Maple or Rosewood?

[_Chaz_]

Which do you prefer for your fretboards, and why?

I like maple fretboards with NO glaze over them. I like how they look, and how they feel.

You?

[Twang Tone]

I prefer a one-piece maple neck, with or without lacquer.

I think rosewood fretboards sound great for Blues thanks to their darker tone, but on a maple fretboard the notes seem to say "play me!" more than rosewood.

I don't have a problem with a lacquered maple board feeling 'sticky' so I'd choose maple 'cos it feels quicker to me and easier to play.

Rosewood has an inherant chesty midrange 'thump' at high volumes, but I prefer maple's 'brightness' instead. It's great for snapping the strings against the neck.

[bullfrog]

i have ebony, mapple and rosewood fretboard, it don't mean any difference for me.

[denny]

1. Maple
2. Ebony
3. Rosewood

I think it has more to do with smoothness for me... I have a couple of low end guitars with rosewood boards that have an open grain... there is more friction or "catching" of the string on the lower half of the fretboard when "bottoming out" and contacting the wood when bending or using vertical vibrato motions. Maybe a plastic board or large trap inlays on every fret might be good(?).

For looks alone, I like Maple.

denny

[J-man]

For looks.. laquered maple, but sadly not so good for playability IMO,

Though maple does look so sweeeeet! **sigh** if only I could find a maple board neck which is a nice dark colour so it doesn't require laquer. :(

[Sarge]

I also enjoy Maple, Rose Wood, and Ebony. With my eyes closed I probably couldn't differenciate between the 3 in tone. However touch is a different story. Certain guitars look much better with a certain fret-board. For example an LP Custom just wouldn't look good in anything but Ebony. On my Tele's I prefer Rose Wood, on my Strats I enjoy both Maple and Rose Wood. On my Custom Shop or high end guitars Brazillian Rose Wood is my fret board of choice.

[moonshiner]

I would choose the wood based off of cosmetics and feel... not tone... I don't think the tonal differences are _that_ noticable between maple and rosewood...

Currently I own:

Rosewood: 5
Maple: 1
Ebony: 1

[gls500]

I agree. I'm unconvinced that fretboard material makes any difference at all in tone. I've had dark maple-board teles, and currently have a very bright rosewood board tele. Go figure.

I prefer maple on teles, and rosewood on strats. No reason other than looks.

[skepticult]

I like the way maple looks. Can't really tell the difference in sound or feel on the fretboard. The finish on the back of the neck makes a lot more difference to me.

[Geo]

Both. I like the feel and look of either one.

[photoweborama]

My favorite is rosewood. Or maple. It depends on what is on the guitar I'm playing at the time..

[jhundt]

never could get into maple on the occasions when I played on a maple-neck. I don't really like the way maple looks, especially with the laquer finish. Maybe if I ever owned a maple neck I might have a different opinion, though.

[frogger]

Maple neck Teles just have more snap and twang than rosewood and I believe is the perfect Tele fretboard wood. Strat's on the other hand sound better with a rosewood board to give it that beautiful midrange bloom but that's just my ears.....and alot of time their full of wax.

[Raymond]

I honestly can't tell whether one timber sounds different than the other. I think the reason why some folks do perceive it is because they just feel different, and therefore one would play different. Just a theory…

I love the way maple looks and feel. For example, I wish all my guitars had the neck of my 91 MIM Tele. But, now that it needs a refret, I wish it were rosewood. Refreting a maple neck is so expensive! I don't want a new neck, I want this neck… That's why I went with rosewood for my partscasters.

[rangerkarlos]

I like the way maple looks on a Tele.

I can go either way on a Strat.

As far as playability goes, they're all in jeopardy when I'm around.



I'm more affected by the neck shape than the fretboard.

[genelovesjez]

I don't really have a problem playing either one, but generally I prefer maple. Maple boards just look "right" to me on most Strats and Teles, although there are exceptions - I like rosewood boards on Inca Silver Teles, sunburst Teles, and pastel coloured strats (green, blue, pink).

I definitely prefer my maple necks to be darker and lacquered - I really don't like the whitish, really dry necks found on many newer Fenders.

[zoppotrump]

i prefer rosewood, just because it is more touchier to me - want to say more comfortable than a maple fretboard.
i agree, that maple sound a slight hint more bright than rosewood, but for me this is no fault, because though i dig a really snappy twangy sound, i hate those ear-piercing trebles, you often get to hear.
for me playing rosewood fretboards both on my tele and strat, it smoothens the sound and cut off the harsh edges.
but i have to admit, that some finish and laquers go better with maple and otherwise.
take care
zoppotrump
:O)


______________________
may the twang be with you !

[Joe-Bob]

I prefer rosewood. I really dislike the finish flaking off the maple, it looks awful...














...also...maple sucks tone.

[tpaul]

Going against tradition here I guess, but I have always found rosewood is more comfortable in my hands, and gives a more mellow, richer tone.

Though I have to admit that the tone thing might be psychological...

[telekoester]

Maple for single coils, rosewood and ebony for humbuckers. I have no idea why though...

I like the blotchy spots on my tele's maple neck as well. It makes me feel like I am a real player, not just a collector.

I'm still a newbie though, so what do I know?! :D

[Buckocaster51]

I'm allergic to rosewood.

Now if it was covered with lacquer...

Didn't Rickenbacker do that?

[TG]

With maple I invariably get sore fingertips after a few hours playing. Plus it gets either sticky or too slippery when it's hot. Rosewood or ebony feel the same all night regardless of temperature or time spent playing. My guitars are rosewood boarded, but I'd actually prefer ebony if I could find...and afford...necks with the profile and specs I want.

I've never tried oiled maple, but I wouldn't want the inevitable grubby look it would develop.

[Poppatwang]

It's a tactile thing.

[Vince a]

Originally Posted by denny

1. Maple
2. Ebony
3. Rosewood

I think it has more to do with smoothness for me... I have a couple of low end guitars with rosewood boards that have an open grain... there is more friction or "catching" of the string on the lower half of the fretboard when "bottoming out" and contacting the wood when bending or using vertical vibrato motions. Maybe a plastic board or large trap inlays on every fret might be good(?).

For looks alone, I like Maple.

DITTO! Couldn't have said it any better!

I have the same three -maple, ebony, and rosewood - and the rosewood feels and sounds like it grates ("when bending or using vertical vibrato motions"), albeit, ever so slightly, as compared to the ebony, and nothing but "smooth as butter" on the maple!

[Dr. T]

Maple for Teles and Strats. I feel like I DO hear a tonal difference - I always hated Strat tones until I realized that all the Strat players I like play on a maple fingerboard. And so it was...

Tele, well, yeah, I think Teles snap and growl more with a maple neck. With a rosewood board they just sound too danged respectable...