I just bought a warwick corvette $$ with a natural finish and am confused about the waxing instructions. The manual says that I should wax it once a week for the first few weeks to give it a protective finish. Does this mean I should wax the whole guitar? Fretboard and neck included? Or should I just do the body? If you can help me I would greatly appreciate it
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Question about waxing my new Warwick bass
- Thread starter spenceju
- Start date
I usually wax mine once a month at most, I usually wax it anytime it starts looking a little dull or if one of the guitar players get their grimy sweaty hands on it.
I use one rag to apply a decent coat of wax on the entire body and the back of the headstock and neck (not the fret board).
Then I let it dry for a few minutes not completely but so it's still tacky.
then I take a clean cloth and buff the entire thing to a fancy shine and remove any wax that may have gotten on any hardware.
Waxing is important but i wouldn't over do it, but it helps it stay pretty, clean and stops the wood from drying out.
Hope this helped
I use one rag to apply a decent coat of wax on the entire body and the back of the headstock and neck (not the fret board).
Then I let it dry for a few minutes not completely but so it's still tacky.
then I take a clean cloth and buff the entire thing to a fancy shine and remove any wax that may have gotten on any hardware.
Waxing is important but i wouldn't over do it, but it helps it stay pretty, clean and stops the wood from drying out.
Hope this helped
waxing usually applies to the body only, and on natural finishes. If you have a oil finish (nivrana black, antique tobbacco, green, red, blue, ...), DO NOT WAX THE BODY.
You can wax the neck (natural ovangkol), but not the fretboard. You'd oil a fretboard, but that's usually not necessary (unless it's old and dry and to clean it).
You can wax the neck (natural ovangkol), but not the fretboard. You'd oil a fretboard, but that's usually not necessary (unless it's old and dry and to clean it).
I just bought a Warwick Corvette and the kit did not have the beeswax in it. Any alternatives to beeswax for polishing/caring for an oil finish on a Warwick?
my bass didn't come w/ the can of ww wax , so i treated
the entire bass w/ lemon oil , and applied 2 coats of minwax
paste. looks and feels great.
tried to find warwick wax, or any kind of wax containing
beeswax.....forget it . checked every music store,hardware
store , furniture store , paint store . as soon as i said
"beeswax?" i got treated like some crackpot wackjob.
just said ****it , used what i had . it's just wood . i waxed the
ebony fingerboard as well.
the entire bass w/ lemon oil , and applied 2 coats of minwax
paste. looks and feels great.
tried to find warwick wax, or any kind of wax containing
beeswax.....forget it . checked every music store,hardware
store , furniture store , paint store . as soon as i said
"beeswax?" i got treated like some crackpot wackjob.
just said ****it , used what i had . it's just wood . i waxed the
ebony fingerboard as well.
I usually wax the entire bass (minus hardware of course) each time I restring. I usually do this every 4-5 months depending on how much I play the bass.
I just bought a 94 Fortress that is pretty rough. I went over the wenge neck with an oil, then the wax and it looks, feels, and plays so much nicer.
The wax container suggests once a week to wax the bass. Possibly for your climate, but not for humid Michigan.
I just bought a 94 Fortress that is pretty rough. I went over the wenge neck with an oil, then the wax and it looks, feels, and plays so much nicer.
The wax container suggests once a week to wax the bass. Possibly for your climate, but not for humid Michigan.
You can get the wax at any Guitar Center.
I wax mine all over maybe once a month, but get the hot spots (where my hands touch the body while playing) every time I use it. Took me three years and ten months to go through a can that way.
I wax mine all over maybe once a month, but get the hot spots (where my hands touch the body while playing) every time I use it. Took me three years and ten months to go through a can that way.
Unless you live in Death Valley, once a month is more than enough. After a year or so you hardly need to touch anymore other than to make it look pretty and shiny. The only time I wax mine now is when I change strings, which is roughly every 4-5 months. Although They get played less now my Yamaha's have become my main basses, so strings changes will be less.
Actually, I won't be playing them in earnest for some time I reckon so I may give them a good waxing before tucking them up for hibernation.
The Warwick manual states how you should care for the neck and fretboard. It says (I think) lemon oil for the fretboard, unless it's maple which is sealed. A little goes a long way with this stuff, if it doesn't dry for a half an hour or so you've used too much. Just wipe off the excess and buff to shine, it won't damage. Also, make sure it is Lemon Oil, not LemOil, which is lemon scented alcohol. This cleans, but doesn't feed the wood.
The back of the neck should get enough oil from simply playing. Your hands should feed it all the grease and oil it needs to stop it drying out. You can use a little wax if you really want to, but there is no real need unless it gets particularly dry. I actually prefer to use a little of the Lemon oil, it seems to make for a smoother faster finish. Over time, you'll also find the neck naturally gets shinier, smoother and faster the more you play it anyway.
