Pre 2000 Warwick serial numbers

[Rayman]

Damn sure it’s been covered before…

 

I’m trying to find details of a mid 90s Warwick bass. The serial number finder on the website only covers post 2000 instruments. So does anyone know how to find the information on older instruments?

[UK Ken]

you can email Warwick:


Please send us additional photos of your instrument via e-mail at [email protected] :
- Model name
- Serial number
and photos of:
- front view
- back view
- photo of the opened electronics compartment
- photo of the serial number

[WinterMute]

The serial numbers was stamped into the wood on the end of the headstock.

 

This was my 87 Thumb, the K148 is the model reference and month, ie K14 is the 5 string thumb through neck, 8 is August (I think that's right) 87 is the year. (obvs).

 

I sold this bass a few years ago, and I think that's what Warwick came back with when the buyer enquired.

 

 

[warwickhunt]

The letter stamp is the month: A=Jan B=Feb etc excluding the letter 'i'.  The number following the letter is the sequential number of bass it is that month.  The 2 digit number is the year.  

 

K148 87 = October 1987 the 148th bass that month

 

There is the odd exception (Ltd Ed) which vary a little but they are easily read.

[warwickhunt]

To be honest chuck a couple of photos up and there are several folk who'll tell you everything you need.  I will say from the off that the email to Warwick 'sometimes' generates an answer that isn't always accurate... I've seen enough examples to challenge that every email is answered by HPW. 

 

[Rayman]

It’s a ‘94 Fortress One.

 

I think Maple body, Ovankol, Wenge neck. However it appears to have an aftermarket EQ, that I can’t identify.

 

E-002676-94 I think, although it’s difficult to read.

 

 

 

[warwickhunt]

All correct except neck is Wenge (as is fingerboard).  What makes you think it is aftermarket EQ?  Looks like period correct MEC.

[Rayman]

1 hour ago, warwickhunt said:

All correct except neck is Wenge (as is fingerboard).  What makes you think it is aftermarket EQ?  Looks like period correct MEC.

Awesome sir thank you for the info.

 

The EQ….. I  thought it looked right too…. but some bloke on the Warwick forum said… “definitely aftermarket” ….. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Rayman]

I guess that because it had stacked knobs…. it looked like an aftermarket job. I don’t know if this EQ was available as standard. It’s certainly a neat and tidy job.

[warwickhunt]

Just now, Rayman said:

I guess that because it had stacked knobs…. it looked like an aftermarket job. I don’t know if this EQ was available as standard. It’s certainly a neat and tidy job.

 

Doh!  Really should have looked at the front of the bass for the knobs.  Yep that doesn't look right; it didn't come with stacked pairs.  Someone has done a tidy job. As it happens Warwick couldn't have helped you with that info, as it is after market.  What brand is it on the board?

[Rayman]

53 minutes ago, warwickhunt said:

 

Doh!  Really should have looked at the front of the bass for the knobs.  Yep that doesn't look right; it didn't come with stacked pairs.  Someone has done a tidy job. As it happens Warwick couldn't have helped you with that info, as it is after market.  What brand is it on the board?

Alpha pots…. Artec board??

[Rayman]

So a cheap pre…. That’s disappointing 

 

I feel something considerably better is required 

[Rayman]

Presumably I can go back to passive?

 

Any suggestions?

[WinterMute]

4 hours ago, warwickhunt said:

The letter stamp is the month: A=Jan B=Feb etc excluding the letter 'i'.  The number following the letter is the sequential number of bass it is that month.  The 2 digit number is the year.  

 

K148 87 = October 1987 the 148th bass that month

 

There is the odd exception (Ltd Ed) which vary a little but they are easily read.

 

That's correct, I looked up the email Warwick sent me.

[Rayman]

*update*
 

HPW from Warwick replied to my email this morning with a full and detailed spec on the bass, what it originally was built as and all other relevant information.

 

Superb after care from Warwick, and details on the EQ, from them that would return it to stock.

 

It was built as an active bass with passive pickups, and frankly it’s a mystery to both of us why the modest Thomann Pre is currently in it.

 

Next…. will be to replace said parts with something decent.

[Lfalex v1.1]

Should've just had the "usual" MEC 2 band EQ in it.

I'm surprised that the pickups are passive (although I'm sure that the Duncans in my Streamer LX6 were)

[dmccombe7]

I had to get the EMG pre replaced few yrs ago when it packed in. Only option Warwick could offer was the MEC one which was fitted by Luthier in Edinburgh and it sounds good. I think i preferred the EMG pre but that could be all in my head. The EMG pre was the encapsulated box version.

Dave

[Joost]

Here’s an interesting serial nr K999 87 from a fretless thumb bass.

Sounds like something special as it’s the last number of a month?

emailed with warwick, he said it has no original pickups, passive pickups and electronics for active pickups. The pickups are beige, the electronics has a little block with “Dale” imprinted on it.

Can’t upload photo’s . My brother says he bought it new in a shop around 1987 but is not so sure anymore if it was new.

Does that happen that you buy a new or almost new bass and it is already tampered with?

[dmccombe7]

Perhaps it was originally ordered with that set up when new.

The original or earlier Warwicks like mine which is an 89 Thumb had a small encapsulated block pre-amp. My pre-amp failed in the first 6mths and again approx 10 yrs ago. I now can't remember if mine had any print on it. Warwick no longer supply those original style pre-amps and mine now has an MEC preamp.

Dave

[warwickhunt]

As @dmccombe7 has said it could have been ordered new with a multitude of pups and preamps (if I'm honest, less so the pre).  In the 80's, especially pre 88-89, Warwick would take modifications from their distributors and tweak basses to suit customer orders.  This was pre Custom Shop and literally a person in the factory would have picked up what you wanted.  Around 86-87 I was going to order a Streamer but I liked the Jazz pups that I'd seen in an advert for the new 'Stage II' bass, the local distrubutor said they could get me a Stage I bass (visible neck) with the SSII pups... and I could have the Yin/Yan inlays at NO extra cost.  They really wanted to have a share of the market!  Warwick offered their first basses with EMG, Bartolini, Seymour Duncan and even Alembic pups (and I bet I've missed a couple!  

 

Saying all of that, owners sometimes buy an instrument and make mods on day 1 of owning, so there's no guarantee that didn't happen.

 

Pics would help.