Warwick Love - Worth the Weight?

[ofahy434]

I love my Warwick F.N.A. 5 string. I don't know how much it weighs but it has an ash body. Great sounding bass and it has so much low end! I just put a set of Chromes on it and I couldn't be happier. I did buy a wide padded leather strap since the plastic on my other strap broke, but after the switch I honestly don't notice the weight. I feel when I play a lighter bass that i'm playing with a toy, not a bass. But thats my personal problem.

 

[mikeyjm2]

I am surprised at the weight of mine (if I can trust my bathroom scale): ~11-1/2 lbs. I would have guessed heavier, but I guess my points of comparison are all sub-10 pounders. I'm terrible with getting around to taking photos, but since I was already weighing it, here is the Corvette I'm talking about:

Little blurry, but I couldn't use my flash as my camera batteries are about dead. Thanks all for your responses!

 

[SirMjac28]

I recently purchased a German Thumb it's stout but beautiful.

 

[x-DarkerSide-x]

I absolutely love my German 2007 Vette Standard Active. It weights about 8 or 9 pounds - body is made of bubinga. I use this a lot and sometimes feel sad I am not giving appropriate attention to my Music Man Bongo. I would probably give up my child before I ever decided to sell one of these bad boys... good thing I do not have any offspring...

 

[mikeyjm2]

^^ Another beauty!

I'm trying to avoid GAS now (for a while anyway) but already considering my next one to be a 5-string fretted Warwick of some sort.

 

[ilikebass7]

All kinds of threads on here about Fenders, Ric, Fender vs. Ric, blah blah, but I don't notice a lot of Warwick discussion. I have a fretless Corvette Std. I've had since 2007. I hadn't given it much playtime until recently. I usually opt for one of the Fenders or the Ric, but I've really begun to appreciate the Warwick again. I have it strung with TI flats and I'm very pleased with the sound and playability. I can really only come up with two cons to it.

The first is more my limitation than the Warwick's, and that is the difficulty of intonation above the 12th fret. I hadn't regularly played it in years so on a whim the other night I brought it to band practice. There's one passage I play on that part of the fretboard, but it's more the exception than the rule for me. So I can work on my technique and get past that issue, or if all else fails just transpose it down an octave. Just the nature of the beast with fretless though. It didn't help that guitarist / singer buddy broke out the whiskey during practice . At any rate, I can get past this con in one way or another.

The second con would be the weight. After hours of playing I can definitely feel it. It's nicely balanced (no neck dive I've found) but still, it's heavy.

So rather than hash out the same Fender bashing, Ric bashing we all get tired of, I'd love to hear y'all's thoughts on Warwick. Specifically with regard to the weight and how, if you gig it regularly, you deal with said weight.

I would get a Warwick Corvette Proline and use a Comfort Strapp. The Pro line basses I have owned(or any flamed maple, bolt on wick) have been about 8.5 lbs. The comfort strapp is incredible!

 

[StereoPlayer]

All kinds of threads on here about Fenders, Ric, Fender vs. Ric, blah blah, but I don't notice a lot of Warwick discussion. I have a fretless Corvette Std. I've had since 2007. I hadn't given it much playtime until recently. I usually opt for one of the Fenders or the Ric, but I've really begun to appreciate the Warwick again. I have it strung with TI flats and I'm very pleased with the sound and playability. I can really only come up with two cons to it.

The first is more my limitation than the Warwick's, and that is the difficulty of intonation above the 12th fret. I hadn't regularly played it in years so on a whim the other night I brought it to band practice. There's one passage I play on that part of the fretboard, but it's more the exception than the rule for me. So I can work on my technique and get past that issue, or if all else fails just transpose it down an octave. Just the nature of the beast with fretless though. It didn't help that guitarist / singer buddy broke out the whiskey during practice . At any rate, I can get past this con in one way or another.

The second con would be the weight. After hours of playing I can definitely feel it. It's nicely balanced (no neck dive I've found) but still, it's heavy.

