Why don't I like rosewood fretboards?

[coralreefer]

I haven't played them enough that it's a guitar-feel thing...I won't give a guitar a second look with those blackish stick-like necks...I guess I get no warm, tingly feeling from them. Total maple brained, I guess. Anybody else anti-rosewood fretboard?

[Stubee]

Stick-like necks? Don't the maple ones look more like a stick? Like the sticks you'd sit on the porch and whittle on as a kid? Just wondering...

I've had a few maple Fenders and my first was a maple '72-'73 Strat I played for quite some time, but I love my AV62RI Tele. The RW feels good to me and as an old flattop player it looks good to me, too.

I won't look at a black Tele or blue Tele or pretty much any finish on any guitar other than SB & will admit that's idiotic but it works for me. Nothing wrong with being anti-RW!

[Crowcaster]

Ahhh, you shouldn't have said that. Now in 5 yrs, the majority of your guitars will have rosewood fingerboards!

I used to think Fender's looked best with maple too. And I still don't like to admit it, but these days I think the 60's colors with rosewood boards look best.

[marc13]

7 of my 8 guitars have rosewood.....the only maple is on my only Tele. :D the maple on my Tele is dirty and played to hell, and I love it looking like that. My buddy has a strat with a maple Birdseye neck that I love. Other than those, I prefer rosewood. Come to the dark side..... ;)

[psyched]

Originally Posted by Crowcaster

And I still don't like to admit it, but these days I think the 60's colors with rosewood boards look best.

All my teles are maple, there's no rosewood in my stable at all except for a strat and a jazzbox. I do absolutely agree about '60s teles, though... IMO, as soon as you add binding to a tele body it needs a RW neck, something just plain sexy about the way it looks all together.

[Robert H.]

Love 'em.

[blue metalflake]

Apart from the look, I don't care which.

I often wonder in a blindfold test how many would know, just from playing.

[Telenut62]

A damn sight lot easier to see the strings on a rosewood, I know that

[1neeto]

Originally Posted by blue metalflake

Apart from the look, I don't care which.

I often wonder in a blindfold test how many would know, just from playing.

I would. After playing exclusively rosewood for the past 8 months, the first thing that struck me about the tele was that maple fretboard. Especially when bending notes. I feel more control with the maple.

[ataylor8287]

Originally Posted by blue metalflake

Apart from the look, I don't care which.

I often wonder in a blindfold test how many would know, just from playing.

I think I could tell the difference. I own both maple and RW board teles and there is definitely a difference in feel. Neither is a better feeling board, just different. I can feel the grain in the RW when I bend, whereas the satin maple gives a very solid feel...that's the only difference.

[soulman969]

Originally Posted by Telenut62

A damn sight lot easier to see the strings on a rosewood, I know that

Stop peaking. Eyes up.....on the crowd.

[Bill]

Coralreefer, is that only on Teles? Would you prefer a maple fretboard on a Les Paul and a Martin?

Just wondering if it's a universal dislike or only on certain guitars.

For instance I love the feel of ebony the best. But it would look strange on a Tele to me.

[SaltyCat]

I think it depends a bit on the color.

Rosewood on butterscotch / blonde would look weird.

And don't the 60s colors look better with rosewood?

[telepathetic]

I like rosewood on a Strat and maple on a Tele. That being said, one of my 4 Strats is maple. I have 6 Teles and one has rosewood.

Can you imagine a Mustang with maple? Garossness!

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by SaltyCat

I think it depends a bit on the color.

Rosewood on butterscotch / blonde would look weird.

And don't the 60s colors look better with rosewood?

You're damn right!

[hemingway]

I've just got a Mighty Mite rosewood, jumbo frets, modern C shape for a strat parts build (that may never get finished if I don't find some time), and it's great. Unlike other RW necks I've had, there is no grainy, rough feel. Totally smooth. I like the shape, too - first one of its kind I've had. Although I still prefer a V of any kind.

[Abu Twangy]

I'm not anti rosewood but I like maple and ebony fretboards best. I prefer low friction bending and low frets whether vintage or medium jumbo. A couple of my rosewood fretboards have been so heavily treated that they are relatively slick. But they still don't feel as good as a finished maple fretboard.

[nadzab]

I'm partial to rosewood, both in look & feel. But I have nothing against maple, especially on Teles.

[Oakville Dave]

Kind of like eliminating all the brunettes because you like blondes!! Give them their due!!! They are wonderful!!

[psyched]

Originally Posted by telepathetic

I like rosewood on a Strat and maple on a Tele.

+1

Though Dave makes a good point... and who doesn't like brunettes.