What's YOUR experience with a Warwick?

[Lackey]

I've never owned one, but THOUGHT i wanted one about 8 or 9 years ago... Til I played a bunch of them, realized the weight is obscene on most, the neck dive ranges from moderate to severe, no choice on pickups or preamps (MEC everytime...), and the ergonomics for most of them weren't ideal for me either. Back then, I don't remember them being as absurdly priced, now they are just INSANE. Waste of money new, don't mean to offend anybody but there frankly boutique basses for the list prices 'wicks seem to sell for these days.

My only concession is that the Streamer Stage 1 is pretty nice; like the wide spacing, good fingerstyle tones, I dig the body and it seemed to balance better. I might pick one up someday... USED.

 

[socialleper]

Each model made by Warwick it a little different, but all of them have in common that they are a little heavier than most basses and ergonomically a little strange. The latest models seem to have improved some of the issues people had in the past with their weight and neck thickness. The new models I tried seem to be a tad lighter, better balanced, and have slimmer necks than the mid-2000 models.
The Corvette body shape has an odd center of gravity. The body will feel off to one side and the neck feels long despite being a regular 34" scale.
The extra mechanics in the bridge and nut are interesting, but can be frustrating. Take your time to learn how to adjust them properly. Remember that the Adjust-A-Nut is only being held on by the strings.
Warwick basses have a very particular tone to them. If you like the sound of a Fender Jazz but like the look of a Warwick Corvette, don't think it is going to sound like any other jazz bass. The lows are dark, the articulation is a little different, and the highs are what some would call "glassy."
I dig what they do, but I eventually sold my Corvette $$ because I just couldn't get it to sound like I wanted. I think I would prefer a Streamer LX or SS2.

 

[gurensan]

Until last year, I had a 2007 German-made Corvette Standard fretless that I bought new from GC in '08. The only thing I changed was to shield the **** out of the cavity with foil and install an EMG J-set with an 18V BTC system. The MEC's weren't bad; I actually liked them and kept them (they went with the bass when sold), but I wanted that EMG sound to go with that particular bass.

The neck was much chunkier, but not in an uncomfortable 70's Fender U-neck way. The bass was probably one of the lightest Warwicks I've ever held, even though it had the Bubinga body with Ovangkol neck. I have zero complaints concerning that bass. I never had a single issue mentioned thus far into this thread.

The only (ONLY!) reason I sold it is because I was wanting to go back to my Fender-y roots, flaws and all, and the Warwick was the only thing I had that could finance it. Beyond that, I'd never have let that thing go.

 

[bassinflorida]

Old guy chiming in here. Went shopping for a bass in either 96 or 97 (don't remember). The only bass I had owned during the previous ten years was a 72 Tele. I was not familiar with the type or brand of basses then on the market. In my mind I was trying to replace a 72 Jazz I use to have. Sales guy led me to Warwick. No doubt he saw a sucker coming. I left with a thumb bolt on 4 string. I loved the neck and the tone but not crazy about the way it balanced. The sad part is I could have bought a streamer that was perfect. I chose the thumb because of the lower price. The thumb lasted till around 2009. Then the neck had developed some cracks and the D and G strings were useless. Yep, I kept it lubed with the beeswax. When I went shopping to replaced it I was trying out new model Warwicks. Seemed like all of the newer Warwicks I tried had a baseball size neck. Don't know if they changed specs significantly or not during that time.
I bought a String Ray 4 and kept that for a year I guess. Too dang heavy.

 

[NecroticImbecil]

Used to have a German made Corvette fretless 4. When playing solo, it sounded good but without much personality. In a band setting, it all but vanished. The thick neck made it hard to play. It was, however, extremely well made and beautiful. Over the years, I've seen bands both famous and unknown and always had trouble hearing the bass if it was Warwick. Could just be coincidence. I have encountered only 3 Warwicks that deviated from this. Neither one of those had the stock MEC pickups. One had a Duncan of some sort, do not recall the other. The 3rd was played by Jack Bruce in a small venue with "A Walk Down Abbey Road," basically Ringo and his All Starrs without Ringo.

 

[anavar]

Warwicks are the only bass i like playing.

I did try many basses before i bought my Thumb bass and the only two i really liked was the spector euro and a couple of prestige ibanez basses. A friend suggested i try a Fender Jazz bass and it was just horrible.

The warwick has it own sounds, very bitey, super growly and the low b string just thumps. i dont like the price, price of parts and the Mec pups are great, but for more aggressive music, they arent the best (but thats nothing a sansamp driver cant fix )

 

[gt96g]

A few people have said this already but my issues with warwicks relate to cost v resale value, new thumb bass is 4300, you could get one hell of a bass for that from a custom builder. Oil finishes do not age well unless maintained constantly, necks can be baseball bat like in thickness, ergonomics aren't great and I just never liked the MEC electronics. I had 4 over the years. Needless to say I sold them all.