So rather than hash out the same Fender bashing, Ric bashing we all get tired of, I'd love to hear y'all's thoughts on Warwick. Specifically with regard to the weight and how, if you gig it regularly, you deal with said weight.

It's worth it. My wick somehow changed the way I play....for the better. It sounds great too!

 

[Matthew_84]

Their customer service leaves much to be desired (not surprising given that the company is run by a bit of a whack-job) and their quality control has been spotty over the years.

+1.

I used to be a huge Warwick fanboy. My wife got me a Rockbass Streamer LX and I loved it until I found it the preamp wasn't an MEC as advertised by themselves numerous times up until that point. My heated messages on their forum and to the president seemed to make their advertising a little more honest. However, I did catch the president in a blatant lie as we were emailing back and forth.

Then I ordered a fretless Rockbass Corvette, deciding to give them the benefit of the doubt... The side dots in the wrong spot (where they were on a fretted), and I couldn't imagine how anyone at QC could let that slip. How did they not notice this when they intonated the bass at the 12th fret? These Rockbasses were also supposed to be inspected by someone from Warwick Germany... Sure they were.

I will never give them another chance to disappoint me. Sure, Rockbasses aren't their top-tier instruments, but I can't imagine giving them the money for what is only to be duped again. If they weren't as over-priced as they are, it wouldn't be a huge deal to me, but they are.

 

[ole Jason]

My 5 string Corvette is lighter than any Fender I've ever owned.

 

[mikeyjm2]

I will never give them another chance to disappoint me. Sure, Rockbasses aren't their top-tier instruments, but I can't imagine giving them the money for what is only to be duped again. If they weren't as over-priced as they are, it wouldn't be a huge deal to me, but they are.

I appreciate hearing the negative on here as well as the positive. On the price point I agree for the new market. Used price on the other hand was surprising to me when I started looking. I've seen (what looked to be) comparable used German Corvettes to mine going for ~ $500 or even less. I paid about double that new and didn't consider it overpriced at the time. They just don't seem to hold resale value for whatever reason. None of this is to argue with your experience you describe. Mine just happened to be different. How much of this can be chalked up to German made vs. Rockbass line I don't know.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I LOVE my Warwicks. I think I have about 20 now. I have owned many more than I currently have. Probably 30 all in all.

If you want light weight, remember that many of their models have ash or maple bodies. Those are lighter woods than bubinga and some of the more exotic woods African they use. For example the Corvette 5 string I am selling in my signature below has an ash body and weighs only 8.6 lbs on my bathroom scale which is light by a couple of points than many if not most of the 4 strings I have owned including a semi hollow. So I would say go with those. They look and sound great. The German Corvette STD with ash bodies are dope and a steal for the money.

I should also add that I have chronic lower back pain thanks to herniated discs, lower subluxation, and sciatica but if a bass balances well I have a pretty high tolerance for its weight. I have even done the occasional 3 hour rehearsal and at one 4 hr bar gig with a 12 lb bass (which happened to be an ash body Warwick- the body was light but the old school 2tek bridge weighed about 4 lbs!)

THe one warwick I had to punt due to discomfort was punted not because of weight but because of balance. I had a Thumb 5 NT, with Wenge neck and about 30 minutes into a 3 hr rehearsal my left shoulder was aching due to the neck dive and the long reach toward the nut.

In hindsight, I wish I kept it and played it sitting down!

 

[Matthew_84]

I appreciate hearing the negative on here as well as the positive. On the price point I agree for the new market. Used price on the other hand was surprising to me when I started looking. I've seen (what looked to be) comparable used German Corvettes to mine going for ~ $500 or even less. I paid about double that new and didn't consider it overpriced at the time. They just don't seem to hold resale value for whatever reason. None of this is to argue with your experience you describe. Mine just happened to be different. How much of this can be chalked up to German made vs. Rockbass line I don't know.

Yes, their used prices (well Corvettes and FNA's, anyway) are stupid low compared to the comparable new bass. Unfortunately, when I did care to look, I never found a local used model that I wanted... The pickings were pretty slim in my area.

 

[anavar]

i love my warwick basses. I have owned an infinity NT 4, thumb bo 5, double buck 5 and i still own my corvette pro bubinga 5 and thumb bass NT 5

My honest opinion about them is that they're without a doubt the most inspiring intrument i have ever played. Beautiful, powerfull, strong beastly instruments that really respond to playing styles. soft bubbly walking tones but when you hit it hard its comes alive and growls like a dog. truly an instrument you can express youself on. While i am still young, have good joints and strong shoulders, the weight and neck dive doesnt bother me the slighest. But maybe when i get older, when my hands hurt and my back aches i might need to consider something else. The neck and weight of the infinity might be my go too instrument in my later years. nice and light, super skinny neck, classic warwick sound.

It even makes an original japanese made ESP bottom bump look like a toy (not my bass, just borrowed it)

 

[bongostealth]

Warwicks are worth their weight in gold! They are simply superb in every way. Once you seriously try Warwick, you will be hard-pressed to find better. I once had the choice of keeping either a Korean-made Corvette Bubinga 6 or a Ken Smith Chuck Rainey 6. The Corvette won hands down.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Warwicks are worth their weight in gold! They are simply superb in every way. Once you seriously try Warwick, you will be hard-pressed to find better. I once had the choice of keeping either a Korean-made Corvette Bubinga 6 or a Ken Smith Chuck Rainey 6. The Corvette won hands down.

Amen. My glowing review only touched upon the weight issue. The value in a Warwick, especially a used warwick, is exceptional. Essentially a boutique quality bass at an "over-the-counter" price.

Amazing basses.

 

[bass10bfb]

It's time to man up boys!!!!!! My 22 year old daughter plays a 13 pound 2004 Corvette Standard Lined Fretless every week for our Praise Band practice. That is at least 2.5 to 3 hours with that thing on not counting she practices a while before everybody gets here!!!!!

Warwicks are our go to basses though no doubt. She also plays a Streamer Stage 1 that weighs in I think around 10.5 to 11 pounds if I remember correctly. We would not give these basses up for anything though. Great craftsmanship and the best basses we have ever played, hands down!!!!

 

[rogerbmiller]

I would get a Warwick Corvette Proline and use a Comfort Strapp. The Pro line basses I have owned(or any flamed maple, bolt on wick) have been about 8.5 lbs. The comfort strapp is incredible!

Which prolines? The early ones were made with ash bodies but for a period they were made of ovangkol (late 90s) then ash after that.

 

[rogerbmiller]

It's time to man up boys!!!!!! My 22 year old daughter plays a 13 pound 2004 Corvette Standard Lined Fretless every week for our Praise Band practice. That is at least 2.5 to 3 hours with that thing on not counting she practices a while before everybody gets here!!!!!

Warwicks are our go to basses though no doubt. She also plays a Streamer Stage 1 that weighs in I think around 10.5 to 11 pounds if I remember correctly. We would not give these basses up for anything though. Great craftsmanship and the best basses we have ever played, hands down!!!!

I would "like" this post 800 times if this app would allow me to.

It's all about balance and where the weight sits.

Petite women hold their 30 lb kids all day long and we have what seemed to be legions of have folks up here on TB that perseverate about a few ounces on their 9 lb bass?!

(Seatbelt fastened)

 

[Burwabit]

I love the sound of Thumb basses, but no bass is worth 12 lbs to me except maybe in the studio. I get a very forward, punchy tone from my sub-10 lb Roscoe with Mahogany body. Heavy basses belong in the past.

 

[birminghambass]

It's time to man up boys!!!!!! My 22 year old daughter plays a 13 pound 2004 Corvette Standard Lined Fretless every week for our Praise Band practice. That is at least 2.5 to 3 hours with that thing on not counting she practices a while before everybody gets here!!!!!

Warwicks are our go to basses though no doubt. She also plays a Streamer Stage 1 that weighs in I think around 10.5 to 11 pounds if I remember correctly. We would not give these basses up for anything though. Great craftsmanship and the best basses we have ever played, hands down!!!!

Damn son, this post did it. I'll never complain about a heavy bass again. Excuse me while I go do some pushups...