A higher standard???

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Doc

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OK, so over the weekend at rehearsal, we had three other bands hanging out (obviously, there were 3 other bassists there). After we were finished we all sat around exchanging BS about different things - one of which happened to be equipment. Go figure.

One of the bass players said "I'd love to have a Warwick but I just don't think I could pull it off". Ummmmm.... WHAT?

HE said that he always thought Warwicks were more for 'serious' musicians or virtuoso players that could use them "to their full extent". And evidently, that's popular thought. Holy smokes. I'm no virtuoso and I certainly don't take myself seriously as a career musician (nor do I want to - LOL).

I don't get it. A new Corvette $$ can be had for $900 USD from Musicians Friend - the same as a freaking IBANEZ. There's not a superiority stigma is there?

Are Warwick players held to a higher standard?
 
I believe a better insrtument makes you a better player faster. So with that logic, everyone should play Warwick/Framus.

I get one of two reactions when I tell people I play Warwick. "Wow, those are expensive." Then they look at me as if to say, "You must be good".
Or, people give me a "Well la di da, aren't we special" look as if to say I am an arrogant prick.

Almost every Warwick player I have ever met has been very nice. This includes big name endorsers too. It kind of reminds me of top level powerlifting meets I've been at where the strongest 1% human beings on the planet make eye contact with people and say, "Hey, what's up man". No need for pseudo macho posturing. These people can rip your arms off and beat you with them.
 
noodles said:
I believe a better insrtument makes you a better player faster. So with that logic, everyone should play Warwick/Framus.
Click to expand...

That's why I got my first one. I re-started 7 years ago on an old junky Squier P-bass (which I still have, converted to a fretless), then moved to an 80's Ibanez Destroyer, then a Rogue Pro 5-string(!), then to a Schecter Elite-5, then to Warwick. I've had probably 20 -30 other basses in there but none that I played consistently for any length of time. None 'felt right'.

Not until I got the Schecter did I begin to progress well, and not until my first Thumb did I actually show chops.

noodles said:
I get one of two reactions when I tell people I play Warwick. "Wow, those are expensive." Then they look at me as if to say, "You must be good".
Or, people give me a "Well la di da, aren't we special" look as if to say I am an arrogant prick.
Click to expand...

Yep. That's exactly what I'm talking about.
 
Doc said:
I don't get it. A new Corvette $$ can be had for $900 USD from Musicians Friend - the same as a freaking IBANEZ. There's not a superiority stigma is there?
Click to expand...

Hmm, this isn't exactly correct. A Rockbass can get that low, but I paid almost 2 grand for my German $$.
 
I think MF tries to pawn off the Rockbasses as German made Warwicks...Grimey!
 
That Warwick $$ there is a rockbass. I's lacking a knob and the coil tap switches that make it a German $$. Naughty Naughty.

But yeah there is defintely the thought that Warwicks are of a high standard, like having a proper Gibson Les Paul isntead of an Epiphone one.
 
Owning a Warwick isn't a label saying 'I'm a better bass player than you', it's more a label saying 'I take playing bass seriously, I'm very passionate about playing bass and I want an instrument that's able to aid me creatively'.

When you see someone driving a BMW, do you automatically think 'that guy must be an awesome driver?' In my experience, it usually aint the case lol
 
Rockbass $$ ($900@musiciansfriend). It lacks the active electronics and switches, like Bassman said, it has a Rosewood fingerboard instead of Wenge, and it has a Maple neck instead of Ovangkol. Also, no Brass frets or black hardware.


German $$ (about $1800@musiciansfriend). Active/Passive hybrid electronics, 3 way switches, and black hardware by default. It has a Wenge fingerboard and Ovangkol neck.



They both have swamp ash bodies. I showed the two models in a natural finish for easy comparison.
 
Again, this is way off topic, but I brought it up, so...

Those sneaky basstids - they even mention the Ovangkol/Wenge neck and the switches in the catalog ad. Anyone know if there'd be a legal issue in buying 10 of these and making sure they gave me what is described??? :)
 
I think MF and GC does that to appeal to the zit faced teenagers lusting after a German Warwick. Do they(MF/GC) not realize anyone can go on the website and get the real info. It's very insulting to ones intelligence.

Speaking of insulting, I mean no offense to any teenagers. I too lusted after Warwicks as a kid and had some impressive acne. The lusting gets worse as you get older because now you have money. I still jump around the apartment like a nut at 34 years of age when I listen to music. Although I have a lot less acne, it seems to gravitate to my back.TMI
 
I dunno what kind of legal things are going on, but it's always good to do your homework. I made extra sure I knew that I was getting the bass I wanted!
 
I'm not in the market to buy one - I just happened to see it in the new catalog and thought "wow". I'm actually quite happy with my FNA.

Then again, I wish I had the Thumb back...
 
Trey said:
Rockbass $$ ($900@musiciansfriend). It lacks the active electronics and switches, like Bassman said, it has a Rosewood fingerboard instead of Wenge, and it has a Maple neck instead of Ovangkol. Also, no Brass frets or black hardware.


German $$ (about $1800@musiciansfriend). Active/Passive hybrid electronics, 3 way switches, and black hardware by default. It has a Wenge fingerboard and Ovangkol neck.



They both have swamp ash bodies. I showed the two models in a natural finish for easy comparison.
Click to expand...

have anyone noticed these two basses have the exact same wood grain in the front pictures?
Photoshop, anyone?
 
thats some awesome photoshop work going on there. even the shadows coming off the knobs are the same!!!
 
Holy sh*t that's crazy. I nevar noticed that! I think the RB is the shopped one. Looks like they just made the wood slightly darker on the RB.
 
it is like tools when you buy snap on your spending s lot of money for the best and it shows you care about your craft.and i think some people don't know warwick makes cheaper bass's they might have only seen the big ticket ones
 
Nice photoshop work:)

I guess some simple rock P-players are a bit afraid of Warwick (I was too) cos they are played by a lot of big virtuoso names. I think Warwick will be more mainstream (in a positive way) by endorsees like Trujillo and Clayton. A lot of rock players discover the Star Bass, ..
 
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