warwickhunt

First off, thanks for the support and for the efforts of Rich up in Aberdeen. I'm well aware that this guy can register and come on BC and refute what I've posted on here and if you'd care to look back you'll note that I've not edited or ameded a single one of my posts, so what I've said or claimed that he has said hasn't been altered in light of anything. As a result, I'm confident that I can 100% back up any claim or statement that I've made and supported it with documented evidence. The response that Rich posted about the guy claiming the damage must have been done in transit to me is absolute b*ll*cks! At no point from me contacting him has he asked for a picture of the damage, neither has he even mentioned claiming against the courier that he used (not sure you can when it is sent Royal Fail), don't know about anyone else but that would have been my first concern rather than (and this is a verbatim quote the first after I said the bass has cracks); [i] "Hi John,I played the bass before sending it out and it played fine,all parts of the bass were photographed in the listing. I must confess I never checked the volume pot so i do apologize for that. maybe just a quick clean will sort it. If you want to send it back for a full refund minus postage I'll be more than happy to relist it. " [/i] I then pointed out that there was no mention of cracks in the listing; [i]"No problem,if you'd looked at the pics then you'd have seen it,please send it back fully insured and packed,thanks"[/i] Does that sound like a guy who thinks that the cracks happened in transit? It's also not too late for him to claim on his fully insured delivery! We'll see what today brings but ebay seem to be still making the right noises to me that I have complied with their T&C for returning items not as described and that I'll get a refund. Oh and if Ron does get round to reading this... I'd make the effort to visit your neighbour and retrieve the bass, refund me and move on mate!

That means I'm going to 'have to' pop over to yours sometime soon... the chance to A/B the same cab design but with Neo and non-Neo in each is just too tempting, though I accept that your non-Neo SWR might be on it's last legs as well!

Red/Cherry one every time!

[quote name='BassBunny' post='1229183' date='May 12 2011, 07:10 PM']Roadtrip [/quote] Saying nowt! This is a cracker (and would be fun if it weren't for the threat that I might be £485 worse off), the bass has been delivered to his neighbour at #19 (I dispatched it to #20 as per the seller and ebay's instructions but UPS got a neighbour to accept and sign for it) and his response is this; [i]'Thanks,i live myself so no other people could have signed for it. As for leaving it with my NEXT DOOR neighbour at number 19 I can assure you i do not have a number 19 next to me so that would be impossible! I also do not know who lives at 19,my number is 21 and the bass should have been sent here. I suggest you recontact the couriers and find out why they said NEXT DOOR,when 19 is not next door,why they hadn't left a card if they said they had and why it was delivered to 19(if indeed it was) and not 21 as it should have been. I also have spoken to Ebay this morning and they agree if it is not my signature then I do not have the bass. Please don't contact me again and we can just let Ebay sort it but should you be reimbursed and I do not have the bass back I shall be pursuing matters with you though a civil court. I am more than willing to provide as many specimin signatures as required to prove that the one the courier has is not mine. Thanks'[/i] Google maps show that he may well not be exactly telling a lie due to the fact he lives in a block of flats, hence he may well not have a 'next-door' neighbour but #19 is still in the same block of chuffin flats! Now how pedantic can you get and added to which, can you see anywhere in his response any indication that he has been to see or is prepared to see if the neighbour has his bass. Oh and I'm sure that you won't have missed the fact that he is claiming to live @ #21... NOT the address given through ebay. To put this into some context, my response is below. "I've read and reread your last response and I am quite frankly staggered! Aside from your negativity and refusal to continue with communications to resolve this matter and your over simplification of stating the case that it is not your signature on the delivery scan, which is an accepted and given fact as it has been pointed out to you that it is your neighbours signature; at no point have you said that you have or would be prepared to, request the item from your neighbour at #19. This quite frankly defies belief and leaves me wondering how much more obstructive you are going to be with regards to resolving this matter. If you steadfastly refuse to assist in the resolution of this case then there is little that I can do but I do hope that you will reflect on the fact that at present I have followed ebay's direction on this matter to the letter and that I have also applied common sense and common decency." Well I'll wait and see what the next installment brings.

