why?

H

H8ER 321

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Does anyone know why they changed the neck wood to Ovangkol and got rid of the great looking Wenge they used on the older thumb NT? It looked so sexy, does the Ovangkol have better sound properties or make it stronger?
 
From what I know the sound isn't too different. The only big difference is that Ovangkol is heavier. Don't know why they changed it.
 
My theory

Anyone watching the Warwick line over the past 5-6 years has noticed a much heavier use of Ovangol on many of the basses. (i.e. the Dolphin is now entirely Ovangol instead of Boire Rosewood) If I had to guess I'd say that Ovangol is easier to get/less expensive.

I can't say that I approve of a lot of the changes they've made in the necks/neck composition, but that's what happens when a company like Warwick gets popular.
 
The reason why our neck were changed to Ovangkol is because Wenge became very difficult to acquire in the amounts needed to make necks and fingerboards out of this wood. Warwick has been very popular for the past 15 years and popularity is not the reason why the neck composition was changed.
 
EVER NOTICED THAT ALOT OF THE HANDRAILS AT DISNEYLAND ARE MADE OF WENGE. NEXT TIME YOUR THERE CHECK IT OUT. WHAT A WASTE OF THE FINEST TONE WOOD IN THE WORLD.
 
Haha, I hadn't noticed actually. I live like 30 minutes away! I will look out for that this weekend.
 
Any chance of chopping off a bit of Disney's handrail - just enough to make a neck out of? And slipping out with it under your coat?
 
Yeah, that would be a good idea, and I suspect the wenge wouldn't require waxing as it most probably received enough natural oil from all those hands.
 
Sing along now..........'It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all...repeat ad nauseum.
 
broken thumb said:
EVER NOTICED THAT ALOT OF THE HANDRAILS AT DISNEYLAND ARE MADE OF WENGE. NEXT TIME YOUR THERE CHECK IT OUT. WHAT A WASTE OF THE FINEST TONE WOOD IN THE WORLD.
Click to expand...


That makes me sad. But, I still love disney world.hehhe
 
ovankol is also not as stable as wenge..... why else would they have to change to profile of the necks and add a volute to the head stock. they made sacrifices in order to fill demands. :cry:
 
I have to admit though, I like my volutes.... I think they look good.
 
I've got a 93 Dolphin and the un "voluted" neck feels like it was made by God himself. The new necks are a little too thick IMHO.

Of course, had I started with a newer Dolphin, I'd probably love it jsut as much. So much of it is what you're used to.

My Infinity's have that new neck thing. They're cool...both 5's though which tend to be less "chunky" than the 4 string neck with the volute.
 
I am in the market for a Dolphin 4string made of boire rosewood with the 7 piece wenge neck and platinum hardware. Anyone know where I might find one?
 
I had this really nice post going, and my damn phone froze... anyway...

Wenge is sadly going the way of Brazilian rosewood, scarce and costly. Mainly only found in boutique builders catalogs. Guys like Mike Tobias.

If you really love wenge, last I heard it was still a cs option. However, after a cool comparisson, I really must admit that I like ovangkol better. It has a nicer more natural sheen, and what looks to be a more three dimensional depth after a nice coat of dunnys 65 lemon oil.

I really dig ovangkols flat grain as well. Wenges uber open pores love to trap every little tidbit of shnit.

In the long run, I'm a maple on maple Guy anyway. But I love the snarl my Warwick emits. I just don't dig the ridiculously finickiness of the African woods. I want to be able to "set it and forget it." Not "set it, and check it. [Again tomorrow]"
 
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