Rosewood neck vs maple neck
- Thread starter Tom12
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Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
Hi
I suppose you're talking about fretboards...
If this is the case, you left out ebony... darker colored than rosewood and possibly harder than maple
IMO, light colored and natural headstocks look somewhat out of place atop a dark fretboard.
By converse, dark headstocks make a poor match with maple, but look good with rosewood and even better with ebony (especially with gloss black bodies).
Also I don't particularly like dot markers on dark fretboards, while I dig them on maple.
Having said this, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
As for the feel, I didn't play maple fretboards for long enough to make any decent opinion, but the ebony board on my LP has made me feel at home from the very moment I picked it... took me 20 yrs only to get close to that feel on the rosewood of my S-1.
OTOH, all the best sounding Strats I played/heard in person had rosewood boards, and tonewise my S-1 is more balanced (and more manageable) than my LP... of course, I guess that 20+ yrs must have spoiled me a wee bit
Andrea
Hi
I suppose you're talking about fretboards...
If this is the case, you left out ebony... darker colored than rosewood and possibly harder than maple
IMO, light colored and natural headstocks look somewhat out of place atop a dark fretboard.
By converse, dark headstocks make a poor match with maple, but look good with rosewood and even better with ebony (especially with gloss black bodies).
Also I don't particularly like dot markers on dark fretboards, while I dig them on maple.
Having said this, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
As for the feel, I didn't play maple fretboards for long enough to make any decent opinion, but the ebony board on my LP has made me feel at home from the very moment I picked it... took me 20 yrs only to get close to that feel on the rosewood of my S-1.
OTOH, all the best sounding Strats I played/heard in person had rosewood boards, and tonewise my S-1 is more balanced (and more manageable) than my LP... of course, I guess that 20+ yrs must have spoiled me a wee bit
Andrea
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
Rosewood necks are pretty rare but I absolutely love the way they feel in my palm.
Rosewood necks are pretty rare but I absolutely love the way they feel in my palm.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
the Strat I had for years was black with a maple board
loved it
just when my nephew would play it, it finger marked bad
when I lost it, again involving my nephew, it was replaced with a rosewood boarded Ibanez
most of my guitars have rosewood boards
my newest MIM is my only maple board
the Carvin LB75 bass I had years ago had an ebony board
I like the way the maple and ebony look
the rosewood wants more attention but just a good cleaning once a year
which should be standard no matter what board you have
they say the maple and ebony are brighter sounding
but they lie
the Strat I had for years was black with a maple board
loved it
just when my nephew would play it, it finger marked bad
when I lost it, again involving my nephew, it was replaced with a rosewood boarded Ibanez
most of my guitars have rosewood boards
my newest MIM is my only maple board
the Carvin LB75 bass I had years ago had an ebony board
I like the way the maple and ebony look
the rosewood wants more attention but just a good cleaning once a year
which should be standard no matter what board you have
they say the maple and ebony are brighter sounding
but they lie
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
I always opt for maple boards when I can. Just love the look.
I always opt for maple boards when I can. Just love the look.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
On my G&L Legacys, I do hear a bit more warmth from a rosewood board. The maple board has the advantage of being a bit easier to navigate on a dark stage. Ebony has a very smooth feel and is very durable. So they all have advantages. So with that in mind, I tend to go for the cosmetics, and ask myself, "Which fingerboard wood looks best with this finish?"
Call me superficial, lol.
I have both RW and ebony boards on my Gibson Les Pauls, and enjoy both.
Bill
On my G&L Legacys, I do hear a bit more warmth from a rosewood board. The maple board has the advantage of being a bit easier to navigate on a dark stage. Ebony has a very smooth feel and is very durable. So they all have advantages. So with that in mind, I tend to go for the cosmetics, and ask myself, "Which fingerboard wood looks best with this finish?"
Call me superficial, lol.
I have both RW and ebony boards on my Gibson Les Pauls, and enjoy both.
Bill
vinta9e
New member
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
IMO:
wood > synthetics
Other than that, I'm not a wood racist. If it sounds amazing, it usually looks amazing, too.
Blondes, brunettes, ravens, redheads, I don't discriminate.
The thing I dislike about maple necked Fenders is the lacquer over frets.
IMO:
wood > synthetics
Other than that, I'm not a wood racist. If it sounds amazing, it usually looks amazing, too.
Blondes, brunettes, ravens, redheads, I don't discriminate.
The thing I dislike about maple necked Fenders is the lacquer over frets.
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
I always read that maple was a lot harder that rosewood, and although I have both, I can't say either way. I have no personal experience to tell me any thing.
That is why I thought rosewood boards had maple necks; for stability, ergo, maple being being another reason on Strats as being " harder " they would keep part of the tuning issues of vibrato's a little more stable. If I may, if rosewood is harder, why not make the whole neck of a vibrato strat all rosewood, like an all maple strat neck? Cost?
Or is maple really stronger as I've read and no ones chimed in on that yet?
Feeling a little foolish. Been thinking that way my whole 50 years or so as a guitar player.
Side note on maple. I'm one of those guys that like to scoop a little wood between frets - just enough to get my finger under the string for ease of bending, no other reason, + I never take it past flat between the frets, so it really isn't scooped per say, so when I do that to rosewood, when I get down to 320 or 400, I just stop and give it some nice fret oil so it goes back to a beautiful looking board.
Same thing on maple except I gotta take it to 600, sand, 600, then 1500, and then very carefully, as I don't have pro gear, even minor things, add by hand quickly a coat of honey seal a cell, wait 1 day do the seal a cell fast again, and pray there's no spots uneven, undo the tape I used, not to mention sanding the headstock, so they match ( yes, I ruin the decal) , so maple is a bi*ch for me personally, but I like the look of a maple neck on many Strats, like my pure white custom colored strat. My '66 or '68 Les Paul Custom ebony board looks super cool on that guitar. And yeah, maple would certainly look so bad on that I wouldn't even play it, even if I was alone, which I am.