Latest... ebay are looking at the proof that I have dispatched the item and are making the right noises that I will be refunded after 10 days from the listing ending has passed. UPS (Interparcel) have spoken to the driver and confirmed that the item has been signed for by the next door neighbour. Now I don't know about you (and I'll give the benefit of the doubt to the seller here) but if I knew someone had signed for it, I'd have checked family/household members and then knocked on my neighbours door... especially as the tracking details that he has been supplied with (and I know he has looked at these as he has commented that it isn't 'his' name or signature) gives the Christian and surname (not just showing the signature) of the person signing! Via ebay I've politely asked that he consults with his neighbour and then refunds me before paypal (or my credit card Co.) do, at which point he gets a strike against his name from ebay. Oh and btw I now also know the name of his band, his mobile number and the names of the venues for his next gigs!

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1228285' date='May 12 2011, 12:08 AM']To my horror I saw that that this guy is also in Aberdeen, so I did a wee bit of research and it turns out that the bass was advertised in March/April on our local muso forum for £850 and described as near mint. I can't see that he would describe it like that knowing that a potential buyer would be picking it up in person. The guy that advertised it here is a pretty well known musician on the scene up here from a very busy rock covers band and somehow it doesn't quite fit with the scenario that's unfolding here. ...Does your guy go by a sort of "rock n roll" name spelled a little like a 12 year old girl might?[/quote] Lets just say that with your heads-up and a little research I've established that your Aberdeen bassist selling an Overwater in this unusual colour shares the same first name with the Aberdeen bassist who sold me an Overwater in the same unusual colour... in the same time scale! I'm not guessing that it is a coincidence but right at this minute I am giving my seller the opportunity to see if someone else in his household has maybe signed for the bass. If that isn't the case and I don't have my refund sometime soon then I'll dig a little deeper into this.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1228285' date='May 12 2011, 12:08 AM']John, is it possible that the damage did occur during transit? Ok the cracks on the rear of the headstock are visible in the ebay pics but I can't see any sign of the horrible ones that run up the fretboard etc. How well was it packed? To my horror I saw that that this guy is also in Aberdeen, so I did a wee bit of research and it turns out that the bass was advertised in March/April on our local muso forum for £850 and described as near mint. I can't see that he would describe it like that knowing that a potential buyer would be picking it up in person. The guy that advertised it here is a pretty well known musician on the scene up here from a very busy rock covers band and somehow it doesn't quite fit with the scenario that's unfolding here. I suppose it's possible that the guy you bought it off may have bought it off the guy who I think it is. Does your guy go by a sort of "rock n roll" name spelled a little like a 12 year old girl might?[/quote] Honestly I wish it had happened in transit! When I contacted the guy and initially mentioned the cracks he simply so said 'so what you got it cheap'! At no point did he ask me to describe or photograph the damage; to this day he still hasn't requested to see the pics! However, if you look at the ebay pic of the back of the headstock you can very faintly see two of the worst cracks BUT that is only with hindsight and if you know what you are looking for.

[quote name='algmusic' post='1228203' date='May 11 2011, 10:56 PM']If you made all your contact via ebay.. you're definitely gonna be fine, otherwise.. You've still got a strong case.. keep us posted[/quote] Yep everything via ebay!

[quote name='BB3000S' post='1228195' date='May 11 2011, 10:50 PM']Though no less hassle for you, ebay has got to side with you on this. Right? And the seller - what a guy...[/quote] I would LOVE to think that would be the case! As it happens my wife works for the Police force and I'm going to be looking into a criminal offence as the bass has obviously been stolen... if he doesn't have it.

