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Waxing my Warwick

MakiSupaStar

MakiSupaStar

The Lowdown Diggler
Apr 12, 2006
25,881
317
Huntington Beach, CA
www.myspace.com
#1
Alright. I did a search on all this and found that some people recommend Minwax, so recommend gun stock wax. I went with the gunstock wax. Now next part. Is there any method to waxing your Warwick wood? I have a black Swamp Ash Corvette $$. Do I just wax the swamp ash? do I wax the fret board? the neck? All of it? Do I take the strings off, or can I do it with the strings on? Just a little nervous about it all. Want to make sure I don't ruin anything. Thanks for the advice.
 
#5
I really suggest following Warwicks manual....

The back of the neck usually gets enough palm grease to keep it from drying out. Fingerboard oil or other
drying oils can be used on the back of the neck if desired. The key is how it feels. If it feels sticky, try
something else. The fingerboard should be oiled periodically. There are a number of oils that work.
Personal preference is going to have to be your guide. You can use Guitar Honey (a fingerboard oil made
Gerlitz Guitars) or boiled linseed oil. The key with all of the oils is not to overdo it. A little goes a long
way. If the fingerboard seeps oil and won't dry out for days, you used too much.
Click to expand...
 
#6
Well I've read the manuals. I'm a little confused. I have a black stain on my body, but that doesn't have to be waxed or oiled with some kind of protective agent. Kind of like a gun stock.

Here's a pic.

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So just the neck and fretboard huh? Hmmmmm. :hmm: :help:

EDIT: It doesn't appear to have any kind of protectant or gloss on it. It's flat. That's ok. The wood won't split on me or anything? Man I don't want to mess this up.
 
#7
MakiSupaStar said:
Well I've read the manuals. I'm a little confused. I have a black stain on my body, but that doesn't have to be waxed or oiled with some kind of protective agent. Kind of like a gun stock.


So just the neck and fretboard huh? Hmmmmm. :hmm: :help:
Click to expand...

From the warwick manual:

All satin finished (colored) basses are completely sealed and do not require waxing. They can be cleaned with a damp cloth or with naphtha to remove grease.
Click to expand...
 
#9
MakiSupaStar said:
Well I've read the manuals. I'm a little confused. I have a black stain on my body, but that doesn't have to be waxed or oiled with some kind of protective agent. Kind of like a gun stock.

Here's a pic.

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So just the neck and fretboard huh? Hmmmmm. :hmm: :help:
Click to expand...

This is what I've heard. If you bought it brand new and it came with the wax, then it needs waxing.
 
#11
xgabriel said:
Wrong. Only natural finished Warwicks need waxing. I directly quoted their manual. This isn't rocket science people.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it had a little pocket for it in the gig bag but no wax. So sweet, I can breath a sigh of relief, and just occasionally wax the fretboard. I feel like such a tard. Thanks for your response Gabe.

EDIT: The finish isn't really what I would call satin... like the paint or wood stain. I would say it's kind of flat.
 
#12
MakiSupaStar said:
Yeah, it had a little pocket for it in the gig bag but no wax. So sweet, I can breath a sigh of relief, and just occasionally wax the fretboard. I feel like such a tard. Thanks for your response Gabe.

EDIT: The finish isn't really what I would call satin... like the paint or wood stain. I would say it's kind of flat.
Click to expand...

Warwick considers your bass to have a satin black finish, so I would just go by that. Also, don't wax the fretboard. Only oil it if you really feel you need to.
 
#15
Planet Boulder said:
Hey guys - I've been waxing the worn spots on my Fortress's body, but I'm wondering if this finish actually *requires* wax:

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Eh?
Click to expand...

Yeah, it looks to me like you should be waxing it. My Corvette Proline went about 10 years without a wax & it started to dry out & the flamed figuring faded a little. I ended up sanding the whole thing down & finished it with boiled linseed oil & wax. It looks amazing now! The back of the neck is maple & I didn't wax it, only applied a few coats of the oil. It's hard to put down, now!
 
#17
scotch said:
Yeah, it looks to me like you should be waxing it. My Corvette Proline went about 10 years without a wax & it started to dry out & the flamed figuring faded a little. I ended up sanding the whole thing down & finished it with boiled linseed oil & wax. It looks amazing now! The back of the neck is maple & I didn't wax it, only applied a few coats of the oil. It's hard to put down, now!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. Where does one get the Warwick wax these days? I was using beeswax, but I misplaced the jar (rolled under something somewhere and is now lost in the ether).
 
#18
Planet Boulder said:
Thanks for the reply. Where does one get the Warwick wax these days? I was using beeswax, but I misplaced the jar (rolled under something somewhere and is now lost in the ether).
Click to expand...

You can get it from Musicians Friend, but most hardware stores will have an almost identical product. Look for a beeswax-based wood finish.
 

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