Anyone know the difference between the Warwick GPS series and the other German made Warwicks?

Looks like a wenge vs. ovankol neck, bronze vs. nickel frets and brass vs. chrome bridge. Plus the case and a nifty letter from the company.
I have an older Corvette with the wenge, bronze and brass and sounds like you'd expect. Maybe others can chime in if there's much of a difference.

 

regular german = Wenge neck, wenge boards, bell bronze frets, brass just a nut, glow in the dark side dotes, brass bridge. 2 peice bodies

Pro series german = ovangkol neck, wenge boards, nickle silver?? frets, tedur just a nut, glow in the dark side dots, alloy bridge, 3 peice bodies.

I think there both will share the IFT fret thingo. so thats a plus.

 

I'm pretty sure the current GPS are basically rough built/routed out by Warwick in Germany, then the detailed finish work is outsourced to local non-Warwick shops. Still very much quality instruments.

 

yeah the Korean pro series was from 2011-2013 i think...

killer instrument, and stupid cheap too. i own 2

 

my 2011 pro series thumb bass bolt on sounds just like my 2004 german Thumb NT.

the mid control does mean i can get more bark from the NT but when left at the centre detent, its the same. I even upgraded the 04 model with a brass nut and they still sound the same.

out of my basses

Infinity NT 4 string
Pro series corvette bubinga 5
pro series thumb Bolt on 5
NT thumb 5 string.

the best sounding is the corvette. Meaty and growly. strung with Dr High beams and it just sings.

 

Current Warwick Pro Series are crafted in Germany, assembled in same Chinese plant as Warwick Rockbasses.

 

Not the "German Pro Series", which was the subject of this thread. Easy to verify direct with Florin on Warwick.de forum if unclear.

 

Hmm, you seem to be right... That's a bit odd - Warwick must have changed paths just before the release of the German Pro Series line.

Initially, when they decided to close the Korean factory last year, the Pro Series line was to be crafted in Germany, and assembled in China, and was stated as such for a long time. It seems now they've changed that though and are crafting most of the pieces in the German Warwick factory, and then outsourcing the fitting and finishing aspects to little shops within Germany.

 

Why not upgrade to a Streamer, get a real German Warwick, and save a ton of cash all at the same time?

Streamer Double Buck 4-String Nirvana Black

 

I'm surprised to see nickel silver frets on the new German Pro Series models. The late-model Korean Pro Series basses opted for their bell bronze frets.

EDIT: Warwick describes them as bell bronze, not brass.

 

I meant to say bell bronze frets. Just corrected that.

Warwick says they're more durable and have unique overtones - they describe it as "combining the sound of a bass guitar with the transparency and the abundance of overtones of the ringing of a church bell". I honestly am skeptical on whether the frets contribute that much to tone, though, considering that nickel silver fretwire is an industry standard (the common alternative being stainless steel, which to me has no perceivable tonal difference).

I own a Korean Pro Series Corvette 5-string with bell bronze frets, but I haven't had it long enough to comment on durability, or if there is a perceivable difference in tone compared to a Warwick bass with nickel silver frets. It sounds just like a German Corvette to me, and that's all that matters.

 

That website says they're the official US distributor for Warwick, but they don't have very many basses. Do they get updated inventory, or are they just selling the Dana B. Goods inventory, and when that's gone they're done?

edit for an update: I decided to call the number on the website. The basses listed on the website are all 2007-2008 Warwicks from Dana B. Goods. They have multiple copies of the listed instruments (so about 40 basses in stock). Since they are an authorized dealer, they can get any Warwick that the US distributor has in stock, and can also do special orders. To find out if the distributor has what you want in stock (and how much), just send them an email.