sambucadan

Which model/age of Warwick have you been offered in trade?

and check out the original Streamer!! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Warwick_Streamer_1983.JPG

Just to set the record completly straight ;-) The Streamer models are similar to [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spector"]Stuart Spector[/url] NS basses in terms of body shape, original one piece bridge (now a two piece) and headstock design, which caused a legal conflict when the Streamer was first introduced. Spector eventually sued Warwick for copying the body shape, but the jury decided not to fine Warwick[sup][[i][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed"]citation needed[/url][/i]][/sup] It was well documented that the first versions of the Streamer were exact copies of the NS-Bass™. The SPECTOR® NS-Bass™ was designed by Ned Steinberger for Stuart Spector in 1977; 5-years before Warwick was formed. At the annual NAMM Show in 1985 Stuart Spector became aware that a new German-based company was producing exact copies of his now famous SPECTOR® NS-Bass™. Spector, along with Ned Steinberger, confronted Hans Wilfer and he agreed to pay a licensing fee to both SPECTOR® Guitars and Ned Steinberger in return for being able to continue to produce the Streamer without legal action.[sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streamer_Bass#cite_note-1"][2][/url][/sup] Shortly after this agreement was reached, SPECTOR® sold to Kramer Guitars. The new owners had no interest in pursuing Warwick to enforce the licensing agreement and Warwick continued to make the Streamer without any consequence. It is also noted from several sources that Warwick never paid any of the agreed fees. In 1990 Kramer became insolvent and filed for bankruptcy. In the wake of their financial failure Stuart Spector formed Stuart Spector Design, LTD. in 1993. In 1997 after a lengthy court battle, Stuart Spector bought back the trademark and copyrights to SPECTOR® and threatened to sue Warwick to enforce the 1985 license agreement.[sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streamer_Bass#cite_note-2"][3][/url][/sup] Facing new legal action from SPECTOR®, Warwick changed many design elements of the Streamer body to make it less like the NS-Bass™. The pending litgation was eventually dropped because the new Streamer design was no longer an exact copy of the NS-Bass™

I own a 92 Warwick Fortress 4 (from new) and a Warwick Streamer bolt on 5 string (early 90's before they changed the name to LX) and this year was lucky enough to get my hands on a USA Spector NS5 XL. I wouldn't buy any Warwick built after about 95 as all that I have tried out just dont come anywhere near the quality/playability/Sound of the pre mid 90's models, sold out and gone all mass production in my opinion!! I love the Spector BUT it has a John East pre amp fitted so not standard sound...just awesome! It does however ............ and this pains me because its lovely loose out to the old Warwick Streamer 5 with regards to feel and playability....I know I know. The wenge neck is so much faster and smoother to play, it gives the Warwick a real woody growl and is quite considerably thinner!! Having said that the Spector is my main gigging bass now :-)