Roughly once a year I'll also take the strings off and give the neck a good detox. Lots of gunk and finger poo builds up along the frets and in the grain, and needs a good cleaning session to get rid of it. Well, that's debatable, some people prefer it. I use plenty of LemOil alcohol cleaning fluid to soften the gunk and the edge of a credit card or if you're careful a sharp knife and scrape it off. Then after giving the neck a good rub with the LemOil, dry it off and get some low tack sticky tape. stick strips over the wood and work right up against the frets. Needs to be low tack so that it doesn't harm the grain (or just regular tape and quickly stick it do your jeans a couple of times to remove some of the tackyness). Use some duraglit or brasso to clean up the frets and give them a good polish, wiping off excess again once you're done, then 'carefully' remove the tape. The tape serves two purposes, it protects the wood from the metal cleaner and pulls out some of the remaining dirt in the grain of the wood. Then a good dose of proper Lemon Oil, really work it in as it'll look quite dry now, and you're good to go.
One last thing, you may find in the first year of ownership at the wood climatises and settles, that you'll get get a few rough spots on the neck, and defnitely on the body. The body one's always come back for years after. Don't worry, just use some very fine steel wool or wet n dry paper on them and wax after. Will be as good as new.
Actually, I won't be playing them in earnest for some time I reckon so I may give them a good waxing before tucking them up for hibernation.
The Warwick manual states how you should care for the neck and fretboard. It says (I think) lemon oil for the fretboard, unless it's maple which is sealed. A little goes a long way with this stuff, if it doesn't dry for a half an hour or so you've used too much. Just wipe off the excess and buff to shine, it won't damage. Also, make sure it is Lemon Oil, not LemOil, which is lemon scented alcohol. This cleans, but doesn't feed the wood.
The back of the neck should get enough oil from simply playing. Your hands should feed it all the grease and oil it needs to stop it drying out. You can use a little wax if you really want to, but there is no real need unless it gets particularly dry. I actually prefer to use a little of the Lemon oil, it seems to make for a smoother faster finish. Over time, you'll also find the neck naturally gets shinier, smoother and faster the more you play it anyway.
Roughly once a year I'll also take the strings off and give the neck a good detox. Lots of gunk and finger poo builds up along the frets and in the grain, and needs a good cleaning session to get rid of it. Well, that's debatable, some people prefer it. I use plenty of LemOil alcohol cleaning fluid to soften the gunk and the edge of a credit card or if you're careful a sharp knife and scrape it off. Then after giving the neck a good rub with the LemOil, dry it off and get some low tack sticky tape. stick strips over the wood and work right up against the frets. Needs to be low tack so that it doesn't harm the grain (or just regular tape and quickly stick it do your jeans a couple of times to remove some of the tackyness). Use some duraglit or brasso to clean up the frets and give them a good polish, wiping off excess again once you're done, then 'carefully' remove the tape. The tape serves two purposes, it protects the wood from the metal cleaner and pulls out some of the remaining dirt in the grain of the wood. Then a good dose of proper Lemon Oil, really work it in as it'll look quite dry now, and you're good to go.
One last thing, you may find in the first year of ownership at the wood climatises and settles, that you'll get get a few rough spots on the neck, and defnitely on the body. The body one's always come back for years after. Don't worry, just use some very fine steel wool or wet n dry paper on them and wax after. Will be as good as new.
"You can get the wax at any Guitar Center."
not in atlanta you can't . i called all 4 stores - never heard of it . don't sell it .
not in atlanta you can't . i called all 4 stores - never heard of it . don't sell it .
The owner's manual that comes with all Warwick basses, states that any bass that is unfinished should be waxed once a week. But, I'm assuming that's for people who play it everyday and are in a more dry climate than our Great Lake area. I found out that once a month is plenty.Maybe even two. The manual also says that you CAN use the wax on the fretboard. I personally haven't done it. I use Lemon Oil. But I don't think that it's bad for the bass. I don't think Warwick would print that if it weren't true. I do use the wax on the neck. But, I don't do it too often and when I do, I apply a very light coating. As long as you wipe the "hot spots" off after each use, extra wax is not necessary. Now, if you play a show and sweat, then yes.....I'd wax it again. Hope this helped.
What are you supposed to use on the body if you have say the nirvana black finish?
Resurrecting this old thread.
I just bought a new Warwick Thumb bolt on in the Nirvana black stain.
Do I need to wax the body, and if not, will it hurt it?
Also, is the fretboard sealed on the new ones? It looks like it is, so not sure if I should use a lemon oil or if it’s even needed at all?
Thanks in advance.
-ScottM
I just bought a new Warwick Thumb bolt on in the Nirvana black stain.
Do I need to wax the body, and if not, will it hurt it?
Also, is the fretboard sealed on the new ones? It looks like it is, so not sure if I should use a lemon oil or if it’s even needed at all?
Thanks in advance.
-ScottM