[quote name='chrismuzz' post='1228157' date='May 11 2011, 10:28 PM']He's an idiot for signing for it. Now you have proof he has received it! Pain in the wobblers that's for sure but I'm confident you'll EVENTUALLY get your money back! eBay should have a system where you can claim compensation from sellers for pulling this kind of thing. I hear too many stories like this[/quote] Unfortunately it is signed for BUT it doesn't take a genius to sign in a dodgy handwriting and deny knowledge of receipt! I have proof someone, somewhere signed for it but he denies that it is him. Thanks for all the kind wishes.... I will get this c**t sorted though.

AAAAARRRGH! I've returned the bass as per ebay's request and it's hardly a surprise that despite the fact that the parcel has been signed for on return delivery... he is denying he has the item! Watch this space for what happens next!

I've swapped MEC's and EMG's in and out of the same Warwick Streamer bass and I can categorically state... I didn't notice a gnat's chuff of difference! Now that is hardly scientific because you have to remember that when I played the bass with the swapped (and swapped back) pups, an hour or so had passed and my ears may have been unable to perceive the difference but there in lies the point; I couldn't personally perceive any difference so it's unlikely Joe Public who has never heard me or my bass before would know the difference. Just as an aside, I seem to recall that the whole point of MEC pups in Warwick basses was because there was grief with the licensing between Spector and Warwick and it included the use of EMG pups in the early Warwick basses, added to which the cost of Warwick buying EMGs in rather than fitting their own 'version' of the EMG produced in-house, meant that it made sense for Warwick to purchase a pup manufacturing company (MEC). It would make sense that any pup produced to replace the fitting of EMGs might sound a bit like the pup they were replacing. I do have to confess that having owned both Spectors and Warwicks (thru neck models) there is a definite difference in tone between the basses from the two manufacturers but there again, there is a difference between the Spectors and the Spectors (or the Warwicks and the Warwicks) that I've owned. In summary; I doubt very much whether you could get the Warwick to sound exactly like the Spector or vice-versa, regardless of pup (even preamp) selection/swapping because they are two different instruments made out of wood and that's the point... they are different!

If you don't tinker and are set on one gauge of strings then I'd personally go for a well cut well fitted nut BUT if you tinker and adjusting your relief/action or are into changing gauges for differing situations then they can be a good thing. I have the JAN I nut on my Warwicks and I love it and I'm a bit peeved that I don't have one on another of my basses as I'm going to have to knock the nut of and shim/file it. As has been said, the JAN II is probably best avoided!

Well the bass is packed and off back to the seller tomorrow so watch ebay for the re-emergence of this bass... and lets see how honest he is!

[quote name='overwater' post='1224861' date='May 9 2011, 10:46 AM']Hello, I spotted this thread - it is one of our basses, but would say from what I can see it dates back to the late 80's - so over twenty years old. Although it is difficult to tell without seeing it in the flesh, it looks like it has either had some sort of severe trauma at some stage, or been exposed to extreem heat or cold - which ever, it looks like there may be some cracks in the wood as well as glue joints coming apart. If the owner would like to get it back to us, I could see if there is something that could be done - though I suspect it would need the fingerboard removing and replacing at the very least - but it could possibly be brought back, depending on what's happened to it.. Hope this is of some help, Chris May (Overwater Basses)[/quote] Thanks for responding Chris and very admirable for even taking the time to check this out. I'd agree that it seems to be trauma cracks and/or issues with the fingerboard delamination. Even though I presently have the bass in my possession it'll be going back to the guy who I purchased it from as I very much doubt that the offer to examine/remedy the issues would be done free of charge, under an extended warranty... that would be some after-care service! Paying to have this repaired wasn't part of the deal I had in mind when I purchased it, so though I appreciate the offer to assist, I'll have to decline and pass this bass back to the seller.

