Warwick Fortress Footmen, unite!

[RCCollins]

Pretty obscure model to have its own club but here's why I'm founding this:

1) The Fortress is a great design, maybe Warwick's best balance ever. Eminently playable.

2) They are really great sounding basses, passive or active

3) They look bitchen, kinda like a bizarro ric or something

4) They almost invariably have all-wenge necks (win!)

5) They are absurdly undervalued and sell for $600-$700 all the time

6) Warwick really should bring these back, and not just in the rockbass line


There, I have spoken and hereby appoint myself member #1 of the Fortress Footmen!

[bongomania]

I can't join yet, but I'm sure you've observed me GASsing like a fool in nearly every "Fortress FS" classifieds thread. Eventually it'll happen.

Proposed motto of the Footmen: "Turris Fortis Mihi Securis"


(a mighty Fortress is my axe)

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by bongomania

I can't join yet, but I'm sure you've observed me GASsing like a fool in nearly every "Fortress FS" classifieds thread. Eventually it'll happen.

Proposed motto of the Footmen: "Turris Fortis Mihi Securis"


(a mighty Fortress is my axe)

i'm SO stealing this!

[bamba22]

Do you have picture to show?

[RCCollins]

two fortress flashbacks in my avatar?

[AtomicPunk]

I wish I had one, not a good one for them to discontinue.

[MakiSupaStar]

When I bought my Corvette $$ 5 string, I was seriously considering a Warwick Fortress 4 banger that was for sale for around 700 bucks used in my local area. I wound up NOT going with it because I really wanted a 5vr. I might be in the market for one someday.

[LowG]

Here's mine:


SN 295-93
Passive and active electronics.

Funny thing - I had this for sale for a while but nobody bit. I'm glad it didn't sell, I love this bass.

I'd like to convert it to BEAD, but I don't know where to get a B-string sized "nut screw" that they use for these brass adjust-a-nuts.

[RCCollins]

that is one sexy beast, dgelting! You are #2!

[Elmo Oxygen]

Yeah, this has always been my fave Warwick model, but I never did get one before they were discontinued (got a Thumb instead, bad idea). I've considered picking up a Rockbass since that's the only way to get a fortress these days.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by Elmo Oxygen

Yeah, this has always been my fave Warwick model, but I never did get one before they were discontinued (got a Thumb instead, bad idea). I've considered picking up a Rockbass since that's the only way to get a fortress these days.

well, they come up used often enough if you keep your eyes peeled. and if you GOTTA have a new one, the Warwick CS will still do them

[Elmo Oxygen]

Yeah, I know. But, the timing never works out for me. It's either a bunch of great stuff & no money, or I have money & there's nothing decent. But believe me, I'm keeping my eyes open.

[HigherGround93]

I'm just wondering what would be the better buy a Warwick Fortress One or Flashback ?

[bongomania]

Depends what you mean "better buy". They've got completely different electronics, so they will sound quite different. My impression is that the One would be more versatile in terms of appearance and tone, but the Flashback is more rare and "collectible".

[Subscript]

I would love to get a Fortress Flashback. One of the best looking basses I've ever seen!

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by HigherGround93

I'm just wondering what would be the better buy a Warwick Fortress One or Flashback ?

Flashback has an ash body, most other fortresses are Maple. Many offer active/passive switching (but not all). The Flashback has some very particular sounding low-output lipstick pickups, providing a more "vintagey" tone.

Anybody got an ash body P/J Fortress "R&B" they wanna sell me?

[humpy thumb]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

Pretty obscure model to have its own club but here's why I'm founding this:

1) The Fortress is a great design, maybe Warwick's best balance ever. Eminently playable.

2) They are really great sounding basses, passive or active

3) They look bitchen, kinda like a bizarro ric or something

4) They almost invariably have all-wenge necks (win!)

5) They are absurdly undervalued and sell for $600-$700 all the time

6) Warwick really should bring these back, and not just in the rockbass line


There, I have spoken and hereby appoint myself member #1 of the Fortress Footmen!

The reason the Fortress was discontinued was due to lack of sales.If a model isnt selling,it gets pulled.Unfortunate because the Fortress is an absolutely amazing bass.It's just a shame the bass buying public never felt the same way.
Now,knowing Warwick as well as I do.I know for a fact that if demand warrants it,the Fortress will be re-introduced.Just like the Streamer LX.

[justabass]

Here's mine...Still love it!

[RCCollins]

alright it's a club!

1. me
2 dgelting
3 justabass

[Sbociol]

I almost pulled the trigger on a Fortress 5 a few days ago,but ended up buying a '97 Streamer LX instead (all-wenge neck and fretboard)...but the Fortress will always be in my GAS list nevertheless