treyhaislip
Well-known member
What is your favorite type of fretboard and why?
1. Ebony
2. Maple
3. Rosewood
4. Other
1. Ebony
2. Maple
3. Rosewood
4. Other
Favorite Fretboard
- Thread starter treyhaislip
- Start date
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Favorite Fretboard
This is true--overall, I would have to say rosewood because of the way it feels and the high notes sound better (IMO) than playing high on a maple neck. But I tend to prefer maple on Teles and rosewood on Strats. My dad had an Ovation Breadwinner with an ebony fretboard--that was a very nice neck, wish my dad never got rid of that guitar!
Frank Verrilli here in Atlanta makes a custom neck that is maple and rosewood. You can see his website here: http://fvcustomguitars.com/
This is true--overall, I would have to say rosewood because of the way it feels and the high notes sound better (IMO) than playing high on a maple neck. But I tend to prefer maple on Teles and rosewood on Strats. My dad had an Ovation Breadwinner with an ebony fretboard--that was a very nice neck, wish my dad never got rid of that guitar!
Frank Verrilli here in Atlanta makes a custom neck that is maple and rosewood. You can see his website here: http://fvcustomguitars.com/
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
Re: Favorite Fretboard
That's a trip. I've never seen anything like that as far as I can recall.
JordanM82
New member
Re: Favorite Fretboard
I find I like the look of Maple best, but I ALWAYS end up gravitating towards Rosewood because of the sound. It's maple or rosewood for sure as I am not big on ebony (though it feels great), but if my historical buying habits have anything to say on this; it's that ALL my guitars have Rosewood fretboards currently. However, I am looking at a Strat with maple as a possible new addition.
I find I like the look of Maple best, but I ALWAYS end up gravitating towards Rosewood because of the sound. It's maple or rosewood for sure as I am not big on ebony (though it feels great), but if my historical buying habits have anything to say on this; it's that ALL my guitars have Rosewood fretboards currently. However, I am looking at a Strat with maple as a possible new addition.
Bludave
New member
Re: Favorite Fretboard
I like all fingerboard woods. If I had to pick an order it would be:
1. Rosewood (preferably Brazilian)
2. Ebony. I like this on Semi hollows but I still like Rosewood better
3. Maple: I have 2 Strats that are maple and three that are Rosewood, I have 2 Teles that are maple, 2 others that are rosewood & one that is ebony
I like all fingerboard woods. If I had to pick an order it would be:
1. Rosewood (preferably Brazilian)
2. Ebony. I like this on Semi hollows but I still like Rosewood better
3. Maple: I have 2 Strats that are maple and three that are Rosewood, I have 2 Teles that are maple, 2 others that are rosewood & one that is ebony
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Favorite Fretboard
Haha! Yeah, I'd never seen anything like it either! I believe he has a patent on it. It feels like one piece of wood--sounds amazing! He does incredible work too, hot rodded a strat for me.
Haha! Yeah, I'd never seen anything like it either! I believe he has a patent on it. It feels like one piece of wood--sounds amazing! He does incredible work too, hot rodded a strat for me.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Favorite Fretboard
Until I got my strat, all of my guitars (even acoustics) have had rosewood fretboards. I go back and forth on it. I saw an awesome looking Zebrawood fretboard for sale, but I wouldn't pay the asking price for such an unknown--beautiful looking neck though!
Until I got my strat, all of my guitars (even acoustics) have had rosewood fretboards. I go back and forth on it. I saw an awesome looking Zebrawood fretboard for sale, but I wouldn't pay the asking price for such an unknown--beautiful looking neck though!
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Favorite Fretboard
You have not stipulated wood. Hence, I am going to nominate graphite re-inforced plastic. The fingerboard of my Chapman Stick (see avatar) is made of the stuff.
You have not stipulated wood. Hence, I am going to nominate graphite re-inforced plastic. The fingerboard of my Chapman Stick (see avatar) is made of the stuff.
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: Favorite Fretboard
Sorry, again, there are so many options when it comes to wood. There is French company that uses metal--I believe brass...not quite sure but Guthrie Govan was doing a demo of it.
Sorry, again, there are so many options when it comes to wood. There is French company that uses metal--I believe brass...not quite sure but Guthrie Govan was doing a demo of it.
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: Favorite Fretboard
I don't have a favorite - Always lusted after a maple Fender. Finally got one in the early '90s and now have several. Until then, wound up with rosewood models.
