RockBass by Warwick Corvette Basic 5-String Electric Bass

Bolt-on Maple neck. 2-piece Alder body.

This product is no longer available at zZounds.

Shop our website for related products:

(In most cases, a product is unavailable because it has been discontinued by its manufacturer.)

RockBass by Warwick Corvette Basic 5-String Electric Bass reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

26 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

 

3 People wrote reviews

Read all RockBass by Warwick Corvette Basic 5-String Electric Bass reviews...
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

"A taste of boutique basses at a budget price"

Feature:
While missing the two piece bridge and tailpiece of the German made Corvette the one piece bridge is still hefty and acceptable. The nut is plastic, for a few bucks more a nicer nut would have made an already great value better. The active electronics and pickups give offer a nice tonal balance. Being a fan of the Ibanez BTB510 the active controls were fantastic, volume, pickup pan, bass, treble, midrange and sweepable midrange. Yet with Warwick MEC 2 active pickups and active treble and bass control all the extra tweaking is less necessary as the actual tone of the bass is vastly better than similar basses in it's price range. the Rockbass Stingray defines quality at a reasonable price.

Quality:
Almost everything on the RockBass Stingray is high quality. The woods used, the tuners and active pickups and eq are of the highest quality, not something that usually goes with word budget bass. The build is solid with exceptional neck fit into the body making for smooth upper fret excursions. The one virtue over some of Warwicks high end basses are not needing to wax the body several times a week at first and then weekly from then on. Beautiful woods come at a price. A scratch or dent on Warwick's RockBass will still piss me off but on a German made Warwick the damage to the wood can be irreperable. The only things I'm not wild about are the plastic nut and one piece bridge. It's a good, simple design but knowing how much better the German Warwicks are I'd be willing to pay for a retrofit. Also, the guitar would cosmetically improve with black or gold hardware as found on the original Corvettes.

Value:
Tremendous value for the money. Compare this to similarly priced basses. The Ibanez pales in part and build quality but still makes a decent sounding bass although a bit midrange shy, Fender doesn't come close for a couple hundred dollars more, and the rest is somewhat subjective. For all around fit and finish, parts and quality issues the Warwick RockBass series is unbeatable.

Desirability:
The Stingray style is both classic and kind of out there. The top cutaway is a bit different yet functional. The look, particularly on the see through finishes is beautiful. I've seen others playing both Gereman and RockBass Stingrays and the whole look is impressive. But it's turning on the bass and playing that makes this a sexy hunk of wood. There are good sounding basses that require a footpedal to get different sounds and then there's the RockBass Corvette. Playing is sharp and well articulated. Fuzz, distortion, flange, chorus, delays, all effects sound better, unplugged the bass has a ring and sustain that tells give you a clue how well designed the Stingray is.

Sound:
As time moves along price bariers decline while quality gets to the point that any $500 bass can sound good. the Warwick RockBass Corvette is studio quality and is equally fantstic live. 20 years ago a bass of this quality priced and marketed as "entry level" would have impossible. Big slabs of tone and plenty of room for adjustments. active bass and eq make the difference on this exceptional bass.

Support:
Haven't needed much, questions answered on a timely basis.

Overall:
For it's price range Warwick's RockBass' are hands down the best basses for cost. Sure, there are a lot of good basses in the $500 range, but most are poor to ok at best. The good models still don't stack up to the Stingray in terms of quality construction, design and electronics. Unless money drops from trees the RockBass will be part of my setup for a good while. It's a keeper to be sure. Maybe if I get a German Warwick I'd put the RockBass beside but probably not. If stolen I would purchase a new one or take the leap to the higher end Warwicks. The attention to detail and high quality control are appealing so sticking with the same brand is almost a given until another manufacturer dethrones Warwick. Some day I'd like to add a fretless and will look for something different for tonal sake as well. Spector makes some great basses.... A Chapman Stick/Warr tap guitar is also in the future. Tapping on traditonal basses can create some great tones and 4 octave intervals, buying something designed to be used this way is very appealing. Because I do many styles of music and play out for promotional purposes I need road worthy equipment. I like to use the same guitars for recording as playing live, it's something left over from my guitar background. Get the sound, get the sound recorded. Because the sound is so rich yet can go in so many directions I'm hooked. The desire to upgrade to a more exotic Warwick will be in the back of my mind but if this is making do then things are pretty great.

