GregBass Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Help!! I recently bought a 2005 Warwick Corvette Active which looks and sounds great, but badly needs a setup. Unfortunately, it seems that a previous owner has been a little "over enthusiastic" which has resulted in the Allen fitting at the top of the truss rod being virtually completely stripped. Does anyone have any idea how I can adjust the relief without risking further damage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 'Most' Warwick truss rods are user removable (ie no need to be thinking of taking the fingerboard off etc.) so worst case scenario you can replace the rod and they aren't mega expensive. Loads of info on the Warwick forum about the various models and how to remove them. It always amazes me how many people will just grab the chattiest Allen key and rive away at a truss rod rather than spend a little time (and only a couple £) to get the correct size key (you can get a pukka 'W' T bar but they are expensive when a good Allen key will do). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 In a pinch, an appropriately sized Torx driver (if it exists) can maybe push into whatever corners are left if it's not too far gone. I've used a T27 to move a 5mm stripped hex before - point to point it's 4.99mm. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I would replace it, I dont think they are massively expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregBass Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 Thanks for the advice, guys. Warwick have informed me that this model does not have a changeable truss rod (just my luck eh?), but my local friendly luthier thinks he may be able to replace the bullet for me. I'll let you know how it goes ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Yep, I think it's only the older Warwicks that have replaceable truss-rods. It's difficult to see how it's better to make it impossible to replace, but I guess there must have been other benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I've heard of folk tag welding a nut or socket on the end of the existing (knackered) socket but it would be a fine job and you'd need to ensure you didn't burn any of the headstock. It'd be interesting to know when they stopped (or which models aren't removable) doing the removable rods! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 [quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1331847242' post='1579966']... It'd be interesting to know when they stopped (or which models aren't removable) doing the removable rods! [/quote] As you know, with Warwicks there's never a simple answer to that sort of question. But the rule of thumb seems to be that if your bass has a volute then the trussrod is probably not removable. Volutes seemed to come in around 1997, so anything after then probably doesn't have a removable trussrod. Most basses from before 1997 probably do have a removable rod, but I'd guess that might not apply to the early ones; we'd need someone with lots of experience of early Warwicks to be able to tell us. So, WH, what's the story with the old ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 I know that early ones 'can' be removed, however despite having owned many early Warwicks I've never had a duff truss rod. There are reports of failures with some alloy rods in early basses but they should have been sorted by now or they just aren't likely to fail by now. I knew that rods in some basses toward the back end of the 90's couldn't be removed easily and that would tally with the addition of the volute around that time. The odd thing with Warwick is that there is so much transition between models/years/upgrades that as you say Mart there isn't a definitive answer re. any aspect of Warwick ownership. I was asked a question recently re. the profile of Warwick necks and they are so varied that it is literally impossible to give a definitve answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 [quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1331895479' post='1580488'] I know that early ones 'can' be removed, however despite having owned many early Warwicks I've never had a duff truss rod. [/quote] My first Warwick (a Corvette Proline 6) had the truss rod fail. Warwick blamed it on the neck construction (laminate, mostly maple) saying it wasn't rigid enough, and replaced it with a mostly-wenge neck with a volute for free, and sent me T-shirts and gig bags and stuff to say sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 My first Warwick, my '87 JD Thumb, had the truss rod fail as soon as I tried to adjust it. Not sure how it was repaired, but it was. It's also one of the ones where the truss rod adjusts the wrong way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN WOODMAN Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Try pricing just a replacement truss rod cover. My luthier broke the trap door on mine and I found them selling for 30-95 USD. I have been informed a Gretsch TRC will fit and are available as low as $7.00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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