Wenge Neck

[Venturella]

I've never own a bass with wenge neck but I did play it when i was getting a new bass like a year ago. It was a warwick corvette 5 string and I really enjoyed how it wrapped around my hand and the overall texture of the wood. But the luthier who sets my bass up didnt recommend wenge necks. He said that they will turn in some weird shapes rather than taking a little bow shaped curves like maple necks if they arent treated right. So here goes my questions.
How are wenge necks in general?
Is it true that wenge necks will turn in odd ways instead of a bow like curve? If yes, how do i avoid it?
What are the treatments for the wenge necks that my luthier talked about?

 

[songwriter21]

Wenge is very stable when it's laminated (multi-piece neck, like Warwicks), and I've heard it's not the best as a one-piece. Although, guys like Mike Tobias have been using one-piece wenge necks for a long time, and I don't hear a lot of bad press regarding MTD....

 

[UNICORN BASS]

Warwick recommend treating with bees wax which they supply with a new bass IIRC. I don't believe Wenge is any less stable than Maple.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I only have experience with Warwick wenge necks, and the neck on my Fortress might just as well be made out of steel. I don't think I've ever adjusted the neck on that bass since I bought it over a decade ago. I own lots of basses, and I have to adjust all my necks when the seasons change.

 

[MobileHolmes]

I don't think I've ever heard anyone complaining about Wenge neck stability, and people complain about everything

 

[RickyT]

I've got a Wenge, Purple Heart and Maple neck. It feels amazing and in a year I've never had to touch the truss rod. It's perfect.
The grain of the Wenge feels so nice.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I don't think I've ever heard anyone complaining about Wenge neck stability, and people complain about everything

Have to agree.

I think yer luthier friend is nuts. People can be so convincing sometimes, too. They make it sound like they know what they're talking about.

 

[MobileHolmes]

Have to agree.

I think yer luthier friend is nuts. People can be so convincing sometimes, too. They make it sound like they know what they're talking about.

I used to take my stuff to a very good repair guy who still had some pretty goofy ideas about wood. Didn't impact his ability to dress frets or anything so it didn't matter.

 

[ole Jason]

Never heard anyone complain about a wenge neck. Warwick necks are ridiculously stable. All my Fender basses and various guitars will require little tweaks throughout the seasons but the Warwick rarely requires anything at all. Some of that is probably due to the size of the neck (which is awesome) but I think the quality of the wood is also really high.

 

[bass12]

I've never had any problems with the all wenge necks on my MTDs and I've never heard of an MTD with an unstable wenge neck. I'm not saying it's not a possibility but if what your luthier is suggesting was a common occurrence then I'm sure I would have heard at least one complaint by now.

 

[Doner Designs]

Maple is more traditional and a little lighter, but I don't think you can find a better neck wood than wenge. You can read about various neck woods on Warmoth's website. I'm not aware of any tropical dark wood that needs or benefits from a finish or treatment.

 

[Venturella]

Thanks everyone for great replies. It definitely helped me out. Cheers!

 

[Epitaph04]

Doesnt warwick do the extra steel rods in their necks too?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I love the way it looks and feels, but I think it gives the bass a more midrange tone than maple. As far as stability, I never touched the truss rod on my wenge neck bass.

 

[MobileHolmes]

Doesnt warwick do the extra steel rods in their necks too?

They might, and that probably helps. My warmoth steel reinforced maple neck is the most stable neck I've ever owned on anything, period. It hasn't moved in 10 years. I should probably give the rod a couple turns and then turn it back just to keep it from seizing from non use.

 

[pudge]

I have a UASCG 2 a side wenge/ebony neck that is rock solid.Been and of different bass and hung for a long time no signs of any movement ,rock solid

 

[Gizmot]

I've got a Warwick Streamer (German) with a Wenge neck and its rock solid - no issues whatsoever. It feels really comfortable and the wood has a nice tactile touch that makes it a joy to play.

 

[superheavyfunk]

I have an old 90s Warwick and I've literally never touched the truss, nor done any waxing or oiling in 10 years. I play her almost every day, and she continues to plays like a dream.

Personally, I'd like to have a 3 piece wenge neck on every bass I own. It's by far been my favorite feeling neck wood over the years.

 

[SteveHeissner]

I've had a Warwick Corvette with a wenge neck for 10 years. Only had the neck adjusted once and that was a minor tweak. So far it's been stable. And the bass's tone is very nice.

 

[Iridescentone]

I've never own a bass with wenge neck but I did play it when i was getting a new bass like a year ago. It was a warwick corvette 5 string and I really enjoyed how it wrapped around my hand and the overall texture of the wood. But the luthier who sets my bass up didnt recommend wenge necks. He said that they will turn in some weird shapes rather than taking a little bow shaped curves like maple necks if they arent treated right. So here goes my questions.
How are wenge necks in general?
Is it true that wenge necks will turn in odd ways instead of a bow like curve? If yes, how do i avoid it?
What are the treatments for the wenge necks that my luthier talked about?

Yeah he's wrong, but moving on....

With that type of display of ignorance from a so-called luthier, I'd be wondering "what else" does he not know?