well, just...

Thunder_Fingers

Thunder_Fingers

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Smoothness, is Wenge just as smooth and Fast as ovankol? (no facts about sound difference or anything like that, just.. smooth?)

are they the same feelwise?
 
NO.

Wenge and Ovangkol may sound almost identical, but they feel very, very different.

For one thing, Wenge responds to humidity... on a 'wet' day, Wenge can feel almost slimy or sticky in your hands... Ovangkol always feels the same; very dry.

Ovangkol, in my opinion, is definitely the "faster" and "smoother" neck wood.
 
For what it's worth, my experience is completely the opposite. Never gonna have another bass with an ovangkol neck, my hand slips like on silk with wenge. The thing with humidity might hold some truth, but it's no biggie for me and, although ovangkol was ok, I greatly prefer the feel of wenge.
 
The feeling is quite different.
Wengé has a very open grain, you can feel it under your fingers.
On the other hand Ovangkol has a close grain, just like a Maple neck.

Soundwise there are differences too.
Wengé has a darker more pronounced low midrange growl, with a good attack.
Ovangkol is less growly, with a more open and bright high end.

Usually Wengé necks are more stable, both in laminated neck throughs and in 3 pieces bolton.
 
Ah, crap.

I read the replies with some confusion, and then I re-read what I wrote.

Nowhere in there did I mention that I actually also prefer Wenge. I didn't mean to give the impression that it's a bad neck wood; it's fantastic, actually. But Mr. Thunder Fingers, based on what I've read from you in the past on this board, I do think Ovagkol sounds more like "your" wood.

sethsbase said:
NO.

Wenge and Ovangkol may sound almost identical, but they feel very, very different.

For one thing, Wenge responds to humidity... on a 'wet' day, Wenge can feel almost slimy or sticky in your hands... Ovangkol always feels the same; very dry.

Ovangkol, in my opinion, is definitely the "faster" and "smoother" neck wood.
Click to expand...
 
I just thought I'd state that I am one the apparent few who seem to prefer ovangkol, both visually and feel-wise. However, once a wenge neck is well used it can become almost as smooth as ovangkol, but when it is new I find it very rustic-feeling and quite rough.

I have definitely noticed the humidity factor. I play every year in a big marquee, and when night falls my wenge neck gets quite moist and slimy.
 
Bubinga? is that supposed to have the same feel? i read somewhere that they are in the same family and is supposed to have alot of the same quality's, only that Bubinga seems a bit stronger...
 
I looooove the Wenge-neck. It looks incredible and, as some of you descibe its feel, gives a wet sound in the low area. with a black Vampyre, its pretty nice, oh yes. 8) Would love to see a fretless Wenge-neck.
 
I'll be the first to admit I like both Wenge & Ovankol.In my experience if Warwick use it,it must be good.
And for the last time it's WARRICK!! hahahahaha.
 
thumperton said:
And for the last time it's WARRICK!! hahahahaha.
Click to expand...
... already forgot about that discussion! Thanks for bringing it alive again!

I just love the ovangkol neck. I had an old Washburn a decade ago with a high gloss varnish. Totally useless and slow. It got better after grinding it matt.

/P
 
+1 for ovankol

super smooth espically after i used a 600gritt sandpaper on it with some linseed oil. very bright sounding (awesome for slapbass) and great growl.

wenge is a bit too opengrained for me and a wee bit ruff... great for the fretboard though :)

plus wenge will soak up ur sweaty palms/oils quick... lil bit harder to clean...
 
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