Warwick Fortress Limited, nirvana black, made in Germany 2014. Every year, German low-end legends Warwick do a little series of limited run offerings. The 2024 offerings start at €4500, so they're hardly budget conscious... but, they're extremely dope. This was a limited run for 2014. so it's number 34/100 and signed by Warwick founder and owner Hans Peter Wilfer. Warwick's motto for years has been 'the sound of wood', so this is a physical manifestation of that philosophy: holy heck, look at the wood in it! The neck is a three piece wenge job, capped with a gorgeous birds-eye maple board and poplar burl headstock. The body is lightweight swamp ash, with an outrageous thick poplar burl top finished in a satin grey-black to bring out all those grain lines and swirls. It looks like a piece of art, but it's subtle and classy enough that it doesn't feel too self indulgent. The trademark W touches are there too: adjustable brass nut, hard-wearing brass frets, angled tuners, two piece bridge, active pre-amp... it's a pragmatic piece of German engineering. The Nordstrand pickups deliver the goods: thick and warm, with that massive weighted hard punch in the low end Warwick are known for. It's very balanced across the strings and up the fretboard too, each note comes out with piano-like clarity and zing. The other surprising thing about this is the weight: at 4.3kg, it's lighter than many Fender four strings we've had through, and balanced to boot. It's pretty hard to criticise this one really, ol' Hans and the team really knocked it out of ze park.

Model: Warwick Fortress Limited Edition
Made: Germany, 2014
Serial: C160439 14
Finish: nirvana black, satin poly
Body: USA swamp ash, 95mm poplar burl top
Neck: wenge three piece, birds-eye maple freboard, 34" scale, 16" radius, 146mm brass nut, jumbo brass frets
Weight: 4.330kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Nordstrand Fat Stack passive soapbar, MEC active preamp (vol+balance, bass/middle/treble boost/cut)
Accessories: RockCase flight case, sturdy but rather heavy, original docs and tools

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has no major marks. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor rub wear on the back only. The back has some rub wear on the belly carve and bottom horn and a small dent in the elbow area, The sides have some rub wear and dimples in the elbow area, scuffs near the jack and rub wear on the bottom horn. The front has minor dimples around the bridge, rub wear in the elbow area and some play wear above the pickups.
Overall: excellent condition (9/10)

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 45/130 strings.
Fret life: 9/10, minor wear only