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Recently picked up a 94' Warwick Fortress One..questions!

Trader05

Trader05

Aug 18, 2020
12
21
Central NJ
#1
Hey everyone,

Recently I picked up a 5 string 94' Warwick Fortress One off guitarcenter.com. I was really interested in getting a German made bass, I always played RB Corvettes. The bass looks like it is in pretty good shape.

Are there any common things to look for? I noticed that this bass has Seymour Duncan active pickups, neck is straight, all the volume and tone controls work fine along with the output jack. Not sure if there is anything else? Everything feels solid and comfortable playing on.

I only had one other experience with GC used equipment. I ordered a 5 string RB Corvette and it was described as great condition and arrived in borderline fair condition, so that was returned.

Pictures:
 
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#5
Trader05 said:
Thanks! I'm not familiar with bass electronics electronics in general. I just added a 3rd picture showing under the cover. Any help is appreciated!
Click to expand...

Ah, I don't know. Any print on the components which might help with identification? Ii wouldn't get too bent if neither the pups nor preamp was original in this case.

Riis
 
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#7
One thing I forgot to mention is value on these. Does anyone know a guestimate range value on this model? I couldn't find anything similar on ebay...I jumped on this for and i figured the worst case scenario their return policy is pretty good.
 
#8
Trader05 said:
One thing I forgot to mention is value on these. Does anyone know a guestimate range value on this model? I couldn't find anything similar on ebay...I jumped on this for and i figured the worst case scenario their return policy is pretty good.
Click to expand...
Appraisal is supposed to be given to supporting members only, if I understand TB rules correctly. I know your post says you've bought it already, but I'm gonna err on the side of caution :D

You CAN search eBay and use the filters to show either completed, or just sold, listings. That would be my recommendation here. (Or support TB and I'll share my personal experience/opinion :cool:
 
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#9
Reedt2000 said:
Appraisal is only supposed to be given to supporting members only, if I understand TB rules correctly. I know your post says you've bought it already, but I'm gonna err on the side of caution :D

You CAN search eBay and use the filters to show either completed, or just sold, listings. That would be my recommendation here. (Or support TB and I'll share my personal experience/opinion :cool:
Click to expand...

I did search ebay, the only one similar that showed was sold in Europe for 1100. Supporting member now
 
#10
cool :thumbsup:

Ive seen these go from as low as $800 to as much as $1300 over the last couple years. Yours is super clean and with the Duncans (which some would consider an upgrade, others might prefer MEC) I'd pay around $1k for it (plus or minus $100). Just my 2 cents :cool:
 
#12
That certainly looks like the MEC preamp to me.
The Duncan pickups could very well be original on this. I had seen several with them. Back in the 90's Seymour Duncan had Dana B Goods all in the same building, and DBG was the distributorship that warehoused Warwick for the US. I lived nearby and used to go visit a buddy that worked there and play a bunch of these. I even had a 98 or 99 Corvette that was factory with SD pickups.
But since this bass is second hand, you dont really know unless Warwick can tell you by the serial.
 
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#13
mikeswals said:
That certainly looks like the MEC preamp to me.
The Duncan pickups could very well be original on this. I had seen several with them. Back in the 90's Seymour Duncan had Dana B Goods all in the same building, and DBG was the distributorship that warehoused Warwick for the US. I lived nearby and used to go visit a buddy that worked there and play a bunch of these. I even had a 98 or 99 Corvette that was factory with SD pickups.
But since this bass is second hand, you dont really know unless Warwick can tell you by the serial.
Click to expand...

Great info, thank you! Ill email Warwick and see what i can find out.
 
#16
SD was an option for Warwick basses in the early 90s, so it *might* be original one-off from the factory. However, the key is whether or not it has a preamp and if the preamp is MEC. It’s unlikely active SD pickups would have been mated to the passive harness in the early Fortress One. Later Fortress One had an active preamp, but the setup was all MEC. Methinks your bass has a pickup swap. But who cares? Nice get.
 
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#17
Trader05 said:
One thing I forgot to mention is value on these. Does anyone know a guestimate range value on this model? I couldn't find anything similar on ebay...I jumped on this for and i figured the worst case scenario their return policy is pretty good.
Click to expand...
I bought my 93 Fortress RnB for ~$900 CAD about 7 years ago.

The fortress is such a great body shape, and yours is a looker! Nice score!
 
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#19
Trader05 said:
Great info, thank you! Ill email Warwick and see what i can find out.
Click to expand...
I emailed them and they were great with getting the info on my bass off of my serial number.
I ordered a ‘98 Fortress One five stringer straight from the factory in ‘98, it came with MEC JJ pickups and preamp. Yours looks exactly like mine other than the color. (Mines a natural honey burst something rather) Cost me $2,800 back then and it’s still one of my favorite basses. One of the only basses I’ll never part with.

edit: I have had to replace the 1/4” barrel jack twice now. Otherwise no real issues.
 
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