Warwick prices on the bay??

[morsefull]

What's happening to the price of Warwicks' ?

last month there was this:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Warwick-Streamer-Sta...1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Warwick-Streamer-Sta...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]
A 2005 SS1 4 (with case) sells for £570

now yesterday,
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=017"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=017[/url]
Another SS1 4 (again with case) for £531!!

And;http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150161365169&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005
A mint lx jazzman 4 for £630

Is there just a glut? Or are these prices a reflection of money getting tight?

[Lfalex v1.1]

With the current level of lending, borrowing and general financial unease, people will be;

i) Hanging on to what they've got
ii) Not [i]investing[/i] (and even I use the term loosely here!) in new kit
iii) Rationalising their collections to obtain extra cash

All of which tends to suggest "buyer's market" to me. Are other manufacturers similarly afflicted, or have the "Big W" fallen from grace?

[The Burpster]

Interesting topic, wrong place... moving....

[warwickhunt]

I've commented on this in several places and it isn't just the big 'W' that is suffering, I've watched a glut of MM Sterlings selling for less than £500. I've personally seen a couple more 'W's selling for less than £600.

This occurs to some degree at this time of year every year. Credit cards take a battering over the Summer Hols and need to recover and as has been pointed out the interest rise, Banking issues etc all add to the market being flat!

[P-T-P]

My perception is that it is mainly just Warwicks that are suffering when it comes to second hand sales and it seems to have been that way for a couple of years. I sold my (immaculate AAA flamed) Stage I about three years ago for about £900 and having kinda regretted it going ever since I've always kept an eye on Warwicks, the Streamers in particular. I can't recall many selling at over £700 and plenty of Stage Is going at <£600 with loads of LXs struggling to sell at <£475. A standard Corvette that fetches as much as £400 has done great for the seller nowadays.

I think non-vintage second hand Fender prices have come down a bit in the past year or so - you can pick up a US standard jazz for under £500 now - but that's a reflection of the prices for a new instrument - can get a new one around £700 these days. Warwick's new prices don't haven't dropped much over time but the second hand prices have, and like a stone.

I think it's partly due to the introduction of the Rockbass line - some buyers would always rather spend £350 on a new instrument than find the extra £100 for a superior but second hand one - and partly due to a fashion/image issue. Most of the current new bread of guitar bands we are seeing just don't use Warwicks and they are a little bit perceived as being a hard rock or funk bass.

Then you get people like me who'd happily buy a second hand Warwick but only if the price was at the lower end of second hand scale just because they chop and change basses a lot and are concerned about re-sale values. There's a bunch of really nice Stage Is in the FS section which I personally wouldn't go near just because if I get bored of it a month or two from now I'd be concerned I'd be staring att a £200 to £300 loss. If I'm buying a Fender/MMan/Lakland etc. I don't really have that concern.

[morsefull]

[quote name='The Burpster' post='64643' date='Sep 24 2007, 10:28 AM']Interesting topic, wrong place... moving....[/quote]
DOH!! sorry.....AGAIN!

[The Burpster]

No probs... Good stuff developing.....

Quick thought, ..! Might it be because W keep the same models runnig for quite some time untill there is a lot of them around? hence the price will naturally have to drop as demand does?

Dont get me wrong I like the idea of makers making a product that you can trust and depend upon, however you make too many and there is no-one left to buy them new?

Waddya reckon?

[warwickhunt]

You do have to consider that with no disrespect Warwick are knocking different models and quantity of basses out at a fair old rate compared to their 80's early 90's rate! I still stand by my observation that there are a lot of basses on the market (eBay and forums) at the moment and this 'is' a bad time of year for money.

I've personally sat on my hands whilst a brace of Stage I's have sold at £550 when at any other time of year I'd have had them just to give them a blast to see if they are better than my current keepers. Finances at this time of year dictate that I'd better be sure it's going to be a keeper!

