Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
- Thread starter MarkyMarkRox
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Erlend_G
Guest
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
I greatly prefer maple boards- IMO they tend to bring out the attack much more than rosewood boards.
With rosewood boards, i always want a bit more "sting", if you know what i mean.
I greatly prefer maple boards- IMO they tend to bring out the attack much more than rosewood boards.
With rosewood boards, i always want a bit more "sting", if you know what i mean.
jpage
New member
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
I know you have Yoda as your avatar, but let's not start believing it...
No way any human can tell the difference between a brazilian rosewood and an indian rosewood fretboard. Not possible. Of course, I'm sure you could be relating your experiences with guitars that happened to have brazilian rosewood fretboards, but to insinuate that the differences you noticed from these instruments was the tonal properties of the fretboard is ludicrous.
I know you have Yoda as your avatar, but let's not start believing it...
No way any human can tell the difference between a brazilian rosewood and an indian rosewood fretboard. Not possible. Of course, I'm sure you could be relating your experiences with guitars that happened to have brazilian rosewood fretboards, but to insinuate that the differences you noticed from these instruments was the tonal properties of the fretboard is ludicrous.
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BigDaddy
Guest
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
I have seen this many times, people who do not believe other people are capable of hearing little nuances in different materials and their affect on sound/tone. Some people can.........most can't.
I can hear things most others can't because I trained my ears. Once I started doing sound on big boards with bigger bands I was forced to learn. I also studied voice so now I can hear things in people's singing voices that I could never hear before.
So before you say something like that I would suggest you back it up with scientific evidence, other wise it's just your opinion. And we all know everyone has one......
Never underestimate the power of the human mind once it is trained to do something. It's very good to be skeptical but to make a statement that it's ludicrous shows a closed mind and diminishes any credentials you have as a person who knows what they are talking about.
I have seen this many times, people who do not believe other people are capable of hearing little nuances in different materials and their affect on sound/tone. Some people can.........most can't.
I can hear things most others can't because I trained my ears. Once I started doing sound on big boards with bigger bands I was forced to learn. I also studied voice so now I can hear things in people's singing voices that I could never hear before.
So before you say something like that I would suggest you back it up with scientific evidence, other wise it's just your opinion. And we all know everyone has one......
Never underestimate the power of the human mind once it is trained to do something. It's very good to be skeptical but to make a statement that it's ludicrous shows a closed mind and diminishes any credentials you have as a person who knows what they are talking about.
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
There is quite a diff...and this particular human can hear that diff.
It's the same diff most people can hear between a fine acoustic guitar made of Brazilian Rosewood and one made of Indian Rosewood. However, I cannot play basketball nearly as well as Larry Byrd...
Lew
jpage said:
There is quite a diff...and this particular human can hear that diff.
It's the same diff most people can hear between a fine acoustic guitar made of Brazilian Rosewood and one made of Indian Rosewood. However, I cannot play basketball nearly as well as Larry Byrd...Lew
jpage
New member
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
Problem is, there is no way to prove a comment like this. You would have to be able to replace a fretboard without changing anything else in the chain. Very convenient. And it's not my opinion...it's complete BS. I don't care how long you "train your ears" it cannot be done.
So let me get this straight--someone makes a completely insane statement and if I call "BS" I'M the one who has to back MY statement up with scientific evidence? Sure, bud. I'm going to rely on common sense and experience on this one... As for me not knowing what I am talking about; the fact that you do not dismiss that someone can notice the different strains of rosewood in an electric guitar fretboard by their amplified tonal differences says volumes...
BigDaddy said:
Problem is, there is no way to prove a comment like this. You would have to be able to replace a fretboard without changing anything else in the chain. Very convenient. And it's not my opinion...it's complete BS. I don't care how long you "train your ears" it cannot be done.
So let me get this straight--someone makes a completely insane statement and if I call "BS" I'M the one who has to back MY statement up with scientific evidence? Sure, bud. I'm going to rely on common sense and experience on this one... As for me not knowing what I am talking about; the fact that you do not dismiss that someone can notice the different strains of rosewood in an electric guitar fretboard by their amplified tonal differences says volumes...
jpage
New member
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
Quite a diff, eh? You crack me up. We are talking about FRETBOARD WOOD. I would believe much quicker that you were Larry Bird's (I think that's who you meant) separated siamese twin Lance from the planet Saturn before I will believe you can hear "complexities of tone" in fretboard wood.
Lewguitar said:There is quite a diff...and this particular human can hear that diff.
Lew
Quite a diff, eh? You crack me up. We are talking about FRETBOARD WOOD. I would believe much quicker that you were Larry Bird's (I think that's who you meant) separated siamese twin Lance from the planet Saturn before I will believe you can hear "complexities of tone" in fretboard wood.
