Warwick Nobby Meidel Bass 1985 Red. Headless. Extremely Rare. Few built in this color

WARWICK NOBBY MEIDEL  CLASSIC BASS

MODEL 12415-x

1985

SN:  631

ORIGINAL.

RED COLOR.

EXTREMELY RARE.

VERY HIGH INVESTMENT GROWTH POTENTIAL

ABOUT THE WARWICK NOBBY MEIDEL:

Story of the first Warwick

07-20-2006, 12:01 PM

The Warwick "Nobby Meidel" Story
The Nobby Meidel bass was the first bass built by Warwick. Many of the design features common to all current Warwick's were first developed for this bass. In many ways, the Nobby was Warwick's test bed for all the instruments that followed! 

In September of 1982, Hans Peter Wilfer was just starting Warwick and was looking for ideas for what to build. Hans Thomann, owner of a large and influential music store, put him in touch with one of his bass playing salesmen, Nobby Meidel. Nobby cut the wings off of an "Aria-something" and told Hans Peter that headless basses represented the future of bass playing. The Washburn "Bantam" further influenced the original design. Hans Peter later realized that Ned Steinberger's headless design was the original source of much of Nobby's inspiration. The final design is an amalgam of influences from Washburn, Aria, Steinberger, Nobby and Hans Peter Wilfer. 

Wenge, which is a hallmark of modern Warwick basses, first found its way into a Warwick bass on the Nobby. Warwick's original removable 2-way truss rod also was first used in the Nobby. 

The body is Rosewood, the neck is laminated wenge/rosewood. The stripes down the middle are lighter colored rosewood or bubinga (HP can't remember). The original design featured EMG pickups, MEC 2-band electronics and Schaller bridge and tuners. Later units came standard with Schaller pickups, with EMG being an upgrade. The neck features 26 of Warwick's trademark silver bronze alloy frets, also first used in this bass. A total of around 950 were build between Dec. 1982 and 1992. There were also approximately 30 special Nobby Meidel guitars built exclusively for the US. A special stand was designed to hold the instrument. The only bass on display in Hans Peter's house is a Nobby. 

Nobby Meidel still plays bass and has a small studio in Nurenberg. (pics/)

ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT:

For sale today, from my personal collection, is an original Model 12415 having "26 frets, all Gold Plated massive brass Schaller hardware, one piece neck-through-body construction utilizing 15 year old solid rosewood with inlaid maple".  (from Warwick specs, 1985).

Other details:

1.  Top tailpiece.

2.  Neckwith 26 frets.

3.  Chest bow.

4.  Security locks (for mounting chest bow).

5.  Schaller machine heads.

6.  Bushing insert for stand.

7.  Stand (for holding guitar upright)

8.  Bourns & Preh Potis.

9.  Shielded electronics.

10.  Schaller bridge.

11.  Pickups:  EMG split P-style pick up in the neck position with J-style pick up in the bridge position.

I own several Nobby Meidel pieces in my collection, both basses and guitars, but THIS IS THE ONLY OPAQUE SOLID COLOR piece I  own and is the ONLY ONE THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN.

I contacted Warwick for verification of the DOM of this bass guitar and they have graciously provided this information:

"many thanks for your mail and yes, your Nobby Meidel in Red is original.. we made a couple of the
> NM Basses in Red (only a few pieces) or in White or Black.. 95% off the Basses where satin surface
> or in Highpolish... > 
> So your Bass in original and I would say from 1985.. thats the year I guess we made your Bass.> 
> In total we produced arround 920 Nobby Meidel Basses and we stopped the production in 1988.> 
> Since 2008 we launched a Reissue Line of the Nobby Meidel Basses but we are making only a couple > of them per year...> 
> I hope this information is helping you and all the best with your great looking Nobby Meidel> Bass in red. 
> Please be invited on our Warwick Forum...> 
> with best regards> 
> Warwick GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG"

Thanks again to the kind professionals at Warwick for this information.

This bass comes with the items noted above (chest bow and stand) and the original WARWICK BAG.  Please note that these basses did not have original hard shell cases.

If you are a bass player/collector or collector only, this is an excellent investment opportunity for you.  It is unique and the red finish is extraordinary.

This guitar is in excellent condition.  It does have some minor dings, dents, and scratches but continues to be a beautiful guitar.

Please remember to read our policies and procedures listed below.

The guarantee.

1.           The guitar is in GOOD cosmetic condition and is as described in this ad. 

2.          The guitar is in fully operational condition.

3.          Buyer has 48 hrs. to inspect the guitar or have it inspected.  Any defects, damage, misrepresentations or other problems must be reported within that time period in writing to the Seller.

4.          In the case of damage during shipment, Buyer shall immediately inform seller of such damage and will maintain all original packing materials and box for inspection by the transportation company.

5.          If other problems are discovered, Seller will either arrange for repair etc. at a location near the Buyer or request that the Buyer return the guitar to the Seller (Seller will reimburse Buyer for cost of shipment of guitar back to Seller).

6.          Seller will correct indicated problems and ship the guitar back to the Buyer within 7 days of receiving it.

7.          In the event that the guitar cannot be repaired or replaced with a similar item from Seller’s inventory, the Seller will give the Buyer the option of a Credit against current or future inventory of Seller or refund.

For buyers outside the continental USA, please ask for shipping quote before buying this item.  Allow five days after payment for Seller to prepare and ship guitar. Thank you.