dc2009

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='1237449' date='May 19 2011, 09:27 PM']Given current s/h values, almost any German Warwick in good condition is worth a punt. I picked up a Fortress MM5 for just over £500, and it's an excellent instrument. Streamers and Corvettes are good. Balance issues and iffy playability when seated have always put me off Thumbs. Dolphins look like they'll be a good bass. Never tried one, but that JJ/J pick-up configuration is excellent. I currently own; '02 Infinity SN4 '97 Fortress MM5 '97 Streamer LX6 Both of the last two have Wenge necks and JAN I. The LX 6 came with Seymour Duncans in as MEC didn't make soapbars big enough at the time.. None of them are ever likely to be sold. All way too nice. The MM5 is a Stingray slayer and a half. With extra versatility to boot. The Infinity is like a super jazz if you tap the JJ, but gets thicker and fuller using the JJ in humbucking mode.[/quote] OOH the set neck infinity, that is one beautiful instrument. I'm jealous.

[quote name='MuckedUpFunkies' post='1237109' date='May 19 2011, 05:04 PM']Im year 12 at the moment and looking too. My favourite so far is goldsmiths because its small but not too small (8K students), well placed even it is expensive (Cheaper part of london), doesnt need the best grades just ABB. Dan EDIT: Was thinking about RCM not LCM[/quote] RCM is just next to my uni, it's in a fantastic area, but is small, and there is some serious elitism in that place - my gf went to a full orchestra recital of 8 or so pieces written by individuals at the college, she's no big classical afficionado, but did say they were largely "rubbish". Elitism can be good, hell it's a good school, but if you've got some kind of brain on you, apply for Physics and Music at Imperial, it's a double degree, and the music side is taught at the RCM (right next door), I know a girl who is a fantastic sax player doing such a degree, and speaks highly of it. Goldsmiths has had some decent musicians come out of it, quite a few of whom now play in the proms orchestra, but it isn't that great a uni. As repeated above, only go to a uni with a worse name if you are definitely going into music, or you'll dent your future career. If not, consider a non-music based course and just get actively involved in music societies and bands at college - imo this will be easier to do if you pick a uni with a city centre location (i.e. imperial, ucl, kings, lse in london, bristol, leeds, etc) - all have vibrant gigging scenes and doors to get your foot into.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='1236487' date='May 18 2011, 11:51 PM']Buy ANY non-budget Warwick now and glory in the fact that you'll have a cracking bass that seriously can't dip in value any lower than it presently is but rest assured WILL be worth more in years to come! [/quote] Agreed, make sure it's a proper, german one and not a rockbass model. I would say avoid vampyres and infinitys, they occasionally appear on ebay at prices reflective of their ultra high list prices, and as a result do not sell.

My main bass is the beauty in my avatar, she's a CS model but only the top is custom, the rest is a stock Corvette $$, which I would recommend over any other model, having tried plenty of others. The tonal range is unbelievable, just utilising the pickup toggles and blend you can set your bass up as a jazz bass, a musicman, and everything else you can just about think of. It sounds great and the only issue I have had is the nut snapping, which was cheap and easy to replace, and that was only due to restringing! Can't believe the prices are what they are right now, may get another one with some summer earnings, snap yourself a bargain or two if you can. If you have the funds, perhaps a Fortress One and a Corvette standard would be a good way to go, if not, splash out a little more and get the 'vette $$ on its own. Oh, and if you get a natural bass, make sure to get one that has been regularly treated, as warwick prescribe, or get a price drop accordingly, as it permanently ruins the finish of these basses.

Yep. I have a Dean, and the day I got a Warwick my harmonic life became easier. FWIW make sure your bass is set up right, even if it's 'cheap' it can still do the job but make sure your intonation is spot on perfect, saddles are high enough to avoid any fret buzz etc. Also, what a song, so much fun to play all of it. @crez: great shout, unbelievable clarity on a status, never heard anything like them before. As my mate's dad once said to me about his gorgeous piece of graphite, it has the clearest tone of any bass he's played (and he's been playing over 40 years), which is great for the sound, but means your mistakes are shown up instantly!

