| Reviewer
| David Brown
|
| Experience
| 29
|
| Review date
| August 25 2002
|
| Manufacturer
| Warwick
|
| Model
| 1991 Streamer Stage One
|
| Price
| $1625
|
| Item owned for
| A very, very long time
|
| |
|
| Bass type
| 4 string fretted
|
| Neck join
| Neck Through
|
| Neck construction
| 5 pieces, 3 flamed maple, 2 Wenge
|
| Fingerboard
| Wenge, 24 fret
|
| Body
| Neckthrough with flamed maple wings
|
| Finish
| Beeswax and oil
|
| Pickups
| MEC P/J configuration
|
| Hardware
| Bell Bronze frets, machined brass bridge, brass hardware
|
| Electronics
| MEC active, Volume, Pan, Bass/Mid Boost and Cut
|
| |
|
Warwick vintage (if you can call 10 yrs old "vintage") guitars are
among the sweetest playing axes available. The original Streamer is very
similar to the Spector, which licensed its design to Warwick in the
early years. Warwick then adds many other nice touches, such as a ebony
laminate on the headstock instead of the usual paint.
This bass did much to define the classic "Warwick" sound, bright,
snappy, punchy, but capable of nice growl as well.
The characteristics of the Warwick are well known, I thought I'd write
a review about how this bass has worn over the years. The modern Streamer
neck-throughs are made with different materials, so a new one might not
wear the same. 3 examples include the removal of Wenge stringers from the
neck, the used of an adjusting nut saddle instead of individual nut slot
adjusters and the use of a cast bridge instead of a machined one.
I have played this bass for 10 years, all kinds of music, professionally
in many venues. There is simply no way to calculate the hours on this
bass. In that time, there has not been a shred of fret wear. I have a
Larivee guitar only 4 years old, and even though I rarely play it, it
already shows some dipping.
Electronics: are still whisper quiet as day one. I have used about 1
battery per year, throwing away batteries that still have life in them.
I do have to lower the pickups every so often; they ride up on the
springs. The output jack is still fine, although if I bump the plug it
will ground out...I may need to replace that.
Bridge: still adjustable, absolutely no corrosion on any of the
screws...they all still turn nicely.
Neck: no warping or twisting is evident. The fingerboard is beginning
to show signs of shrinkage (Have to oil it every so often) and this is
evidenced because I can feel the edges of the frets ever so slightly.
Body: The beeswax body is dirty, and shows a couple of dings. The
"slapping" area is soft and a bit gouged. The bass would look
brand new if I sanded and polished it.
Summary: The original Warwicks have proven that they are well worth the
money, as they last and last. This bass has performed perfectly first
time, every time without any maintenance.
If it were stolen, I would buy another vintage Warwick in a heartbeat.
Wait a minute...it was stolen last Christmas. I was without it for 3
months, and found it being offered on ebay. With the help of the police
and ebay, I was able to recover it.
| Construction
| 100% | 
|
| Appearance
| 95% |
|
| (Has a tendency to get dirty, show dings. )
|
| Playability
| 100% |
|
| Sound
| 95% |
|
| (Not real good at the Fender "non-humbucking" sound.)
|
| Value
| 95% |
|
| (High initial cost...but you can often find a used Streamer for much less than |
| a new one, and it's a better value. )
|
| Overall
| 100% |
|
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