Custom Shop Questions

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Billygoat

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Hello, I've been reading this forum for a while and reading over the custom shop price list but I'm still confused on a few things. First of all, the prices are all list/MSRP's right? That would imply that the actual cost from your local dealer could be significantly less correct? Does anyone know how much that usually is?

Secondly, while the price list is beyond confusing, I'll just ask this question for now. When you order a different top (than standard) on an instrument, does the body wood of the back automatically change to ash and you then have to pay more for what would be the usual body wood on the back?

Also, am I correct in my understanding that if you want a different color of hardware than standard for that instrument (from the CS) you pay an upcharge? If that's the case, that's kind of a kick in the nuts. I'd understand paying extra for a different hardware color on an "off the assembly line" instrument but paying around $100 for different colored hardware on a custom shop instrument seems unreasonable. Unless I'm missing something, there's absolutely no extra cost to the manufacturer there. They'd just be grabing a different hardware package out of the bin right? Can someone explain this? It's not so much the money to me as the principle. I'm not trying to be a dick or anything. I love Warwick instruments and my next bass will add a second one to my stable but I'm curious.

Thanks!
 
I think you're right all the way.

Yeah it is expensive for simple hardware color. But the warwick custom shop is by far less expensive than any other of the big names custom shop.
 
Considering the hardware colour:

it's mostly a logistical issue in my opinion. If you order a bass with different hardware colour, then I think that the bass will be ordered via Warwick, instead of the distributor changing the hardware. This simply means that Warwick will get an order where, indeed, only different colour hardware will be installed. But that particular bass has to be sent to the designated distributor. It's just a bit more paperwork that results in the fact that the bass will be "treated" with more attention. If you keep the price for alternative hardware colour too low, say 10 Euro, then Warwick will likely be flooded with these orders and that will certainly have a negative impact on the logistical department.
 
Hey billygoat,
The principle is simple, when you want different options, your bass goes out of the normal production line, and receives "special care" , in the Custom Shop.
You pay extra for any different option, that will make your bass unique, this is a matter of principles too :-)
 
I just think it's cool you can do that. Ask Rickenbacker to do you a bass with black hardware and see how far ya get. You'll be hitting the aftermarket, and a replacement Ric bridge aint cheap. Then add the tuners. The knobs are a moot point since they're plastic.
 
Hey Guys,

As I said, I would expect to pay extra for a different color of hardware for an off the line bass. The issue I raised was paying extra for a different color of hardware for a custom shop bass. That's a situation where they're paying individual attention to your instrument and where it's being shipped already. In the case of a custom shop order, it seems like a needless gouge to charge so much for a different color of hardware.

I just wanted to better explain where I was coming from but I'll shut my trap here cause I'm really not here to be negative and I do love these beautiful instruments.
 
Billygoat said:
Hey Guys,

As I said, I would expect to pay extra for a different color of hardware for an off the line bass. The issue I raised was paying extra for a different color of hardware for a custom shop bass. That's a situation where they're paying individual attention to your instrument and where it's being shipped already. In the case of a custom shop order, it seems like a needless gouge to charge so much for a different color of hardware.

I just wanted to better explain where I was coming from but I'll shut my trap here cause I'm really not here to be negative and I do love these beautiful instruments.
Click to expand...

Hey man,

we all have things that bug us sometimes. One should be able to express these negative feelings (with respect of course) freely in my opinion. Trust me, I do it too here. :wink: Indeed, if you're getting a CS bass anyway, then it doesn't make much difference for Warwick what colour hardware is installed. But in that case, the upcharge for different hardware colour can be divided into "real cs bass" and "just changing the hardware from a standard Warwick". This will only complicate things more I guess. I think Warwick just simplified it by thinking "worst case" for them: i.e. changing the hardware colour only. Indeed 100 Euro list price (I think averagely you end up paying about 50 only) is expensive. However, I must mention that when I hear what other forum members paid for their CS Warwick, I am amazed how seriously affordable CS Warwicks are. Cheers man. :D
 
The prices on the Warwick pricelist and customshop are all the recommended prices... I paid half of what is stated for my custom...
 
Half of the listed price?!? That is amazing!!! I now have hope! Once I have some extra cash here, I'll surely have my local dealer get a quote for me.

Thanks Guys!
 
That's not to say that all the prices are 50% off in reality, but the prices are as a rule cheaper than stated
 
Yeah, understood. But if your's was 50% of the suggested price, I know that there will at least be a significant reduction to the suggested price from my local dealer. Even if it's 20%, that's a pretty big chunk off of those suggested prices.
 
Very true! Where are you located? If you're in Europe I can recommend Thomann.de
 
I'm in Canada actually. I'll likely just do it through Long and McQuade which is the biggest music chain in Canada. While they are a big chain, they have always had great prices and treated me very well so I suspect they'd give me a fair price on a custom order.
 
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