I'd also disagree that it's just Warwick... I've also watched a brace of MM Sterling sell for £400 - £500 and had they been in the right colour etc I'd have had a punt but I'm not in the position at this time of year to chance my arm at something that isn't likely to be a keeper even though I'm certain I'd never lose money at these prices (MM & 'W'). These are just 2 marques that I'm observing as I have a direct interest I'm sure that other than the usual 'vintage' gear prices must be depressed across the board... case in point Wal also aren't making what they were even 6 months ago
!

[MacDaddy]

yep, interesting. As a side note, for me the best Warwick I've played belongs to G-77. It's an older model, and the neck is similar to a jazz. I haven't found newer models with as nice a neck. Would be sorely tempted if I did

[martthebass]

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='64916' date='Sep 24 2007, 06:12 PM']I'd also disagree that it's just Warwick... I've also watched a brace of MM Sterling sell for £400 - £500 and had they been in the right colour etc I'd have had a punt but I'm not in the position at this time of year to chance my arm at something that isn't likely to be a keeper even though I'm certain I'd never lose money at these prices (MM & 'W'). These are just 2 marques that I'm observing as I have a direct interest I'm sure that other than the usual 'vintage' gear prices must be depressed across the board... case in point Wal also aren't making what they were even 6 months ago
![/quote]

Maybe I'm a bit biassed, owning both a Thumb and a Sterling, but sometimes I'm glad that prices get depressed - it sort of supresses the GAS instinct. If you feel you're going to lose a wad of hard earned in changing a bass it kind of puts you off. Maybe I've been playing for too long and things have moved on in these days of +£2K average boutique basses, but I always thought that the afforementioned were 'Pro' level basses. I'm not a pro - so they should be more than good enough for me. 20 years ago I counted myself lucky to own a single US Jazz......that cost £500 when my yearly salary was <£9£.

[morsefull]

[quote name='The Burpster' post='64902' date='Sep 24 2007, 05:45 PM']No probs... Good stuff developing.....

Quick thought, ..! Might it be because W keep the same models runnig for quite some time untill there is a lot of them around? hence the price will naturally have to drop as demand does?

Dont get me wrong I like the idea of makers making a product that you can trust and depend upon, however you make too many and there is no-one left to buy them new?

Waddya reckon?[/quote]

What's happening to the retail prices if the used market is taking such a caning?
I can't see the point in buying a new model if it depreciates so much in a year or 2.
I'd rather have a punt on a good oldun ( as they say up here in brummyland), and even at present prices I'd still be worried about re-sale values if we go into a recession.

Oh dear, is the glass half empty ........................but you know what they say;

"A pessimist is only an optimist with experience"

[ped]

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='64940' date='Sep 24 2007, 06:45 PM']yep, interesting. As a side note, for me the best Warwick I've played belongs to G-77. It's an older model, and the neck is similar to a jazz. I haven't found newer models with as nice a neck. Would be sorely tempted if I did [/quote]

Yes I have played Trev's Thumb - what a lovely bass!

[charic]

The glass is twice as big as it needs to be (engineers point of view )

[Waldo]

Warwicks tend to be quite expensive to begin with and arn't niche enough to hold their prices well, I think. In my experience with Warwicks, they don't hide wear and tear well due to them not having paint and lacquer to hide it, maybe this puts people off?

[markytbass]

[quote name='Waldo' post='66051' date='Sep 26 2007, 06:40 PM']Warwicks tend to be quite expensive to begin with and arn't niche enough to hold their prices well, I think. In my experience with Warwicks, they don't hide wear and tear well due to them not having paint and lacquer to hide it, maybe this puts people off?[/quote]
I played a Warwick dolphin SN at Sound Control in Stockton. It had chips of wood missing from the fretboard, it was quite noticeable even when it was hung on the wall.

