Finally, out of it's cage.

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

About 3 months ago I borrowed a friends guitar because my warmoth got a bit hard to handle. It contracted the phenomena known as 'Banana Neck' and the deadly disease 'Fret Buzz'. I just couldn't handle it, so I chucked it in it's case and just played my friends LTD.

Anyway, I pulled it out from the depths of horror known as 'under my bed', checked it out and plugged it in. After three months under my bed in the cold, it still held perfect tune, I was amazed. Also I couldn't believe my eyes, it seems that the tung oil finish decided to get to work because it changed into a deeper richer and shinier colour that looks soo freakin' good. 

Today I rang a well known acoustic luthier in town and had a chat. Next week, my warmoth is finally off to get it's first pro setup. The guy's gonna set up the neck and level & dress the frets.

 

[OzziePete]

That's good to hear.

What type of wood on the necK? Maple?

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

The neck it is all rosewood, maybe Indian, not too sure. No finish either.

 

[whyachi]

You oiled a rosewood neck? And it bowed on you? Are you sure that's the issue you were having?

 

[Nando Vallart]

The neck it is all rosewood, maybe Indian, not too sure. No finish either.

Indian Rosewood! I remember well!

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

You oiled a rosewood neck? And it bowed on you? Are you sure that's the issue you were having?

No finish whatsoever on the neck. All raw.
It did bow, but I think it was the sudden change of climates not because of the lack of finish (although that may have contributed). When I got it, I think it was really cold in the US compared to the warmish weather at the time here in Australia.

 

[Cagey]

I think I must lead a charmed life. My brothers and friends as well. Here in Michigan, the winters are very cold and dry while the summers are quite hot and humid, and we've never had issues with necks like I hear other people having. As if that weren't weird enough, we don't lose hard drives like most (?) people do, either. Must be our clean living and conservative voting <grin> That, and we don't adjust our necks every 10 minutes. In fact, neck adjustments are almost unheard of, and are viewed like major surgery. You just don't do it unless you don't have any choice.

 

[Orpheo]

I think I must lead a charmed life. My brothers and friends as well. Here in Michigan, the winters are very cold and dry while the summers are quite hot and humid, and we've never had issues with necks like I hear other people having. As if that weren't weird enough, we don't lose hard drives like most (?) people do, either. Must be our clean living and conservative voting <grin> That, and we don't adjust our necks every 10 minutes. In fact, neck adjustments are almost unheard of, and are viewed like major surgery. You just don't do it unless you don't have any choice.

I couldn't agree more with that last part (ofcourse, since I don't live in michigan ).

 

[mayfly]

You oiled a rosewood neck? And it bowed on you? Are you sure that's the issue you were having?

No finish whatsoever on the neck. All raw.
It did bow, but I think it was the sudden change of climates not because of the lack of finish (although that may have contributed). When I got it, I think it was really cold in the US compared to the warmish weather at the time here in Australia.

Here in Ontario, we have some of the most dramatic yearly cold / humidity shift in the world.  The temperature difference between summer and winder is 80 Degrees.  That's correct, 80 Degrees. 
Right now it's 35 DegC and 80% humidity - and it's 8:30 in the morning.  In winter time it will be minus 40 and very low humidity.

Never really had a problem with any of my guitars - but I have to say the warmoths with the dual action rod have not really moved at all after the initial adjustment.

Wanna - how much did you have to tweak the rod when you first got the neck?

 

[Cagey]

In my experience, once wood is properly seasoned, it remains fairly stable. The only exception I've found is with maple, but even that tends to remain static if it's finished. Any responsible manufacturer of wooden "things" knows this. So, unless somebody is buying necks from some fly-by-night outfit, a truss rod adjustment at birth ought to be enough. After that, it's only there for "just-in-case", not for constant twiddling. Almost without fail, any time I've felt a truss rod adjustment was in order, it's been because the owner has adjusted it prior to bringing it to me.

They oughta make people sign waivers when they buy guitars or necks that say the new owner understands that words like "carburetor" and "truss rod" are French for "don't mess with it!" <grin>

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

When I first got it, I think it was like a 1/4 turn at first, then that did virtually nothing, then I tweaked again, even less then that.

 

[mayfly]

When I first got it, I think it was like a 1/4 turn at first, then that did virtually nothing, then I tweaked again, even less then that.

That could be it - I've had to put as much as 3 turns on a W truss rod.  This was for the 12 string mind you...

It also helps to apply a little 'english' to it to get it to move for you.

 

[stubhead]

After the initial six moths or so (takes me that long to figure out what strings they like best!) I've still had to give them a quarter turn or so every four years or so. Bugger's are sure to outlive me.... :toothy12:
Even their bass necks don't get pissy, which is rare - ever own a Rick-wobblin'-becker? :blob7: Gaak.

 

[AprioriMark]

I finally adjusted the truss rod on my fretless W bass after 12 years.  Quarter turn, and it's back to perfect.

-Mark

 

[bassilisk]

I have 4 all Warmoth basses, the latest just a couple of weeks old. Three have finished maple necks (one all Bird'seye, one all plain B/B and one plain with an ebony board), and one all ebony - unfinished. They've all followed the same pattern - after initial assembly it would take one or two weeks of playing to let them settle in and then require adjustment. After the final setup and fret tweakage if required they have remained solid. Only a drastic string change (like flats to rounds) might cause another touch, but afterwards that'd be it. These are easily some of the most stable guitars I own.

P.S. One other bass has a Warmoth unfinished padauk/ebony and it's right in the mold. Haven't adjusted it in years.

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

Well, pretty much fixed.

I took it to a Scottish man who is a well known local luthier within the region and he literally did not spend much more than 30 minutes on it. The first thing he noticed was the neck's bow and he was really surprised at how much it had gone banana. I told him I used a 1/4 and a bit turn and he said that that should have done it. The then proceeded to prod at the neck and do some wacky things to it that made me uncomfortable ( Looked like the neck wanted to snap! ) and told me how soft the wood is compared to other electrics he's worked on and his acoustic necks (He's an acoustic Luther). He then loosened the strings and adjusted the truss rod bit by bit, constantly checking how the neck was reacting, with one and a half turns (checking all at 1/4 turn intervals) he was amazed at how little the truss rod did, and with what looked to be about another turn he was finally happy with the result. He then tensioned the strings and said that it may take a day or two for the wood to properly adjust, but that what he did should do it. I then told him to have a quick check over the frets (which have never been worked on) and he was again amazed at how level they were.

After all that, he said to wait a few days and see what effect the adjustments have, then if it turns out that they work a $20 would be fine, but if it didn't do anything, no charge.
Anyways, got it some new strings (Ernie Ball 10-52's) and sofar it plays pretty dang well.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Great that it ended well!