=The Warwick Fortress Club=

[Myh]

Hey guys, this is my first post on the forum. I thought what better place to start then The Fortress Club, since I'm a proud owner of a Fortress Masterman 5 string. I found it on eBay back in October and jumped at the chance to get my first Warwick.

Nice Masterman, I'll like to get my hands on one some day

[Myh]

Here are some pic's. of my Fortress One:

Front:


Back:


And the same bass with Kent Armstrong lipstick pickups:


And with artificial chrome dots:


More info:
Warwick :: View topic - Fortress pics
Warwick :: View topic - Fortress pics

[Lakwik]

Hey guys i just bought a used 95 fortress one. I sold my corvette to get this thing. but i cant seem to get the throaty sound that Warwicks are known for whats up is it my battery or something let me know Thanks

[Still Face Paradime]

Maybe it has something to do with your eq settings on your bass/amp?

[Pedro]

Hey guys i just bought a used 95 fortress one. I sold my corvette to get this thing. but i cant seem to get the throaty sound that Warwicks are known for whats up is it my battery or something let me know Thanks

You'll know if its the battery because the bass will get progressively quieter as you are playing. The Fortresses do have a slightly 'warmer' sound than some of the more modern wicks, mainly because of the all-wenge neck instead of the ovangkol that you almost certainly had on your corvette. Have a play with the eq settings and see what works for you.

[K-Funk]

Here's my two Fortri:

1995 Fortress One 5-string:



1996 Flashback 5-string:



The Flashback is up for trade if anyone is interested! :wink:

[kascollet]

Here's my F1, with some of her sisters

[Pedro]

Hey fortress brothers, just about to post some pics on the 'warwick live' section of me playing my fortress a couple of days back. check them out when you get the time, and keep the fortress-love strong!!

[trujo777]

could somebody make a Fortress Club? onnthe clubs section?

[ThirdthumB]

Check it out; this place has become a "sticky"........

[Pedro]

wohoo, Flo merged my old acount with my new one...i got my post count back!!

[trujo777]

cool

[Pedro]

Think this may have been covered before somewhere on the forum, but does anyone know how much the Fortress cost brand new when they were still in production. I'm guessing it was about the same price range as the corvette standard ash is now, anyone know if i'm right or not?

[K-Funk]

It was back in the 90's, so prices were generally lower anyway... it probably cost a little more than a Corvette Standard, as it was the "next one up". As for the exact price, I haven't the slightest clue.

[verb]

After checking a 1995 copy of Bassist magazine the Fortress 4 passive sold for £699,active 4 was £949,active 5
was £1049 and the Masterman 4 was £1075.
The Corvette standard passive 4 was £699,5 was £899,the
active versions were £100 more

[Pedro]

awesome, cheers Verb, and welcome to the forum!

[trujo777]

I knew they had to be higher than the Vettes due to price and flamed maple used.
I like their sound better than the Vettes.

[Pedro]

Was thinkin bout the C.S bass i'm gonna buy in about 200 years time when i've actually got some money:

Fortress body shape
Maple body (stickin to fortress tradition)
Birdseye poplar top & matched headstock
Ovangkol neck
Tigerstripe Ebony fingerboard
'F' clef on the 12th fret
TJ / J pickups
2 band preamp

I'm startin to except donations to the fund right now!! Don't be shy :D

[verb]

I like your style,I'd have TJ/P pickups and 3 band EQ if your going to get it built,but if they would build it I'd have a neck-through broad-neck 5 string fortress.

[Pedro]

yeah i was thinkin about a neck thru fortress, not sure if it would balance right - am sure it would cost an absolute fortune lol

[trujo777]

NT Fortress, 5 string, 3 band eq, golden hardware (or chrome) with blue Leds or red leds and white gloss finish,3 band eq mirrored P Pickups... niiice dream to have. I will ask Jan por Thndr for one mockup.

[Pedro]

no no no, come on Trujo thought you had some class about you. LED's never work on a bass!!! Makes it tacky

[metal time]

Here is some pics of my new Masterman Fortress 5. I love it to bits. Its my new favourite bass. Im now gigging with this instead of my Corvette 6.