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
Don't judge others by your own limitations or lack of talent... ...like I said, I can't play basketball as well as Larry Byrd and what he could do on the court I would find impossible to do.
But I can hear subtle things that others don't hear at first...until they know what to listen for. Then most people can hear those same things.
Would you hear them? Maybe not.
Lew
jpage said:
Don't judge others by your own limitations or lack of talent...
...like I said, I can't play basketball as well as Larry Byrd and what he could do on the court I would find impossible to do. But I can hear subtle things that others don't hear at first...until they know what to listen for. Then most people can hear those same things.
Would you hear them? Maybe not.
Lew
jpage
New member
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
We're going to have to agree to disagree that what you claim to be able to do is impossible. I would bet my house if a fair test could be set up, but there is no way that could happen, could it?
Which is, as I said before, convenient. You can still believe that you are Yoda and claim to have "spidey-sense".
And it's BIRD, not BYRD, for God's sake. If you are going to make that silly parallel not once but twice, get the guy's name right at least.
Lewguitar said:Don't judge others by your own limitations or lack of talent...
But I can hear subtle things that others don't hear at first...until they know what to listen for. Then most people can hear those same things.
Would you hear them? Maybe not.
Lew
We're going to have to agree to disagree that what you claim to be able to do is impossible. I would bet my house if a fair test could be set up, but there is no way that could happen, could it?
Which is, as I said before, convenient. You can still believe that you are Yoda and claim to have "spidey-sense".
And it's BIRD, not BYRD, for God's sake. If you are going to make that silly parallel not once but twice, get the guy's name right at least.
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Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
You're right about the spelling...Dyck head.
jpage said:We're going to have to agree to disagree that what you claim to be able to do is impossible. I would bet my house if a fair test could be set up, but there is no way that could happen, could it?
Which is, as I said before, convenient. You can still believe that you are Yoda and claim to have "spidey-sense".
And it's BIRD, not BYRD, for God's sake. If you are going to make that silly parallel not once but twice, get the guy's name right at least.
You're right about the spelling...Dyck head.
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Erlend_G
Guest
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
Lew, you crack me up!
Lew, you crack me up!
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firebirdVII
Guest
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
Different pieces of wood within the same species have different sounds. I wouldn't find it impossible that woods from different locations and habitats have different sounds as well. That said, I have never heard brazilian rosewood for a long period of time (just strummed a few $$ acoustics). I just think it looks a lot better.
This is getting more heated than the religion threads have been for days.
Different pieces of wood within the same species have different sounds. I wouldn't find it impossible that woods from different locations and habitats have different sounds as well. That said, I have never heard brazilian rosewood for a long period of time (just strummed a few $$ acoustics). I just think it looks a lot better.
This is getting more heated than the religion threads have been for days.
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BigDaddy
Guest
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
I have built enough guitars and have owned enough guitars to know that they sound different. Can I tell one from the other side by side tonally, I don't know. Can it be done by someone, in my opinion, it probably can be done by someone who is a long time guitar builder.
Do you have any scientific evidence either way? No you don't, so to make any statement either way is to be a horses butt. But if you say "I" can as in talking first person, than that's the same as saying "I" can't. So maybe you can and don't even know it......since there is no scientific proof either way. No way to prove it, is there?
My point is if there is no scientific way to tell than it's up to the person to believe it or not to. It's called faith........I have faith in people's ability to hear subtle changes of tone based on my life experiences with music. Animals can do it why can't humans. To just say that it's BS is just plain ignorant. I would have more respect for someone who questioned it without completely discounting it.
jpage, you seem like an intelligent person but scientifically immature. Even Einstein believed in God and that's one reason he could not accept Quantum physics.
Keep an open mind to things and the world will seem clearer eventually, that's after you get confused by the truth of reality and the reality of truth.
So the truth is you really don't know if someone can do it do you. So for you to say that's it's BS is BS. So we have concluded scientifically that you are full of BS not the person who claims they can.
I have built enough guitars and have owned enough guitars to know that they sound different. Can I tell one from the other side by side tonally, I don't know. Can it be done by someone, in my opinion, it probably can be done by someone who is a long time guitar builder.
Do you have any scientific evidence either way? No you don't, so to make any statement either way is to be a horses butt. But if you say "I" can as in talking first person, than that's the same as saying "I" can't. So maybe you can and don't even know it......since there is no scientific proof either way. No way to prove it, is there?
