Why I Bought The Buzzard

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Well, some of you might think „why not?“, but if you look at the facts, a reasonable outsider would probably question this latest acquisition: I already have more than enough basses (Jazz, P Bass, Streamer, Thumb, Fretless, Acoustic…), I don‘t play professionally, I am not particularly rich – and the Buzzard is a rather strange bird – some might even call it ugly.

So Schlobodan introduced his offering for selling a (THE) Warwick Buzzard 5 NT Custom Shop rightfully with the words „maybe there is somebody crazy out there“ - followed by a pornographic Warwick video of this exact bass.

Now you might think „typical case of GAS – so what?“ And I would have to agree. But as an IT consultant, I am a very reasonable person and usually don‘t fall for GAS too easily. With this article, I would like to dig a little deeper into this decision process – while waiting for DHL to deliver the Buzzard.

In May 2013, I bought my first Warwick – from Schlobodan through this forum. It is a beautiful Streamer Stage I Custom Shop, I still have it / play it / wax it and am very happy with this purchase. A few months later, I took it to the first Warwick Bass Camp in Markneukirchen. This was a great experience, with „professors“ such as Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Lee Sklar, Alphonso Johnson, Helmut Hattler and Wolfgang Schmid. This was the time when Andy Irvine organized the Bass Camp and demoed a lot of Warwick basses on Youtube. My video from the Open Day of this week is still on Youtube, and although I wasn‘t turned on to the Buzzard at that time, I took this picture of John Entwistle because I really like The Who.
SAM_2206.JPG

Fast forward 7 years with another Bass Camp in 2014, a Thumb 5 BO and an FNA Jazzman, a lot of bass playing but not much activity in the forum. With the offering for the Buzzard, I re-discovered this forum and the nice crazy people around. I am referring to Hardys epic thread on his BuzzTard and the Buzzard Brothers, but also to all the wisdown shared by Florin, DiMarco, Schlobodan, Nachobassman, HenryThe8 – thank you very much.

Going through the forum threads, I also noticed some turmoil regarding the financial situation and the relationship to Warwick. With this article, I would like to re-assure Hans-Peter Wilfer, Marcus Spangler and everyone at Warwick that your hard work and your concepts of experience marketing (→ Bass Camp instead of Musikmesse) really work. But especially in times of social distancing, this forum keeps the excitement for the brand alive. Any in my case, it made be buy a completely unnecessary, ugly 4th Warwick bass :)
 

Hardy

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Harhar!

Same story here. I first bought a Streamer Stage (2 in my case) from Schlobodan and didn‘t think of the Buzzard at all. Too ugly! Fast forward: Then I bought a Buzzard from Schlo and so the story continued... Please make a vid of your first try to play the bass! This will be fun if you never played a Buzzard before. :D
 
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Harhar!

Same story here. I first bought a Streamer Stage (2 in my case) from Schlobodan and didn‘t think of the Buzzard at all. Too ugly! Fast forward: Then I bought a Buzzard from Schlo and so the story continued... Please make a vid of your first try to play the bass! This will be fun if you never played a Buzzard before. :D

Wow - so Schlobodan is the gateway drug dealer for Buzzards. Great idea with the first play video, thanks.
 

DiMarco

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Oh you're very welcome bassbro!

Me I made three completely unnecessary purchases in a row.
Own a five string Warwick, Fender and Zon bass plus an equal amount of four string basses.
Still I managed to buy another in the shape of a Fodera NYC, a new Darkglass pedal and a new preamp with analog cab simulations.

Why? Because you only live once and playing bass is sooooo awesome!

I helped Hardy with his bad habbit as well with scoring another beautiful (vintage) Buzzard in NOS shape.
Its owner refused to send the bass to Germany so I stepped in and collected it for him.
I guess you can call me a bad influence here hahaha. Who needs more then one Buzzard? Hardy does. For sure.

Enjoy your very unique and wonderful new axe. Dealing with Schlobodan is probably the nicest experience, the dude rocks!

Cheers, Marco
 

Hardy

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You are here among junkies. Marco not only scouted and caught the vintage Buzzard for me, he also suggested a special headstock construction for my (oh, third!) Buzzard 8 string. And Warwick jumped on the idea! Damn lockdown, the bass should be finished and shipped by now. I have to wait much longer now.
 
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You are here among junkies. Marco not only scouted and caught the vintage Buzzard for me, he also suggested a special headstock construction for my (oh, third!) Buzzard 8 string. And Warwick jumped on the idea! Damn lockdown, the bass should be finished and shipped by now. I have to wait much longer now.

I feel for you. Schlobodan has shipped mine last Friday. Once I receive the DHL tracking link I will probably watch this thing as if it was the Bundesliga live ticker :)
 

DiMarco

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31kg? How!

Well there's about 10kg of stickytape on there, and there is a giant bicycle in there besides the bass.
 
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This is how you NOT should wear a Buzzard - but I do:


Well, this looks (and sounds) great, congratulations to your band. I get that I could also put the body on my belly (nice fit) and rest the arm on the upper horn. But your way of piercing the lower horn into your knee looks ergonomic, too.
 

Hardy

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Well, this looks (and sounds) great, congratulations to your band. I get that I could also put the body on my belly (nice fit) and rest the arm on the upper horn. But your way of piercing the lower horn into your knee looks ergonomic, too.

The bass is custom shopped. The lower horn is rounded. The neck is slimmer (38,5 mm), lightweight tuners, the strap button on the upper horn is on a different position. All in all it’s customized for the way I play this one.
 
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