I've been cursed by a Warwick

[Anjohl]

Long story short, I visited a longtime friend tonight who's retired, and just has a stupendous collection of guitar/bass gear. We haven't touched bass (ha!) in a while, and hung out for a bit tonight.

Of course, he had to show off some of his toys, and boy, what a toybox! Original vintage Gibsons, Fenders, you name it, And other than a couple of his high end basses, *everything* is on the racks, which was just stressing me *way the hell* out!

70's Gibson LP Deluxe? On the rack. Korean made Samick? On the rack. Gibson Nighthawk? On the rack. Squier/Warmoth partscaster? On the rack!

So anyway, he heard I have a Mustang bass, and had to show off his 72, which was *lovely*. Then out came the LE Stingray, and a 5-string Warwick he had had converted to fretless. This was the first time I have gotten to play a fretless since I *actually* learned to play bass proper, and boy oh boy was it a trip! This one was tuned EADGC, and it was wild having to play on the fretline! I was *not* getting it. He told me to just stop looking at the fretboard. I wasn't getting there at all. So then with a mischievous smile he goes into the other room, and comes out with a crazy looking bass case.

Inside it was what had to be the nicest bass i've ever seen. I don't know the actual model, I have to ask him about it tomorrow (so I can see if a cheaper version exists), but it was a cherry red Warwick 5-string fretless (yes, ANOTHER Warwick, this one NOT converted) with a humbucker in the bridge and a single coil in the Jazz position. As he handed it to me, he said matter of factly: "this is worth more than your car", and it was!

This thing sang. I was playing it like it was part of me. After about ten minutes, I looked at him and said "i've forgotten that it was fretless". It didn't matter. I forgot about it. I am sure I was out of tune here and there, but I didn't notice, I was having too much fun!

And the best part? We played everything into a vintage Fender Bassman

What a fun night, what was supposed to be a 30 minute visit became a 4 hour catching up session with a great friend I don't see often enough!

And sweet Jesus that Warwick....

I don't think I will ever forget her...

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Likely a jazzman or a p-nut signature

 

[Anjohl]

Likely a jazzman or a p-nut signature

I think it was a Jazzman. Do they make those in HS fretless?

 

[Not_Shane]

I think it was a Jazzman. Do they make those in HS fretless?

They made a fretless Jazzman streamers in the early 2000's.
I see used ones about 4 grand give or take.

 

[burgerdj]

yeah…same thing happened to me back in ‘94. I was a newbie noodling in a used gear shop and a very cool sales associate asked me if I wanted to try a cool bass they just got in. It was a ‘92 Streamer Stage 1. Gameover. All other basses were then compared to that experience.

I’ve been a Warwick devotee since.

 

[Anjohl]

yeah…same thing happened to me back in ‘94. I was a newbie noodling in a used gear shop and a very cool sales associate asked me if I wanted to try a cool bass they just got in. It was a ‘92 Streamer Stage 1. Gameover. All other basses were then compared to that experience.

I’ve been a Warwick devotee since.

This was like a nuclear bomb. I feel like it changed my whole bass paradigm.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

That’s great when it happens, only bass I ever picked up like that was an Alembic I had no hope of affording. Like looking at my dream car, a Jag E Type, and knowing it’s a pipe dream, at least for a working stiff like me.

 

[40Hz]

As he handed it to me, he said matter of factly: "this is worth more than your car",

he heard I have a Mustang bass, and had to show off his 72

The above speaks volumes about where this friend of your’s head is at IMO.

Glad you at least got to play a unicorn bass however.

 

[Rooster009]

Just as a for instance, this is what a 2003 FNA Jazzman looks like. His is likely a custom shop if it’s Cherry red.

 

[TroyK]

The woods, design, and build quality of German Warwick's is on a whole other plane of existence.

I've been trying to sell one for a while, but it's made me play it every day and I'm starting to question myself.

 

[Anjohl]

That’s great when it happens, only bass I ever picked up like that was an Alembic I had no hope of affording. Like looking at my dream car, a Jag E Type, and knowing it’s a pipe dream, at least for a working stiff like me.

Yeah, for sure. Nothing wrong with having something to dream about tho! Life can take funny turns, and income levels can change!

 

[Anjohl]

The above speaks volumes about where this friend of your’s head is at IMO.

Glad you at least got to play a unicorn bass however.

Naw, it's not like that at all. You'd have to know the guy. He worked in a managerial role for the government for his entire life, and gear has always been his hobby. He spent most of his free time over the past 40 years driving around finding the gear deals, and he likes the share them with his friends. I bet if I had asked him to loan one of them to me for a week to play at a gig, he would have said "absolutely" and told me to take my pick.

We are all different points in our journey, both in terms of life stages and income levels. I don't resent friends for having more disposable income than I do!

 

[bigdaddybass12]

And sweet Jesus that Warwick....

I don't think I will ever forget her...

That is why I don’t play other basses! I don’t even like going into music stores!
So, when are you gonna buy one?

 

[WG Plum]

The woods, design, and build quality of German Warwick's is on a whole other plane of existence.

I've been trying to sell one for a while, but it's made me play it every day and I'm starting to question myself.

Link?

 

[TroyK]

Link?

https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/reduced-1995-warwick-corvette.1658641/

 

[Root 5]

The woods, design, and build quality of German Warwick's is on a whole other plane of existence.

I've been trying to sell one for a while, but it's made me play it every day and I'm starting to question myself.

I like them too and agree the quality is very good. They’re just insanely expensive now. $12,500cdn for a Thumb 4 NT!

 

[TroyK]

Not familiar with that model. Electronics are different, but German made Corvettes seem to bring $1,000-1,600 used. I've got mine listed for $999.

I don't have experience with the Rockbass (non-German) line, but they can be had well under a grand and appear to have similar design.

 

[bass12]

I like them too and agree the quality is very good. They’re just insanely expensive now. $12,500cdn for a Thumb 4 NT!

Luckily you can get them used for between a third and a fourth of that price! Warwicks have to have some of the worst resale value on the planet...

 

[bassalien]

German Warwicks are amazing - amazing build quality, sound, and even has glow int he dark side dots!
The question is are you more into Streamers, or the wild size like a Dolphin or Buzzard? Or the epic Thumb?

 

[red_bassist]

I was finally able to purchase a Warwick Thumb a few months ago, after wanting one for years. I got a 4 string bolt on Thumb from 2001 with the D shaped neck profile, and it's the only bass that I play now.