Best years for Warwicks

[gazzatriumph]

Hi all, I recently bought a 2009 Corvette $$ Nirvana Black after trying it in a shop, it sounded and felt great so much so I sold my USA Fender Deluxe to purchase a 2010 Corvette $$ Nirvana Black, the neck on the 2009 is nice and slim but feels a bit rough but does not affect playability, the 2010 Corvette's neck feels slightly thicker but smooth again playability is not affected. I think they are both great. I bought two as I'm in two bands one is stringed with flats and the other with roundwounds
Has anyone any info on the quality of Warwick's from 2009/2010, I've read that pre 1999 ones are the best any opinions welcome, thanks.

 

[schlobodan]

best warwicks are from 1982-2015

 

[gazzatriumph]

Glad mine are the best then :lol:

 

[DiMarco]

From the mid nineties till the early zeroes the hardware on Warwicks was not nearly as good as current products.
Collapsing bridges, B and E strings not fitting in the bridge, tuners and straplocks that would break easily, JAN2 nuts that break too easy.

In the eighties and 2007 up till now all is spiffy.

 

[gazzatriumph]

Thank for your reply DiMarco and for the good news

 

[Hardy]

2015 will be the year of the mightiest Wick ever!!! :twisted:

 

[Mizzops]

best warwicks are from 1982-2015

I think everyone has opinions, but it doesn't' make it right for everyone.
For instance, I love big fat baseball bat ovangkol necks. A lot of other people prefer slim wenge.
Whatever feels right to you is right, no matter what everyone else says.

 

[DiMarco]

Ooh neck profiles don't even go there

 

[SynapticGroove]

I'm kinda partial to the 03's and 04's myself right now

 

[NeonVomit]

Mine is a 99 model - I had to replace the jack input, but I'm not sure if that is because the previous owner was an idiot who did zero maintenance on it. I had to scrub off like a 2mm thick layer of grime and crap off the wood when I got it - not fun. It was actually kind of sticky. I haven't played on any new models in a while.

 

[Nachobassman]

2002 and 2009, years of my two ´wicks. 8:

 

[Hardy]

1986, 2000, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012...

 

[Augie]

Mine is a 99 model - I had to replace the jack input, but I'm not sure if that is because the previous owner was an idiot who did zero maintenance on it. I had to scrub off like a 2mm thick layer of grime and crap off the wood when I got it - not fun. It was actually kind of sticky. I haven't played on any new models in a while.

EEEEEEW I hate scummy guitars, I once had to get a paint scraper out to get the scum off a fingerboard in the repair shop.
And don't worry about the jack, they are a consumable part, they wear, you replace them. Hell if you play flats you could get sets of stings that last longer than a good jack!

 

[DiMarco]

And remember they're stereo jacks. Also keep in mind not all brands of stereo jacks are wired in the same way.

 

[NeonVomit]

Yeah I replaced it easily enough with parts that people on this forum helped me get ahold of (I was living in Cyprus at the time and they didn't ship there back then). One thing I DID notice was that the new jack was of clearly higher quality than the old one.

I guess I'll find out what the deal is with new basses when I get my next custom shop instrument

 

[ilikebass7]

my 1988 Thumb was definitely special. Everything about it just seemed perfectly solid and long lasting, like it would last forever. The hardware was more sturdy and the bridge was solid brass. It is the best Warwick I have ever owned out of the 30+.

I have loved almost every 90's Warwick I have owned also. Slim Wenge necks and just really well built. Jan II's are terrible though and gold hardware seems to all be faded, but I don't think that is just a Warwick issue.

I think the 2000's Warwicks are my least favorite. They seem to be somehow more artificial feeling and just not my cup of tea.

I played the newer Warwick's at Winter NAMM 2014 and was blown away. The stuff they are putting out now is the best they have ever built IMO. I think Warwick is truly in the Golden Era right now and is making some of the finest if not THE Finest, High Quantity basses in the world.

 

[Hardy]

I think Warwick is truly in the Golden Era right now and is making some of the finest if not THE Finest, High Quantity basses in the world.

Let´s hope so!

 

[SynapticGroove]

This thread is awesome!

There are definite trade off's between vintage vs. new. Yep, the hardware might be better on the newer ones, but the much sought after boire` Dolphin is strictly in vintage-land.

It's kind of like a newer car vs. a vintage one; sure the newer one has more bells & whistles, but it doesn't have the history of the vintage one.

BTW, I love all Warwick's. The shoddiest Warwick in the world is better than the best of what most others offer, imho! =)

 

[Nachobassman]

I think this thing about vintage basses being the best ever made is like people saying music from the 90´s is the best... I was a teenager in the 90´s and it wasn´t th....

...no, wait, music in the 90´s WAS THE ♣♣♣♣, I feel sorry for today´s teenagers, really.

 

[shaftbass]

You got it, Nacho. People get attached to memories. What they remember to be the best through their 20s and 30s is what they think is the best, and have no reason to try anything else.

I can't fault them. I feel the same way sometimes. It's the same reason older people have a hard time relating to new music, or the ways of younger people. After a period of time, the desire and will to learn new things fades. We have to break through that, and continue to learn and try new things. Otherwise, life becomes boring. Easlier said than done no doubt.