Warwick CL 112 Bass Combo

The Warwick Cl-W 150 is estonishing for it's size and weight.The tonal range competes with much larger and heaver bass amps that I have luged around over my years of playing. In the past I've used an Ampeg SVT 400 watt all tube head (90 pounds) with the matching 8x10 speaker cabnet 160 pounds ie (I know hemeroids and ignorant), Ive also used the SVT amp with two Sunn 200S Cabs which each have two 15 inch JBL D-140 speakers ( total of 4x15's). In addition I've used a Peavey Max bass head which delivers a split stereo 400 watts per side, 800 watts total thru a Mesa Boogie 1x15 and a 2x10 cab. At other times I've used a Sunn Cab which has an 18' and a 12' speaker. This beast also weights 150 or so pounds.
I"ve been playing all styles of music for close to 35 years from Jimmy Hendricks,Bonjovie, Dubbe Brothers, Eagles, Rythm and Blues,Funk/soul, Rock and Roll, County, Pop Top Forty, Swing, Jass, you name it I've played it. I started out with an Ampeg B-18 and a B-15 Portaflex flip top tube amps. I've played professionally on the road in every little red neck dive and hole in the wall in all surrounding States.
The point is, over the years I've used a lot of different bass anps, in a variety of venues. I still own most of these amps and so I can compare the sound of each amp from one to another.
The Wawick Cl-W is a phenomenal bass amp for it'size. It packs a whalop of a sound and has an incredible range of tone.
Recently Ive been playing in local bars, some small conventions, parties and weddings etc. Over the years things have changed. It used to be that if you wanted to be heard each player had to carry around monster equipment. That's the old days. Now the common sense concept is to carry your monitor amp for the stage and line out into the PA system for larger gigs if neccessary. The Wawick CL-150 is able to deliver amply with out reinforcment in smaller clubs.

Here again I would like to speak in a general terms. This little amp simply kicks butt for it's size. All three of my basses have passive pickups. I have a 1964 Fender Percision(cumberson neck), 1963 Gibson EB-2( agile neck but extremily bassey ~ no highs), but the one I'm currently using the most is a 1998 ? Warwick Fortress, Flashback. The Fortress Flashback has those passive lipstick picups which I'm not totally sold on however I am able to get a decent range of tone especilly thru the CL-W 150. Yes if you turn up the treble , you can hear a hum however most of the time the polarity switch on the back of the amp will iliminate this.

I've had no probems with this amp. It has been reliable.

This amp is made in Germany. I have never had to have it repaired, however I did have a problem with my Warwick bass Guitar. It developed some lateral hair line cracks in the neck. the bass was under warranty but the company said they no longer make the neck and so they could not replace it. They also said that the hairline cracks were an inherent and normal characteristic of the extremly hard/dense wenge wood. They sent my local dealer some sort of rausin filler to penitrate the wood. ~ I'm not convinced!! I don't like dealing with and depending on far away support.

I love this amp and woud buy it again if it were stolen. It is light weight powerful and versatile. I bought it new on E-bay for about half the list price because the music Store in Noth Carlina was going out of bussiness. The retail is close to $1,200,. Maybe the high price is why this amp has not caught on here in the US. Personally, I think it's a best kept secret. When I bid on this new amp, it turns out I was the only bidder, lucky for me. I guess no one knows about this amp. I should also add that I've tried out other single 12 inch bass amps at music stores. The David Eden Single 12 does not hold a candle it breaks up and distorts,it's junk. I was also very disappointed in the new Ampeg single 12, it just does not deliver and when I turned it up it distorted. The Warwick single 12 sounds like a much larger amp in the depth of it's lows

