Roasted maple neck on Sire D5--too roasted?

[waver]

Just so I understand: these are one piece necks without a glued on fretboard?

Sire website says roasted maple neck with matching fretboard

 

[abarson]

Sire website says roasted maple neck with matching fretboard

So the back of the neck doesn't have the transitioning color on it?

 

[_jojo_bass]

The one thing that comes to mind is that the measured moisture content in a piece of wood has to be consistent with the finished product. They probably have necks that aren't dried as long as others that end up going through the process of roasting. A "greener" neck probably needs a longer roast and ends with a darker color as opposed to a more dried piece that doesn't need a heavy roast. I can imagine that that's the only difference but ends with a consistent product.

 

[Aussie Player]

And......don't forget that the neck and headstock are gradually thinner so depending how the heat is applied, is likely to absorb more quickly and deeply on the headstock and first few inches of the neck?
Just an observation and hunch, based on a 12 months per year BBQ climate.......lol

 

[coloradoslim]

So the back of the neck doesn't have the transitioning color on it?

Nada, which is curious and raises the question of how deep into the neck the dark roast is? Certainly can't tell from the pix--maybe once it's in the flesh....

 

[BassFalcon]

Nada, which is curious and raises the question of how deep into the neck the dark roast is? Certainly can't tell from the pix--maybe once it's in the flesh....

The “roast” is necessarily 100% deep into the neck. All the way through. That’s the whole point. The process takes place in a vacuum kiln, which in addition to preventing combustion draws the moisture out of the entire piece of lumber, not just the surface. This is a pretty good article that does a good job explaining the process as it pertains to our interests. All about… Torrefaction | Guitar.com | All Things Guitar

 

[wysiwyg248]

You should has stated that wanted it "medium well"

 

[Turnaround]

And......don't forget that the neck and headstock are gradually thinner so depending how the heat is applied, is likely to absorb more quickly and deeply on the headstock and first few inches of the neck?
Just an observation and hunch, based on a 12 months per year BBQ climate.......lol

The wood is roasted before it is made into a neck.

I don't know what the standards are for roasting. I've seen "roasted" maple that was everything from honey-coloured to almost chocolate. And I've seen wood that was clearly over-roasted - it had a lot of internal checking that was not evident on the surface of the wood. There must be an ideal degree of roasting.

 

[skycruiser]

I love these dark roasted necks. Please post pics when it gets to you!

 

[coloradoslim]

The “roast” is necessarily 100% deep into the neck. All the way through. That’s the whole point. The process takes place in a vacuum kiln, which in addition to preventing combustion draws the moisture out of the entire piece of lumber, not just the surface. This is a pretty good article that does a good job explaining the process as it pertains to our interests. All about… Torrefaction | Guitar.com | All Things Guitar

Thanks for the article. Interesting passage: "This colour change occurs due to chemical reactions between the wood’s proteins and its natural sugars, and torrefied maple can range from soft amber to a deep reddish brown that is closer to cherry or even walnut." It would seem this bass has that going on in spades, but multiple shades in one guitar neck? Would be telling, perhaps, to have seen the rough-cut hunk 'o maple that this neck came from.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

So my long-awaited D5 finally showed up at Sweetwater. In reviewing the pix (see enclosed) before I finalize the purchase, however, I noticed that there appears to be a huge variation in color--much darker--from the headstock down into the seventh fret. Coloration on the back of the neck looks pretty uniform. My SW rep says he sees this occasionally on roasted necks, that it does not present any structural issues, is within spec and has been cleared by their set-up team. I'm no luthier and I trust their expertise, but it would seem that the neck wasn't uniformly dried, which could affect stability and possibly sound. Structural/sound concerns or just an aesthetic consideration? Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

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You lucky dog! That bass is gorgeous!
If you don't like it, I'll take it off your hands. Serious!!

 

[tb-player]

So my long-awaited D5 finally showed up at Sweetwater. In reviewing the pix (see enclosed) before I finalize the purchase, however, I noticed that there appears to be a huge variation in color--much darker--from the headstock down into the seventh fret. Coloration on the back of the neck looks pretty uniform. My SW rep says he sees this occasionally on roasted necks, that it does not present any structural issues, is within spec and has been cleared by their set-up team. I'm no luthier and I trust their expertise, but it would seem that the neck wasn't uniformly dried, which could affect stability and possibly sound. Structural/sound concerns or just an aesthetic consideration? Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

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That’s essentially a unicorn/one-of-a-kind bass. It’s really special looking. Congrats. I hope you love it.

 

[mb94952]

I saw this article on roasted necks.
what's the deal with roasted maple...? and wood and that

 

[2F/2F]

No physical concerns. It isn't that it "wasn't uniformly dried." It's just variations in tone and hue, which is inherent to wood, and more visible when accentuated (e.g. by roasting).

But it looks terrible, IMO.

 

[retslock]

So my long-awaited D5 finally showed up at Sweetwater. In reviewing the pix (see enclosed) before I finalize the purchase, however, I noticed that there appears to be a huge variation in color--much darker--from the headstock down into the seventh fret. Coloration on the back of the neck looks pretty uniform. My SW rep says he sees this occasionally on roasted necks, that it does not present any structural issues, is within spec and has been cleared by their set-up team. I'm no luthier and I trust their expertise, but it would seem that the neck wasn't uniformly dried, which could affect stability and possibly sound. Structural/sound concerns or just an aesthetic consideration? Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

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Not at all. I love it.

 

[Oldbasslover]

So my long-awaited D5 finally showed up at Sweetwater. In reviewing the pix (see enclosed) before I finalize the purchase, however, I noticed that there appears to be a huge variation in color--much darker--from the headstock down into the seventh fret. Coloration on the back of the neck looks pretty uniform. My SW rep says he sees this occasionally on roasted necks, that it does not present any structural issues, is within spec and has been cleared by their set-up team. I'm no luthier and I trust their expertise, but it would seem that the neck wasn't uniformly dried, which could affect stability and possibly sound. Structural/sound concerns or just an aesthetic consideration? Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

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I am wondering what Padma and Tom Colecchi on Top Chef would think of the presentation. Lol.

 

[Element Zero]

Thanks. My weak analogy is roasted marshmallows: big difference in taste and texture between golden brown and charcoaled.

Mmm. I love charcoaled marshmallows. I realize I’m in the minority, but I catch ‘em on fire on purpose.

 

[TonyP-]

Honesty, any organic compound is going to have variations to it and can easily be amplified when ‘treated to initially change its natural state’.

Personally, it looks awesome to me.

 

[Dragan]

I 've never got that roasted neck thing. Probably "different strokes..." etc

 

[Rib 13]

I like it darker like that........but that's just me