FS: Warwick Fortress One 5-string w. Q-Tuner BS pickups!!

[Schizoid75]

Hey, guys. I'm going down to one bass while I pay off some credit cards and prepare for a new custom bass. Up for sale is my Warwick Fortress One which I think I got off e-bay about a year ago. Here are the specs straight from the Warwick site:

Fortress One 4- and 5-strings
2-piece Maple body
Wenge neck (3-piece for 4-strings / 4-piece for 5-strings)
saddle width 38,5 mm / 24. fret 63 mm (4-strings)
saddle width 45 mm / 24. fret 69 mm (5-strings)
neck thickness: 1. fret 21 mm / 18. fret 24,5 mm (4- and 5-strings)
bolt-on neck
Wenge fingerboard
long scale 86,4 cm
24 frets from patented bronze / silver alloy
chrome hardware
active or passive MEC P/J pickups 4-strings)
active or passive MEC J/J pickups (5-strings)
active or passive MEC electronic
1 Volume, 1 Balance, 2 tone potis Bass und Treble
2-piece Warwick bridge
length 111.5 cm (4-strings), 112 cm (5-strings)
weight 4 kg (4-strings), 4,2 kg (5-strings)

Now, I have made some changes! First, I replaced the original Warwick chrome tuners with Hipshot ultralites in a matte black. They match very nicely with the matte black Warwick headstock. Original tuners will be included with the sale. I also removed the original MEC pickups and electronics and replaced them with an all passive Q-Tuner setup. Two Q-Tuner BS pickups with a master volume and 3-way pickup selector switch. The other pots are just dummy pots now with no function. I have the original pickups and electronics and will include them as well. However, some of the electronics are in the bass now for the dummy pots.

The bass is in great condition. I'd say 8/10. There are a few small beauty marks and some shiny spots in the finish. The largest spot is on the upper horn and I've tried to capture it in a pic. There are a few other spots, all much smaller than that one. Functionally, the bass is in perfect working order. Oh, and I do have the truss rod cover, just forgot to snap it back on before my wife took the pics!

The pickups alone were $300. You can see that the bass is now color matched with the red Q-Tuners plus Red Devil DR coated strings. Very neat effect and I always get compliments on it. And the Warwick hardshell case is included and is in perfect condition.

I'd like to get $1,000 shipped anywhere in the continental US. Feel free to ask any questions or request specific pics.

[Schizoid75]

Some more pics including the blemish.

[bongomania]

Very cool bass! Wish I had the $$.

[DR Burkowitz]

trades?

[Schizoid75]

Not really interested in trades right now. My only goal is to pay off some bills so I can start a new custom build. Never hurts to ask, though.

[bongomania]

What's the weight of it?

[Schizoid75]

Bathroom scale says 9.4 and it's a pretty good bathroom scale!

[Zombbg4]

Nice bass! How does it sound with the Q's?

[Schizoid75]

To me, it sounds basically like a good jazz with an enhanced top end. Not that the top end is over emphasized, but that the range is extended. The bridge pickup by itself has some of that signature jazz growl with good lows, extended highs, but not brittle. The neck pickup soloed has a very full even sound, but still has better note articulation than a typical jazz sound. Both together combines some of the fullness of the neck with some of the bite from the bridge, but you lose a little midrange growl.

Of course, all the tone talk is highly subjective. The nice thing is that you can always add a tone for each pickup if you want or change the pot values.

[polydeathsphere]

Can you just lend me this bass indefinitely until you sell it and I'lllllll ship it out? I almost regret buying my fretless so recently for such a similar price, let's hope I can make a mad dash for more cash!

[DerHoggz]

Those tuners really set it off.

[Schizoid75]

I put up a little album with some new shots of the bass on Photobucket. Here's the link:

http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk166/Schizoid75/

[kaputsport]

I am having a hard time making a decision....

I am looking at $1000 basses, and I wish I had my Fortress back...But I really want a Pedulla 5 string single pick up.... Or a Status 5 string...

Damn... I hate GAS. I'll be in touch.

[Schizoid75]

Well, I have a Status Stealth 5-string, but you can't have it! Not for $1000 anyway! If you have questions about the Warwick, let me know.

[Schizoid75]

BUMP!