking it up on the Warwick forums, the instrument was made in 2005.  I got it in a trade with a Mayones Jazz about ten years ago with another pro player in London.

 

The bass is currently strung with Thomastik Jazz Flats, which if played with the RH fingers at the end of the fingerboard, sounds remarkably Double Bass-like. You're welcome to pop over and try it, by all means.

 

Condition is very good - the only real mark is a slight indentation further down the neck where a previous owner obviously had a long thumbnail, but the instrument is in lovely order for it's age. It also comes with a full hardcase.

 

Price is £1050 ono (Bass Direct have a slightly newer Fretless version in stock and Mark is asking £1299), and I am open to interesting trades and maybe some money either way. I'm currently interested in Fender Vintera Jazz (the shoreline gold one), or anything with a Status-Graphite badge on it. Maybe even a MusicMan if it's a nice one. 

 

Please note that this is strictly a buyer to collect instrument. (Or I can meet up at a reasonable distance.) This bass is potentially too delicate to post or leave in the hands of couriers - I previously lost hugely on a Warwick Triumph EUB, which was severely damaged by UPS handlers.

 

So hit me up in the PM's if you're interested.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

(Edited in order to amend some details after more research on the Warwick Forums.)

 

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 12:46 by HeadlessBassist

[HeadlessBassist]

Is it a "Bump" you call it around here?

[binky_bass]

Etiquette is to not bump within 36 hours. 

 

Lovely bass, it have an Alien 6. Fantastic preamps.

[HeadlessBassist]

Thanks Binky - I didn't know that. I'll leave it a couple of days before bumping it up again.

 

Thanks for info. 😃

[binky_bass]

Just gives everyone a fair chance to be at the top of the pile! 

 

These Aliens are miles apart from the thinline ones available at the moment. Great build quality and tone! 

[HeadlessBassist]

Thanks, yes. It’s a lovely instrument. I can’t comment on the current Chinese ones, as I haven’t played one, but I’d imagine they aren’t a patch on these hand crafted early ones from the Vietnamese workshop.

[petecarlton]

Oozes quality.  GLWTS!

[HeadlessBassist]

10 minutes ago, petecarlton said:

Oozes quality.  GLWTS!

 

Thanks Pete!

[HeadlessBassist]

BUMP!

Edited yesterday at 10:46 by HeadlessBassist

[HeadlessBassist]

Up we go again...