warwickhunt

You'd be amazed that there aren't that many string manufacturers around and quite a few strings on the market are made identically in the same factory with the packaging (and the price) being the only difference...

I thought £7 for some Hartke strings on eBay was cheap, I'd go for it and just try them out. The days of strings that wouldn't go in tune and kept snapping are pretty much behind us.

After hearing the results of a JE J-retro in the USA Jazz I have (still for sale ), I'm going down the route of replacing pups and circuits in a couple of my Warwicks. I've purchased (just waiting for delivery) a Demeter pre off a fellow BCer to drop into my MEC equipped SSI and I'm in the process of upgrading the pups (whilst retaining the MEC curcuit) from Andy at 'Wizard' in my avatar bass, this has identical pups and curcuit to the Infinity range. If this is all done before you get sorted I'll try and give you some insight!

I've followed this thread and still struggle to comprehend how this amp (and all of its brothers and sisters out there) can be getting glowing remarks (regardless of tone) when you can't actually use the thing!

You seem to be saying that this is bordering on a common occurrence with this particular model of amp... astonishing (regardless of tone) why anyone would buy one. If I purchase an amp I expect it to turn on and go every time. I shouldn't have to buy another piece of equipment to plug it into to get it to work, or not as the case appears!

I'm not knocking you or anyone else for buying one... actually I may be; but am I alone in finding this totally bemusing?

[quote name='Bassassin' post='44554' date='Aug 12 2007, 07:35 PM']Interesting. The [url="http://www.warwickbass.com.au/history/historywarwick25.htm"]Australian Warwick site[/url] mentions the "TV" model as being shown at Warwick's debut at the Frankfurt music show - but I can't find any other mention of it apart from that, and this Ebay listing.

The bass is pretty anodyne-looking and if genuine, doesn't really hint at the kind of work the company would become known for. Having said that, according to the Australian site, the range at the time comprised this, plus a Steinberger-influenced headless design & a Jazz - which doesn't suggest they started with a particularly individualistic approach.

I do find it odd that there's no real record of their early instruments.

Jon.[/quote]

I've seen the Nobby Meidel 'Steinberger' basses for sale a number of times on eBay, they come up with uncanny regularity considering they were a limited run! Not ever seen this model or any Jazz style before. As I stated originally, the bass on eBay is so different to Warwick's production basses that it could well be genuine, after all if you were going to try and scam daft eBay punters you'd probably try to sell something a bit more akin to a regular Warwick!

I just think the headstock looks too much like the aforementioned Yamaha range (though it would predate the BB range, wouldn't it?) to be a true Warwick and why no decal/identification on the bass itself?

I still reckon it could be genuine but either way I'd not touch it cos it looks like an ugly version of the Yamaha and at that price who wants an ugly bass that may or may not be genuine.

Assuming you don't already have custom moulded ear protection!

Have you also changed cabs and bass almost at the same time?

I found that I'd changed amp, cab and I was using a different bass to my regular gigging instrument and it threw my perception of the sound that I expected/wanted. Try starting with one constant (a bass you know/like the sound of) and go from there, otherwise you could end up chasing your tail!

Just speaking from recent experience... it may be you just have another bout of GAS

If you translate the blurb (babelfish or similar) the guy goes to great lengths to authenticate this bass with excerpts of communication from Warwick (Manchester!!!). I'm not saying that this isn't a Warwick but how easy would it be to get a body/neck/pups etc from warmouth/allparts and knock up a bass; list it on eBay as an original/prototype/pre-production bass by Spector/Sadowsky/Fodera/..... (insert famous manufacturer here), then big it up with quotes from said manufacturer. I'm sure some numpty will bite and pay silly money.

That said, this may well be/probably is an early Warwick but the potential to scam is so easy!

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEU-EINGESTELLT-Warwick-TV-bass-1-Warwick-bass_W0QQitemZ180148082951QQihZ008QQcategoryZ87490QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEU-EINGESTELLT-Warw...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

Item number 180148082951

Too late!

The seller appears to be pretty decent, someone asked the question about the JV / Squier bit and he gave a straight answer. Still find it odd that he is justifying that his 'Fender' is as good as a Squire! Oh how times change.

I found the Marbass stuff (LMK and SA450) instantly appealing they gave you an instant hit of what you 'thought' you wanted. However, in a gigging situation I found that they struggled to cut through the mix (not lack of volume just presence). Like you I didn't dislike the Markbass sound but I found myself referring back to past rigs.