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1235134' date='May 18 2011, 02:34 AM']From cheapest to most expensive: Squier, MIM, MIJ, MIA. Squier, MIM and MIA used to be dubious QC, they've improved a lot though recently. MIJ has always been fairly consistent. Lots of people prefer MIJs due to them being consistent value wheras with the MIAs in the past you could be paying more and getting a dog. Apparently most of the QC issues are sorted now and MIMs and MIAs are more consistent, I'd still try before buying though. CIJs are MIJs that were made in a specific factory for a couple of years in the mid 90s IIRC (that could be totally wrong though). All of that's off the top of my head and since I've only ever very briefly had interest in Fenders it could be wrong. [/quote] Great help, that's good to know. Sounds like the jap versions are nice and reliable then, but if you happen to get a killer MIM you're doing fantastically for your money?

I knew/know what they stand for, just want to know what the general concensus is as to the differences between each? Do some production lines have higher reliability, better necks, better sound etc etc?

Agreed, I nearly went down the music at uni route, but realised I'd rather do something with grounding elsewhere, and I should have 4 years of playing live and band experience, plus a masters in engineering :-). I would agree Leeds is highly respected for music, that or the Royal College of Music (it'd be double bass, or jazz bass playing at the very least). IMO goldsmiths and brunel aren't particularly well respected unis, but if you're definitely studying music/bass and going into that kind of industry, then go to the one that gives the best course for the career that you want, regardless of its name. PS Garry/Lowdown, are you Finnish?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1234898' date='May 17 2011, 09:13 PM']With good left hand technique you should be able to swap between widths and scale lengths etc, You just aren't used to a fat neck.[/quote] True, my Dean which was my main bass before my warwick has the thinnest of necks I've ever played, you can glide up and down it as if it isn't there! And as for the MIJ/MIM/MIA differences? Any thoughts from anyone?

Bought a Korg rackmount tuner off Rick recently, it was as described and works a treat, not to mention looking all space age on my rig. Was so fantastically well packaged it took me half an hour to get the thing out, would recommend Rick's friendly service and packing skills to anyone! Dan

My warwick i think has the JANII, it snapped once in almost 5 years of ownership (only 6 months ago or so) and was repaired very cheaply by a proper dealer, I think with the same thing. Other than that, I've never had cause to even touch it (hell I didn't know it was adjustable until it broke and I looked it up). IMO that's a good thing, that it was set up just right, but I would say that if you don't need the adjustability, don't splash out on the extra.

I fancy getting my Warwick re done at some point, so would also be interested in the answers. I leant her to a friend for a gig, and he didn't take off his belt like I always do, so she has a few battle scars on the back. I also wouldn't mind getting her done in warwick's green, as I'm a little tired of the blue. Would the paint need to be special to still see the figured maple top/swamp ash back?

[quote name='bigthumb' post='1234656' date='May 17 2011, 06:09 PM']Out of all the basses I've owned, gigged and parted with its the precisions I miss the most. I love my Warwicks but there will always be room for a P-bass. Its nothing to do with image, I'm too old and smelly to be bothered about all that stuff. But the Precision just has that tone that on occasions has made me turn around and smile at my cabs with that noise coming out of them.[/quote] I love the sound of a P, but can't get on with the fat neck, I used to borrow my bandmate's dad's special edition MIA and it was just the fattest of necks, can get on far better with warwicks, even the 5er neck on a warwick I find preferable, anyone else find this an issue? Obviously if you're playing very simple lines with root notes, it's not such an issue, but as soon as I got into anything fiddly, I always found it difficult on a P. Having said that, I do quite like fenders, and think I'll get myself a Marcus Miller sig or one of the nice FMT 24 fret jazz's one day. One thing, could someone please explain to me the general perception/concensus of the MIA/MIM/MIJ differences?

Was thursday night but guess it's not too late. Ready to do a 45 minute set, been there all day. The bar is open from 5. No-one gets there til 9. Our set is pushed back and back until we're queuing the intro music as the next song and then the bar owner decides no bands should ever do sets over half an hour in his bar, so we cut two songs and decide to push our luck. Asides one or two bum notes the performance was alright, singer did not enough talking to the crowd and too much time fixing his hunk of junk instrument that couldn't keep it's tuning which irked me a bit. Sound on stage was awful, couldn't hear my backing vocals at all so barely bothered with them, and the bass was just a noise, apparently sounded quite good on front, and the soundman had warned us previously about the sound on stage. Guess it went down ok, bit annoying to see people turning up at 11.30, when we had finished, and the main band were playing. If everything had been on time, they'd have missed the main band too!

If this is still around, I'll come and get it I reckon.

I'll take it, been desperate for one for my warwick for a while, PM'ed