[metal time]

Probably should have gave it a clean before taking pics

My next big decision is do i change the hardware to black like i did on my vette standard?

[Pedro]

hmm as the self-proclaimed style master of the fortress (thats right lol) i would stick to the chrome hardware, or maybe even go for gold

I'd like to see some pics of your vette with the black hardware, though!

[TjD]

Okay then, here's mine. A 2000 Fortress One fretless in natural oil finish
I'm quite fond of her beautiful maple flames... looks a bit like tigerstripes.

[metal time]

hmm as the self-proclaimed style master of the fortress (thats right lol) i would stick to the chrome hardware, or maybe even go for gold

I'd like to see some pics of your vette with the black hardware, though!

Ive added some to the corvette club. Have a look and see what you think. I think it looks much better with black hardware. I dont like gold hardware.

[Pedro]

man that natural fortress one is seeeexy!!! Is the flamed maple a special feature, or do all fortress one's have it?

[TjD]

man that natural fortress one is seeeexy!!! Is the flamed maple a special feature, or do all fortress one's have it?

Actually, I don't really know...
I've never seen another F1 fretless. Seems that they are very rare...
Only the Masterman series had a flamed maple body. But mine has one too

There's nothing on the Warwick website about the fretless version. If there's someone who knows more about them, please let us know, because I like to know more too.

I bought mine new in 2000 or 2001 I believe, but it seems the last F1 left the Warwick factory in 1999.

Thankx!

[Myh]

Okay then, here's mine. A 2000 Fortress One fretless in natural oil finish
I'm quite fond of her beautiful maple flames... looks a bit like tigerstripes.

What a beautiful looking Fortress

[herb vibes]

received this lady yesterday while comin' back home. what a great way to come home after vacations


she has a lot of small scratches but for that price i got her i'm really happy with it. will rip off the finish next saturday and give her a nice, new and waxed natural look

[Pedro]

Ive added some to the corvette club. Have a look and see what you think. I think it looks much better with black hardware. I dont like gold hardware.

Just looked at the black hardware and it is pretty damn fine!!

(Dunno why i didn't think it would, thumb models come with black hardware and they look coooool)

[metal time]

Just looked at the black hardware and it is pretty damn fine!!

(Dunno why i didn't think it would, thumb models come with black hardware and they look coooool)

Thanks I think it is definitely nicer with black. Cant decide for the fortress though.

[Pedro]

I was thinkin of changin the hardware on mine but i decided against it cause the tuners have 'Warwick West Germany' on them instead of just 'Warwick Germany', which i think is a pretty cool feature.

Dunno if same applies for yours, Metal Time? If so i would keep with the chrome.

[metal time]

I was thinkin of changin the hardware on mine but i decided against it cause the tuners have 'Warwick West Germany' on them instead of just 'Warwick Germany', which i think is a pretty cool feature.

Dunno if same applies for yours, Metal Time? If so i would keep with the chrome.

Yup same with mine. I also think its a cool feature. I must say though a white fortress with black hardware would look amazing i think. Im going to give it a while longer and decided i think.

[Nielss1992]

Hi, Just was thinking about showing my Warwick Fortress:





It's a Warwick Fortress One made in 1994, It's all standard, and is Active / Passive which is really nice.

Just bought it at a local musicstore which sold it second hand, I always wanted a Fortress and this was my chance to buy one... It wasn't cheap though. But with the good times I have with it, it is priceless!

[Pedro]

Wow those pics are too big for my computer to load any time soon lol

Sure its an awesome bass though, just got enough of the first pic to notice its a 5 string - very nice!!

[4to5string]

Hey guys i own two Warwicks now both are Corevette models but i have found a fortress flashback for sale and i was wondering if any one has every played one and how they liked it compared to there other warwicks ? Thanks any feedback would be helpful.

[Pedro]

Hey 4to5, not played a flashback before so would be interested to know what you think of it (if you do buy), i think its suppose to have more of a retro sound - whatever that is!!

How much is the asking price for the flashback you are looking at?

[herb vibes]

my fortress again.... sanded the honey violin finish off over eastertime!