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Does Warwick Sell Replacement Necks?
- Thread starter mr80htz
- Start date
A dead spot is where the note thuds without sustain, and it would have been there from the time the neck was made.
If it's fretless and it's developing positions where the notes buzz rather than thud, that usually means the fingerboard needs leveling because there are subtle irregularities in the surface and the string path is not properly flat any more. If you're not interested in learning how to do this yourself, take it to a good luthier. It's not a major job for one that has proper experience with fretless.
So I have a fretless infinity rockbass. Love it. However there are buzzes that I think are dead spots and likely not fixable. Which means I ought need to buy a new one if possible. Anyone have any luck with buying replacement necks via Warwick?
Cheers all
I don’t know about replacement Warwick necks but a fretless fingerboard needs to nearly perfect, particularly if you’re shooting for low action. It’s not that hard to level a fingerboard yourself or have someone good do it.
Thanks for the words of wisdom. I've had the fingerboard leveled already by a luthier and there are still 2 buzzing spots. I moved from California to British Columbia and the buzzing got stronger. It just started to get cold and now I can't raise the action anymore and there's still buzzing. I dont think it's a unlevelled fingerboard issue. I even redid the board myself a little bit and it didn't change a thing. Hence trying buy a new neck
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If you're in BC and get to Vancouver, Dave Reimer/Reimer Guitars is great and really knows basses in particular. He could isolate the issue and if, for whatever reason, you can't get a replacement from Warwick, he could make one. He builds great basses.
I followed this guideline on a Warwick Rockbass Corvette. My observation was that Warwick's fingerboard is atrocious from the factory, meaning that it was wavy. Low at the nut, low before the octave and low at the end. It took a lot of sanding and it plays nice now.I don’t know about replacement Warwick necks but a fretless fingerboard needs to nearly perfect, particularly if you’re shooting for low action. It’s not that hard to level a fingerboard yourself or have someone good do it.
All that to say that getting a new neck probably will not get you what you want.
I have previously asked Warwick about a replacement neck. One a couple years ago and then again a couple months ago.
Two years ago I was told I would have to send the entire bass or just the neck to their distribution/repair center in Nashville and they would take measurements of the neck/pocket and have a neck in Germany shaped to fit it. The neck would be sent to Nashville to be attached to the body or returned to me depending on my choice.
Most recently, they said I could send the neck to Nashville for them to verify and destroy and a new neck would be sent to me, and then I would have to find a local luthier to shape the neck pocket for the standard neck shape. I was also given the option to send the entire bass to Nashville for them to do the work.
Ultimately, I was estimating the entire cost to be around $1500 USD, maybe a bit more, so I decided to just buy a new bass (of another brand) costing twice as much.
Two years ago I was told I would have to send the entire bass or just the neck to their distribution/repair center in Nashville and they would take measurements of the neck/pocket and have a neck in Germany shaped to fit it. The neck would be sent to Nashville to be attached to the body or returned to me depending on my choice.
Most recently, they said I could send the neck to Nashville for them to verify and destroy and a new neck would be sent to me, and then I would have to find a local luthier to shape the neck pocket for the standard neck shape. I was also given the option to send the entire bass to Nashville for them to do the work.
Ultimately, I was estimating the entire cost to be around $1500 USD, maybe a bit more, so I decided to just buy a new bass (of another brand) costing twice as much.
Andrew Drake of Drake Custom Bass builds replacement necks. You can contact him at Welcome To Drake Custom Bass . My thought would be to discuss your challenge with him. He can help you get it sorted or build a neck for you.
Best wishes and good luck!
Koog
Best wishes and good luck!
Koog
I know a few players of German-made Warwicks who have been able to get replacements but only after sending their dysfunctional neck to Warwick first. I suspect the Rockbass lineup would not be considered unless purchased new and under warranty. Suggest you find a luthier with experience in planing fingerboards. Good luck!
Generally, most manufacturers don't sell replacement necks due to worries about counterfeit guitars. As some have pointed out above, Warwick might, if it was a warranty issue and you sent them the problem child neck as proof of your situation.
But I wouldn't hold my breath. I'd agree that finding an experienced and qualified tech to right this bass would be the easier answer, and probably the only one, short of selling it off and trying something else.
But I wouldn't hold my breath. I'd agree that finding an experienced and qualified tech to right this bass would be the easier answer, and probably the only one, short of selling it off and trying something else.
That's an extreme way to fix a fairly minor problem (minor in terms of the effort to fix, not minor in terms of how it affects your playing), and will require the same leveling task that the current fingerboard needs. I suspect if your current luthier can't get rid of the buzzing you might look for another one.
