• 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.

Why are Warwick Basses so expensive???

AndyIrvine

AndyIrvine

Guest
Jul 11, 2012
67
7
Fraser colorado
Disclosures
Warwick endorser/clinician/Product specialist
#1
I often get asked "Why are Warwick basses so expensive"????


There are many reasons why Warwick basses are expensive-

First of all they are elegant imported German instruments and crafted from the finest woods, high quality electronics, and functional long lasting hardware on earth.

Ok but that alone does not tell the story-

The process used to craft them and the production facility is the most advanced on earth. There is a very expensive process of long term natural air drying and in house milling that provides the highest level of stability and ensures deep rich tone character in every instrument. There is a high level of hi tech moisture testing done to every single piece of wood that is being considered for use in production, There is an extremely high level of beauty criteria that all woods must pass for consideration in production. The Warwick/Framus Custom Shop offers one of largest fully dried, and available wood stores on earth, with dozens of the most beautifully figured wood species stock ever to be assembled. Warwick has two 5 axis CNC cutting machines that allow for amazing contours, body shapes, and impeccable consistency. Each instrument gets a high degree of "Hand Work" and attention to detail, in fact it's a 50/50 split of machine and hand work. The fretting and various spectacular finishing is done using unique methods developed by Warwick. The production in Markneukirchen operates currently 95% green, with the use solar panels, geo thermal, and wind turbines, all the scraps and "waste" materials are recycled for heating energy. Warwick has made a commitment to the environment and puts it's money where it's mouth is, by using more and more FSC woods.

There are just a few of the many reasons why they carry a high price tag in some cases.

Warwick offers 3 lines- Warwick Series, Pro Series, and Rock Bass each designed to fit consumer needs and limits of spending. Each is built to the specific requests of the public. Also Warwick makes two outstanding amp lines each designed to fit the specific needs of the public from small combo amps to large concert amps.

Warwick is in a state of perpetual motion and constant evolution to strive to improve. In instrument crafting, high tech production advances, answering consumer requests, and in customer support.

Everyone at Warwick/Framus is devoted and passionate about every aspect of the process, and we all hope the work we do and the instruments we create find favor in the public.

Please visit www.warwick.de to see videos on the production process, visit the custom shop gallery, artist sections and more.

Respectfully, Andy Irvine
 
  • Love
Reactions: HowieD72
#4
Profania_bass - When it comes to moisture content, wood that is not precisely at 8% is allowed to season further in a climate controlled area until it reaches the exact level needed to build with. If it has an issue like cracking, discoloration, etc...it is put into scrap and burned to create thermal energy. Please let us know if you've got any questions. Thanks!
 
#5
Thank you for the feed back and comments, please keep them coming and feel free to inquire with more questions about any and all matters of Warwick instrument production. Garey and my self are here to answer them and more than happy to do so.

Respectfully,Andy Irvine
 
#12
I've admired a lot of boutique basses but the first time I had a Thumb under my fingers I was sold. I'm not sure Warwick is considered a "boutique bass" or not; since they are relatively massed produced and distributed world-wide. But that is one fine bass manufacturer - and the wood is second to none! Great looking and playing. Like most, if I could afford one I'd have one.
 
#13
The people asking this question about the price must be Fender players. If something costs more than $1000 and isn't 30 years old with a sunburst finish, their eyes roll back into their heads and they go into convulsions.
High quality basses cost money; end of story. I kind of like the fact that Warwick has the bubinga corvettes coming out of Asia so they are more affordable. I would like to see Warwick do this with their Thumb basses and Streamer basses. The Pro series is Asain made, but with inferior woods and finishes. IMO a Thumb with a high gloss finish is an abomination; and a Streamer made from Cherry wood with a maple neck just misses the point. My Asian built Lakland is almost identical to a USA made for about a thousand less. My wish would be for the Pro Series to be the same way.

Oh, my other wish would be for you to actually have some in Los Angeles stores for people to buy. But I've already beaten that dead horse.
 
#17
socialleper said:
My Asian built Lakland is almost identical to a USA made for about a thousand less. My wish would be for the Pro Series to be the same way.
Click to expand...

While I think that would be great, from a marketing standpoint you'd be competing with yourself and diluting your brand. When the Skyline series was first unveiled, I was curious about it and ended up talking with some of the guys over at Lakland. The downside to producing the EXACT same thing overseas was that they were selling more Skylines than American made, which they didn't want and why you saw the available options get sharply cut on the Skylines.

I like the way Warwick has it with the Pro Series now; you can't get the exact model that you would from a German made one at a cheaper price point, nor should you.
 
#18
It only hurts your sales if a customer is likely to get either instrument at either price point.
The Skyline makes Laklands available to a set of customers that would have not been able to to buy one. My 44-02 was about $1400, a US made lists for about $4k, and might sell between 3500 and 3000 dollars. You run into a Price Elasticity problem really fast here, because as a buyer my demand for the bass is infinitely negative at that price point. I will NEVER buy one at that price short of winning the lottery, and not because I don't want to, but simply because I can't. At 1400 dollars this becomes far more attractive and now I can buy one. A cheap sale is better than no sale if you are the seller.
Being that the Lakland brand is somewhat boutique-ish anyway, it won't hurt US made bass sales since those buyers tend to have a different perceived value of the bass, and the lower price point item is aimed at a more utilitarian market.

So what Warwick has to ask themselves now is if the $4k price tag of an SS2 or $3k for a NT Thumb matches the demand at that price, or if by pushing themselves into that high a level they hurt possible sales or the desire of merchants to carry their product. If the Pro Series is too dissimilar from the German basses that it loses the interest of broke enthusiast but still too expensive for the mass market that the Rock Bass is aimed at; what do you have? A bunch of dusty basses that don't sell.

That's how I see it anyway.

One Bad Monkey said:
While I think that would be great, from a marketing standpoint you'd be competing with yourself and diluting your brand. When the Skyline series was first unveiled, I was curious about it and ended up talking with some of the guys over at Lakland. The downside to producing the EXACT same thing overseas was that they were selling more Skylines than American made, which they didn't want and why you saw the available options get sharply cut on the Skylines.

I like the way Warwick has it with the Pro Series now; you can't get the exact model that you would from a German made one at a cheaper price point, nor should you.
Click to expand...
 
#19
What's all the comparison to Lakland theyre overpriced fender copies. It's like wearing a Rolex watch, yea I got money to throw around, yea I'm cool, yea I'm better than you. Warwick on the other hand are unique specimens of high quality workmanship AND THEY ARE UNIQUE. Everything about them makes them better than a Lakland USA or Asian, period! On the other hand Warwicks are the best playing and sounding basses I've ever played. I believe they're reasonably priced.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back