Ovangkol vs Bubinga: what is the tonal difference for neck wood?

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Regarding woods for a neck,
what is the tonal difference between a neck made of Ovangkol, and one made of Bubinga?
Can someone describe the difference in sound?
 

schlobodan

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there are no bubinga necks afaik at least for wicks
 
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+1 I believe the general comparison is between ovangkol and wenge. Although warwick has some other nw k woods these are the most common over the years.
 
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Our usual neck woods are Wenge and Ovangkol. There is very little difference between the two, both in terms of tone and also stability. Ovangkol was chosen specifically for its similar characterists to Wenge, and any difference between them is negligible. They have a slightly different feel, with Ovangkol having a tighter solid grain. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks!
 

siderocks

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Nevertheless bubinga has been used as neck wood in other brands. I have no experience of it though...
 
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Our usual neck woods are Wenge and Ovangkol. There is very little difference between the two, both in terms of tone and also stability. Ovangkol was chosen specifically for its similar characterists to Wenge, and any difference between them is negligible. They have a slightly different feel, with Ovangkol having a tighter solid grain. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks!

Thank you.
I was wondering, why is Bubinga not used by Warwick for neck wood?
I know it is slightly heavier than Ovangkol, but is there any other reason it is not used for necks?

What is the sound of a Bubinga neck?
 

schlobodan

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As it was said already - there are no pure bubinga neck wicks

Warwick offers ovangkol, wenge, maple, blackwood thats it
You can get neck laminations with other woods of course including bubinga
But the main neck wood is one of the four.
 

schlobodan

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So no bibinga neck experience here:)
 

Morgoth

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Our usual neck woods are Wenge and Ovangkol. There is very little difference between the two, both in terms of tone and also stability. Ovangkol was chosen specifically for its similar characterists to Wenge, and any difference between them is negligible. They have a slightly different feel, with Ovangkol having a tighter solid grain. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks!

Wengé is stiffer than Ovangkol though. The look and feel are also different.

Wengé : Hardness of 2,240 lbf (9,940 N)

Ovangkol : Hardness of 1,330 lbf (5,900 N)

http://www.wood-database.com

:)
 
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My question is if there is a reason Warwick chooses not to make necks from Bubinga.
Bubinga is an option from other builders. Is it a bad idea?
 

Florin

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Hi JC,
First of all, ovankol is in the same family with Bubunga tree, so they are very similar. I don't know why we don't use bubinga, I guess we cannot use them all :) I played a bass with bubinga neck, and it had the same vibe, tight sounding hardwood.
Wenge is darker, and tighter.
 
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I do like wenge a lot. I'm happy it is used for many fingerboards. Love my thumb bubinga wenge neck
 
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I once read in an interview with Hans Peter where he said that the descision to use wenge as a neck wood was its ability to sound alot like graphite, which in the early 80's was being hailed as the future due to it's sound,stability & lack of dead spots.
Wenge just also happened to be pioneered by Warwick, & later used by all sorts of great luthiers.But like Flo said, they're all from the same family & all are basically African Rosewoods.
I suspect the lack of bubinga necks, is the weight. Wenge & ovangkol are already pretty dense & heavy. Imagine a bubinga neck AND bodied Thumb.Bloody hell. It makes my eyes water just thinkin about it.
 

Florin

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After the PA watering, a pic with your eyes would be nice :)
Take care Greg, I miss ya mate!
 
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