My point is if there is no scientific way to tell than it's up to the person to believe it or not to. It's called faith........I have faith in people's ability to hear subtle changes of tone based on my life experiences with music. Animals can do it why can't humans. To just say that it's BS is just plain ignorant. I would have more respect for someone who questioned it without completely discounting it.
jpage, you seem like an intelligent person but scientifically immature. Even Einstein believed in God and that's one reason he could not accept Quantum physics.
Keep an open mind to things and the world will seem clearer eventually, that's after you get confused by the truth of reality and the reality of truth.
So the truth is you really don't know if someone can do it do you. So for you to say that's it's BS is BS. So we have concluded scientifically that you are full of BS not the person who claims they can.
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
Actually, this could be tested scientifically by comparing a large sample of otherwise comparable guitars with different fretboard woods, using a standardized series of tests with both human ears and o-scopes to measure any differences. Having a lot of personal experience with different guitars is akin to this approach, but suffers (or benefits) from only one listener's ears and usually from some amount of time between comparisons and a general lack of standardization. In lieu of such a scientific test, everything is based on the filter of experience, and is ultimately more or less "informed opinion".
Actually, this could be tested scientifically by comparing a large sample of otherwise comparable guitars with different fretboard woods, using a standardized series of tests with both human ears and o-scopes to measure any differences. Having a lot of personal experience with different guitars is akin to this approach, but suffers (or benefits) from only one listener's ears and usually from some amount of time between comparisons and a general lack of standardization. In lieu of such a scientific test, everything is based on the filter of experience, and is ultimately more or less "informed opinion".
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Erlend_G
Guest
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
Well, when i changed from my stock strap buttons to the Demenium SL-124 straplocks made out of oxygen free copper plated with platinium, i greatly noticed a bigger presence of odd order harmonics at about 4450 hz. It also greatly warmed up the sound of my Tabasco Maxi alnico 12 pickups, and therefore giving me more useable fretboard noise.
Me luffs em
jpage said:
Well, when i changed from my stock strap buttons to the Demenium SL-124 straplocks made out of oxygen free copper plated with platinium, i greatly noticed a bigger presence of odd order harmonics at about 4450 hz. It also greatly warmed up the sound of my Tabasco Maxi alnico 12 pickups, and therefore giving me more useable fretboard noise.
Me luffs em
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
This thread is Vault material! It actually depends if the brass or stainless steel have strap locks attached to them. If so they lose sustain, but generally brass is brighter. As far as the subtle differences in fretboard wood goes, it is quite easy Jpage and Lew, close your eyes while playing and if you smell the scent of bean or corn it is brazilian rosewood, if you smell pungent, spicy, curry it is Indian rosewood. Maple necks are sweet as syrup, and ebony, I won't even go there. I'm hungry...
jpage said:
This thread is Vault material! It actually depends if the brass or stainless steel have strap locks attached to them. If so they lose sustain, but generally brass is brighter. As far as the subtle differences in fretboard wood goes, it is quite easy Jpage and Lew, close your eyes while playing and if you smell the scent of bean or corn it is brazilian rosewood, if you smell pungent, spicy, curry it is Indian rosewood. Maple necks are sweet as syrup, and ebony, I won't even go there. I'm hungry...
JustWendell
New member
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
....congrats on the new house lew:lmao:
....congrats on the new house lew:lmao:
Re: Do fretboard woods really matter that much?
I, personally, can not tell the diff in "tone" from the fret brd material. I like the feel and the look of Maple. I have read quite a few guitar mfgrs sites and I seem to remember them saying that 10% of the tone (particular sound) of a guitar comes from the Fret brd material. I am certain that many people can hear the difference, but most probably can't. Forums are all about opinions. I have seen very little scientific data available on any forums. I have yet to log on to the Scientific America forum though, maybe that would be different. Sound is in the Ear of the Beholder. Say what you know, say what you think, be respectful of other peoples opinions - we do all have them and that is a good thing. I like Maple, but my favorite guitar has a Mahogany body and neck w/Rosewood Fret brd - but it has p90 pickups. Pickups - now they make a BIG difference in tone - the BIGGEST!
I, personally, can not tell the diff in "tone" from the fret brd material. I like the feel and the look of Maple. I have read quite a few guitar mfgrs sites and I seem to remember them saying that 10% of the tone (particular sound) of a guitar comes from the Fret brd material. I am certain that many people can hear the difference, but most probably can't. Forums are all about opinions. I have seen very little scientific data available on any forums. I have yet to log on to the Scientific America forum though, maybe that would be different. Sound is in the Ear of the Beholder. Say what you know, say what you think, be respectful of other peoples opinions - we do all have them and that is a good thing. I like Maple, but my favorite guitar has a Mahogany body and neck w/Rosewood Fret brd - but it has p90 pickups. Pickups - now they make a BIG difference in tone - the BIGGEST!
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