Warwick Corvette Standard, User Manual

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Fine Tuning Your Warwick Bass
Although every Warwick bass is meticulously set up prior to shipment, it will eventually become necessary to perform adjust-
ments to your instrument to maintain optimum playability. Many factors can influence your instrument’s action, including tempe-
rature, humidity and changes in string gauges. It is very common for an instrument to need some degree of truss rod adjustment
following shipment to your dealer. No two players have exactly the same needs when it comes to how their bass is adjusted. You
can and should adjust your bass according to your own playing needs. The following tools are needed to complete your setup:
One 1.5mm hex key (included with bass)
One 2.5mm hex key (included with bass)
One 5.0mm trussrod tool (included with bass)
A slot screwdriver
One #1 Phillips screwdriver
One electronic tuner
The first step is to tune your strings to the desired pitches. An electronic tuner is highly recommended for this as to ensure the
accuracy of the truss rod adjustment. If the amount of string tension on your neck has just undergone a significant change, the
neck should be allowed to settle for at least 30 minutes before adjusting the truss rod. The longer it has to settle, the more you
increase your chances of getting your adjustments right the first time. Inspect your neck. Place your finger on the E (or B) string
in the first fret space and another finger on the 12th fret. Using your string as a straight edge, look at the gaps between the string
and the tops of the 4th through the 8th frets. Where the largest gap occurs will vary from bass to bass. If the largest gap is more
than about .020” or .5 mm, you will probably need to tighten your truss rod. If there is no gap at all, you will most likely need to
loosen it. Most people prefer to have their relief set somewhere in between these parameters. A common misconception is that a
neck should be perfectly straight for best results. This is simply not true. A bass neck should be very slightly concave as to allow
buzz-free action in the first few positions. A properly set up bass always has some relief in the neck.
Adjusting Your Truss Rod
All Warwick basses are fitted with a patented snap-fitting truss rod cover that can be easily removed using a slot screwdriver. It
is not necessary to loosen the strings during truss rod cover removal or replacement. The truss rod controls the amount of bow,
or relief in the neck by counteracting the string tension. Over the years, Warwick has used 3 types of truss rods, each of which
has its own requirements for an optimal setup. Please read the following to ascertain which truss rod your bass has been equip-
ped with and how it should be adjusted. If you have no experience with truss rod adjustment, it is recommended it be taken to a
qualified dealer or repair person. Over adjustment in either direction can cause permanent damage to the instrument and may not
be covered under warranty. If you encounter any significant resistance while adjusting your truss rod, do not turn any further. The
only thing you need to remember when making a truss rod adjustment is that “a little goes a long way”. The safest way to make
an adjustment is to plug your bass into an electronic tuner and check the tuning after every eighth of a turn of the truss rod. If the
neck is being bowed back, the strings with go sharp. If the neck is being allowed to relax, then the strings will go flat. Be sure to
re-tune the strings and check the string height after every quarter turn, until you have achieved the desired neck set up. Warwick
Fixed Steel Truss Rod: As of July 1998, all Warwick basses are equipped with a steel-reinforced neck and 2-way fixed steel truss
rod. All bolt-on necks since February 1996 also employ this truss rod. The easiest way to tell if your bass has this truss rod design
is the presence of a volute, or small heel behind the nut. This truss rod can adjust the neck in either direction (push/pull) and
works as one would normally expect. If you are facing the 5mm Allen fitting, turn clockwise to flatten the neck, counterclockwise
to introduce more relief. This truss rod should be adjusted in 1/8-turn increments. Rotate 45 degrees in the desired direction and
let the neck stabilize. Full stabilization can take from hours to weeks after the tension on the neck is altered, but most of the effect
of 1/8 of a turn should manifest itself within an hour. If your neck has much more forward bow than you like, it may require a more
substantial amount of adjustment. Loosening your string tension can ease this process if more than 1/4 turn is required to
straighten your neck to your taste. Warwicks Removable 2-way Truss Rod: This truss rod appears in some bolt-on necks from
1992 through January 1996, and some neck-through models from 1992 through 1998. Adjustment should be made in the same
manner listed above, but in 1/4 turn increments. Because this truss rod is removable, a few have been installed or reinstalled
“upside down”, necessitating adjustments in the opposite directions of what would normally be expected. This had originally been
done to mimic the effects of the original left-handed threaded truss rod, as to not confuse owners of older models.
Original Removable Truss Rod: This can be found on models made in the 1980’s through some as late as 1998. The threads allow
tightening of this rod only to the left, which may seem somewhat
counterintuitive to some. If the adjustment nut comes off when turned clockwise, it is a sure sign that your bass has been fitted
with this type of truss rod. The effects of tightening this truss rod depend on whether it has been installed with the threaded side
up or down.