Some questions about basic care, waxing, etc.

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StealingYerMail

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Hey, this is my first post here. I'm glad I finally decided to click on the Forums link because I need some advice. I did a quick search, and in all honesty, I could have searched a bit more, but I didn't find exactly what I was looking for. So here are my questions...

I picked up a new Warwick Corvette STD (bubinga, active pups) for about $760ish. Found it marked down to $900, and had a 20% off coupon for Black Friday.

It's pretty much my dream bass, but I have a few questions about caring for it...

Do I need to wax it? My bass didn't come with any beeswax... the sales rep at Guitar Center told me that they stopped shipping it with all Wicks in like 2004 or something like that. I'm just curious as to whether or not he's BSing me.

Also, is there anything I need to do to care for the fingerboard? I used lemon oil on my old bass, but that was rosewood. I'm just wondering if there's anything special I need to do since Warwick uses such unique woods.

My treble control also crackles a little bit. It's really only noticeable when I turn the gain up pretty high though... either way, the bass part of the stack DOES not crackle one bit... but for the treble aspect of it, if I touch it, it crackles. When I turn it, it doesn't always crackle, and when it does, turning back and forth a few times usually clears it up. I'm just wondering if that means if I need to have something repaired.

Thanks for any help.
 
Hey there & welcome.If you bought the bass new your dealer should've given you a user kit which includes wax,tools & a polishing cloth in a black folder like in the link below.


Some care tips can be found here.


Good luck with your new bass & post some pics for us when you get settled in.
*edit.I use lemon oil for the fingerboard too. :wink:
 
So should I get to Guitar Center and demand the user kit? They seemed to be pretty adamant on the whole "Warwick doesn't do that anymore". I also didn't get a manual or any tools, but they said for the keys, I can bring the bass in and they can give me all the right ones. But I'm really after the wax.
 
I spose your within your rights to ask for it all.Did you get a warranty card?You have a 2 year warranty with your bass.I can understand your frustration.I bought new too & got nothing with my bass but a Rockcase & a warranty card for another model Warwick,but that was the dealers fault.I ended up buying my own wax & then when I spoke to the distributor,they gave me free tools(it's 2 allen keys)wax & a truss rod tool.That reminds me,dont touch your truss rod with anything but the Warwick truss rod tool.You can strip it using allen keys.
If you get no satisfaction from GC you can contact the distributor,Dana B Goods & they'll sort you out.

I hope you get it sorted,have a blast with your new bass mate.
 
Thanks for the help.

I don't actually know if I got a Warranty card. The Rockbag I was given was for a different model (Corvette std ash). So I should probably either look for that or talk to someone about this. I can be an idiot at times. Oh well, I'll call GC tomorrow.

Does anyone know what's up with my treble control?

And thanks a lot for the help.

Edit: just searched for the card. Pretty sure I didn't get one.
 
Plug the bass in,flip it over & gently remove the control cover by squeezing the small plastic tabs back & lifting the cover off.They're easily broken so be careful.Turn the treble pot as you jiggle each solder joint & if one makes it stop crackling,that's your problem.Re solder the joint & Bob's yer uncle. :wink:
 
I got wax with my Dolphin, which has a 2006 serial number. Also got the rod tool, allen wrenches and a couple of manuals. No little vinyl folder, polishing cloth, or warranty card. Don't know if, for some reason, the care package isn't included in the models that go to GC, more likely is that the employess there take them and hope you don't know you're supposed to get one.

I'd really recommend using the real Warwixk wax, I've applied 4 coats in the past 2 weeks since I got the Dolphin, stopped just because it started to streak when I was buffing it off. But it really brings the finish to life. And the neck becomes the thing of wet dreams mate.
 
Sounds to me like there might be some dirt in the treble control. If the crackling clears up after rotating the pot a few times, it's probably dirty, as the motion wipes the dirt away. For this, you can get a can of control cleaner and give the pot a washing. The control cleaner comes in an aerosol can with a small tube, kind of like WD40. One squirt of that inside the pot should do the job.

Good luck,

O
 
Go back there, and ask for the warranty card and the toolkit. All Warwick basses come standard with those, especially the warranty card! But I think you can register it online or something, not sure...
 
I have heard about GC pulling that (It's not included with the bass you have to by it seperate) then they sell you the Case and user kit.They pulled the same stunt on me.When I questioned them about it they said because the bass was a floor model everything was extra.The bass was super clean and played great and the price was super cheap so I went with it.And they only hit me for a extra $35 bucks.
 
Guitar Center

I just got a used Warwick from Gtr Center and they offered the Warwick Gig bag fro $60. That came with the Tool kit and the Warranty Info. It came with the serial number of another Bass, which made me assume that it was suppsed to go with the Warwick whose serial number was in the bag.

