Warwick Dolphin Pro 1 / EARLY 1989 - 4 String / Seaglass Black Burst

EARLY 1989 Warwick Dolphin Pro 1 - GRAIL!~

"Warwick the Sound of Wood."

Made in February of 1989, which makes this one of the very first and earliest ever made.

According to Warwick, the first Dolphin was crafted in December of 88', but I have never seen an 88'', and only a few 89's.

These very early original Dolphin basses are scarce and coveted.

The balance and feel of this bass are pure joy. Seemingly effortless to play as well as sonically versatile in any genre of music delivering confidence, comfort, and a commanding presence in any situation to ear and eye.

This Warwick Dolphin Pro 1 has stood the test of time. It's been loved, played, and cared for and as such it is still in extraordinary condition. Additionally, it also features genuinely unique options scarce even to other early examples...

This bass was HAND MADE in Germany at the original Erlangen Warwick wood shop in Bravaria.

Any early Dolphin Pro 1 bass is unique to itself because of that aspect and with extremely low numbers of them made, they are all indeed true functional works of art and historical artifact.

The Dolphin Pro 1 has not been a production offering for many years now and while it is still available, it is only through their Custom Shop. To try and have Warwick remake this bass by hand to the method and specs would be at least $18K, likely much more - ( as of 2023, a special request hand shaped body would cost at least additional $5K ) and take at least 2 years of wait, and that's to get just part of the wood options.

The body wings of this bass are sculpted from Boire, a very smooth yet dense and incredibly rugged African Redwood that has not been used by Warwick since 1997 ( although a couple of basses were made in 1998 from found body wings after the move to their current facility in Markneukirchen).

Boire, like Maple, has a fine and typically even grain to it and a very deep warm tone and resonance similar to Mahogany.

The neck in this bass is constructed of 7 laminates of two of the most dense and rigid exotic woods making the neck extremely stable:

Wenge and West African Zebrano ( Zebra ) wood, capped with a Wenge Fretboard with True Mother of Pearl Dolphin shaped inlays.

The Warwick "W" logo on the facing Headstock is shaped from Abalone and reflects in a spectrum of many colors depending on the angle of light that catches it. The face of the headstock is Ebony and was included as a continuance of the high gloss finish like the rest of the bass.

Warwick's quality combined with their exotic wood selections, construction attributes and aesthetics, are what solidified their popularity and recognition amongst many professional bassists and producers the world over.

The Dolphin Pro 1 was the pinnacle model for its unique shape, wood, and pickup configuration. This model at the time was the most expensive and top end model next to the Warwick, John Entwistle Signature Buzzard bass that they made at the time in equally limited number, and it was the only model to ever use Boire wood for it's body or construction.

To request these options today... for what could be possible, as mentioned earlier would cost a fortune.

For example, the body wood is not available and that price swings up rapidly depending on what you want if something other than default Ovankol. Change from that and pricing starts at about $700-$800 and goes vertical into the thousands.

Add to that, the iconic strong and striking Warwick 7 piece multi-laminate construction of the neck that this Dolphin has, is $1500+ depending on wood choices.

The fast and narrow neck this bass features would add another $900'ish option.

Add any Burst Colors and then Add a High Gloss Burst finish, start at about $1500.

Schaller Hardware and gold to black color change $500.

Alternate Pickups at least $500, pickup models.

The 3 band EQ with Coil Tap instead of the 2 Band PreAmp would be another $$$ hundred at least.

You''re in for about $15K+++

I'm sharing these details from my latest Warwick Dolphin Masterbuilt/Custom builds to educate and illustrate that even with the cost not being a factor, anything new, still just wouldn't and cannot really be what this is... a classic, and a Unicorn.

The neck is to die for, thin ( front to back) Flat C profile shape, sleek in it's taper and extremely fast whenever you're ready to let loose or go for some runs.

The paint on this is also something to covet as the majority were raw natural wood grain waxed and oiled wood. That's part of what they were and are still are known for, beautiful wood grain instruments. At that time, not many of them were paint finished and those that were, were rare even back then and typically made for display and showcase at the NAMM retailer conventions, customs for endorsed artists, or were demos for shops and musician loaners to try out that often had large Warwick stickers under the clear coat on the back of the instrument.

Very few early bursts exist and this particular colorway is very likely one of only a couple if not only one made from this early period of Warwick Dolphin Pro 1 versions.

She's in impeccable condition and very well cared for 35 years of age.

She's seen playtime and has two minor bits of paint checking between the bridge and the pickups noted with purple arrows and only one real visible but not noticeable chip that I can find on the bottom, also shown.

See the pictures...

I've done my best to capture all of her elegance as well as the very few minor blemishes and wear.

If you have questions please message me.

Here are some details / answers to the usual and most commonly asked:

• Weight 10lbs Feels lighter due horn and balance.
• Everything works as it should and is smooth and tight.
• FEW Minor wear and blemishes are only in the finish, no wood damage or other repairs.
• NEW set of 26 Genuine Warwick Bell Brass/Bronze Jumbo Frets via Mike Lull Guitars
• PLEK'd at Mike Lull Guitars
• Truss Rod works both directions as it should with loads of adjustment space if ever needed.
• Neck is amazingly comfortable - String height and action is low and easy to play.
• Strung with a new CUSTOM gauge set of Rotosound Swing 66 Nickel's 105-45
• Comes with original Warwick Dolphin Pro 1 Hard / Shape fit case also in Excellent condition.

• Features:
• ============
• Solid Boire wood body wings
• Wenge / Zebrano 7 Piece Multi-Laminate Neck
• 44mm / 1.73" Brass JAN 1 Nut - each string can have independent adjustable string height.
• 34" Scale Neck
• 26 - NEW Genuine Warwick Bonze Frets - installed, PLEK'd and dressed by Mike Lull guitars in Seattle.
• EMG - ACTIVE JAZZ - Neck Pickup
• EMG - ACTIVE MMTW / "Music Man" Ceramic and Steel Humbucker - Jazz Single or HUGE Humbucker
• MEC 3 Band Active / Passive PreAmp with Split-Coil / Toggle for the EMG Stingray Humbucker Pickup.
• 1st Knob Stacked Volume / Blend - Push/Pull Active/Passive
• 2nd Knob Treble/Bass - EQ
• 3rd Knob Mid - EQ
• Toggle - Splits Music Man / Bridge Pickup to Single Coil Jazz or Humbucker
• Schaller Solid Brass Bridge and Hardware
• Ebony Headstock Vaneer
• Abalone "W" Headstock Logo
• Genuine Mother of Pearl Dolphin Inlays
• High Polish - Seaglass / Nordic Ice Black Burst finish
• Dunlop Straplocks
• Original Warwick Dolphin Pro 1 Hard / Shape fit case

This beautiful bass ships fully insured using a NEW Reverb box, that will be lined and buffered with high impact shipping foam.

The amount of life force, attention, and care that was poured into this bass is really something to marvel. You can sense the spirit and passion of the builder. It's creation and crafting inherent with true knowing, that "MOJO," only comes from heart and hands.

You feel it as you trace every hand sculpted curve and edge... it's organic, free form, and as real as the massive smile of the player holding it.