Wenge or Maple Neck

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

I’ll post this in Dingwall Bass Porn as well, but would like opinions on this please if possible.

I’ve put a deposit down on a Dingwall. I opted for a Wenge neck to go with the Wenge fingerboard rather than the maple neck. I think it would look better with a Wenge neck and I’m also led to believe it would have a more compressed/grindy sound compared to the Maple which I’m just fine with.

It appears that if I commit to the Wenge neck it will push delivery towards the end of 2020 and if I revert back to Maple (which I could have blacked out anyway) then it would bring delivery forward significantly. I have to admit that the Wenge neck was an afterthought, but once I had considered the option, I really fancied it. I’ve not had the opportunity to play a Dingwall with a Wenge neck so I’m now wondering what I should do. I’m not in any rush to get the bass, I’m just wondering other than the difference in look, would the wait be worth it?

[Guest]

I have tried both and prefer the tone of a Wenge neck. There is a difference - it’s tighter with more fundamental. I find particularly with 5 and 6 strings it makes for a better low B too. Dingwall are not known for their necks moving around but I see Warwick changed back to Wenge on the Streamer Stage 1 a few years ago. Having had a few with a maple neck, all with movement at the headstock end, I’d imagine it was to improve stiffness and tone. I had an MTD 635-24 a few years ago with ash/spalted maple too and Wenge neck and board and it sounded fabulous. Wenge is also IMHO a very attractive neck wood with a nice, organic feel to it. It also doesn’t appear to be much heavier than the maple Dingwall uses on those necks looking at comparable overall weight.

[4000]

I have no experience with Dingwalls but IME with Seis and others, wenge definitely seems tighter and more compressed, with more growl (as I perceive it). Depends what you’re after. 

[dmccombe7]

I've not played a wenge Dingwall but i've owned the maple 5 stringer and it was a great neck. The low B was first class and sound engineer fiends i know in studios where i've used it loved the tone. 

I have a wenge Warwick Thumb NT from 89 and the feel of that neck is 2nd to none. I'm not talking about playability as such, it just feels nice on the hand. 

If it was me and i had my mind set on wenge now then i think i would hold out for the later delivery. I have a feeling you might regret it if you make a decision based on delivery time.

SIMPLIFY THE DECISION :- If both necks were available at same time what one would you pick. That's your answer IMHO.

Looking forward to seeing the finished product whatever you decide. They do make some gorgeous basses. 

Dave

[funkypenguin]

It depends what you're going for with your sound. I really love the midrange growl and warmth I get from the wenge neck on my warwick, something that seems to be absent on most maple necks ive played, so much so that whenever I play my precision (maple/maple) It takes a minute before im comfortable with the sound. If I were you I would be patient and go with the wenge neck every time

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

Thanks for your input guys. It's nice to have it confirmed that wenge does have characteristics that set it apart from maple.

2 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

SIMPLIFY THE DECISION :- If both necks were available at same time what one would you pick. That's your answer IMHO.

That's pretty much it in a nutshell Dave 👍

[dmccombe7]

Wise choice and i'm now looking forward to seeing some pics when it arrives.

Dave

[BigRedX]

4 hours ago, FDC484950 said:

I have tried both and prefer the tone of a Wenge neck. There is a difference - it’s tighter with more fundamental. I find particularly with 5 and 6 strings it makes for a better low B too. Dingwall are not known for their necks moving around but I see Warwick changed back to Wenge on the Streamer Stage 1 a few years ago. Having had a few with a maple neck, all with movement at the headstock end, I’d imagine it was to improve stiffness and tone. I had an MTD 635-24 a few years ago with ash/spalted maple too and Wenge neck and board and it sounded fabulous. Wenge is also IMHO a very attractive neck wood with a nice, organic feel to it. It also doesn’t appear to be much heavier than the maple Dingwall uses on those necks looking at comparable overall weight.

Can you 100% state that the difference in tonal characteristics was completely down to the wedge neck? IMO unless the basses were identical in absolutely every way except for the neck material you really can't.

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Can you 100% state that the difference in tonal characteristics was completely down to the wedge neck? IMO unless the basses were identical in absolutely every way except for the neck material you really can't.

