• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Warwick corvette

#85
Just to give my two cents...

I saw this listing on ebay and personally I thought the seller intentionally tried to trick somebody into thinking it was an authentic German bass by not mentioning that it's a Rockbass under the item name in addition to the marker over the rockbass logo on the truss rod cover.

According to eBay it's the seller's responsibility to accurately depict what they are selling. I don't think the seller did everything they could to accurately represent the item.


"To make sure you're giving potential buyers an accurate representation of your items, you should write your own descriptions and use your own images. This also ensures you're not infringing on anyone else's content rights." - eBay

Furthermore, eBay protects buyers against items that don't match their listing.

"eBay Money Back Guarantee means you're protected if the item you ordered didn't arrive, is faulty or damaged, or doesn't match the listing. You'll get your money back. For all the details of how the eBay Money Back Guarantee works, please see our full policy guidelines below."




In this case, obviously OP figured out that it was a Rockbass before it even arrived. I think there is a case to be made where OP could argue the listing misrepresented the item, but it's not that strong.


$450 for the bass is not a terrible deal and obviously OP wanted it to some degree before realizing it was Rockbass. My recommendation would be to purchase it, sell it if you don't like it taking a marginal loss and learn a valuable lesson.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: wizard65, Luka and amper
#86
Luka said:
because once I heard that people are buying good rating ebay accounts and use it for their evil plans, scamming lots of people. My heart was beating like a drum machine the last second I bid. It's about my ignorance, if I knew that it was rockbass and not The Warwick, I wouldn't bid
Click to expand...

I don't especially hate ebay, I just avoid dealing with all monopoly scams featuring illegal unregulated banking.

Don't pay, you got scammed. He was gruff and uninformative so you would be intimidated and wouldn't ask questions.

He blanked out the text hoping the tiny pics would hide it. And it worked, you got taken. Send it back.

Otherwise it will smell bad around your neck real soon, no matter how pretty the instrument or how 'good a deal' you got.

The worst that will happen is that ebay will ban you. Good, at least you won't get scammed by eBay for a while.

And professional buyers and sellers on TB will trash talk you and defend ebay. Ouch. "You'll never work in this town again, Tirebighter."
 
  • Like
Reactions: wizard65
#88
amper said:
The Warwick Custom Shop of 2018 is not the Warwick Custom Shop of 2002, when I placed my order. Warwick had yet to create the RockBass line, and was a much smaller production company. The USD was about 1.00 to the EUR versus 1.17-1.23 currently.

In 2002, Warwick took custom orders as additional options to standard production basses. In recent years, they have an entirely separate price list for the Custom Shop Masterbuilt instruments that starts at $4999.99 USD for a Corvette $$ and goes up from there, and *then* you can add the prices of the options you want to that base price. There is no way to specify custom options on the current Pro Series Teambuilt instruments. The closest thing to my Corvette Proline in the 2018 price list would be a Corvette Standard bubinga active-active, which lists for $2699.99 USD, or nearly double what the same model cost in 2002 ($1399 USD).

At the time I placed my order, its list price including all options was $2244.00 USD. Even only accounting for the 20% change in the exchange rate, that would be $2692.80, today, but of course, that isn't even considering inflation. For that, we have to tack on another 40% (per US BLS statistics, 2002-2018), so it's really $3769.92 USD in 2018 dollars, or €3,225.11 EUR.
Click to expand...
Invalid Link Removed

May want to check out this store. They have better prices. Bubinga/ovankol active active listed for 2002 prices. Also, Masterbuilt basses start around 3000€ for the Corvette $$. Not sure if there are cheaper models. Plus all of this is MSRP. if you are buying something common like a SS1, Thumb, or Corvette will be sold new below MSRP.
 
#89
B-Mac said:
Here is the thing...
The Rockbass line of basses are still Warwick basses. There is no company called 'Rockbass'. They are simply an affordable Warwick bass made in Asia.

.....
Based on how you're looking at the Rockbass line of basses it would be as if Fender's made in Mexico would be a separate company. They're not. They're made by Fender in a Fender plant in Mexico.​

....​

​
Click to expand...

