Need YOUR comments and expertise....4-STRING $$

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Mr Top 10

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This is my first post here, BTW..! So hello from NC in the U.S. :)

Secondly I've played both bass and guitar for a long while now, primarily guitar...and I'm wanting to get more serious about my bass playing. I've always admired Warwicks from afar. Just recently I'd had a chance to really sit down with them and fell in love with the 4-string Corvette $$...(Have small hands).

But I have a few questions I hope some of you would answer for me:

1. In a store, what can I expect to pay for a 4-string Corvette $$? The one I saw at Sam Ash was about $1350 and saw another store selling one online for the same amount. Is this pretty typical going rate?
2. How much cheaper am I likely to find one on the bay or just in adverts? I know it'll vary, but I'd stand to save....roughly how much?
3. How do you feel about buying in stores versus online?
4. I know they list at about $1699.00 on the Warwick U.S. Price list....If I was to custom order one directly from Warwick....nothing terribly customized, but just a specific stock color, etc....am I looking at paying that price? Is that worth it, do you think?
5. Can you custom order one through a store like Sam Ash and get a better deal that way than going through "W" direct?
6. Lastly.....I live in Western NC and the closest Warwick dealers are 1.5 and 2.5 hours away. Some of you this might also apply to. If you were looking for a bass, would you contact dealers all across the country, and if so, would you buy blind then?

Sorry if some of these are inane questions by the way. :D Just want to get the best possible 4-string Corvette $$ for the best possible price. Right now I don't have the money and I'm trying to sell a 1960 Les Paul Classic Re-issue (tobacco burst) in order to make this happen.

So any help here would be very appreciated...! If you know anyone interested in a LP Classic, PM me.....as it might bring me closer to my $$ purchase.

Thanks so much. Great forums here. Enjoying it.
 
1. That's the price of the instrument. It's a good price actually, probably the cheapest you would find give or take a couple of $10. The official retail price is not indicative of what you should pay. If you shop around, it's usually much cheaper.

2. The cheapest I found online $1100 for a natural finish, and that was a online german store, so cheaper than the US prices, obviously. Would it be worth it shipping from Germany? Absolutely not! :)

3. I'd rather buy in a store than online. You get to try the instrument, you have better customer service, cash and carry, just better.

4. 5. As far as custom jobs, no idea. The shop you buy from might apply the 'retail price' policy for custom instruments and screw you. Or they might just add the cost of the custom job on top of their listed price, in that case, it's a good deal. Custom work adds more to the price. If it's just for color, no point imo. They have plenty of standard finishes that look great. BTW, the natural finish always cost a few $10 less. So I guess, their 'coloured' are kinda custom :)

6. In my experience, I've been through that sort of mentality myself, and it's never worth it. I still have lapses, where I have to buy the best of something, but really, it's just more complications. As far as scouting the entire country to save a few bucks, really not worth it. Looking for the perfect example would be like chasing a red herring. Not worth the trouble. Find a good example, try it, pay a good price, go home happy.
 
Good points....thanks. :)

I ask because in the TWO stores that are within 3 hours of me, they had only (1) $$....it was red and had showroom dings. So that makes me wonder...am I going to have to wait for one to just come in...? THat's why I was asking about trying other stores more than just a single state away.
 
As to the prices you're likely to encounter - they vary. For a new Warwick, you won't see much difference between one place or another like SurrenderMonkey said, give or take $20. If you can spend some time looking (I know waiting sucks...) then just watch for some used ones to pop up in your pricerange. Now, as to the online buying of these instruments... I've heard too many horror stories about ebay to really use it for anything other than price comparisons. Three of my four Warwicks were bought online though, from a store with a real storefront and a real phone number. I tend to avoid the megastores since the staff may mean well, but usually don't know very much about the product.
With all the adjustments that are possible on these basses, it isn't so important that it 'fits' perfectly the first time you pick it up. You can set all that. Just look for a reputable place that answers the phone and has a physical address that you can verify and you should be alright. I would recommend BassCentral in Orlando. I was just at their shop this morning and they have about as good a selection of new and used Warwicks as can be found. I've bought from them three times and have gotten good service so far... Best of luck!!! ~M~
 
Mr Top 10 said:
Good points....thanks. :)

I ask because in the TWO stores that are within 3 hours of me, they had only (1) $$....it was red and had showroom dings. So that makes me wonder...am I going to have to wait for one to just come in...? THat's why I was asking about trying other stores more than just a single state away.
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I have kinda the same dilema really... I want one (5 string, natural), but I don't want to play £850 when I can get one online for £200 less.

Best is, call them, see if they can order one to your specs, for how much, and so on... 3 hours driving is a long way for one bass that you might not take home anyway. Then again, if they order one for you, they will want a deposit, and so forth, so will kinda be commited to buy it without trying it anyway. So you might as well order online. The online store I intend to order from has a 30 days return policy, in case there is a problem. But it cost nothing calling the stores and ask questions.

If you like the model, colours and all, but it is dinged, you can always try your luck with getting the price down a bit, get a set of strings, anything you can bargain for :) That would be as far as I go. I don't have any shame ordering online, I just think it's easier and better for business buying at a shop. If the shop can order the model I want, for the money I want, I would go through the shop. But I don't have the problem of driving 3 hours to find a Warwick retailer.

As for me, I am taking the risk. Like when I bought my thumb without prior experience. And that was quite a leap of faith. As for quality of my soon-to-be mail ordered bass, I do not expect much change from the model I tried and liked at the store.

I can understand why prices in shops are more expensive than online. and I feel kinda bad spending some time there, trying like 1/2 dozen instruments, and ending up ordering somewhere else, but really, they were not interested in bringing the price down at least a bit, and they didn't have 5 strings anyway, so screw it...
 
avionix543 said:
As to the prices you're likely to encounter - they vary. For a new Warwick, you won't see much difference between one place or another like SurrenderMonkey said, give or take $20. If you can spend some time looking (I know waiting sucks...) then just watch for some used ones to pop up in your pricerange. Now, as to the online buying of these instruments... I've heard too many horror stories about ebay to really use it for anything other than price comparisons. Three of my four Warwicks were bought online though, from a store with a real storefront and a real phone number. I tend to avoid the megastores since the staff may mean well, but usually don't know very much about the product.
With all the adjustments that are possible on these basses, it isn't so important that it 'fits' perfectly the first time you pick it up. You can set all that. Just look for a reputable place that answers the phone and has a physical address that you can verify and you should be alright. I would recommend BassCentral in Orlando. I was just at their shop this morning and they have about as good a selection of new and used Warwicks as can be found. I've bought from them three times and have gotten good service so far... Best of luck!!! ~M~
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. I'll contact them when I'm actually ready to buy. Find out what they have...the finishes, etc. So long as there's SOME kind of return guarantee (72 hours maybe?), it might not be a bad thing. Got to be "safer" than private party ebay, or certainly no more risky. As you say, storefront...name...tele...etc.

Anyone else want to share a name and number of a trusted (and pretty wide) Warwick dealer while we're at it? :)

Mucho appreciated...!
 
avionix543 said:
www.basscentral.com Be ready to spend some time looking - there is plenty to see there. ~M~
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You are SOOOO my friend right now. :D I've written to them to request pricing on a couple $$ they have. What a great selection. Thanks so much.

And to anyone else who deals with reputable dealers with a fairly extensive Warwick selection, please let me know who they are.

Now...if I can only sell my Les Paul. :D
 
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