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='1224573' date='May 8 2011, 09:54 PM']A bit OT but what's your Avatar bass? Never seen the Corvette shape with f-holes before, me likey![/quote] Officially named the Streamer Corvette but affectionately known on the Warwick forum as the Infinette, as it predates the Infinity series (and any of the Corvettes) and was released as a Ltd Ed in 91. It has the concave/convex contours and NT of the early Warwicks but the outline of the later Corvette.

Oh and it has a long way to run before we find out if it is a bargain or not. ;0)

[quote name='Bankai' post='1224399' date='May 8 2011, 07:27 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Precision-Bass-/120719331852?_trksid=p5197.m8&_trkparms=algo%3DMW%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D10%26po%3DLCA%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D9011074937489073335"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Precision-Bas...074937489073335[/url] Gggggooood deal?[/quote] Possibly... is it yours? However, I have to say that a low feedback rating and some vague description wouldn't inspire me unless I could see it in person. The old ebay chat that rings alarm bells are as follows; [i]'I am told that this Fender Precision Bass is a late 1970’s model (serial number: S888563).'[/i] - The seller isn't SAYING that it is a late 70's Precision, simply that they've been told that it is; ebay get out clause #42. [i]'I do not play myself, but my local guitar shop has checked it over and all they did was give the frets a slight grind.'[/i] - You have to ask your self if they don't play how the hell have they got it for sale, there could be genuine reasons but it rings alarm bells. [i] 'You can see from the photo that the covers are missing, but otherwise I understand that all parts are original.'[/i] - "I understand..." ebay get out clause #36 [i]'...but I do not have an amp or a lead!'[/i] - see 2nd comment above. On the plus side they are happy for collection and they have given a serial number but serial numbers are easily replicated/falsified. Not saying that it isn't genuine but the above would have me questioning the seller. BTW if it is yours... see above!

[quote name='Soloshchenko' post='1223684' date='May 7 2011, 09:30 PM']Good to hear you got your cash back.[/quote] Technically I haven't as yet but I've quoted ebay rules at him and opened a dispute so he has to refund me; however, it will cost me as I have to foot the return postage to him! So it's cost me £25 because the tw4t couldn't be honest in his listing... though if he had been honest then nobody would have bid on it!

If you see this bass appear on eBay and it looks like a bit of a bargain... stay clear! I've admired these Progress basses since cd_david got his many moons back and when this was going on ebay recently I had a silly last minute bid and got it for £460. Bargain, or so it appeared! It duly arrived quite promptly but on initial inspection I thought that the action appeared quite excessive and closer inspection showed what appeared to be lacquer cracks on the back of the headstock! I gave the bass 24hrs to settle into the house climate then had another look at it. The neck appeared to have an awful lot of give in it (i.e. not much pressure was required to grip the neck and pull it straight/flat). I then started examining the bass more closely and found cracks in the lacquer running the length of the neck fingerboard joint, not good. I contacted the seller who basically said 'so what, it's an expensive bass and you got it cheap' at no point did he question the cracks nor make any suggestions that it could have happened in transit, he even went so far as to say I should have seen the cracks in his photographs ( you decide [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290559450320&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWNX:IT[/url] )! I decided then that the bass had too many flaws and potential problems to warrant keeping it so I requested a refund.; he said not a problem as he'd resell on ebay for more money; I pointed out that I hoped he'd mention the cracks but got no response! Any way... if you see this bass reappear on ebay be aware that the neck is chunky yet feels as whippy as a whippy thing and the cracks running the length of the neck fingerboard joint and from around the nut extending to the back of the headstock, point to potential problems. Oh and the nut is an absolute dog's dinner, I've a feeling someone has been tinkering with it already.

I can't really comment on your Streamer Standard but if you are looking for something 'different' but want to retain what you have (and with Warwick values what they are) I'd be looking to save for a NT Streamer next if I were you.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1219972' date='May 4 2011, 03:35 PM']We occasionally have something on Tyneside. Maybe it's time...[/quote] Tis indeed!