Does anyone know why Sweetwater does not stock Warwick Basses?

[Greyfoxxero]

High amount of returns and poor sales. A lot of Warwicks suffer from heavy weight and neck dive so they were getting too many returns. Thats at least the case years ago with GuitarCenter who use to carry in house versions of Warwicks (made for GC). Those basses just sat there forever. I know the red Corvette they did was a nice looking and sounding bass but the body was slightly chambered lowering the weight even more which did not sit well with that heavy neck. People would come in and sit down and play it and it would just fall headstock first into the floor. Shame since Warwicks sound so good.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Who is number 1?

Nobody.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

When I do get out (maybe once a year, but realistically less often) I actually prefer driving to Va Beach -- A few cool stores on Witchduck. For some reason, I hate driving through NoVa. And I definitely learned to just avoid those two stores in Richmond; what a joke.

You and me both. Are you in reference to Guitar Works on Cary Street, or Sam Ask and Guitar Center?

While I’ll agree driving in NOVA is a nightmare, making the 2 hour treck from Richmond to Va Beach is no joy either. That said, the next time I’m down there, I’ll check out the scene. Thanks.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Those Richmond stores might be a joke, but I've seen Warwick basses there.

I bought my Warwick at Guitar Center in Midlothian....

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Probably a business decision for any number of reasons, you'd have to ask them.

Warwicks, to me, are very single-minded instruments, not a bad thing in itself. But their insistent use of the African dark woods gives them a certain sonic signature that's not for everyone, and if you do like that tone, then the weight imparted by those wood recipes will drive some guys off, and that's the Catch 22: It's hard to approach that tone without those woods, yet hard to get a lighter weight guitar using them.

Maybe Warwick will discover chambering . . . . .

Single minded? I’m not so sure about that, but I will agree that it does have a certain unique character. I’ll also agree that it would be a lot nicer to play if it was 3 pounds lighter...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

While what you say is good, practical advice; I would hate to drive 3 1/2 hours each way just to find out that yes, they do carry Warwick. One Warwick Rockbass.

My life would be so much easier if Sweetwater just started carrying them. Why doesn't everyone just cater to me?

Re: Rock Bass

Oh that reddish double buck 4 string one that they want a over a thousand for?

 

[Viggo51]

High amount of returns and poor sales. A lot of Warwicks suffer from heavy weight and neck dive so they were getting too many returns. Thats at least the case years ago with GuitarCenter who use to carry in house versions of Warwicks (made for GC). Those basses just sat there forever. I know the red Corvette they did was a nice looking and sounding bass but the body was slightly chambered lowering the weight even more which did not sit well with that heavy neck. People would come in and sit down and play it and it would just fall headstock first into the floor. Shame since Warwicks sound so good.

The hoopla about such neck dive always makes me think what the F$&@! I own 4 Warwick thumbs. My 2000 5 bolt on I've owned since new and has been my main bass That I've played it so much I've recently had to refrett it, Not one ding in the headstock! They are heavy I'll give you that but so are Les Paul's, I don't hear Jimmi Page or Mark Knoffler complaining ( but they have money for chiropractic care) Just get a 2 1/2 to 3 inch strap in suede and your problems are solved, no more neck dive! Sorry to rant but I think that they are amazing beautiful basses and this "neck dive-gate" is turning off potential players before they get the pleasure to one. They are not for every genre I'll give you that but it gives you an excuse to own several different basses!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

View attachment 2861063 While on the topic of German basses I .. to my surprise ...found this at guitar Center.. It’s a passive 5 string that weighs 8 lbs. I’m really digging this bass and will bring it to an upcoming show to give it a good test. A small German builder. The bass is finely crafted and sounds amazing..

I'm trying to figure out the name on the headstock, but no luck finding a website. Do you have a link?

 

[Hand slap]

^ Title.

I guess it's do to licensing or marketing reasons, but I really don't fully understand the exact reason why.
I trust Sweetwater about 15x more than Musicians Friend. Not to mention you can pick the exact model and know the weight of the instrument before you buy it .....

Overall, SW is a more "upper-end" retailer than MF, so it would make more sense to me that SW carry high-end (IMHO) basses like Warwick.

Where I live geographically it is very very difficult for me to try out basses before buying them. In fact, I have only ever held ONE of my basses before buying it. The other 8 I bought based off pictures and reviews.

So maybe it's a blessing they don't sell them, because I would have already ordered two ....

I live in Fort Wayne, they picked up

^ Title.

I guess it's do to licensing or marketing reasons, but I really don't fully understand the exact reason why.
I trust Sweetwater about 15x more than Musicians Friend. Not to mention you can pick the exact model and know the weight of the instrument before you buy it .....

Overall, SW is a more "upper-end" retailer than MF, so it would make more sense to me that SW carry high-end (IMHO) basses like Warwick.

Where I live geographically it is very very difficult for me to try out basses before buying them. In fact, I have only ever held ONE of my basses before buying it. The other 8 I bought based off pictures and reviews.