Yes, and to use your example, not every posting you see identifies Fender basses by their place of manufacture, you still often see "Fender Jazz Bass" on listings.....not "MIM or Standard" Fender Jazz bass. That's not false advertising as it is a Fender bass. It's up to the buyer to consider the pricing, look at features to ascertain if it is a MIM or MIA and whether it's appropriate and consistent with the purchase price. Now a Squier listed as a Fender is different and incorrect.
I remember reading an article a while back, I'll have to find it - but Warwick's intent was to make the newer model Rockbasses closer in terms of quality and features to the German Warwick basses hence it was given the "W" on the headstock instead of "Rockbass" of previous models. They felt and were comfortable enough that the Rockbass line now had enough features, elements and standards of the Warwick brand to justify the change on the headstock logo. Again, we're talking about a bass that sells new for over $900 in the op's case, it's not a budget bass. The purchase price is consistent with that. He did okay, wasn't overcharged at all, and if unhappy with it, could easily resell it and get his money back. It's really a pretty darn good bass and I love the beautiful finish on it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cmcbass, ruju and B-Mac
#90
Maxdusty said:
Yes, and to use your example, not every posting you see identifies Fender basses by their place of manufacture, you still often see "Fender Jazz Bass" on listings.....not "MIM or Standard" Fender Jazz bass. That's not false advertising as it is a Fender bass. It's up to the buyer to consider the pricing, look at features to ascertain if it is a MIM or MIA and whether it's appropriate and consistent with the purchase price. Now a Squier listed as a Fender is different and incorrect.
I remember reading an article a while back, I'll have to find it - but Warwick's intent was to make the newer model Rockbasses closer in terms of quality and features to the German Warwick basses hence it was given the "W" on the headstock instead of "Rockbass" of previous models. They felt and were comfortable enough that the Rockbass line now had enough features, elements and standards of the Warwick brand to justify the change on the headstock logo. Again, we're talking about a bass that sells new for over $900 in the op's case, it's not a budget bass. The purchase price is consistent with that. He did okay, wasn't overcharged at all, and if unhappy with it, could easily resell it and get his money back. It's really a pretty darn good bass and I love the beautiful finish on it.
Click to expand...


Do you really agree with that? Shouldn't it be on the seller to be transparent about what they are selling? Do you really want to live in a world where sellers post "FENDER JAZZ BASS" and you have to figure out if it's a squier, VM Squier or MIM Fender? Personally I don't, it's the seller's responsibility to accurately describe their product to the best of their ability.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wizard65 and Anhg77
#91
HELLonWHEELS said:
Do you really agree with that? Shouldn't it be on the seller to be transparent about what they are selling? Do you really want to live in a world where sellers post "FENDER JAZZ BASS" and you have to figure out if it's a squier, VM Squier or MIM Fender? Personally I don't, it's the seller's responsibility to accurately describe their product to the best of their ability.
Click to expand...

I agree with you to a point, but still maintain my view on the matter.
Advertising a Squier bass as a Fender is completely inaccurate, that's the part I agree with you on.
Advertising a mim Fender bass as simply a Fender bass is COMPLETELY accurate. A STANDARD Fender is the standard and they are made in Mexico. In most cases I've seen, a Fender bass is advertised by the seller as Made in the US to justify the higher cost rather than the reverse.
Describing any issues or problems with the bass is in my mind should absolutely be made clear by the seller. Sure it would be nice to get as much information as possible, In the case of the op, it does say on the listing the bass is made in China. That's pretty transparent.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cmcbass
#92
Luka said:
I was the only bidder, if it was't me, no winner then. I know its not fair not to pay, but don't think its a big sin :D If I won after like 30 bids, then it would be shame not to pay
Click to expand...
The newer Rockbasses by Warwick are no joke. I have a Corvette $$ 5 string passive and it’s a tone monster! Plays and sound fantastic. Getting hung up on the name and country of origin of these basses is just one more uneducated decision you are making.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bassworks1977
#93
Maxdusty said:
I agree with you to a point, but still maintain my view on the matter.
Advertising a Squier bass as a Fender is completely inaccurate, that's the part I agree with you on.
Advertising a mim Fender bass as simply a Fender bass is COMPLETELY accurate. A STANDARD Fender is the standard and they are made in Mexico. In most cases I've seen, a Fender bass is advertised by the seller as Made in the US to justify the higher cost rather than the reverse.
Describing any issues or problems with the bass is in my mind should absolutely be made clear by the seller. Sure it would be nice to get as much information as possible, In the case of the op, it does say on the listing the bass is made in China. That's pretty transparent.
Click to expand...
I guess the question here is a rock bass more like a MIM bass or a squier.