Submitted: 6/27/2003

Style of Music: Experimental rock, electronic, jazz. Improvised bandleader, conductor

2 of 2 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
 
 
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

"Introducing the best review ever..........."

Feature:
Same as the "real" Warwick

Quality:
Not the same as the "Thumb basses" but still makes other basses of the same price look pathetic

Value:
Far better than anything in the same price range and above

Desirability:
Very tasty to look at and even tastier to play. Needs more some salt though....

Sound:
Same sound as i'ts older brother at a fraction of the price

Support:
Never had a problem with it, so i'm happy!

Overall:
This bass is so solid it'll outlive me

Submitted: 10/24/2003

Style of Music: Rock, fusion, jazz, drum and bass, (anything you can throw at me

1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?
 
 

Read all RockBass by Warwick Corvette Basic 5-String Electric Bass reviews...

Additional Images:

Black
Black
Transparent Blue Gloss
Transparent Blue Gloss

30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Applies On This Item - Buy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!

About This Product!
Description
The popular Corvette body shape, known worldwide, of 2-piece Alder lends graceful curves and a solid foundation to provide both thundering lows and distinct highs in an instrument that is just as much fun to play as it is to look at it.

The 2 MEC Gold active jazz pickups are paired with active 2-band electronics to provide a wealth of tones well suited for stage or studio. The smooth Maple neck is complemented by a Rosewood fingerboard and nickel frets. The RockBass Corvette Basic, available in a gloss black or transparent blue gloss finish, is sure to please any musician without draining their pocketbooks.

About Warwick
Over the past few years, Warwick's popularity has grown to amazing new heights, and we now have players from all styles of music using our gear. As bands like Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, POD and Incubus achieved greater success and visibility, younger players began contacting us asking how they could get a Warwick bass. Unfortunately, most beginning bassists could not afford to buy a new Warwick. As an answer to this overwhelming demand, Warwick announces the new RockBass line of bass guitars!

This announcement comes after many years of hard work and preparation. Warwick wanted to make sure that any entry-level basses they produce live up to the high standards that Warwick players expect. Hans Peter Wilfer, the President and founder of Warwick, visited factories in several countries and had his best craftsmen analyze all the samples until they were able to unanimously agree on who would make these special instruments for them. The winner was found in China. There a Taiwanese father and son team runs their factory in the same philosophical style that Hans Peter and his father (Framus founder Fred Wilfer) ran their businesses. The fit between companies, like a good neck pocket, was perfect. Then Warwick invested over half a million dollars to establish a Far Eastern headquarters in Shanghai to properly manage and develop their new business relationships with China. Hans Peter could not be more proud of the new RockBass line and he is excited the Warwick sound will now be available to all players, everywhere.

Technical Info

Scale: 34 in. Warwick Red Label M Strings

Neck: Maple bolt-on

Fingerboard: Rosewood

String Spacing: 16.5 mm

Bridge: RockBass 1-piece

Set-up tools (5 mm and 1.5 mm allen wrenches) are included
catalog

what our customers say about zZounds

"I've ordered all of my guitars, speakers, and amps from zZounds and have never had any problems. Delivery was prompt, everything is easy to find, and selection is excellent." - customer on June 22, 2009

Free Catalog

First Name Last Name
Address 1 Address 2
City State
Zip Email

Would you like to receive periodic email notices of new items, special buys, and promotions? WE WILL NOT SHARE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH ANYONE ELSE. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Tell us

Is there something you want to tell us? How can we serve you better? Want to see different products? Is this shirt ugly? Let us know!
Sound & Vision Magazine

Sound & Vision offers accessible information on home theater, audio, video and multimedia products.

This is not a free trial offer and you will never get a bill. The subscription is included with your purchase.

Please allow six to eight weeks for subscription to begin. If you'd rather not receive the subscription it can be removed from your cart.