Yes I can. There’s a tonal characteristic I’ve clearly heard across several different instruments with different body woods and electronics from different manufacturers. The common factor in each case was a wenge neck and board, and it’s not been present in any other neck material. It’s a subtle difference I’ll grant you but I’m not getting into a debate about whether woods affect tone!

[ead]

I rather enjoyed these two basses both were Wenge / Wenge so that would be my choice (another all Wenge neck/board on the way too).

Dingwall

ACG

Edited April 17, 2020 by ead

[dmccombe7]

Much the same debate with Rosewood V maple necks and how they affect tone. 

I definitely hear subtle differences to my ear altho an audience probably doesn't unless solo'ing basses.

Then again i'm interested in what i hear as it makes me think i'm playing better 

Dave

Edited April 17, 2020 by dmccombe7

[ead]

8 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Much the same debate with Rosewood V maple necks and how they affect tone. 

I definitely hear subtle differences to my ear altho an audience probably doesn't unless solo'ing basses.

Then again i'm interested in what i hear as it makes me think i'm playing better 

Dave

Nah, having loads of basses makes you play better.

[TheGreek]

From an aesthetic POV I think that the fewer materials in any build benefit the item. From this standpoint I'd go with the Wenge...

Like @FDC484950 "I’m not getting into a debate about whether woods affect tone!" - even though it might upset @BigRedX.

[bassfan]

If you are in no rush I would go with what you want mate, no compromise 👍🏻👍🏻

[DoubleOhStephan]

Wenge 👍🏻

[CameronJ]

I own two Dingwall Super Ps with Maple necks and one Dingwall Super P with an all wenge neck/board - in all honesty I’d advise not to think about any arguable differences in tone and instead concentrate on the look & feel of the wenge as the primary factors. Wenge feels lovely in the hand, with a more “natural” feel due to having a coarser, more open grain than maple. Basically, while maple necks feel totally smooth, wenge has a much more apparent grain to the touch, which is nice.

If you were to string all of my Super Ps with the same strings, then blindfold me and have someone play them each one by one, I’m certain I would fail to correctly guess which was which.

[naxos10]

If you have no problem with the wait then Wenge all the way.

[Shaggy]

Just to add to the apparent concencus - wenge.  

I've used every usual neck wood there is, plus carbon and aluminium; and the wenge neck (wax finish) on my Warwick Streamer has the nicest feel of any of them.   The other benefit is I fitted 3mm "blue" luminlay dots on the side as the old eyes are going a bit, and they really stand out in any lighting conditions against the dark wood (which they would on a rosewood board too I know, but being larger than standard side dots they overlap into the neck).

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

2 minutes ago, Shaggy said:

Just to add to the apparent concencus - wenge.  

I've used every usual neck wood there is, plus carbon and aluminium; and the wenge neck (wax finish) on my Warwick Streamer has the nicest feel of any of them.   The other benefit is I fitted 3mm "blue" luminlay dots on the side as the old eyes are going a bit, and they really stand out in any lighting conditions against the dark wood (which they would on a rosewood board too I know, but being larger than standard side dots they overlap into the neck).

Funny you should mention that. My one will also be having blue luminlay side dots. I've not had them before, so looking forward to seeing how they are.

[Shaggy]

16 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

Funny you should mention that. My one will also be having blue luminlay side dots. I've not had them before, so looking forward to seeing how they are.

They're absolutely fantastic; as good as LED's (which I've had) but a bit more understated, and no batteries or wiring  . You can get the little UV torches that charge them up in seconds for a fiver or so on eBay, but your bass being a posh one will probably come supplied with its own!

[CameronJ]

I’m just going to leave these here...

 

Ignore my foot.

Edited April 18, 2020 by CameronJ

[dmccombe7]

11 hours ago, CameronJ said:

I’m just going to leave these here...

 

Ignore my foot.

Post a couple of full bass pics. Curious to see the full effect. They look so good. 👍

Dave

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

4 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Post a couple of full bass pics. Curious to see the full effect. They look so good. 👍

Dave

Yes, would be nice to see the whole bass @CameronJ.

[CameronJ]

Ask and you shall receive:

It’s the one on the left, obviously.

[dmccombe7]

Nice basses. Good seeing the full thing.