Maple has a 'cool' factor with me - as long as the lacquer isn't sticky. Grown back to dig the slight roughness of rosewood. 2 things going for Rosewood is its cheaper to refret and I think its a little stiffer than a 1 piece maple.
With the higher frets readily available these days, the fingerboard doesn't really doesn't matter to me. I've done 2 Maple board refrets and the extra cost had not been much at all - but I haven't had to strip the board, just a little touch up work.
Its the sum of the parts in the package to me.
I don't have a favorite - Always lusted after a maple Fender. Finally got one in the early '90s and now have several. Until then, wound up with rosewood models.
Maple has a 'cool' factor with me - as long as the lacquer isn't sticky. Grown back to dig the slight roughness of rosewood. 2 things going for Rosewood is its cheaper to refret and I think its a little stiffer than a 1 piece maple.
With the higher frets readily available these days, the fingerboard doesn't really doesn't matter to me. I've done 2 Maple board refrets and the extra cost had not been much at all - but I haven't had to strip the board, just a little touch up work.
Its the sum of the parts in the package to me.
JordanM82
New member
Re: Favorite Fretboard
+1, I always prefer the singing quality hence my tendency to lean towards rosewood. I completely agree with your assessment of their qualities though.
+1, I always prefer the singing quality hence my tendency to lean towards rosewood. I completely agree with your assessment of their qualities though.
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Favorite Fretboard
Michael Schenker has a sig Dean V with a half maple half ebony fretboard. The Inlays on the Ebony side are maple and the inlays on the maple side are ebony. It's a cool looking guitar for sure.
Michael Schenker has a sig Dean V with a half maple half ebony fretboard. The Inlays on the Ebony side are maple and the inlays on the maple side are ebony. It's a cool looking guitar for sure.
80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Re: Favorite Fretboard
ebony, bright as heck!
ebony, bright as heck!
Rand-O-Monium
New member
Re: Favorite Fretboard
Scalloped
Scalloped
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Favorite Fretboard
Ebony. Some guitars are clearly more to my liking with maple or rosewood, but ebony is my favorite overall, for the kinds of guitars I play the most. It's bright, it's clear, and the fundamentals are very strong and uncluttered.
Ebony. Some guitars are clearly more to my liking with maple or rosewood, but ebony is my favorite overall, for the kinds of guitars I play the most. It's bright, it's clear, and the fundamentals are very strong and uncluttered.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Favorite Fretboard
I like both ebony and maple, but only like rosewood in a few cases where it is dark. I would love to try exotic wood fretboards though, especially purpleheart.
I like both ebony and maple, but only like rosewood in a few cases where it is dark. I would love to try exotic wood fretboards though, especially purpleheart.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Favorite Fretboard
Brazillian Rosewood is the best. Madagascar ebony is the next best. For Strats, Hard Rock maple is my favorite, but Brazillian Rosewood is a close second. I like my Ziricote fretboard on my Walnut Strat a lot.It has similar tone as Brazillian Rosweood, and a really smooth feel but with some texture.
I also like PAu Ferro, which is also an excellent fretboard wood for a Strat- very smooth, almost silky; not as much as good ebony . Pau Ferro still sounds a lot like Maple.
I also have Strat with a Bocote fretboard. Hers a quite on it form the web- "Its a South American Rosewood sounding wood The sound is dark - bass is strong. As opposed to Rosewood, Bocote doesn't have the reverb quality - on the other hand - that dark bass is clearer than a rosewood." It has a nice smooth feel, maybe cause its grown in hte same region and might be related to Ziricote if I am not mistaken.
We need a favorite neckwood thread.
Brazillian Rosewood is the best. Madagascar ebony is the next best. For Strats, Hard Rock maple is my favorite, but Brazillian Rosewood is a close second. I like my Ziricote fretboard on my Walnut Strat a lot.It has similar tone as Brazillian Rosweood, and a really smooth feel but with some texture.
I also like PAu Ferro, which is also an excellent fretboard wood for a Strat- very smooth, almost silky; not as much as good ebony . Pau Ferro still sounds a lot like Maple.
I also have Strat with a Bocote fretboard. Hers a quite on it form the web- "Its a South American Rosewood sounding wood The sound is dark - bass is strong. As opposed to Rosewood, Bocote doesn't have the reverb quality - on the other hand - that dark bass is clearer than a rosewood." It has a nice smooth feel, maybe cause its grown in hte same region and might be related to Ziricote if I am not mistaken.
We need a favorite neckwood thread.
Last edited:
