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How do i buy a Warwick

#21
Bryan R. Tyler said:
You apparently have not played many nice basses, or weren't paying attention when you did.

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 ;)
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Bryan if your were face to face with me and seen my collection and seen me your response would be much different. I play my collection and I have bought used and new equipment. Bottom line is I'm right. I'm not being a dick I'm stating a fact. German made Warwicks are well made instrument that have a unique sound. To me nothing beats a jazz bass and it's the most copied instrument in the world sound wise and shape wise. I'm a player and a collector and I can't tell you how many musicians drool over my gear because I kept everything stock. All you babies out there probably have a point but in the long run you know I'm right. I have a story of a custom made Conklin and an aguilar pre amp needless to say someone wishes they would have listened to me. If your a musician you know once you do something to change it from the factory you plan to keep it and your not looking for a return. I don't suggest that for someone just starting out because what If you decide you don't want to play and could use extra money. Stop flaming me I have a point
 
#27
mmbongo said:
German Warwicks are indeed finely made basses, I love mine. But saying they are 'unmatched in quality' is quite asinine, as the Spector that sits next to my Warwick proves.
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Really fella did you know that the early made warwicks sold so well because of the quality not to mention the low end. Take a corvette standard then get a Tobias growler. I always thought the growler sounded amazing but the quality of the Warwick was beyond amazing and was one of the things mentioned on every review. The problem with Spector is all the legal battles they went through and there was a transition period where there were people like me were skeptical. I had a USA SSD I wasn't crazy about it and my neck through thumb bass blew it away. Since then I got a European bolt on and I love it. Again to say asinine Means you don't remember the 80s and 90s where so many companies cut corners didn't say they were the best but so many companies stepped up there QC because of Warwick
 
#28
labrador said:
Really fella did you know that the early made warwicks sold so well because of the quality not to mention the low end. Take a corvette standard then get a Tobias growler. I always thought the growler sounded amazing but the quality of the Warwick was beyond amazing and was one of the things mentioned on every review. The problem with Spector is all the legal battles they went through and there was a transition period where there were people like me were skeptical. I had a USA SSD I wasn't crazy about it and my neck through thumb bass blew it away. Since then I got a European bolt on and I love it. Again to say asinine Means you don't remember the 80s and 90s where so many companies cut corners didn't say they were the best but so many companies stepped up there QC because of Warwick
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Well when I time travel back to the 80s or 90s this will be very valuable information, as of now there are a whole bunch of manufacturers making quality instruments (many of whom match Warwick). If only I had the money to buy any of them.
 
#29
sumgruuvz said:
oh also try out spectors customer support. im sure you wont find any better. total...awesome...service...and basses ;)
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In my book, Spector and Warwick go hand in hand, like a P bass and a Jazz. Both very different, both very good and each takes off in a direction the other one cant reach. My Warwick Thumb BO5 is warm and woody sounding and can deliver a very calm cool jazz tone at one end of the spectrum then dial in a classic heavy metal tone at the other end. My Spector REX5 is perfectly capable of of doing classic hard rock all they way thru screaming headbanging heavy metal riffs. One just picks up where the other leaves off, very complementary of eachother.
If the OP is set on a Warwick Corvette $$ that's great, they are fantastic basses, especially the German ones, but I'd strongly recommend a used one vs new to save some serious money (thousands of dollars). This is his first new bass, his tastes will continue to evlove and he'll buy more gear and may decide to sell or keep the corvette. So buying used will hedge that bet and if it's a keeper he can decide if he wants to impact the collector value with a refinish. BTW - a quality refin to a Warwick spec color will not significantly alter the value of it as a used bass (depending on the color and quality and what price it was purchased for used it might actually increase the value), however, it will eliminate it as a potential collector investment bass. I collect basses and guitars for investment and will flat out say - if it isn't 100% stock original it's a non starter, end of deal. I also play and enjoy my non investment basses and for those, depending on what was done and how well it was done I wouldn't hesitate to make a used bass offer on a nice playing good looking quality non original bass.
 
#30
Look used. I love my Wicks but Warwick greatly inflates their new prices; a $4200 SSII can be found for half that on the used market. If you're looking for a Corvette $$ then you can definitely find one for just over a grand in the classifieds, eBay, etc.
 
