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Painting My Warwick Streamer LX5
- Thread starter FiveStringer1
- Start date
Warwick charges quite a bit for a refinish, especially if you want something similar to the hand rubbed oil finish that is original. Also, even if done by the factory, the serial number look up on their site will have a different color if changed and that may turn off some buyers.
When I looked into refinishing my German $$ that had been gigged with hard and hated the color anyway, most reputable shops were quoting me $500+. It would be a little less if I sent it to them prepped with all the sanding an wood fill done before. Since warwicks only sell used for around 40-50% of their original price, I figured it could not hurt it that much more, and I never plan on getting rid of it, so I just did it myself. Took only $50 in supplies, but over a month to finish, but I like it way better than the original. Yours looks nice as is though.
If you are doing it to get more value out of a sale, it is not worth it, but if you just want to change the color for yourself, go for it. Though, unless a pro or the factory did it for you I would be worried about sanding through that gorgeous top, who knows how deep that stain penetrated. But yeah, that blue would look sick!
When I looked into refinishing my German $$ that had been gigged with hard and hated the color anyway, most reputable shops were quoting me $500+. It would be a little less if I sent it to them prepped with all the sanding an wood fill done before. Since warwicks only sell used for around 40-50% of their original price, I figured it could not hurt it that much more, and I never plan on getting rid of it, so I just did it myself. Took only $50 in supplies, but over a month to finish, but I like it way better than the original. Yours looks nice as is though.
If you are doing it to get more value out of a sale, it is not worth it, but if you just want to change the color for yourself, go for it. Though, unless a pro or the factory did it for you I would be worried about sanding through that gorgeous top, who knows how deep that stain penetrated. But yeah, that blue would look sick!
Refinish and keep it, or sell it as is. You'll never recover the $600+ the refinish will cost.
And honestly...$1400 is a pretty steep price for a plain old bolt on, non broadneck, non wenge, non-bridge humbucker Streamer.
And honestly...$1400 is a pretty steep price for a plain old bolt on, non broadneck, non wenge, non-bridge humbucker Streamer.
I reposted the color sample of blue so it's easier to tell on the bass rather than just a chip. ...And yeah... I will keep it. If people only want to give me less than half what it sold for new, then I will never sell it.
@Haji... if you saw the samples above, what would lead you to believe I was going to cover up the flame maple?
@Olirm... I'm actually thinking about having Pat Wilkins of Wilkins Guitars re-finish my bass. Since I will no longer be selling it, I don't need to pay the higher price for Warwick to do the job.
@mmbongo... $1400 steep? Then why does Warwick get over 2500 new?? It also has an Ovankol neck with a wenge fretboard. Some people like bolt on better. I do. Neck thru's are too heavy. This bass weighs 9.1 pounds and that's as heavy as I go.
@Haji... if you saw the samples above, what would lead you to believe I was going to cover up the flame maple?
@Olirm... I'm actually thinking about having Pat Wilkins of Wilkins Guitars re-finish my bass. Since I will no longer be selling it, I don't need to pay the higher price for Warwick to do the job.
@mmbongo... $1400 steep? Then why does Warwick get over 2500 new?? It also has an Ovankol neck with a wenge fretboard. Some people like bolt on better. I do. Neck thru's are too heavy. This bass weighs 9.1 pounds and that's as heavy as I go.
I've had 4 German warwicks resale value is going to suck no matter what you do. Even my neck through thumb which goes for 4600 new only sold for about 2 grand. German corvettes i sold for 700-800. Thumb bolt on about $1200. It's like a car man. Just about any car that's paid for is only worth so much to someone who would buy it.
+1. Last year I bought a German 4 string Streamer LX Jazzman in better cosmetic shape, with a nicer (IMO) burgundy coloured oil finish, and bolt on wenge neck for $900, complete with Warwick gig bag and a 3 month warranty from the store. IMO, that was a fair market price for what I got.
Refinished or not, the market isn't supporting the kind of price that you want to get for that bass right now, and it may not ever. Unfortunately it has nothing to do with what MSRP or original sale price or what you paid for it is, its about what others will pay. Lots of gorgeous basses sell for amazingly low prices around here, just search the Classifieds on here and get some comparison points.
