Counterfeit Warwick

Andy_D · #1 10-08-2010, 10:10 AM

While working out of Taiwan I was looking for a bass to play to keep up my chops (I work on a ship). I could not find anything local that was both reasonable in cost and decent quality so I took a risk and bought off of Ali Express and had it shipped to our local agent in Taiwan. I actually bought 2 and left one on the ship. It cost me $140 US plus $40 shipping. Honestly I thought that since Rockbasses are made in China anyway that somehow I was getting one that "escaped" the usual export chain, and was perhaps actually getting the real deal. Anyway, my bass does not sport a serial number so I guess that is a clue that it's not a genuine Warwick. But I must say this, for what I payed I received an outstanding instrument regardless of who actually built it.

Thoughts:I own 3 other basses, a Spector ReBop 5, a VM Jazz, and an SX P/J. This one hands down beats all except my Spector for tone and playability. The neck feels small especially near the nut. The tonal variety is pretty decent, awesome slap sounds, and still very full sounding when you roll off the tone, not muddy. Yes it did need some setup, but I'm a tweaker by nature and make fine adjustments when I play anyway. Action while not super low is certainly decent at about 3/32" at the 12th fret. The finish is pretty much flawless, though it seems to scratch easily (obviously not poly). The back of the neck has a nice satin finish, the rosewood on the fingerboard has some nice blondish hues to it, and frets seem nice and level without dead spots. The tuner for the E string stripped out on me but I found an exact replacement on ebay for $8.00. Bridge and pickups look just like real Warwick and MEC's, and finally the original strings still sound great so I haven't changed them out yet.

Cons: Previously mentioned bad tuner. Single coil pickups do hum so I am definitely going to try and apply some shielding to see if that will help. No inlays on the fretboard just tiny dots on the side of the neck. Not a biggie here but I have had to get used to it. The big block on my VM Jazz have spoiled me I guess.

Overall opinion: while perhaps not a real Warwick, I'm more than happy with what I received considering what I payed.

And finally I plan on keeping this one, I'm not planning to scam someone by selling on Ebay.

Here are some pictures;

Spinal Tapper · #2 10-08-2010, 10:14 AM

pics not workin...

Andy_D · #3 10-08-2010, 10:18 AM

Funny I just checked on my wife's comp and they are there. I've got them in a dropbox public account for sharing.

bassteban · #4 10-08-2010, 10:19 AM

I see them

Selta · #5 10-08-2010, 10:20 AM

They work OK for me.
If it is counterfeit, I don't think they would stamp legit serial numbers on them

.

Spinal Tapper · #6 10-08-2010, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_D

Funny I just checked on my wife's comp and they are there. I've got them in a dropbox public account for sharing.

Ah OK. I'm blocked from Dropbox here at work. Carry on...

Hellbastard · #7 10-08-2010, 10:28 AM

Don't Rockbasses also have the Just-a-nut III? This one doesn't have one so I would say it's a fake.
The bridge is also different.

GM60466 · #8 10-08-2010, 10:29 AM

I thought that Warwick was already having some cheap made in China or Indonesia.

G

leegreenman · #9 10-08-2010, 10:29 AM

maybe it's a "it fell off of the back of a truck" kinda thing. nice score.

tojge · #10 10-08-2010, 10:29 AM

I'm not sure how helpful this is, but, all of the ones I've seen so far (two or three, perhaps) sported a serial number, on the back of the headstock, in between the tuners...

Not to say yours isn't a brand new model, for example, with a serial moved to a different location, but not having one at all does strike me as a bit odd. If that indeed is the case, then it's probably fake.

Still, for that kind of money, if it is as good as you say it is, play it in good health, and forget the whole "legit" vs. "counterfeit" issue

Andy_D · #11 10-08-2010, 10:38 AM

Yeah, I've searched high and low for a serial no, but no dice. I'd say it's either a an extremely good counterfeit or the Chinese factory that makes the real ones is dumping overstocks, 2nds, and previous years models through small vendors who then resell on Alibaba and such. I don't know your guess is as good as mine. But for the lack of a serial it looks and feels just like the ones I've seen at GC.

KsPiNeSh · #12 10-08-2010, 10:41 AM

That looks like an old Rockbass to me... before they changes the designs and made the Rockbass line look more like the German Wicks. If it's a fake, it's a pretty good one, but I don't think it is.

TolerancEJ · #13 10-08-2010, 12:39 PM

So, what we have here is a Warwick-style SX/Brice/Douglas kinda thing going on. And you said they sound pretty good. Ok, I'm sold. When will Rondo start stocking these? lol

EagleMoon · #14 10-08-2010, 04:42 PM

It's not a counterfeit, it's just an older Warwick Rockbass. They've changed the hardware and the necks on these for the new models closer to the German variety.

darkstorm · #15 10-08-2010, 07:02 PM

Looks like regular old style rockbass to me. The mec jazz pups do have bad hum problem wether theyre on rockbasses or regular warwicks.

tombaker · #16 10-08-2010, 07:31 PM

is it just me, or does the neck pickup look a bit too close to the neck??

Andy_D · #17 10-08-2010, 08:02 PM

Quote:

is it just me, or does the neck pickup look a bit too close to the neck??

It is close to the neck which doesn't leave much room to get your fingers under when popping.

Quote:

It's not a counterfeit, it's just an older Warwick Rockbass. They've changed the hardware and the necks on these for the new models closer to the German variety.

Hmm, so you think that maybe they were stuck with a bunch of old models and were selling them cheap through 3rd party Chinese vendors? If that's the case then these really are a steal for $140. Maybe that's also why there is no serial no. If that is the case then some other TB'ers may want to jump on this if you've been Johnsing for a Warwick. Ali Express seems to be pretty safe as they have an escrow system in place... The vendor doesn't get paid until you confirm receipt and are happy. Anyway, like I said, I'm happy.

itsalljustaride · #18 10-08-2010, 08:42 PM

One thing to keep in mind here is that often times in china, you'll have legit factories that make products for a company, and then after they make the run for the customer they run the factories at night and crank out a bunch of extras and sell them locally/regionally to black market buyers. They are essentially legit products, but sort of not. Somewhere between counterfeit and legit.

If they wanted to counterfeit a Warwick you'd think they'd go all the way and do a "real" wick and not a Rockbass.

So essentially my ultimate statement is...could be?

Mofo-Kang · #19 10-08-2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsalljustaride

If they wanted to counterfeit a Warwick you'd think they'd go all the way and do a "real" wick and not a Rockbass.

That's what I was thinking, too... it'd be like making a lookalike Fender and then sticking a Squier sticker on it. If you're going to counterfeit, counterfeit the premium stuff and make more money. I'd be really surprised if this is a fake.

Flaked Beans · #20 10-08-2010, 09:46 PM

That's not an original Warwick Rockbass.

(FAKE)

check this out!

BUT

this one is an excellent example of the famous german craftsmenship!