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Wenge Neck Club
- Thread starter HowieD72
- Start date
Took off the wenge neck on my jazz to work on the fret sprout I mentioned a few pages back. Some may have seen a sapele (African mahogany) neck with spalted maple fretboard I recently withdrew from sale in the classifieds. To keep the jazz body from getting lonely (um, yeah, let's go with that) I threw tuners on the sapele neck and mounted it. Very interesting comparison with other neck woods. Compared to wenge, I'd say maple is a bit brighter and crisper. The wenge I would describe as full-toned, maybe even "Hi-Fi". It feels like (to me) the wenge is passing through everything the strings are giving it, resulting in a clear defined sound. The Brazilian ebony neck I got from Warmoth and then sold a couple months back was incredibly dark, like nothing got through but the fundamental frequency. I should ask the buyer what his take on it is. So finally, this sapele neck...incredibly warm middy sound. Almost like the tone knob got turned a bit. Very nice sound, but not anywhere near either wenge or maple. Anyone with an Epi or Gibson or other mahogany-necked bass that can comment? I think I'll build another jazz to use this neck, but I definitely will be remounting the wenge on the current jazz--I miss that fabulous sound.
Very interesting comparison with other neck woods. Compared to wenge, I'd say maple is a bit brighter and crisper. The wenge I would describe as full-toned, maybe even "Hi-Fi". It feels like (to me) the wenge is passing through everything the strings are giving it, resulting in a clear defined sound. Agree 100%. I feel the wenge really accentuates the different kind of strings. And I've tried several rounds and flats to finally settle on the current strings for the sound I like. The Brazilian ebony neck I got from Warmoth and then sold a couple months back was incredibly dark, like nothing got through but the fundamental frequency. I had a Cort "Jeff Berlin" Rithimic and it had an Ebony fretboard and I swear, no matter what I threw at that bass (changed the pickups, strings, installed an active preamp) I could never get out that "dark" sound you mentioned. So I sold it. Never again will I go with Ebony. I should ask the buyer what his take on it is. So finally, this sapele neck...incredibly warm middy sound. Almost like the tone knob got turned a bit. Very nice sound, but not anywhere near either wenge or maple. Anyone with an Epi or Gibson or other mahogany-necked bass that can comment? I think I'll build another jazz to use this neck, but I definitely will be remounting the wenge on the current jazz--I miss that fabulous sound Wenge all day, every day my friend!
- Feb 3, 2005
- 7,331
- 10,197
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Bergantino Audio Systems and GHS Strings
Honestly, my ABZ sounds so good, I decided that Ash/Wenge combo is a winner. I will admit my first DBird had the mahogany body and wenge neck and I do not think it sounded as good as the ABZ. That is just one combo (mahogany), but I'll stick with that take. My current DBird is a maple neck with wenge board, and I feel the same way about the tone vs the ABZ. I'm actually about to install some SFII's in it to see how that change may give me some new tones I prefer a bit more.
That was a lot of info in one paragraph. I had to read it a couple times to make sure I got all the pairings right.
I have a Yamaha TRBX504 with mahogany body and laminate maple neck. Chose it over the 604 to get the mahogany specifically. I thought it’d sound great, but TBH haven’t been wild about the sound. Pickups are a big part of that, but unless I can try in person and like it, I won’t be buying mahogany body basses in the future.
I’m, on the other hand, quite happy with the sound of ash bodies. I would think ash/wenge should be a great combo, but how’s the neck dive? Ash pretty light usually.
I've got 2 and didn't realize it or at least did not remember it (I'm getting old) until I recently started researching something for a fellow TB-er.
Both of these have Wenge Fretboards.
1999 Dean European Edge Improv
1999 Dean European Edge Select
Catalog Data for 'verification of membership qualification and justification for request of the coveted membership number to such an exclusive TB Bass club!'
Plus my 2012 Ibanez 1200E 4 string.
And data:
I most humbly request a membership number.
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- Feb 3, 2005
- 7,331
- 10,197
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Bergantino Audio Systems and GHS Strings
That was a lot of info in one paragraph. I had to read it a couple times to make sure I got all the pairings right.
I have a Yamaha TRBX504 with mahogany body and laminate maple neck. Chose it over the 604 to get the mahogany specifically. I thought it’d sound great, but TBH haven’t been wild about the sound. Pickups are a big part of that, but unless I can try in person and like it, I won’t be buying mahogany body basses in the future.
I’m, on the other hand, quite happy with the sound of ash bodies. I would think ash/wenge should be a great combo, but how’s the neck dive? Ash pretty light usually,
The ABZ is 8#, so nice and light. No neck dive at all. My D-Birds have been slightly heavier, but no neck dive despite that body shape. Sheldon fixed all the issues that makes a Gibson Bird headstock head for the floor!
I guess it's time for me to get a number in this club, @HowieD72!
Black Parts Precision w/ Warmoth wenge neck (rosewood fingerboard and vintage spec nickel frets). Mystery black body likely made of alder or possibly pine, JBE pickup, Schaller roller bridge, licensed Hipshot Ultralight tuners, custom cut "Ray Ban" pickguard by Chandler's Pickguard Planet, Fender stainless steel flatwound strings, pro fret dress, setup, etc by my luthier, and it sounds amazing.
Black Parts Precision w/ Warmoth wenge neck (rosewood fingerboard and vintage spec nickel frets). Mystery black body likely made of alder or possibly pine, JBE pickup, Schaller roller bridge, licensed Hipshot Ultralight tuners, custom cut "Ray Ban" pickguard by Chandler's Pickguard Planet, Fender stainless steel flatwound strings, pro fret dress, setup, etc by my luthier, and it sounds amazing.
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It'll be in my hands this coming Wednesday!!@Not_Shane Let's see that beautiful Green Machine Fortress Masterman with the wenge neck!!!
I was going to wait to do a picture of both Fortress's together, but why not both?!
1995 Masterman, on its way to me (Its my second)
Attachments
Still coming up with nothing for a P style wenge neck other than custom from Warmoth like the one @TimBosby has. That’s a big investment though. Everything on the ‘bay seems to be J style.
I got lucky. Warmoth had two wenge P necks a little before Black Friday and I snagged one for around $200. Still needed my luthier to dress the frets and do some other work. I'm actually having him finish the back of it now. It doesn't need a finish but I think I will prefer a nice satin to raw wood.
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