[warwickhunt]

[quote name='Waldo' post='66051' date='Sep 26 2007, 06:40 PM']Warwicks tend to be quite expensive to begin with and arn't niche enough to hold their prices well, I think. In my experience with Warwicks, they don't hide wear and tear well due to them not having paint and lacquer to hide it, maybe this puts people off?[/quote]

EH!

I have a bunch of Warwicks (and owned a whole bunch more) not one less than 16 years old and I can assure you that you'd be hard pushed to find many chips/knocks on any of them... and that's not because they've had one careful owner. Warwicks stand up to 'neglect' as good as any bass if not better due to there being no paint/lacquer to chip. When you do get a bit of damage you can sand or steam it out and Robert is your father's brother.

No, damage to Warwicks is not a reason to put anyone off.

[Waldo]

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='66100' date='Sep 26 2007, 08:21 PM']EH!

I have a bunch of Warwicks (and owned a whole bunch more) not one less than 16 years old and I can assure you that you'd be hard pushed to find many chips/knocks on any of them... and that's not because they've had one careful owner. Warwicks stand up to 'neglect' as good as any bass if not better due to there being no paint/lacquer to chip. When you do get a bit of damage you can sand or steam it out and Robert is your father's brother.

No, damage to Warwicks is not a reason to put anyone off.[/quote]

Well I'm only talking about my personal experience with second hand Warwicks, you obviously take care of yours well! As for steaming/sanding damage off, I'm sure you do that but there's plenty of people who can't be ar*sed doing so unfortunatly.

Funnily enough, I was going to mention damaged Warwicks in sound control but someone already has

[warwickhunt]

Of course what you could do is buy a Warwick Streamer Stage I bass for say... £531.11 ( [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270166335703&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=017[/url] ) and then sell it for say... £985 ( [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Warwick-Streamer-Stage-I-3EQ-Flamed-Maple-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ220154556711QQihZ012QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Warwick-Streamer-Sta...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] ) after first keeping the better quality case!

This person isn't doing anything wrong but if it does sell for anywhere near the asking price it will at least mean that Warwick prices are recovering

Edited September 27, 2007 by warwickhunt

[Dodge]

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='66409' date='Sep 27 2007, 01:59 PM']Of course what you could do is buy a Warwick Streamer Stage I bass for say... £531.11 ( [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270166335703&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=017[/url] ) and then sell it for say... £985 ( [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Warwick-Streamer-Stage-I-3EQ-Flamed-Maple-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ220154556711QQihZ012QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Warwick-Streamer-Sta...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] ) after first keeping the better quality case!

This person isn't doing anything wrong but if it does sell for anywhere near the asking price it will at least mean that Warwick prices are recovering [/quote]

Look on the bright side - if the prices keep going down, at least your hunt for that 90's SS1 is getting cheaper.

[thedontcarebear]

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='66409' date='Sep 27 2007, 01:59 PM']Of course what you could do is buy a Warwick Streamer Stage I bass for say... £531.11 ( [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270166335703&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=017[/url] ) and then sell it for say... £985 ( [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Warwick-Streamer-Stage-I-3EQ-Flamed-Maple-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ220154556711QQihZ012QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Warwick-Streamer-Sta...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] ) after first keeping the better quality case!

This person isn't doing anything wrong but if it does sell for anywhere near the asking price it will at least mean that Warwick prices are recovering [/quote]

That David person and Eubassix buy under one name and sell under another all the time, I guess it's just business.

[warwickhunt]

[quote name='Dodge' post='66441' date='Sep 27 2007, 02:56 PM']Look on the bright side - if the prices keep going down, at least your hunt for that 90's SS1 is getting cheaper. [/quote]

There in is 'my' problem. The late 80's early 90's instruments aren't coming down in price... when they are available they are commanding good prices or get snapped up sharpish. I've no aversion to giving someone a kick-back if they can PM the details of an early Warwick (anything except a Thumb but especially Ltd Ed or Streamers) that I can snaffle

[Dodge]

PM sent!