Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

edi_87

edi_87

New member
Believe it or not, I've never used a guitar with a maple fingerboard.. All of my axes have rosewood fingerboards, cause I was somehow made to believe that they sound fatter this way.. But is it the only difference? What are the pros of maple fingerboards? There must be some "maple fans" here..
 
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Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

Plenty of fans out there for maple boards, definately a different feel and sound to them. I don't like them because they show dirt so easily. That's supposed to be why Leo changed to rosewood in the late 1950's, after seeing someone play a Strat on TV and the fretboard had obvious dirt spots on it.

To my eyes, it's harder to see black dot markers on a maple fretboard, than white markers on a rosewood, which is important in a poorly lit bar. After being used to so many rosewood guitars, black markers, especially large block-shaped ones, look pretty cheesy on maple necks. Like an old man wearing black socks with bermuda shorts.
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

I actually like the look of a Maple fretboard when it`s a little dirty/worn looking!
The Maple vs. Rosewood has been done a million times on guitar forums and i`ll choose Maple everytime!
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

Well, aesthetics aside, I like how maple fretboards are smoother to the touch while I prefer the snappier attack they have. Cuts through better too me thinks.

To put simply:
I learned to like Rosewood fretboards.
I simply fell in love with Maple fretboards...
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

maple fb's are the coolest looking. on any guitar. period.
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

every guitar I own is rosewood, just looks better

differences in tone really just aren't that big of deal as it really doens't make a huge difference. At least not enough to offset the asthetics issue
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

when i first bought my strat i thought maple didnt look good and rosewood was cool, plus i felt it sounded better... or i thought so, this is what i get for trying to be a smart a ss thinking "ill skip all the cheap guitars and save up and get me a REAL guitar as my first guitar!" So i did and as time went by, i played with tons of guitars now and i started to realize i was actualy more of a maple board fan than rosewood :smack: i love my strat, its my main axe and nothing feels better to play on than it to me, but theres a small part of me who will always wish i wouldve went with maple.. even thought of switching necks on it but then all the work and hassle and years of giving it hell would be lost to a brand new shinny neck.. and i kinda hate brand new and shiny, it just dont feel right till its been giving a bit of hell!

Used up, dirty, burned, and all maple boards kick ass :headbang: Maybe new satin finished ones are fine... as long as its not glossy and shiny with 1/4" thick laquer :nono:
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

The feel of ebony or maple is much better than rosewood to me.
(unless it is well polished Indian rosewood :- cozy + warm feel)
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

To me the perfect neck will always be maple with a rosewood board.

With that being said, I like maple of my fenders. Don't ask me why, it just feels right. I think a lot of it is the way the uniformity of the wood feels in my hand. And the lower maintenance. I love it.
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

KeeperOS said:
I like how maple fretboards are smoother to the touch while I prefer the snappier attack they have. Cuts through better too me thinks.
Click to expand...

This.

On a Strat I've always preferred maple from a feel and tone standpoint.

Aesthetically too- AS LONG AS- the maple is at the least slightly aged/dirty. The fresh cut look (Kinda like I have on mine <----) is kinda lame-mine is getting fairly dirty though now, thank god. :bigthumb: :laugh2:
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

I've owned all three, and I love them all. I prefer dyed ebony (ala ESP) to undyed, and crappy, faded, neglected rosewood is horrible, but nice dark rosewood is beautiful. Tone-wise, I found rosewood slightly less bright than maple and ebony, which can be good or bad. Maple-neck strats with single-coils are too bright for me, even though it's a nice shimmery brightness.
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

I like them both, but I probably like rosewood better, maple is snappier, rosewood has more "sizzle" if you will.... warmer, smoother, my kind of sound (not everyones preference tho)... as far as feel goes, maple feels a little smoother but it depends on the piece of rosewood too... the rosewood on my Carvin is smooth as glass (plus it has SS frets too, which help it feel extra smooth when bending)... of course this is all IMO, Your Results May Very, Open To Your Translation and all those other disclaimers everyone likes to put ;)...
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

Simply put: rosewood is warmer, maple is snappier and ebony is the best of both worlds! I'm with KeeperOS because I think maple necks look very pretty, especially flame maple with abalone inlays. My next PRS will likely be the new ASH specials with maple fretboards.
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

I have a preference for rosewood and ebony--once they're played in they start getting a shine of their own that's smooth but with some texture.

The CBS Fenders with poly on the fretboards were pretty bad--one tele I had came with poly built up over the 19th-21st frets. Maple with satin finishes are a lot better, but if the frets are big enough, the fingerboard doesn't phase me.
 
Re: Rosewood or maple fingerboard?

i use both maple and rosewood boards.... i am on a rosewood kick these days... no real reason, i just like the looks and i really don't notice a real sound difference between them... i have 2 strats with Rosewood boards, soon to be 3.... and 3 with all Maple.... I have 2 Jackson Dinky's, one with Maple board one with Rosewood...

for some reason i've been gasing hard for a new American Standard white with a rosewood board!!!!!

some people i hear say they don't like the feel of the finnish on a maple board... i have to wonder how low some peoples frets are that they feel the wood!!!? my 1999 MIM strat has vintage wire, it's been dressed once and needs to be done again.. my finger tips are slightly touching the board in spots... hardly enough to worry about
 
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