wenge neck or 3 band preamp

3 band preamp or wenge neck?

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Stroud

Stroud

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which of these features do you think would contribute the most to a second hand thumb BO?

a three band mec preamp or a wenge neck...

cheers
 
Has to be the neck. If the neck alone doesn't get you what you want, you can always change the preamp. Chasing down a wenge neck with the right bolt pattern would be much more difficult. ~M~
 
avionix543 said:
Has to be the neck. If the neck alone doesn't get you what you want, you can always change the preamp. Chasing down a wenge neck with the right bolt pattern would be much more difficult. ~M~
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Yes you can always change the preamp and a wenge neck is real nice!
 
i will just add if i get the one with the wenge neck it is likely that i'll never upgrade the preamp...so if it was one or the other would you stick with the neck?
 
There's nothing wrong with the 2 band preamps on a BO Thumb. It's not like they're inflexible or anything... :D ~M~
 
but there's nothing wrong with the ovangkol necks either... :wink:
 
I think I prefer the feel of ovangkol...
As for the eq, I noticed after popping in my new 3 band it gave me a bit more flexibility in my tone control... Gotta love that mid control :)
 
As far as I'm concerned, I love the feel and the look of Ovangkol, hate the way wenge looks, and like to tweak the middle on my Streamer... so... you got my preference :D
 
Go with the Wenge, a good EQ can do what a 3 band does. And most amps have a good enough EQ to make up for a MEC 2 band.

*EDIT*

Also, If you have a good slap contour or Mid-boost/cut on your amp you really have no use for a 3-band EQ, cutting too much mids make for a very glassy/thin sounding bass.

Wenge has a sound that no other neck wood has (I dont care what they say about Ovangkol, it dont come close). Nothing comes close to wenge (tone wise and stability, it is often refered to as the "natural graphite" for its strength).
 
concerning the 3 band and its practicality. my rig is great for all the EQ so that doesnt worry me, its just that during gigs i never have time to even touch my amp, if im not playing or singing im talking to the crowd, so having a mid on the bass appeals to me greatly. there again its not too much of a worry

cheers guys

i'll probably go (or at least start the ball roling in regards buying) with the wenge neck BO
 
Why Wenge vs 3 band ??

Sure, a 3 band EQ is more flexible than a Wenge neck.............but if you're considering a Wenge neck (instead of Ovangkol) in the first place, I would go for the chocolate wood; I personally would not do a neck swap; I'd try to get an old Warwick with standard Wenge neck.............and hey, you can always add a 3 band EQ later........... :roll:
 
I played a 5-string Thumb BO with a wenge neck at the Bass Centre in London last December.

It was one of the most comfortable and naturally beautiful-sounding instruments I have ever played. I wanted to take it home with me. It was incredible.

Get the one with the wenge neck. You'll never want to change the preamp anyway! :)
 
Stroud said:
for now thats what i've decided :)
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I think that is the best i.m.o.: to choose your favourite wood first.
I have a bass with wenge neck and passive controls. I love the sound and feel. I even might decide not to change the passive electronics what I planned when I bought the bass and use my amp eq.
 
Stroud, I don't know if this helps you or confuces you..

.. but I'm in love with the FEEL of the ovankol neck. I keep sanding/waxing it every month and the surface is just incredible.

I'm not talking about the sound here. Just the feel..

The lacured maple neck on my streamer gives me trouble sometimes as I can't move up 'n down that quick with my sweaty thumb. I have matted it down with a 1000 grit paper and it helps.

Again, I'm talking about playability and not sound. Don't know anything about the wenge neck. /Patrik
 
im 16 patrick...plenty young enough to adapt :wink: i doubt its anything that'll screw me over

cheers anyway for the heads up

edit ohh crap no im not im 17 (still got to get used to this :D )
 
Stroud said:
im 16 patrick...plenty young enough to adapt :wink: i doubt its anything that'll screw me over

cheers anyway for the heads up

edit ohh crap no im not im 17 (still got to get used to this :D )
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... and I feel old now :lol:
 
Scubadiver said:
Stroud, I don't know if this helps you or confuces you..

.. but I'm in love with the FEEL of the ovankol neck. I keep sanding/waxing it every month and the surface is just incredible.

I'm not talking about the sound here. Just the feel..

The lacured maple neck on my streamer gives me trouble sometimes as I can't move up 'n down that quick with my sweaty thumb. I have matted it down with a 1000 grit paper and it helps.

Again, I'm talking about playability and not sound. Don't know anything about the wenge neck. /Patrik
Click to expand...

+1 on the feel... Ovangkol is problaby the best feeling wood I've ever had my hands on.
 
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