It seems as though the comments in this thread aren't lining up with what you wanted to hear, which is too bad, but its also good information to have for you when making decisions about what to do. So, yeah, go ahead and refinish it for personal reasons if you like and keep it if you don't want to lose any money on the recent purchase - those are all good things to do with a bass that you enjoy, and Warwicks are fantastic instruments (I know from having had 2 of them, the aforementioned Streamer and a Thumb5NT)! But as far as the broader market is concerned, it seems quite clear that any kind of refinish will definitely hurt and drive resale value even further below the <50% of new price that it is already at.
Best of luck to you with whatever you choose to do.
I agree with everything rojo412 said - great basses with not much of a resale value. The current color looks good, but for some reason if you were to refinish it I'd go with the satin French Violet.
Warwick a have always had a low resale value. I know, I've owned 15 of them. 1400 is a good amount to expect that bass to sell for. It's an LX, not a neck thru. I just scored a Corvette $$5 NT that needs a refinish for 700 USD. for 700 USD! That's a frigging steal! Buying used is great if you're into Warwicks, buying new is not if you want to keep money in your pockets come flip time ;-)
Hey guys... look what I found!
I love this as well... my choice gets harder. What do you all think of this color? I know it's on a Stage 1. I DO love the looks of the Stage 1, but would NEVER spend what they ask for one. Plus, the weight is usually an issue as I really don't care to go much over 9 pounds.
@mtdkingstonheir... Thanks for your thoughts! French Violet is a favorite, but I am now looking at the Black Cherry Burst in Gloss~!
@bostonasphalt2... Yes, I am finding this out. That's why I have decided to NEVER sell this bass.
I love this as well... my choice gets harder. What do you all think of this color? I know it's on a Stage 1. I DO love the looks of the Stage 1, but would NEVER spend what they ask for one. Plus, the weight is usually an issue as I really don't care to go much over 9 pounds.
@mtdkingstonheir... Thanks for your thoughts! French Violet is a favorite, but I am now looking at the Black Cherry Burst in Gloss~!
@bostonasphalt2... Yes, I am finding this out. That's why I have decided to NEVER sell this bass.
Hey you guys... Here is one Warwick Streamer LX5 that just sold for $1700!!
And it was in WORSE condition than mine! I emailed him to see what it sold
for.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Warwick-Streamer-LX-5-string-Bass-Made-in-Germany-/111226648702?pt=Guitar&hash=item19e59ff87e&nma=true&si=4ImxU12MmcneRhuCq3uwUYcC%2B%2Fc%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
So, there are those who WILL pay a decent price for a decent bass.
And it was in WORSE condition than mine! I emailed him to see what it sold
for.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Warwick-Streamer-LX-5-string-Bass-Made-in-Germany-/111226648702?pt=Guitar&hash=item19e59ff87e&nma=true&si=4ImxU12MmcneRhuCq3uwUYcC%2B%2Fc%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
So, there are those who WILL pay a decent price for a decent bass.
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the fact is.. Warwicks are expensive to buy new, but are relatively inexpensive to purchase used.. i have a 04 Corvette ProLine 4.. you can pretty much find it any where between $700-$900.. but, if i wanted one from the Custom Shop, i was quoted $6775.00 (Bass Central) for the same *exact* spec ProLine.. although, it would have the current flight case and the Custom Shop logo on the back of the headstock..
it is your bass.. if you want to refinish it, go ahead.. but, i'd have a quality finish put on it.. it really doesn't matter what color, as long as you like it..
it is your bass.. if you want to refinish it, go ahead.. but, i'd have a quality finish put on it.. it really doesn't matter what color, as long as you like it..
Yah... I wonder why that is... because Warwick makes some of the best basses.
Blue has out bid all others and I'm leaning towards it actually. I've been considering
all colors in the post for some time now and when I saw this bass, I thought it
really should be this color. Thanks for your input!
Blue has out bid all others and I'm leaning towards it actually. I've been considering
all colors in the post for some time now and when I saw this bass, I thought it
really should be this color. Thanks for your input!
