Warwick Fortress MM Fretless

the first bass i bought was a warwick and now i am addicted. never have i played another bass that matches up to warwick. i can get any sound out of it i want, so whether i am playing with my punk friends, folk girlfriend, or funk co-workers, i get the sounds i want. i play through a david eden combo for small gigs, and let me tell you, you will not find a better amp! i have just started recording with it and it sounds great so far. if you are thinking about getting a warwick then get off your ass and go buy it, you will be glad you did

I already owned a fretted model when I ordered this little beauty. I was so happy with the Masterman I had to have another - even though Warwick had officially stopped manufacturing them by this time. Fortunately, they had a dozen bodies left in Germany, and agreed to build me my bass to order. It is a four string. Ebony fretboard is standard on fretless models. I considered getting the frets marked on the top edge only, but this would have boosted the price by #130. In the end I got the frets marked on the front - they made a beautiful job - the appearance is nto spoiled at all, and from a distance or in certain lights you cant see the frets anyway.
The neck is supposed to be Ovangkol, but it is definitely a different wood to my fretted model. However, this is not a problem, as it is a beautiful piece of wood, and the lighter brown contrasts nicely with the turquoise blue finish. The hardware is all gold (very classy) and the construction is immaculate as usual. The only disappointment I had was that the strap holders were not sunken on this model, but this is a small point.

I had to play it acoustically at first, as I got it delivered to my office. I was immediately wowed by the high notes - they really sing!! This was the sound I had been after for years, and had never achieved on any other bass I tried. The tone is warmer and woodier than me fretted, as you would expect. The volume is also a touch quieter, but that is not a problem as I usually se the fretless on quieter tracks. I find I do not usually need to make more than the tiniest adjustment to the controls on the bass - the flat sound is almost perfect on its own. It is harder to get "that" fretless sound on the lower strings near the nut.
It is possible to get a very bright sound especially with new strings, and you can pretty much play standard stuff on it without sounding like Jaco! There is variety here, but it is not needed so much on a fretless in my opinion.

What a stunner! The colour is amazing, although it is more turquoise green than blue! The ebony fretboard in a perfect compliment, and the whole bass feels very smooth! The bits of flamed maple for the body are just superb - my dealer rang me when it came in and said it was one of the best pieces of wood he had seen! I think Warwick must have been saving the best bodies for the last models - this may have been the last fretless Fortress MM ever made! The appearance is flawless, and as yet I have not needed to alter the set up.

I have not had it long, and had not owned a fretless before. I do not use it as often as my fretted, and it takes a little less stick. I have no doubt that it will last forever!

I had to speak to lots of people to get the right bass. MAD music (the UK Warwick distributors) were extremely helpful. THe bass was built exactly to my specifications and it was ready ahead of schedule, which was very pleasing considering it was just a plank of wood when I ordered it. I never had a problem with the instrument and have not needed any support yet!

This is the nicest fretless I have ever played. It still looks amazing to me - I like to just look at it sometimes!! Not being a fretless expert has not been a problem. I was able to gig with it straight away, and have gradually grown in confidence. The tone on the high notes is inspirational. I cannot fault this bass at all.