So back to maple and rosewood fella's, please, I'm all ears and eyes.
SJB
I always read that maple was a lot harder that rosewood, and although I have both, I can't say either way. I have no personal experience to tell me any thing.
That is why I thought rosewood boards had maple necks; for stability, ergo, maple being being another reason on Strats as being " harder " they would keep part of the tuning issues of vibrato's a little more stable. If I may, if rosewood is harder, why not make the whole neck of a vibrato strat all rosewood, like an all maple strat neck? Cost?
Or is maple really stronger as I've read and no ones chimed in on that yet?
Feeling a little foolish. Been thinking that way my whole 50 years or so as a guitar player.
Side note on maple. I'm one of those guys that like to scoop a little wood between frets - just enough to get my finger under the string for ease of bending, no other reason, + I never take it past flat between the frets, so it really isn't scooped per say, so when I do that to rosewood, when I get down to 320 or 400, I just stop and give it some nice fret oil so it goes back to a beautiful looking board.
Same thing on maple except I gotta take it to 600, sand, 600, then 1500, and then very carefully, as I don't have pro gear, even minor things, add by hand quickly a coat of honey seal a cell, wait 1 day do the seal a cell fast again, and pray there's no spots uneven, undo the tape I used, not to mention sanding the headstock, so they match ( yes, I ruin the decal) , so maple is a bi*ch for me personally, but I like the look of a maple neck on many Strats, like my pure white custom colored strat. My '66 or '68 Les Paul Custom ebony board looks super cool on that guitar. And yeah, maple would certainly look so bad on that I wouldn't even play it, even if I was alone, which I am.
So back to maple and rosewood fella's, please, I'm all ears and eyes.
SJB
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kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
The maple i have worked with was a heap harder than the rosewood i have. But i think in a janka test the rosewood will be harder. But not as stable. I dont really know **** i am just saying stuff haha
The maple i have worked with was a heap harder than the rosewood i have. But i think in a janka test the rosewood will be harder. But not as stable. I dont really know **** i am just saying stuff haha
Oinkus
New member
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
The real difference is the grain , maple is smoother and almost invisible. Rosewood has a bigger more open grain and is softer then maple. Fretboard wood has no sound difference detectable by the human ear. I prefer Ebony boards and I am learning to replace fretboards now. I had a Hondo II Les Paul with a rosewood neck that was pretty dern spiffy , all one piece and figured like crazy.
The real difference is the grain , maple is smoother and almost invisible. Rosewood has a bigger more open grain and is softer then maple. Fretboard wood has no sound difference detectable by the human ear. I prefer Ebony boards and I am learning to replace fretboards now. I had a Hondo II Les Paul with a rosewood neck that was pretty dern spiffy , all one piece and figured like crazy.
Jethro_Dull
New member
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
Rosewood board on maple is brighter than one-piece maple to me.
I think people are often confused because one-piece maple Strats tend to be "more 50s" and might have brighter pickups, smaller frets and whatnot. So in guitar center the maple ones might appear brighter.
As for the original question, can't make up my mind. One thing is clear, if it is all maple then it better has gloss paint. Truoil+wax only works with rosewood for me (maybe with ebony, too).
Rosewood board on maple is brighter than one-piece maple to me.
I think people are often confused because one-piece maple Strats tend to be "more 50s" and might have brighter pickups, smaller frets and whatnot. So in guitar center the maple ones might appear brighter.
As for the original question, can't make up my mind. One thing is clear, if it is all maple then it better has gloss paint. Truoil+wax only works with rosewood for me (maybe with ebony, too).
Jethro_Dull
New member
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
So a question: Any point in treating a maple fretboard with lemon oil? I would think not as it wouldn't seem to soak it in like a thirsty rosewood gal.
So a question: Any point in treating a maple fretboard with lemon oil? I would think not as it wouldn't seem to soak it in like a thirsty rosewood gal.
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
If its a finished fret board then nope your just urinating into the wind. There could be some benefit if its one of the unsealed ones there might be some small benefit but since the grain is so tight its going to mostly sit on top and make your fingers greasy and smell funny then turn to green funk.
If its a finished fret board then nope your just urinating into the wind. There could be some benefit if its one of the unsealed ones there might be some small benefit but since the grain is so tight its going to mostly sit on top and make your fingers greasy and smell funny then turn to green funk.
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
+1 What Edgecrusher said. I tried lemon oil on a maple fret board and a month later it looked like Clapton's Stratocaster on the Layla album. More grime than wood. That is the one I finally stripped and took so much time with to get it clean again a use 2 coats of seal a cell.
Also +1 for Oinkus, as I noticed when I removed wood from my rosewood boards it went way faster than the maple. I can say twice as fast.
SJB
+1 What Edgecrusher said. I tried lemon oil on a maple fret board and a month later it looked like Clapton's Stratocaster on the Layla album. More grime than wood. That is the one I finally stripped and took so much time with to get it clean again a use 2 coats of seal a cell.
Also +1 for Oinkus, as I noticed when I removed wood from my rosewood boards it went way faster than the maple. I can say twice as fast.
SJB
Brian Griffin
New member
Re: Rosewood neck vs maple neck
So the consensus is, it is more the matter of look rather than tone? I heard many times that maple board makes a guitar sounds brighter than rosewood, but personally I think this owes more to the pickup and the body.
So the consensus is, it is more the matter of look rather than tone? I heard many times that maple board makes a guitar sounds brighter than rosewood, but personally I think this owes more to the pickup and the body.
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