Will Warwick become the new Fender?

[lancimouspitt]

Okay,

let me add this before I go on.
In no way,shape,or form, am I trying bash either brand or imply one brand is superior to the other.
Looking through some youtube videos yesterday I noticed a lot of Warwicks.
Now that in itself isn't anything huge,however, I also seem to notice that "warwick" sound a lot in the past decade.
Even some basses that aren't Warwicks seem to still have something of that Warwick sound to them if that makes sense. Or more basses I hear seem to dial in that modern sound.

I understand Warwick isn't the only brand to have a sound similiar to that,
but I do feel their brand is becoming synonymous with it.

So for better or for worse, could the day come when band members groan if you pull anything out other than a warwick?
Am I alone in thinking their domination of the bass world won't end?
Is it a paranoid delusion?
Opinions or onions?

 

[mdogs]

You must be joking...or trolling...or something that I will get in trouble for saying.

 

[boomtisk]

They had a time when they were quite popular for sure, but their trademark looks and tone couldn't be more contrary to what the majority of people expect when they think "bass" these days. So, no, I think it's more than unlikely right now.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

not on this planet.

 

[Goatrope]

Nah. It's a paranoid delusion.

I don't think the "Warwick sound" is that prevalent today, but it has its niche. Maybe you're confusing it with the modern sound of most active basses these days?

I think Fender has a good head-start on Warwick, and many other manufacturers, when it comes to having developed a brand.

 

[Gougedeye]

Warwick certainly makes some very nice instruments and they have a unique sound. Warwick has also increased it's "import" model production. Very Fenderesque. In the recent past, they have garnered a certain amount of recognition for their innovation and beautifully crafted instruments. That being said, there is no way, no how they dethrone the 800 lb. gorilla that is FMIC!

 

[lifeoffroadbass]

I completely disagree. I don't think there is any similarity in sound. What you might be hearing is similarity is sound due to the musicians.

 

[jonnybass1]

Well if that's true or false I am covered either way. I have both Warwicks and Fenders/Squiers

 

[tpa]

"No" to the headline question. Technically I don't think any brand can replace what companies like Fender, Gibson and a few more have. namely the direct attachment to the roots of electrically amplified rythmic music.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha don't feed the trolls

 

[MobileHolmes]

I think they make nice stuff, but I just caught a review of a couple and couldn't get over the price. I have no problem with expensive basses (even out of my range), but the street on these would literally buy you almost anything.

 

[GHOST AT]

Since the bass store moved to Nashville, I have heard Warwick has offered everyone a endorsement contract. A guy I talked with was pondering the endorsement, the clause was he could play ONLY Warwick for six years

 

[jazz Bass 74]

I've never been a big fan of Warwick, but I will admit its marketing efforts have been very successful. The Warwick Bass Camp keeps up the brand's visibility in the bass community, and it seems like everyday, Warwick adds a new endorser.

 

[kodiakblair]

It depends on what country you live in. Majority of TB'ers live in the US,FMIC sell 70% of all their products to the US so it stands to reason on TB and in the US
Fender is king.

Take that remaining 30% from FMIC and spread it among the billions worldwide ? The picture's not the same.I'm a member of Bassic.ch the German forum and posts
are around 30-70 Fender vs others,compare that with probably 90-10 on TB.

Nothing unusual with that it's just what folks are exposed to and familiar with. Here in Scotland we only think Scotch when whisky is mentioned even though whisky is
made all over the world.Same as most of you folks grow up thinking motorcycle = Harley,there will be exceptions but generally they're a minority.I know couple of folk
drink JD or JB but none drinking Jameson.

If 70% of Fenders goes to 4.4% of the world's population then 30% to the other 95.6% leaves a whole lot of folks not playing Fender,could be more folks don't than do

No Warwick doesn't make up the other 70%,I daresay Ibanez do rather well in the Asian market though,it's 57% of the world pop.

 

[mmbongo]

Hmmm...this is one of those infraction inducing discussions for me, so.....

 

[lifeoffroadbass]

Since the bass store moved to Nashville, I have heard Warwick has offered everyone a endorsement contract. A guy I talked with was pondering the endorsement, the clause was he could play ONLY Warwick for six years

I don't buy this. I see many Warwick endorsers playing other basses. Mainly even brewer and Lee sklar. Even plays a ton of ESP basses.

 

[Lesfunk]

I LOVED my warwicks from the early 1990s. The more recent offerings I find to be overpriced firewood

 

[Bass Viking]

A guy I talked with was pondering the endorsement, the clause was he could play ONLY Warwick for six years

Does a Warwick cable or strap count?

 

[Bass Viking]

I LOVED my warwicks from the early 1990s. The more recent offerings I find to be overpriced firewood

You're half right. They're pricey but hardly firewood.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Um, no.