Warwick Specialists - Help on pricing please!

[Gamble]

Hi all
Was just wondering if some folks in the know about Warwicks could help me out, I'm wondering if £2k is a fair price for the following bass:

1988 Thumb 5 NT
Pretty sure it's a custom shop job, I think it's a bubinga body (very heavy bass, nice figuring on the wood), 7 piece neck, wenge fingerboard, green LED side markers, Bartolini p'ups, slimmer neck than the 2 other Warwicks I have, pretty good condition - you can tell it's notyoung but the only noticable mark on the finish is the spot above the front p'up where your thumb rests.

So yeah, is two grand a fair price?

[Lfalex v1.1]

Unless it's utterly spectacular and has custom features that you'll use, then £2k seems too much.

Have a search for at any listings in the marketplace here for Thumb NT5s and see what they went for.

I reckon you could get one for £1.5k
It's a buyer's market, and S/H Warwick values are positively comedic.
Sure, NEW ones are ludicrously priced, but there's plenty out there in the second-hand arena, and good supply keeps the prices down.
Of you do miss this one, another will probably be along shortly.

[throwoff]

If it is 1988 it is tough to say if it is 'Custom shop' or not, back then most Warwick work was for all intents and purposes custom.

Really though it is worth what you think it is worth, the other poster is right, you could get an NT for 1500 maybe less, but if you like this one to the sum of two grand then the price is right.

[Shockwave]

I found it difficult to sell the 30th ever Warwick Thumb NT5 at £1100.

[throwoff]

If only it was the 29th mate.....

[Dingus]

If the bass is a private sale then £2000 is a lot to pay for a bass like you desctribe . If it's in a shop at that price then they are asking the top end of what the bass is worth , but that's usually par for the course, and in either instance there should be some room for negotiation . The slimmer neck was standard on Warwicks back in those days , the L.E.Ds will have been a custom option , and the Bartolinis may or may not be the original factory-supplied pickups. From what I remember , EMG's were standard in those days , but certain special basses were fitted with Bartolinis like the Streamer Srage 2 . The man to talk to is Basschat's own Warwick Hunt , and hopefully he will be along shortly to share his knowledge of both the market for and history of these basses.

I seem to remember that Warwick basses from this era often need their truss rod replacing as a retro-fit. It's not a particulaly big deal ( I think the old one just screws out) , but if you are thinking about buying this bass for that kind of money then you should look into whether it is an issue with this particular bass. The bottom line is that if you have got two grand in cash then you should be able to pick up a pretty spectacular used Warwick bass and still have some change left over .

[sprocket123]

Bartos were much standard on Warwicks on those days , have an old 95 Streamer Stage 1 that came factory installed Bartos .

The Leds side markers were custom option on these basses . As for price , they re always too high for the buyer .

[Gamble]

Thanks chaps! You're right, it's one that's popped up in a local shop - I very nearly handed over my credit card when I played it but I've calmed down a bit now, 2 grand does seem like a lot of money. I knew it was expensive but wasn't sure if it was overpriced as I haven't seen many 80's Thumbs for sale, of course there's the argument that any bass is worth what you're prepared to pay but I never like to hand over my hard earned without checking to see if it could be better spent first.

Any further comments or advice will still be gratefully received, I might see if I can raise some money before I buy it and just call it fate if it sells before I get there.

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='Gamble' timestamp='1380571923' post='2227378']
Thanks chaps! You're right, it's one that's popped up in a local shop - I very nearly handed over my credit card when I played it but I've calmed down a bit now, 2 grand does seem like a lot of money. I knew it was expensive but wasn't sure if it was overpriced as I haven't seen many 80's Thumbs for sale, of course there's the argument that any bass is worth what you're prepared to pay but I never like to hand over my hard earned without checking to see if it could be better spent first.

Any further comments or advice will still be gratefully received, I might see if I can raise some money before I buy it and just call it fate if it sells before I get there.
[/quote] check out the one in bass gear too... £500 cheaper

[sprocket123]

Take your time pal . you ll find some good bargains .

