Is there any problem in this neck? (early 90s Warwick wenge neck content, with pics)

[ale29]

Hey there,

I've tried an early 90s Warwick SSI in person that I really liked. It weighs a lot, but it was very very good.

However, I have taken a long look at some pictures of the neck-headstock junction area afterwards and I've noticed some kind of strange "mark" on one of the wenge stripes. The owner says that this neck has never broke and has never been repaired. I don't have any reason not to trust him tbh, and the setup was good with a straight neck.

Could it be in your opinion a "knot" of the wenge in that area, or a ding, or any other explanation that doesn't involve a neck crack that has been glued?

Thanks a lot

 

Alessio

[Andyjr1515]

That doesn't look at all right to me.  That looks like a stress crack that has also gone into the centre splice.

[Frank Blank]

2 hours ago, ale29 said:

The owner says that this neck has never broke and has never been repaired.

 

I think this is true, however, you don't want to be the new owner who has the neck break and have to repair it just after you've shelled out for it.

[simonlittle]

Looks like a dent rather than a crack to me. Perhaps the maple dents easier than the wenge? My guess would be whoever was playing at the time turned and bashed the neck into the edge of a door or something. I doubt it would cause any issues if you don’t feel it whilst playing. 

[ezbass]

To my eye, it looks like it has fallen against something that has dinged the middle laminate and then scratched the adjacent wenge.
 

The above post from @simonlittle appeared as I was typing, it seems we both think the same. 

[Hellzero]

There are plenty of early Warwicks Streamers at low prices, pass on this one as it looks like a badly repaired wenge stripe, and as @Andyjr1515 said it's already expanding to the center maple stripe.

 

The @simonlittle explanation might be the right one, but there's this crack in the center maple stripe indicating it's expanding.

[warwickhunt]

That's a repaired neck break!  Though I'm puzzled as to why you are saying it is a 90's bass.  By 1990 Warwick necks were Maple with Wenge stringers; that neck is predominantly Wenge and likely an 80's bass.

 

'If' done correctly and by someone who knows what they are doing, a break can be repaired as strong as new.  However... the fact you can see it a mile away makes me wonder how competent the repairer was.    Unless it was significantly cheaper than other examples I'd just wait for another to come along.  Saying that, if this was repaired in the late 80's and looked like that when repaired, then it is 35 years with that repair so could be fine.  

[ale29]

Thanks for your answers so far.

I'm positive that this is a 90s bass, serial number dates it to April 1995. It is a very cool one-off, with predominantly wenge neck, wide string spacing, black hardware, Bartolini PUPs and electronics and beautiful flame maple body wings. However, given the general consensus here (which agrees with my gut feeling about it), I think I shall pass on it

[warwickhunt]

2 hours ago, ale29 said:

Thanks for your answers so far.

I'm positive that this is a 90s bass, serial number dates it to April 1995. It is a very cool one-off, with predominantly wenge neck, wide string spacing, black hardware, Bartolini PUPs and electronics and beautiful flame maple body wings. However, given the general consensus here (which agrees with my gut feeling about it), I think I shall pass on it

 

With that neck in 1995, a one off / custom order makes sense, especially with it being a broadneck 5 string.