Identify RB Corvette Classic 2018 model

[tonydunn]

Hi. I have been offered what appears to be a good deal on a RB Corvette Classic on eBay, but I'm unsure about whether or not it is what the seller (honestly) believes it to be. The points of concern are the fretboard wood (rosewood or wenge) and the AA flamed Maple cap or lack of on the body itself.

The fnish appears to be Almond Sunburst, but to my eye, it is not flamed maple (and the seller agrees).

The current Warwick spec for the Classic has it listed as wenge fretboard, AA flamed maple top. The model I'm being offered dates (the seller says) from 2018 when he bought it new from a reputable UK dealer.

Does anyone know if Warwick ever changed the spec for this model, effectively dropping the rosewood fretboard and the maple top in favour of wenge and a sunburst finish over Alder?

The instrument itself can be seen here:

Warwick RockBass Corvette Classic Active 5 - Almond Sunburst | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Warwick RockBass Corvette Classic Active 5 - Almond Sunburst at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Thanks

Tony

 

[Hardy]

I did not follow the changes of the Rockbass series but this Vette looks legit to me.

 

[tonydunn]

I did not follow the changes of the Rockbass series but this Vette looks legit to me.

I agree that it's a legit Corvette, but it's the finish that I can't figure out. Like I said, far as I know Warwick only ever made this in the one finish, Almond Sunburst with the AA flamed Maple top, and they still do as of today. This model (whatever it is) does not have the right top. As for the neck, I'd be hard pressed to tell Wenge from Rosewood in real life never mind a photo on eBay. The price the guy is asking is tempting (if I collect he'll take 399 ukp) but he admits himself he can't explain why, if this is a Vette Classic, why it doesn't match the spec. The serial number doesn't help me either, as Warwick's website lookup doesn't cater for RB.

I'm drifting away from the purchase (after a Streamer), but I sure would like to solve the mystery...

 

[Hardy]

I also can find orher RB Corvette Classic without AA flamed maple top in the web. I don’t know why there are two versions.

Warwick Warwick Rock Bass Corvette Classic Active 4st Sunburst [SN RBL511461] [02/27] | Reverb

This is an active type electric bass from the Rock Bass series that inherits the look and sound of the original German-made model, but with high cost performance achieved by manufacturing in a Chinese factory. The controls are master volume, balancer, and treble/bass boost cut. It is an active ty...

reverb.com

 

[tonydunn]

I also can find orher RB Corvette Classic without AA flamed maple top in the web. I don’t know why there are two versions.

Warwick Warwick Rock Bass Corvette Classic Active 4st Sunburst [SN RBL511461] [02/27] | Reverb

This is an active type electric bass from the Rock Bass series that inherits the look and sound of the original German-made model, but with high cost performance achieved by manufacturing in a Chinese factory. The controls are master volume, balancer, and treble/bass boost cut. It is an active ty...

reverb.com

Thanks Hardy. It doesn't completely solve the mystery, but it would indicate that there were more than one version of the Classic made, with different finishes, unless of course the advert on Reverb has also got it wrong and mislisted another instrument as a Classic (seems substantially unlikely). The Reverb ad just refers to it as sunburst rather than Almond Sunburst, which is another clue I guess. I asked the UK distributor for Warwick if they knew of spec changes in this model between introduction and 2018, and beyond - waiting to hear from them.

 

[Hector]

Hi. I have been offered what appears to be a good deal on a RB Corvette Classic on eBay, but I'm unsure about whether or not it is what the seller (honestly) believes it to be. The points of concern are the fretboard wood (rosewood or wenge) and the AA flamed Maple cap or lack of on the body itself.

The fnish appears to be Almond Sunburst, but to my eye, it is not flamed maple (and the seller agrees).

The current Warwick spec for the Classic has it listed as wenge fretboard, AA flamed maple top. The model I'm being offered dates (the seller says) from 2018 when he bought it new from a reputable UK dealer.

Does anyone know if Warwick ever changed the spec for this model, effectively dropping the rosewood fretboard and the maple top in favour of wenge and a sunburst finish over Alder?

The instrument itself can be seen here:

Warwick RockBass Corvette Classic Active 5 - Almond Sunburst | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Warwick RockBass Corvette Classic Active 5 - Almond Sunburst at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

Thanks

Tony

It is not a 2018, it is a 2014 (last two digits in the serial number)

Searching the serial number on the Warwick website gives:

Serial number:
RB C 532540-14

Article number:
1505085905CAALDAWW

produced:
01.03.2014

Description:
RB Corvette Basic 5 Almond Sunburst Transparent High Polish Fretted active Long Scale Chrome Hardware

Made in China

 

[tonydunn]

It is not a 2018, it is a 2014 (last two digits in the serial number)

Searching the serial number on the Warwick website gives:

Serial number:
RB C 532540-14

Article number:
1505085905CAALDAWW

produced:
01.03.2014

Description:
RB Corvette Basic 5 Almond Sunburst Transparent High Polish Fretted active Long Scale Chrome Hardware

Made in China

That's illuminating Hector, many thanks. See that according to the serial it is not a Classic but a Basic, which might well be the answer to the puzzle for me.

I tried the same lookup using this serial RB E 553242-18 (a RB Streamer Standard I had bought) and did not get a result. I asked the UK distributor/tech support for Warwick why this might be, and was told that the lookup only worked for non-RB kit, which now looks to be questionable. The only obvious difference in the serial that worked and that which flunked is the letter immediately after the RB designation. Anyone any ideas what that stands for? 'C' for 'China' but 'E' for ???

 

[Hector]

That's illuminating Hector, many thanks. See that according to the serial it is not a Classic but a Basic, which might well be the answer to the puzzle for me.

I tried the same lookup using this serial RB E 553242-18 (a RB Streamer Standard I had bought) and did not get a result. I asked the UK distributor/tech support for Warwick why this might be, and was told that the lookup only worked for non-RB kit, which now looks to be questionable. The only obvious difference in the serial that worked and that which flunked is the letter immediately after the RB designation. Anyone any ideas what that stands for? 'C' for 'China' but 'E' for ???

No worries mate. The C and E position are the months of manufacture.. C being for March... E being May... etc etc..

 

[tonydunn]

C and E position are the months of manufacture.. C being for March... E being May... etc etc..

Ah, my bad, same as the usual Warwick serial rules, doh!