[warwickhunt]

I think the value has pretty much been covered (£1000 - £1500). As to the bass you've described;

[font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]In 88 there was no CS as such it was a case of customer options were accommodated at the factory and that included 12/24th fret inlays saying 'Custom made for...'. The body wood bubinga is standard and the earlier basses often had very nice figuring on the woods (more marked in the early SSII basses but often on Thumbs; oddly enough the 90's was a better decade for the figuring of maple on SSI basses). The LEDs would have been an extra cost option (if they are original)[/color][/font][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif], Pups could be one of at least 5 manufacturers and Bartolini is one of them. The slimmer neck profile is a feature of these earlier basses and many seek out early basses due to this, one thing often overlooked is that the edge of the fingerboard radius is generally very smooth and makes these a pleasure to play. [/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]There will be folks who want green LEDs and Bartolini pups and may well pay a premium as a result. However, despite the new price being mahoosive, you'd only get £2k if you were lucky to snag a specific buyer looking for these options.[/font][/color]

[Gamble]

Luke - the one I've found is prettier!
Warwickhunt - Thanks again for the details, if it's there in a few weeks I might try and low-ball them. It really is very nice......

[warwickhunt]

Low-ball is the way to go but you need to develop the ability to walk away if they don't accept... and do it in person with a face that means it!

Good luck!

[XB26354]

It is worth waiting for the right one to come along. I've bought and sold a lot of Warwicks over the years and have snagged a Thumb NT5 for £650, a Streamer Stage 1 5 for £750 and a Streamer Jazzman 5 for £500. Warwicks fell out of fashion and used prices tumbled a while ago, to a fraction of what it would cost to buy one new (if indeed anyone buys a new high end Warwick nowadays!) Looking at recent FS threads it seems Warwicks are being priced up now - no more £300 Corvettes - which can only be a good thing for owners. They are still brilliant instruments, and £1K for one of their NT instruments is a very good price when you compare the work to make one compared to a Fender, for example.
Personally speaking I'd say £1000-£1200 in a private sale, £1300-£1500 from a shop for the Thumb you spec'ed.

[Dingus]

[quote name='Gamble' timestamp='1380575312' post='2227454']
Luke - the one I've found is prettier!
Warwickhunt - Thanks again for the details, if it's there in a few weeks I might try and low-ball them. It really is very nice......
[/quote]
[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1380575464' post='2227455']
Low-ball is the way to go but you need to develop the ability to walk away if they don't accept... and do it in person with a face that means it!

Good luck!
[/quote]

If the bass is in a shop, go in at a quiet time of day with the cash in your pocket that is the maximum you are prepared to spend, , explain that you like the bass but that you can pick up a comparable one elsewhere cheaper and see what the best price they will offer is . And like Warwick says, be prepared to walk away. There is [u]always [/u]another fantastic bass and another bargain to be had elsewhere if you have got money to spend.

[Gamble]

You guys are all awesome, thankyou!

[maldy]

[quote name='XB26354' timestamp='1380607815' post='2227622']
It is worth waiting for the right one to come along. I've bought and sold a lot of Warwicks over the years and have snagged a Thumb NT5 for £650, a Streamer Stage 1 5 for £750 and a Streamer Jazzman 5 for £500. Warwicks fell out of fashion and used prices tumbled a while ago, to a fraction of what it would cost to buy one new (if indeed anyone buys a new high end Warwick nowadays!) Looking at recent FS threads it seems Warwicks are being priced up now - no more £300 Corvettes - which can only be a good thing for owners. They are still brilliant instruments, and £1K for one of their NT instruments is a very good price when you compare the work to make one compared to a Fender, for example.
Personally speaking I'd say £1000-£1200 in a private sale, £1300-£1500 from a shop for the Thumb you spec'ed.
[/quote]

Aside, but was there any reason for Warwicks falling out of fashion? I've noticed since being on this forum a few people really not liking Warwick basses. I can understand people not liking the shape, or the sound, but that said they seem to me, to still be a high quality instrument. However, some people really seem to loathe them and that surprises me!