In terms of quality and price point rockbass is clearly more similar to a MIM fender then even a VM squier. However in terms of nomenclature, Warwick Rockbass is more similar to Squier by Fender.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wizard65
#94
ruju said:
The newer Rockbasses by Warwick are no joke. I have a Corvette $$ 5 string passive and it’s a tone monster! Plays and sound fantastic. Getting hung up on the name and country of origin of these basses is just one more uneducated decision you are making.
Click to expand...

I have the same bass. Got it for cheap knowing it had neck issues. Spent quite a bit on a replane and refret with Evo gold fret wire. I put in a no load tone pot and put on hipshot LIC tuners. I spent about $800 on it all together, and I love it. It's my #1 bass.

People love to talk about modding their squiers and mim fenders, then having a bass that plays and sounds as good or better than an American fender. So what do people have against the Chinese made Warwicks?

Also if anyone asks about my bass at shows or whatever, I tell them it's a Chinese bass. I have no qualms about playing Chinese gear.
 
#95
I am pretty sure this is a Warwick RockBass. Made in Asia. You can tell from the following:

1) maple neck
2) 4 knob configuration
3) the truss rod cover read “Rock Bass” at the bottom and it looks like the owner blacked that out with a sharpie per the pictures.
 
#96
Buyers Remorse. The price sounds about right it would be twice as much new or used German Made. Quite frankly with a thick piece of laminated flamed maple, it is pretty nice. With CNC cutting everything, it comes down to material and fret finish. The wood selection appears to be good, electronics will be decent, it's a nice quality inexpensive instrument. You might prefer the Rockbass neck profile better than a German milled neck. It is fair market value. You have to play it to make any real judgement on it.

Personally, all these mid level basses keep their costs reasonable by skipping the hand labor on the fret work. Get a nice fret level and dress. It will play like a $2K bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ruju
#97
Maxdusty said:
Advertising a Squier bass as a Fender is completely inaccurate, that's the part I agree with you on.
Advertising a mim Fender bass as simply a Fender bass is COMPLETELY accurate. A STANDARD Fender is the standard and they are made in Mexico. In most cases I've seen, a Fender bass is advertised by the seller as Made in the US to justify the higher cost rather than the reverse.
Click to expand...

HELLonWHEELS said:
I guess the question here is a rock bass more like a MIM bass or a squier.

In terms of quality and price point rockbass is clearly more similar to a MIM fender then even a VM squier. However in terms of nomenclature, Warwick Rockbass is more similar to Squier by Fender.
Click to expand...
I'm not a Fender guy, but I AM a Warwick guy so I'll add my personal take on this.

The Rockbass line should be distinct from the German line, I think that's obvious. I've played enough 'Wicks to be able to spot the differences, but I can see how someone would be fooled by a nice RB. And sellers definitely DO take advantage of this to try and pawn RBs off as Germans. If I was selling a RB, I would clearly state that in the title because to me this is important. Anytime I see someone selling a RB with no mention of it I automatically assume they're trying to swindle the buyer. This case is a bit murky because the seller didn't mention it, but DID mention that it was Chinese which is a total giveaway. It's a little buried in the text so I can see how it'd be missed, but it's not hidden in any way so I think the OP is in the wrong.

With regard to Squier vs MIM Fender, this is also somewhat confusing because the cases aren't quite the same. The early RBs weren't that great and the gap between them and Germans is pretty big. They've gotten a whole lot better but that early reputation is hard to shake. It'd be akin to Squier making a bass in equal quality as a MIM Fender. If that was (somehow) being sold as a Fender but in the small print you could easily figure out it was a Squier, that'd be a bit like what happened here.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back