#31
labrador said:
Bryan if your were face to face with me and seen my collection and seen me your response would be much different. I play my collection and I have bought used and new equipment. Bottom line is I'm right. I'm not being a dick I'm stating a fact. German made Warwicks are well made instrument that have a unique sound. To me nothing beats a jazz bass and it's the most copied instrument in the world sound wise and shape wise. I'm a player and a collector and I can't tell you how many musicians drool over my gear because I kept everything stock. All you babies out there probably have a point but in the long run you know I'm right. I have a story of a custom made Conklin and an aguilar pre amp needless to say someone wishes they would have listened to me. If your a musician you know once you do something to change it from the factory you plan to keep it and your not looking for a return. I don't suggest that for someone just starting out because what If you decide you don't want to play and could use extra money. Stop flaming me I have a point
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I personally would never look at a modern instrument with the intentions of collecting or getting any return on my investment. The German Warwick that I bought (and no argument here on build quality) had a street price new of around $1800, I bought one used for $500 and it was stock.

Buy a new Warwick, Spector or any maker (maybe a couple of exceptions) and you will lose money on it selling it used ,regardless if it has been modified or not. I have seen several of the Warwick limited editions here on TB and none of them hold their value (again, this pertains to almost all makers).

I suppose if I wanted a collectors item, say a 60's or 70's Jazz for example, I would want it as close to stock as possible, however.

I do stand by the suggestion to buy used and send it out to get a refin if you have a certain color you want.
 
#34
GBassNorth said:
In my book, Spector and Warwick go hand in hand, like a P bass and a Jazz. Both very different, both very good and each takes off in a direction the other one cant reach. My Warwick Thumb BO5 is warm and woody sounding and can deliver a very calm cool jazz tone at one end of the spectrum then dial in a classic heavy metal tone at the other end. My Spector REX5 is perfectly capable of of doing classic hard rock all they way thru screaming headbanging heavy metal riffs. One just picks up where the other leaves off, very complementary of eachother.
If the OP is set on a Warwick Corvette $$ that's great, they are fantastic basses, especially the German ones, but I'd strongly recommend a used one vs new to save some serious money (thousands of dollars). This is his first new bass, his tastes will continue to evlove and he'll buy more gear and may decide to sell or keep the corvette. So buying used will hedge that bet and if it's a keeper he can decide if he wants to impact the collector value with a refinish. BTW - a quality refin to a Warwick spec color will not significantly alter the value of it as a used bass (depending on the color and quality and what price it was purchased for used it might actually increase the value), however, it will eliminate it as a potential collector investment bass. I collect basses and guitars for investment and will flat out say - if it isn't 100% stock original it's a non starter, end of deal. I also play and enjoy my non investment basses and for those, depending on what was done and how well it was done I wouldn't hesitate to make a used bass offer on a nice playing good looking quality non original bass.
Click to expand...

i completely agree with you. both make very fine basses and are a joy to play. yes, they are both tonally different and thats a good thing. i know the feeling of wanting something new and then to find out later that if you want to trade or sell, the value is probably 40-50% of what you initially paid. good thing experience teaches us vets a good lesson ;) but hes going to do what he wants and thats fine. it is his money. so be it. just if he screws up and later on says "i should have listened to those guys on tb". lesson learned.
 
#38
I have a $$ and my new Cort A5 is better in every aspect from a construction point of view, and it's not because it's new and mine, if you ever get a chance to look at one you will be amazed, unbelievable attention to detail , and yes it sounds good also. I love my $$ too.
On another note;
I refinished a Carvin with a oil finish and sold it for 150 more than I paid for it. It was all KOA, I added a little black walnut to it and wow!
 
#39
So I think someone already said this, but it may have gotten lost in the used/new debate. Check out basscentral.com, they kick serious ass, have a huge selection, bad ass prices, and helped me find Warwick when I was obsessed with MusicMan a few years back. I'm not sure how their warwick stock is doing now, but all of the warwicks i've seen on ebay are way overpriced for used basses... there were a few on here in the for sale section that were fantastically priced as well... I think basscentral.com can do custom orders as well if you call them (if I remember correctly)... but that will freakin cost you...
 

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