Why I Bought The Buzzard

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John Beck
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.
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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 :)

Great story! I am an odd duck in that I immediately thought the Buzzard was the coolest, most unique, best looking bass I'd ever seen the very first time I laid eyes on one in '87, and I still feel that way today. Ugly? Not in my eyes. :cool: Congratulations!
 
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Great story! I am an odd duck in that I immediately thought the Buzzard was the coolest, most unique, best looking bass I'd ever seen the very first time I laid eyes on one in '87, and I still feel that way today. Ugly? Not in my eyes. :cool: Congratulations!

Thanks John, I guess I just needed a bit more time to discover the beauty of this bass (although I always liked Entwistle)
 
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Oh yes you can! :)

ok Florin, you want it, you got it - pics
I even solved the stand Problem.

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I see this video now for the first time. Is this Helmut playing on the stage?? Was trying to play Kraan songs back in the '80s :) plectrum - 210 bpm:confused:

Thanks Ulrich, Hardy. Yes, that was Helmut Hattler with Siyou‘N‘Hell. He even gave a lesson explaining his dual delay setup for Intro Mine (similar to

)
 
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I've tried the double delay (@1800 & 450), pretty cool :rolleyes: really liked the Kraan stuff
 
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The buzzard is probably the most aggressive sounding Warwick! I guess the zebrawood and the big size body help . I have two neckthrough and every time I plug them I can’t believe how GOOD they sound !! Just a killer bass
 
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