My Warwick: RIP; or, Funeral for a friend

I'v staunchly defended my much-maligned Warwick Streamer Standard since I got it almost exactly a year ago. I love the neck, the sound, and the way it plays.

But disaster has struck...

I picked it up to play it yesterday, and I discovered a long, thin crack running from both cutaways, all the way down the body, and up the other side where the three pieces of wood are joined - right along the joints.
I knew this was a bad sign. I packed it up and took it back to Guitar Center, where I got it. They didn't really want to hear anything about it, and offered me very little in trade. (That's not my bitch, really though.)

I had another tech look at it, and he said it's a bad glue job. He said yes, it's wood, but it's prematurely aged, and leads to things like this. He said eventually it's just going to come apart.

My problem is this... OK, so it's Warwick's entry level bass. It's STILL an $800 bass (roughly. When I bought it, at least.) Despite the fact I see people picking up some really heavy duty basses here, $800 is still $800. It shouldn't be coming apart so soon. I'm really disappointed in the quality now that I see it going to pieces in front of my eyes.

(And I did keep it waxed.)

On the up-side, the way I see it, I can get a new bass.
I checked out a Warwick Corvette limited ed. with a maple neck. The thing played and sounded like a DREAM. I fell in love with it. But I was trying to keep it under $1k. Plus, I'm a little bitter about Warwick craftsmanship now. I know my situation is probably unique, but screw it... I'm upset about it.

I also played a MM Stingray. Played great, but didn't seem as versatile as the 'Vette.

I think I'm going to end up getting a Peavey B-Quad. It's used, going for $900. It looks great (transparent green with gold hardware) and sounds beautiful.
It's the first graphite neck bass I've played, and it's a totally different animal from the Warwicks. It's just completely different.
It's on 30 day hold right now, but I think I'm going to close the deal on Tuesday.

From everything I hear, they're nice basses.
Thing is, I'm really sad about losing my Warwick. When I say I fell in love with Warwick, I mean it. When I hold it, it feels alive - like it's a living, breathing thing.
The B-Quad, while not exactly feeling 'dead,' is just... Different.
I'm excited about all the tonal possibilities between the soap bars and the piezos, but I'm sad to see the Warwick go.

It's like seeing a family member get sick... Do I take it home and watch it die, or ship it out to the home and get someone else in the house?? ;-)

I think I'm going with "shipping grandma off to the home."

Bring in the B-Quad!
Streamer, we hardly knew ye.

 

Thanks for the advice. I will see what I can do about it.
You've got me thinking straight again. (I tend to get sidetracked by shiny objects - like new basses.) and you guys have me focused on what I should do.
Although the Peavey B-Quad did play really nice...

Warwicknut - thank you very much for the help. Being a total Warwick convert, I couldn't fathom being without a Warwick.

Thanks again.

 

I called Dana B. Goods support. They could not have been nicer. They're going to repair or replace the bass.

In the meantime, I grabbed the Corvette limited edition I had my eye on.

Ahhh... Multi-Warwick goodness.