Fretboards: Maple vs Rosewood

[mngsp]

MAPLE

[BritishBluesBoy]

I like my guitars to be made out of trees.

[Zillinois]

Sorry, I thought this was a yes or no poll question, and I couldn't find anywhere to say "yes" and "yes" ;)

[athief]

Haven't an opinion here, either, but I do have a question:

is one harder (and correspondingly less prone to wear), from a scientific standpoint?
/em starts researching...

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by athief

Haven't an opinion here, either, but I do have a question:

is one harder (and correspondingly less prone to wear), from a scientific standpoint?
/em starts researching...

Rosewood is harder and wears slower. However, the maple fretboards do have finish on them, but Fender (and most everyone except Rickenbacker) doesn't put finish on the rosewood boards...

Tim

[DNestler]

I prefer maple if the neck is one-piece. It gives the notes a very live feel, almost like I'm playing a living thing. But if the neck and the fretboard are two separate pieces glued together, I prefer to have a fretboard that is not finished. So rosewood or ebony, in that case.

Daniel

[varakeef]

The poll is flawed. I think there's a whole bunch of people who think that the fretboard material is a non-issue or who think that fretboard material is merely a cosmetic feature and the preference depends on colour or the body and pickguard combination.

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by varakeef

The poll is flawed. I think there's a whole bunch of people who think that the fretboard material is a non-issue or who think that fretboard material is merely a cosmetic feature and the preference depends on colour or the body and pickguard combination.

I'm one of those people (see my first post) - that's why I haven't voted.

[Dave_Strat]

When I play a guitar with a maple fingerboard, I have to adjust my playing so that I don't apply as much pressure on a bend. Unlubricated Maple sticks to my fingertips at times. Rosewood's porous nature holds what ever you apply to lubricate it and the finished maple allows lubrication to wear off quickly.

Other than that, I like both. Finger Ease is your friend, not matter what it's made of.

[sonny wolf]

For a Tele,it is an ash body with a one piece maple neck.That is the most classic Tele design and my favourite.I do like rosewood too but the maple neck just gives that pure Tele twang that I love.

[telepathetic]

It doesn't matter to me. I like maple on Teles (but one of mine is rosewood). I like rosewood on Strats (but 2 of mine are maple).
Some say maple sounds brighter, but it's never made any sense to me. The string is just metal vibrating over a magnet. One end is touching a metal bridge, the other end touching a metal fret. The wood of the fretboard really doesn't come into play as far as I can tell.

[mke52]

I depends on the guitar. Fenders are nicer in maple but can you imagine a 335 with a maple fretboard? nahhhhhh!

[claudel]

Briefs, boxers, or commando?

Kingwood?

[Strongpersuader]

I prefer maple on Teles and rosewood on Strats.

However, I must say that even each fretboard having a different feel to the fingers, as long as the guitar is well set up I can barely feel the difference when I'm playing.

[otterhound]

I think that they are somewhat different , but I have no real preference between Maple and Rosewood . With that said , I will add that I have one custom 1/4 sawn Walnut/Ebony Tele style neck and I can see more of this combo in the future for me .

[BluesHound]

I always used to say rosewood, but now I really think it depends on the individual guitar. I think the neck shape and the fretting are more crucial than the board material.

[Fret Wilkes]

Originally Posted by jkingma

Nice.

It's been said that maple sounds lighter, rosewood sounds darker. By that logic that must sound "grainier".

[BigDaddyLH]

Here's a padouk neck from Warmoth:



Quite the looker anyway. Does padouk retain its colour well, or is it one of those woods that fades quickly?

[Saxguitar]

I have always loved the look of maple on a tele, never played a tele with rosewood fretboard so I can't compare. I know I played a strat knock off with a rosewood fretboard and I just didnt like how the particular felt or looked, itr had really open pores and felt almost as if someone had sprayed WD40 on it. However I do like the way rosewood looks if you get the right slab.

Still I think I am a Maple Guy.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLH

Here's a padouk neck from Warmoth:



Quite the looker anyway. Does padouk retain its colour well, or is it one of those woods that fades quickly?

Padauk keeps its color better, if it is kept out of sunlight. Hard to predict exactly what color you will find on your piece, once the red has gone - could be a nasty brown color.

Woodman has a Purpleheart fretboard on his heartwood Poplar Tele. I understand the purple color is basically gone, now. He might've been able to keep it going much longer if the wood was kept from UV light sources, is what I am hearing now. I'm taking pains on my Purpleheart Cap Thinline Tele to keep that project away from the sun.

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

Padauk keeps its color better, if it is kept out of sunlight. Hard to predict exactly what color you will find on your piece, once the red has gone - could be a nasty brown color.