The tool kit in the gig bag, however, did not come with any wax.

I suggest trying to get the gig bag for $60 from the Gtr Center that it came from and contacting Dana B Goods, they might just send you some Warwick Wax for free.
 
Thanks for all the help. Well, I got myself to Guitar Center earlier today (bought some DR lo-riders to try as a break from hi-beams) and I complained until I received a user kit.

I got it... two Allen wrenches, a truss rod tool, manual, strap locks, and a cloth. When I looked at it in the store, I didn't get any beeswax. I didn't say anything though because I wasn't sure if the strap locks were supposed to be there, so I'm going back to Guitar Center early this week... I didn't want them to be like "well those strap locks aren't supposed to come with it, here's your wax."

So I get to the car, and I flip through the manual and warranty card. Those idiots gave me the warranty card for a Corvette $$.

I don't see why this is such a big deal. This next trip will mark my third time going to Guitar Center for the right stuff.

So now I have a user kit for a $$, and a Rockbag for an ash Corvette Std. I think that they just give whatever to you... I know the bag doesn't make a difference, but I think they just hand you the first one they see, which is stupid.

Now, that said what if they gave someone else my warranty card? What am I supposed to do?

Also, I was told by one employee that they don't give out warranty cards when GC sells a Warwick. So then why do I have one (even if its for the wrong model)? This is such a cluster****. The guy who handed me the user kit even told me to use the wax sparingly.

So now I have to go back. I emailed Dana B. Goods, but I'd rather get everything right away from Guitar Center... or at least deal with them until I can't take their stupidity anymore.
 
StealingYerMail said:
Now, that said what if they gave someone else my warranty card? What am I supposed to do?
Click to expand...

This happened to me too mate & 3 years later I still have a warranty card for a Corvette instead of a Thumb.Nothing can be done about it I'm afraid.It's down to the GC you dealt with & by the sounds of it,they're a pack of twits.
You emailed DBG's & that's the right thing to do but if you dont get a reply,try calling Tyler Krupsky.He works at DBG's & hears stories like yours all the time.I suspect you wont get the right warranty card but hold onto the one you have,just in case.I think where GC fails,DBG's excels.
Your case is pretty common so your not alone with this.
Keep us posted how ya go mate,I wish you luck. :)
 
Thanks. it's so weird that I end up with such an amazing instrument, but such receive such lame service from Guitar Center. I guess you can't have everything, huh?

Hopefully I'll hear from DGB tomorrow. Either way, I'll try and get pics up sometime soon too. I need to show my baby off.

How often should I wax it, if I practice about 2 hours a day, 5 days a week?

For the warranty card, if something goes wrong though, am I just SOL?
 
If something goes wrong within the 2 year warranty period just present what you have,ie. the wrong warranty card & your receipt & that'll be enough.
Your bass is probaby a little dry from sitting in the shop but the wax will give it a drink.Mine was like this so in the first couple months I waxed maybe twice weekly & now I do it about once a month.Lemon oil is good for the fingerboard & this can be applied at every string change.
Cheers mate.
 
By the way... welcome to the forum!

Hopefully uncle Greg and the others have sorted your problems out, I just have to add that the Std Bubinga Corvette is a hell of a bass... one of my faves!
 
Yep, I've already gotten a lot of advice here. Only thing now is to sort it out. I want my wax.

Anyway, one last question, are strap locks shipper with every Warwick bass? I'm just curious. When they handed me the user kit, there was a set of locks where the wax should have been. I'm just wondering if I got lucky or this is always included in the user kit.

And thanks again for all of the help.
 
You should get a pair of locks with your bass... they're usually hidden away... often in the pouch where the wax goes! So keep hold of them!

I think they may have given you a user kit for a coloured finish bass, as they don't come with the wax... but all natural finish basses (like the std bubunga) should have wax included (and the straplocks, of course)
 
I got a bag and toolkit. I did get the locks with it as well. I did not, get the wax. I contacted Dana B Goods and they are sending me some wax.


saxonbass said:
You should get a pair of locks with your bass... they're usually hidden away... often in the pouch where the wax goes! So keep hold of them!

I think they may have given you a user kit for a coloured finish bass, as they don't come with the wax... but all natural finish basses (like the std bubunga) should have wax included (and the straplocks, of course)
Click to expand...
 
Mine came with straplocks that match the hardware.

As for the crackly pot, you're in NY I see, you can get canned Electronic Contact Cleaner from Radio Shack that should do the trick. Just take care to keep it, or any of that type of thing, off the finish.
 
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