So maybe it's a blessing they don't sell them, because I would have already ordered two ....

I happen to live in Fort Wayne, they picked up Fodera, and Rick, a while ago, who knows why or why not, I am sure they are looking at as many options as possible? You can't have everything, "Where would you put it?"

 

[Gizmot]

Sweetwater probably doesn’t carry Warwick because GC/MF/WWBW, etc all do. Sweetwater is probably getting a better deal on other brands they already have and they feel like they can make better profit margins. Plus, they won’t get into any competitive price wars either.

It’s just a business decision.

Once you get past the Rockbass models, there are so many options on Warwick models that it makes every sale a custom instrument. I bet Sweetwater would rather deal with products that can sell from stock and don’t require custom options.

As a Warwick owner and fan I’d love to see Sweetwater carry the brand

 

[57pbass]

I'm trying to figure out the name on the headstock, but no luck finding a website. Do you have a link?

Sure

Christof Kost
Link Removed

 

[57pbass]

I'm trying to figure out the name on the headstock, but no luck finding a website. Do you have a link?

You will need flash

 

[40Hz]

You are #2.....

There is a reason why no Warwick.

But that would be telling.

 

[Nephilymbass]

^ Title.

I guess it's do to licensing or marketing reasons, but I really don't fully understand the exact reason why.
I trust Sweetwater about 15x more than Musicians Friend. Not to mention you can pick the exact model and know the weight of the instrument before you buy it .....

Overall, SW is a more "upper-end" retailer than MF, so it would make more sense to me that SW carry high-end (IMHO) basses like Warwick.

Where I live geographically it is very very difficult for me to try out basses before buying them. In fact, I have only ever held ONE of my basses before buying it. The other 8 I bought based off pictures and reviews.

So maybe it's a blessing they don't sell them, because I would have already ordered two ....

I wish they did or at least the rockbass stuff considering I don’t plan on buying a second high end model. I’ve spent most of my money on new gear on Sweetwater the last couple years. I will say Sweetwater does listen to their customers. If enough people ask for them to carry Warwick they just might. They’ve picked up other brands because of that from what I’ve heard.
I will say though that they do carry some really high end basses. For example they sell Fodera

 

[Element Zero]

High amount of returns and poor sales. A lot of Warwicks suffer from heavy weight and neck dive so they were getting too many returns. Thats at least the case years ago with GuitarCenter who use to carry in house versions of Warwicks (made for GC). Those basses just sat there forever. I know the red Corvette they did was a nice looking and sounding bass but the body was slightly chambered lowering the weight even more which did not sit well with that heavy neck. People would come in and sit down and play it and it would just fall headstock first into the floor. Shame since Warwicks sound so good.

Huh. At the store I worked at, we couldn’t get the red 4 or black 5 strings in quick enough. Every time we got them, they sell that day. Never once had a return or any complaint of neck dive on those... and I played every single one before it went on the wall.

 

[Bass'd on a true story]

Jive Sound in NOVA area has a really great selection of basses. I'm not sure if he has any Warwicks in stock at the moment, but I know he's had them in the past. I live in NOVA and there are 3 guitar centers within 10 miles of my house. There are also a ton of other shops like Action Music (Falls Church), Drum N' Strum (Warrenton), Atomic Music (Bowie), and a few others I forget the names of.

I'm sure ONE of them has a Warwick in stock.

 

[ahc]

Chuck Levin's in Wheaton, MD carries Warwick. Don't know what they stock though.

 

[Nephilymbass]

High amount of returns and poor sales. A lot of Warwicks suffer from heavy weight and neck dive so they were getting too many returns. Thats at least the case years ago with GuitarCenter who use to carry in house versions of Warwicks (made for GC). Those basses just sat there forever. I know the red Corvette they did was a nice looking and sounding bass but the body was slightly chambered lowering the weight even more which did not sit well with that heavy neck. People would come in and sit down and play it and it would just fall headstock first into the floor. Shame since Warwicks sound so good.

The neck dive complaints with warwicks are from people who put a $10 strap on a $3k bass. I’m in my fifth German Warwick. And am a big fan of thumb basses which get a lot of neck dive complaints here on talkbass. Doesn’t take a genius to work it out. I mean there’s no fishing line or anything holding these necks up. These two basses were made 15 years apart btw

 

[cnltb]

Does anyone know why Sweetwater does not stock Warwick Basses?
Maybe Warwick won't let them?
Or Sweetwater didn't like the conditions warwick imposes?

 

[cnltb]

View attachment 2861063 While on the topic of German basses I .. to my surprise ...found this at guitar Center.. It’s a passive 5 string that weighs 8 lbs. I’m really digging this bass and will bring it to an upcoming show to give it a good test. A small German builder. The bass is finely crafted and sounds amazing..

Christof Kost is amazing!!!
Go try this if you can!
Link Removed