Made in Germany. A compact 150w solid state bass combo. It is rather small for this power (the smallest one I could find!). I play mainly jazzrock, blues, funk music - the Warwick is versatile enough for those styles. First of all it has 4 speakers - 1x12" speaker, 1 tweeter, 2 subwoofer speakers (which may be switched off). The parametric equalizer allows to change the tone very quickly, plus the range of tone adjustment is huge! You have to rotate the knobs carefully, since even the smallest change can be heard. There is one channel (no active/passive switch), a limiter, low boost+high boost switches, mute switch (plus tuner out jack), headphone jack, line out, effects loop, DI out and two handles on the sides of the amp. I don't use effects loop, since I only connect my pedals between guitar and amp. It could have active input (less clip...) and preferably a compressor. I would love to have a footswitch for boosting lows and highs - it would come in very handy (no footswitch output though). I use the amp for home practice, rehearsals and pub concerts. I don't record in studio, so I didn't try it there. Since there are line&DI outputs the power is sufficient - with those subwoofer speakers I can be heard in every pub even when the drummer is loud and for larger concerts I plug it into mixer and power amp together with all the mikes and stuff. It's good to have the speakers kicked back - it's easier to hear it on the stage.
I must say - this amp is rather small, so no extra features are expected (in my case). The main thing - it's very easy to take the thing with you anywhere. 21kg weight, small enough to be carried in any car. Thus - a high note for versatility.

I play a GMR active bass with two JB pickups (it's very similar to Warwick Corcette Std. bass). The guitar is made of ovangkol. I need quite a lot of tonal versatility, since the music styles I play are very broad. With low/high boost switches it's easy to get the right tone quickly (when I play fingers and want to go slap I just boost highs, for more punchy sound just press lows...). The parametric eq is a good thing - using only the frequency knob you can obtain and huge variety of tones. I also play chords on bass and tapping too - the amp can handle those styles well - the sound is bright and clear (especially when playing with the bridge pickup). Noise - when you boost highs there is some, if there are problems with electricity that couse noise, there is a 'ground lift' switch. Generally, when you start playing, no noise can be heard. As I mentioned before - there is a huge variety of tones to be achieved - I used a Laney RBG400 before, and I must admit that finally, with that Warwick I learned how the eq should work. Since I use an active bass there can be some unwanted distortion at gain 5 or more (for slap) and about 7 or more (fingers). Boosting lows causes lots of additional distortion. Luckily - there is a limiter switch which helps a lot - u don't have clipping, but the sound is worse. For deliate finger playing (ballads and stuff) the sound with boosted lows is very beautiful and warm - the subwoofers work very fine. Especially the thicker strings sound very well (I must get a 5 string bass!!!). Generally - for this size of an amp (and the price) - the sound is great!

I don't have a backup and I trust my amp. No breaking down yet.

1 year warranty, no servicing yet. I like the Warwick website - a lot of useful information, nice pics, 'bass survival' tips for bassists. Yes, that influenced my decision. There are a lot of emails and phone numbers given to be contacted in case of a problem. I didn't call them yet, but for example when I had problems with my earlier Laney, there was no given contact with the manufacturer (just 'phone your dealer'...). I like the Warwick guys indeed! I like the store too - they carried the amp a long way to put it in my car :)

I've been playing for over two years now. I use a CryBaby wah pedal and the mentioned before GMR bass. If I had the amp stolen, I would get the same one again. The best thing about it is weight+size. I hated my 38 kg amp, since I had to carry it with me everywhere and that was really troublesome to get that weight upstairs. The Warwick is only 21 kg and the size is perfect too. If you need to carry your amp with you (instead of having one practice amp at home, one recording amp in studio, one concert amp in a pub...) the Warwick CL is a perfect choice. It is really very compact, yet it produces awesome sounds with a decent power. It definitely is the amp I've always been dreaming of. When I was buying it I compared it to Hartke 1415, Fender Bassman 100, Yamaha BassStage 150, SWR Workingman's 12 and my old Laney RBG400 (165w). I liked the Fender's tone more (and the features too! - compression, enhancer, line out level knob...) but I found those differences less important then the huge difference in size and weight. I don't want any other amp now. Just Warwick CL.