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How do i buy a Warwick

M

MDCodeRed

Apr 18, 2012
3
0
Victoria, TX
#1
Morning all! I'm new to playing bass. I currently have a borrowed Epiphone 4 string that I'm using. I've searched through different basses and what I like best is Warwick. Specifically, I'm wanting to purchase a German made Warwick, 5 string Corvette $$ with the French Violet Oil finish. I've emailed Warwick and they send me elsewhere. They sent me to a guy that is apparently a rep for Warwick here in the states. He simply directed me to the dealers. Nobody has this specific bass just hanging in the wall waiting for me to come pick it up. I don't get it... Warwick builds basses. I'm wanting to buy a bass. I would think they would be more willing to help me. Do any of y'all have experience dealing with Warwick?

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#3
They proved to me, repeatedly, that they didn't want my business; so your story of getting the runaround is familiar to me. OTOH, by their own words they have cut off most stores in the US from selling their German handmade basses, opting instead for more of a boutique/custom sales model. So you should expect to place your order with the Custom Shop in NYC, and get the bass some months later (maybe many months).
 
#5
12 years ago I ordered a Streamer LX5 in natural finish, a standard no options model middle of their German made line (there weren't Korean or Chinese models back then).
mind you I was told I'd be waiting 3 months for that bass, luckily it arrived in a month.

didn't seem strange back then and it doesn't seem like that now.
 
#7
I suggest you order the specific bass you want but be ready to wait up to 3 months to get it. 29 years ago I bought the first release of a G&L sc 2 brand new and kept it mint. Six months later I bought a Rick then a jazz bass which were brand new from the factory. Used basses are great but there's nothing like being an original owner plus I don't think youll ever find that finish used.
 
#10
Not to mention the amount a refinished loses its value. Keep your **** stock trust me when I say this otherwise if you ever need to sell you'll lose a lot of money. Plus Painting it screws with the sound of the wood. Pay the extra money get what you want.
 
#11
I think you can custom order thru these guys. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

But personally I'd go with Joe on this one. Buy used. Corvettes are out there at good used prices by the boatload. Play it for a while and if it's a keeper then invest some money with a professional refinishing shop to get it exactly the color you want. Cost to do it this way would probably be half the cost of a custom ordered German Warwick.

PS - a lot of players on TB that like Warwicks are also drawn to the Spector line up, so you might take a peek in that direction also. I don't want to debate which is better, they're both top notch, but I find times when my Warwick Thumb bass works great and other times when my Spector REX bass works great.
 
#13
labrador said:
Not to mention the amount a refinished loses its value. Keep your **** stock trust me when I say this otherwise if you ever need to sell you'll lose a lot of money. Plus Painting it screws with the sound of the wood. Pay the extra money get what you want.
Click to expand...

A new Warwick loses about half it's value as soon as it's in your hands. If it's a custom, add the price of a paintjob anyhow. If one is bought (at a good price) used, and then painted, it's still going to take less of a resale drop than if it's bought new.
 
#14
labrador said:
I suggest you order the specific bass you want but be ready to wait up to 3 months to get it. 29 years ago I bought the first release of a G&L sc 2 brand new and kept it mint. Six months later I bought a Rick then a jazz bass which were brand new from the factory. Used basses are great but there's nothing like being an original owner plus I don't think youll ever find that finish used.
Click to expand...

In some cases maybe. In this case I think if you found a used Corvette and had it professionally refinished it wouldn't drop the value. The resale on these instruments isn't particularly high.
 
#16
Bottom line refinished instruments drops the value unless it's done by the factory and good luck to that. I remember in the 80s I could get a fender USA jazz bass for 3 or 400. Since then the value of new and used jazz basses went up. German made Warwicks have an unmatched quality and I can see them going up in value. I have a 1979 jazz bass and would be worth crap if I refinished it and I payed 300 for it in 1983. Im thinking you'll pay close to 800 for the bass you want. Don't refinish it you'll regret it. Ask any Guitar collector most will say buy the one you want and keep it stock unless you want to throw away money then listen to the other guys.
 
#18
labrador said:
German made Warwicks have an unmatched quality
Click to expand...

You apparently have not played many nice basses, or weren't paying attention when you did.

Don't refinish it you'll regret it. Ask any Guitar collector most will say buy the one you want and keep it stock unless you want to throw away money then listen to the other guys.
Click to expand...

Good advise if you're buying instruments because you're a collector and not a musician. Ask most musicians if they regret having their instruments refinished and they'll say no. If you're looking to make a profit, a 2012 Warwick in a funny color is a terrible place to start. Guess it's a good thing the OP never said he was interested in that ;)
 
#20
I walked in to a Sam Ash after trying out a lot of basses at a lot of stores and asked if they had the bass I wanted in the color I wanted( granted the nirvana black is pretty common) and they checked their little data base and found one in a store in Florida. They shipped it up here, Virginia, And I had a new German Corvette $$ in the color I wanted and I got an amazing price. Just ask any o the big stores and if they have one in that color hey will ship it to your store and there you go.
 

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