Woodman has a Purpleheart fretboard on his heartwood Poplar Tele. I understand the purple color is basically gone, now. He might've been able to keep it going much longer if the wood was kept from UV light sources, is what I am hearing now. I'm taking pains on my Purpleheart Cap Thinline Tele to keep that project away from the sun.

Vampire Telecaster!

Perfect for New Orleans...



Tim

[FenderGuy53]

+1 maple, on my Strat and Tele... I like the look and feel.

[twangstick]

Rosewood all the way.

Maple wears badly, Rosewood gets darker and looks better.
When I play maple fingerboards they go green!
Rosewood sounds warmer... which is good for Tele's.

[BuddyLee]

I voted Maple because it is a Tele Forum. I personally think a Tele should be maple... maybe it is OCD. Who knows!

But if we were talking Strats I would say Rosewood.

If it was Carvin or G&L I would say Ebony.

[FenderGuy53]

Originally Posted by BuddyLee

I voted Maple because it is a Tele Forum. I personally think a Tele should be maple... maybe it is OCD. Who knows!

But if we were talking Strats I would say Rosewood.

If it was Carvin or G&L I would say Ebony.

Leo created the original Telecasters and Stratocasters using maple fretboards. I think he knew what he was doing.

[BigDaddyLH]

Originally Posted by FenderGuy53

Leo created the original Telecasters and Stratocasters using maple fretboards. I think he knew what he was doing.

Far be it for me to cast a shadow on St. Leo, but... many of his decisions were motivated by economics. If you relax that a bit, what's so wrong with considering other woods?

[Fred.T]

Now let's see, maple or rosewood... hmm...

[s_grimey]

If the neck has a thin satin finish, I couldn't care less about the fretboard material.

However, if the finish is thick or glossy, rosewood all the way. A maple fretboard with a thick finish just feels bad to my fingers.

[curtbob]

Like most guys here, I can't tell any difference either when playing. Such being the case, I suppose it comes down to aesthetics. A rosewood neck looks great with one body but not so good an another. The same goes for maple. I guess it just depends if you prefer a contrast or complement.

The shape & finish are more important. Does the finish allow you to go up & down the neck easily or is your hand always stick to it?

FWIW, my Tele & my Seagull both have maple necks.

[FenderGuy53]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLH

Far be it for me to cast a shadow on St. Leo, but... many of his decisions were motivated by economics. If you relax that a bit, what's so wrong with considering other woods?

I think you're confusing Fender (the man) with Fender (the corporation). The man was motivated by musicians who wanted a guitar that was easy to hold, easy to tune, easy to play, and easy to make and service (hence, the bolt-on neck design). The corporation is certainly motivated by economics.

Hey, there's nothing wrong with rosewood or any other wood. The OP is asking for our preference. I happen to be a traditionalist, so I prefer maple.

[BuddyLee]

Originally Posted by FenderGuy53

Leo created the original Telecasters and Stratocasters using maple fretboards. I think he knew what he was doing.

I think Strats sound better with Rosewood. Maybe it is just subconscious, but they seem warmer to me. Maple sounds more treble'ee and punchy, perfect for a Tele.

Leo did not really like the maple from what I heard because it wore out funny(which it seems everyone but him likes). So he started using rosewood. At least that is what I heard.

[BigDaddyLH]

Yeah, rosewood fretboards were introduced before I was born, so they seem pretty traditional to me.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by BuddyLee

Leo did not really like the maple from what I heard because it wore out funny(which it seems everyone but him likes). So he started using rosewood. At least that is what I heard.

Worn maple board guitars looked grungy on Television, which Leo did not like.

But if Leo had not decided Maple was a cool neck/fretboard material, it is altogether possible that we'd all be using mahogany and rosewood, IMO. Maple would be for kitchen cabinets and pancake syrup.

[otterhound]

I forgot about my Martin Hippie . It has a Micarta board and I like it very much . Of course , I tend to hallucinate when I pick it up .

[dangerine49]

Originally Posted by varakeef

The poll is flawed. I think there's a whole bunch of people who think that the fretboard material is a non-issue or who think that fretboard material is merely a cosmetic feature and the preference depends on colour or the body and pickguard combination.

+1

Why exactly must one choose? I have six Fender electrics, two with rosewood and four with maple fretboards. I guess my next one should have rosewood.

[3 Chord]

What material is best is what ever allows the player to play their best. Most of us couldn't tell the difference in a blindfold test to what sounds come from what wood.

[Al Watsky]

I like rosewood because when I refret if I want to change radius I don't have to refinish.
They both feel fine. Both look great. I can't choose, my preference is purely practical. I'm a pragmatist, I'm a repairman.
I think my actual preference is for ebony. Has a smooth hard feel to it yet does not require finishing. A win/win with ebony. Old growth Brazilian also has a superior feel, but sadly is restricted these days.