I sold both and bought a Thunderfunk, which has been a grower... in isolation without a band it didn't appeal immediately, unlike the MB, but in a gigging situation it always delivers. It has grown on me and though I wonder what other gear (Aggie, Eden, Epifani etc) would have been like I think it'll be a keeper.

[quote name='tredders' post='44198' date='Aug 11 2007, 02:37 PM']Well, they're insistent that no payment was taken from my card (despite the confirmation of order), so I'm waiting to check with my credit card company whether this is true or not. If they did take payment, then I'll kick up a fuss, regardless of whether they subsequently refunded it. If they didn't take payment, there's not really a huge amount I can do, unfortunately.

Mark.[/quote]

You're being pretty generous considering you had a contract with them regardless of whether they took funds from you. However, we each view things differently. I have to admit that anything sub £400 has got to be cheap if it comes with all the bits!

[quote name='tredders' post='44132' date='Aug 11 2007, 10:29 AM']An update on my Variax.... it was ordered 2 days ago, with next day shipping, and hadn't arrived this morning, so I called ElectroMusic.

"Oh sorry mate, I think it's already been sold - I'll go and check...", so chappie trundles off for 5 minutes then comes back and confirms that the Variax has indeed already been sold, despite me having a receipt with my payment and a nice message saying "thank you for your purchase". Nice.

He then said "We were thinking of sending you a brand new one we had in stock as a replacement, but didn't.". Well, thanks for telling me that - I feel a whole lot better now!

Anyway, long and short of it is, I'll be keeping my eyes open for a cheap Variax - if anyone sees one on their travels, drop me a PM?

Cheers

Mark.[/quote]

WTF... You paid a deposit for a particular bass, they then go and sell to someone else! I'd be kicking up such a stink that they'd be begging me to take a new one.

[quote name='stingrayfan' post='44129' date='Aug 11 2007, 10:10 AM']3-pack of Hartke strings for 5-string bass for under £20!

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-Sets-Hartke-50-135-Bass-5-String-Free-P-Pw-BIN-50-135_W0QQitemZ300137426985QQihZ020QQcategoryZ20987QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-Sets-Hartke-50-135...VQQcmdZViewItem[/url]

Just bought some and they seem fine. Can't vouch for them longterm as I've only just put the first set on, but bearing in mind the price of 5-string sets, defo worth a punt.[/quote]

Cheers for the heads up. I've just purchased a batch, even though I don't play 5 string! For the cost of postage does anyone want the spare B strings (x3) out of these sets when they arrive?

A couple of new guys to watch out for are Joe and Dave @ 'Austin Guitar Shop'. They have started a new business off producing guitars (KS Guitars) but are obviously also running repairs, maintenance, custom paint and finishing. They are based in Blyth, Northumberland and at the moment are contactable via email [email protected] or mobile +447896759715 +447918646359 They've just dressed and set up a couple of my basses and I'm well impressed, they even go to the trouble of taking every customers bass set up measurements which they keep on file for future reference. Prices are very reasonable to start with but even better as they are initially offering 10% - 12.5% off work in lieu of a favour to Basschat (for the discount mention warwickhunt when you contact them). The favour is that they intend producing a bass, they have their own stamp on what it should look like and be spec'd with but would like some feedback from bassists... watch this space.

Many people prefer a price ticket and baulk at an 'offers' price

[size=1]No[/size] [size=2]No[/size] [size=3]No[/size] [size=4]NO[/size]... I will resist from turning this sensible thread into the usual BC farce...




Oh go on then knit me a 40" one!




We are talking chest size for a cardie aren't we?

Does it have to be the latest range? IMHO you can't go past the 800rb if you are going for the GK sound and the reliability of those units is near legendary. For all they have a weird 300/100w biamp system, the 300w amp section into a 4ohm load is very VERY potent. They were still making them up until quite recently and they aren't a heavy amp. See if you can track one down and give it a try.

[quote name='Mrs Tinman' post='43821' date='Aug 10 2007, 04:09 PM']Pah!

I thought I was going to see tantalising nekkid pictures of WH [/quote]

Now there's a thought, it didn't do The RHCPs or Flea any harm, maybe I should try it.... where's that football sock (cue clever comments on appropriate size of sock)

[quote name='alexclaber' post='43806' date='Aug 10 2007, 03:25 PM']Very curious to see the results! That bass is a year younger than mine so one of the first with the separate bridge and tailpiece and MEC pickups. Possibly one of the first SS1, in which case it's likely to be mostly maple. Not sure if the original Streamer ever had the separate tailpiece.

