Rosewood or maple fretboard??
- Thread starter AlexR
- Start date
JohnnyGuitar
New member
Re: Rosewood or maple fretboard??
The feel of the fretboard is different - maple feels a little smoother... at least that's the way it feels for me. There are finishes that look better with maple fretboards and others that look better with rosewood fretboards.
The tone is supposed to be a little darker with rosewood... but it's a part of a whole system that makes the guitar. You might not even hear it...
Blues and rock were played on both types of fretboards - with the same results.
In this case I'd consider feel (try both and see what you like) and looks before tone...
The feel of the fretboard is different - maple feels a little smoother... at least that's the way it feels for me. There are finishes that look better with maple fretboards and others that look better with rosewood fretboards.
The tone is supposed to be a little darker with rosewood... but it's a part of a whole system that makes the guitar. You might not even hear it...
Blues and rock were played on both types of fretboards - with the same results.
In this case I'd consider feel (try both and see what you like) and looks before tone...
IanBallard
New member
Re: Rosewood or maple fretboard??
I had both in my alder Strat and the tone diff was subtle. I switched because I wanted a flatter board, fatter frets and the original head shape, not the CBS fat one. I do think note definition is better with maple in my experience and the response is "snappier". But I have a humbucker in mine. Maybe if I was a single-coil guy, I'd prefer the rosewood.
I had both in my alder Strat and the tone diff was subtle. I switched because I wanted a flatter board, fatter frets and the original head shape, not the CBS fat one. I do think note definition is better with maple in my experience and the response is "snappier". But I have a humbucker in mine. Maybe if I was a single-coil guy, I'd prefer the rosewood.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Rosewood or maple fretboard??
I'm a little more partial to maple but I also like rosewood....On my strats and teles,I have both.
I'm a little more partial to maple but I also like rosewood....On my strats and teles,I have both.
ibanezrocks
HardtailPisser
Re: Rosewood or maple fretboard??
I can't say I've done back-to-back comparisons of guitars that are identical in all respects except their fretboard, but I tend to like guitars with rosewood fretboards better. My main guitar right now, my telecaster, has maple and it often sounds hard, as if the initial attack is too fast. That could also be due to the stainless steel frets. Rosewood does have a more mellow sound to it though, not necessarily darker, just a softer attack.
I can't say I've done back-to-back comparisons of guitars that are identical in all respects except their fretboard, but I tend to like guitars with rosewood fretboards better. My main guitar right now, my telecaster, has maple and it often sounds hard, as if the initial attack is too fast. That could also be due to the stainless steel frets. Rosewood does have a more mellow sound to it though, not necessarily darker, just a softer attack.
JaySwear
New member
Re: Rosewood or maple fretboard??
I like the look of maple and the feel of rosewood. Right now I have two Telecasters, one with a maple board and the other with rosewood. Of course they have bigger differences than that even, one with two humbuckers and one with two singlecoils so I could never really compare the tone. But definitely a different feeling. A maple board looks great on a strat, but there's nothing like a really good rosewood fingerboard I don't think. I would even take a rosewood board over ebony most of the time.
I like the look of maple and the feel of rosewood. Right now I have two Telecasters, one with a maple board and the other with rosewood. Of course they have bigger differences than that even, one with two humbuckers and one with two singlecoils so I could never really compare the tone. But definitely a different feeling. A maple board looks great on a strat, but there's nothing like a really good rosewood fingerboard I don't think. I would even take a rosewood board over ebony most of the time.
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: Rosewood or maple fretboard??
I like both for different reasons, but on strats and teles I like me some maple.
I like both for different reasons, but on strats and teles I like me some maple.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Rosewood or maple fretboard??
Maple!
Maple!
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Rosewood or maple fretboard??
having Strats that are both Maple and Rosewood, including a Brazilian Rosewood , to me, the difference in tone is staggering in its difference and pretty obvious. Maple is brighter, snappier ( a quicker attack of the note) and has a sustain that is cleaner and ends clear and sharp. Rosewood is darker, and decays the note more slowly with more subtle and rich harmonic overtones . Plus the feel is way different.
having Strats that are both Maple and Rosewood, including a Brazilian Rosewood , to me, the difference in tone is staggering in its difference and pretty obvious. Maple is brighter, snappier ( a quicker attack of the note) and has a sustain that is cleaner and ends clear and sharp. Rosewood is darker, and decays the note more slowly with more subtle and rich harmonic overtones . Plus the feel is way different.
IanBallard
New member
Re: Rosewood or maple fretboard??
It would be interesting to see a fretboard with both. Like halved, with the maple on the bass-side and the rosewood side on the treble. It might look weird, but the tonal benefits and balance might be killer. Or even a rosewood neck and a birdseye board. That would be wild.
It would be interesting to see a fretboard with both. Like halved, with the maple on the bass-side and the rosewood side on the treble. It might look weird, but the tonal benefits and balance might be killer. Or even a rosewood neck and a birdseye board. That would be wild.
Last edited:
IanBallard
New member
Re: Rosewood or maple fretboard??
I agree about the feel. I think I'm going to remove the finish from the board because there's a bit of a "skip" when doing vibrato that isn't there with rosewood. Rosewood has natural oils and is very porous, harder than maple and doesn't need a finish. That's why most people, including myself prefer the feel, when compared to a finished maple surface. The same reason I removed the finish from the back of the neck, holds true with the board. The "skip" should disappear when the finish does. That's why some dudes prefer unfinished maple necks.
I agree about the feel. I think I'm going to remove the finish from the board because there's a bit of a "skip" when doing vibrato that isn't there with rosewood. Rosewood has natural oils and is very porous, harder than maple and doesn't need a finish. That's why most people, including myself prefer the feel, when compared to a finished maple surface. The same reason I removed the finish from the back of the neck, holds true with the board. The "skip" should disappear when the finish does. That's why some dudes prefer unfinished maple necks.