Alex[/quote]

Hi Alex,

I did a bit of research on this bass before and after I got it, the previous German owner was very helpful. The bass was originally custom made in the late 80's for the bassist from Euro rock band Helloween (hence the pumpkin inlays) and immediately refinished/sprayed white with the hand painted graphic. It did in fact originally have the one piece bridge unit which was replaced fairly early in its life when the 2 piece bridge was released at the same time it was upgraded to an 18v system (one battery in separate compartment as per usual 80's Warwicks the other in the main cavity), the MECs are original.

Not long after the bridge was replaced Warwick endorsed the bassist and supplied him with custom sprayed SSI's with the regular 4 pots, this is the only one I've seen with 3 pots (one of them is dual-concentric).

The guys at 'Austin Guitar Shop' who are doing the work are going to photograph the various stages for me so that I can update the project on BC; should be started on Monday. I may well be asking views opinions once the colour is off!

John

Is there nothing on Basschat? (selfless plug) I have a 91 Fender USA stack-knob Jazz reissue available for £575 (£1200 if you want a new one), with the P&P that would hit his budget spot on!

Pics here. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3653"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3653[/url]

[quote name='guitarnbass' post='43593' date='Aug 10 2007, 02:47 AM']I did have a good thing going with buying laptops from (a place) at 10% of their trade price, and they might only need a keyboard, but were otherwise brand new, so you could make so much money and undercut every other guy selling the same thing, just couldn't get enough to make a living out of it, and these fking things go wrong so much, every other one develops some fault after a weeks use. Anyway, I've really looked at all the possible ways to make some money out of ebay but I can't come up with anything. Take cheap stuff like games, DVD's, whatever, I'm not gonna be able to get the stuff cheaper than any of the other guys on ebay buying the same sh*t at trade, so to even sell something you'd have to undercut so much that it wouldn't be worth the effort for the pittons that you would make, and even if you could sell in major volume, you still have to deal with all the stupid questions, the paypal disputes, posting, etc, it'd be a full time job and a half. Selling the expensive stuff which gets you the most profit is still worse though, because of the postal risks with loss and damage, and of course, fraudsters... I'm only in the 400's of transactions, and I've already had enough of using it for business.

Buying is such a nightmare too, who can just hit the buy button? You can't, you have to check feedback, buyer protection, check if there's a VAT charge buried under the stupid amount of inane sh*t covering the page, I hate it.

Still, failing a mate or someone on a forum like this buying your gear, where else are you going to get a decent price for it? If you're just selling the odd bit of sh*t here and there, you can't beat it really.[/quote]

I have a friend who in the space of 1 year bought and sold enough film and pop memorabilia to buy a new VW Beetle, this is not an urban myth, I know this person very well and this wasn't his day job!

Cheers guys, I think I need to source a decent piece of software (rather than the supplied gigastudio 24) before I blame the Tascam. I may well try some of the free/shareware with various magazines.

[quote name='Alpha-Dave' post='43231' date='Aug 9 2007, 01:03 PM']To be honest it can't look any worse IMHO.

What are you going to use to clean the hardware? Did you ever figure out if that crack was structural or cosmetic?[/quote]

I've done a lot of the prep work on the hardware and had it all stripped down... lots of WD40, soaked for days! Further clean up will involve elbow grease and more WD40. The guys who are doing the refin' work came to the same conclusion as me that the cracks 'probably' aren't structural but worst case scenario I'd have them glued and possibly look at a darker finish to the edges!

[quote name='MB1' post='43353' date='Aug 9 2007, 04:12 PM']MB1.
[b]Youve Never seen a koch in the flesh?...........never seen koch for sale?.......looking for secondhand koch?......[/b]Im still laughing now!,that could have been part of the problem,not a great name for sales purposes.why didnt he call it dolfin amps and cabs, surely theyre marketing guys must have known?.Finbarr Saunders would have had a field day with this!.Fnarr Fnarr! [/quote]

Oooh Matron! You are naughty! Shut that door!

I recall Koch produced a range of bass amps and cabs back in the 90s but for the life of me I've never seen one in the flesh or for sale, anyone any further info. I'm aware that Dolf Koch produced the Sadowsky amp but it's specifically his own brand I was wondering about, nothing on the website other than the guitar stuff.