Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

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Shy_Boy

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I am in the process of putting together a H/S/H Strat with a SD JB bridge, SSL-1 middle and a SD Jazz neck.

I also have my first Strat that I will be pulling apart to install SSL-1’s in the middle and neck and an SSL-5 in the bridge.

Both body’s are alder, but the H/S/H neck is a Fender with a maple fretboard and the S/S/S neck is a Fender with a rosewood fretboard.

The Tone Wizard seems to favor the rosewood fretboard with the JB/SSL-1/Jazz pickup combo.

My question is would it be a good idea to swap the necks so the rosewood is on the humbucker guitar? And if so, how much of a difference should I expect? (I know this is a highly subjective question, but it seems most thing are when it comes to guitar tones.)

Thanks again for any feedback or advice.

Thanks,
George

PS: GO SOX!!
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

I'd go with a maple neck with the Jazz and JB. The reason for that is that Mr. Duncan originally designed the JB and Jazz to work in an ash tele with a maple neck and 250k pots. Now, I know you're using alder, but you will be mixing the JB and JAzz with an SSL-1, so keeping 250k pots all around might be a good idea. Having a maple ifingerboard will give you some extra bite that will balance with those 250k pots.
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

Benjy,

Thanks for the feeback. I'm going to add that combination to my list of things to try. I'm planning to breadboard the setup before I solder everything in. I want to take my time and put together a nice simple setup.

Thanks again,
George
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

I use SSL-1's with a maple board and alder body, and I like them better than the alnico 2 Texas Hots that I'm about to swap out of another similar Strat. I think the choice between A5 and A2 pickups depends less on the neck and body wood and more on what tone and reactive feel (i.e., pick attack and touch sensitivity) you're after.
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

what's wrong with the JB? what would make it better then? it's a taste thing, and the JB is the best selling aftermarket humbucker of all time... it doesn't suck for everyone around the world man :)

anyhow, either wood will work well man - i have it in a rosewood board RG (basswood body though..) it's pretty well balanced in there!

at the UK UGD, i thought seymour's tele-gib (maple board) had a really cutting edge to it. reminded me a bit of Booker T recordings in places :)

what kind of music are you headed for? the JB really does react to wood changes.. it depends on what you're looking for tonally :)

tom
 
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Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

Trust me man. it really does suck. I've never played one w/ a maple fretboard, but sounds like yur leanin' on rosewood anyway. So I say custom, or custom 5. Just because It is a best seller... well, what can I say. Sell your soul to the numerical masses if you want to Imp, but my axe can beat up your axe any day of the week.

Seymour preferst the JB, but jesus plays a custom... yes, i really do know:newangel:
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

Imp said:
what's wrong with the JB? what would make it better then? it's a taste thing, and the JB is the best selling aftermarket humbucker of all time... it doesn't suck for everyone around the world man :)
Click to expand...
It sure SUCKS for me!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!! I have played pickups that just arent my taste but, I can see how some folks might like them. This is not the case with the pickup in question though!!!! I just dont get it!!!! Best selling aftermarket pickup of all time??? OEM sales and hype bro!!!

George,
For my pickup suggestion, I would go for the 59 trembucker, SSL1, and the Jazz. The 59 is versatile and should mix alot better with the SSl1 than most Duncan pickups out!!!
 
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Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

i do genuinely like the JB in basswood! it has the perfect bridge humbucker clean tone for me.. if you ask SD what JB stands for, they'll say 'jazz/blues'. i have always drawn compliments for the way the JB sounds when i play bluesy stuff.. not me, thats for sure ;)

it is a bright pickup, but so is the '59.. you wouldn't use the '59 for bone-crushing metal, would you? like anything else, you compensate for it. it works well for me in a 7 string because it has an awesome clean tone - something none of the DM 7-string pickups have.. it depends on what you're looking for!

try playing jazz with an invader or metal with an antiquity, and it's the same scenario.. a mismatch! every SD has it's advantages and disadvantages man, i know more JB lovers than i do haters ;)

this is all IMO, IME, YMMV, whatever.. im just saying why i like the pup. when i first started off buying pickups, i followed the masses and went the EMG route, and we all know how constructive those threads are :D

there's an ass for every seat :)

tom
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

Kelsey said:
I use SSL-1's with a maple board and alder body, and I like them better than the alnico 2 Texas Hots that I'm about to swap out of another similar Strat. I think the choice between A5 and A2 pickups depends less on the neck and body wood and more on what tone and reactive feel (i.e., pick attack and touch sensitivity) you're after.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%! I like maple fingerboards but I also like rosewood. I notice a little more texture and thickness to the mids with rosewood. It's about 1/2 rosewood and 1/2 maple when it comes to the fingerboards on my Strats and Teles. And my choice in pickups has nothing to do with what the fingerboard material is: I like alnico 5 neck and middle single coil pickups and I can go either way with the bridge pickup although I have alnico 2 bridge single coils in most of my Strats and Teles. Lew
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

Imp said:
what's wrong with the JB? what would make it better then? it's a taste thing, and the JB is the best selling aftermarket humbucker of all time... it doesn't suck for everyone around the world man :)

anyhow, either wood will work well man - i have it in a rosewood board RG (basswood body though..) it's pretty well balanced in there!

at the UK UGD, i thought seymour's tele-gib (maple board) had a really cutting edge to it. reminded me a bit of Booker T recordings in places :)

what kind of music are you headed for? the JB really does react to wood changes.. it depends on what you're looking for tonally :)

tom
Click to expand...


I agree with u, whats wrong with it? Its a great pick up// I too have tried other pickups and I know the JB suits me best in the bridge.... Yes i know many dont like the JB... But thats tone u r talking abouth.. I honestly dont like manyPopular pups too... But hey those pups I hate work good for others...The JB is the best High out put pup I have used... among medium Output pups The 59 is my fav...I relay like the way the JB has been described... It actually takes u from sweet warm to Raw rock and roll
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

Whats WRONG withit???? Its a paperweight. It has no versatility, it will not sound good with the other pickups that you should use. It is beyond overhyped, and the custom 5 will serve you better.
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Listen to Odie and me we will speak the truthes of guitars, the universe, and everything.
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

Benjy_26 said:
I'd go with a maple neck with the Jazz and JB. The reason for that is that Mr. Duncan originally designed the JB and Jazz to work in an ash tele with a maple neck and 250k pots. Now, I know you're using alder, but you will be mixing the JB and JAzz with an SSL-1, so keeping 250k pots all around might be a good idea. Having a maple ifingerboard will give you some extra bite that will balance with those 250k pots.
Click to expand...

Mmmh... I was under the impression that the JB/Jazz were designed for a famous guitarist's (whose initials just happen to be JB as well...) Les Paul Standard.
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

so a pickup that's used by both arch enemy and albert lee isn't versatile? both are regarded as having pretty awesome tones for what they want..

check out the 'artists' section of the website.. have you tried changing the height of your JB dude? it's a great pickup unless you've not got it set right, ill give you that ;)

tom
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

These "JB's suck" threads remind me of the Airbus vs Boeing flame wars that occur on the aviation sites- But thankfully most recognise that a tool is a tool and if it works for the job, that's what matters-

Frankly I find the JB one of the most versital pups I have ever used and that is the reason I like it- We play practically everything from blues to Jazz and in my set up here is where it really shines-
1. Perfect classic rock pup- It just nails everything from cat scratch fever to back in black, to limelight, to white room with room to spare-
2. It gives one of the best position 2 quack sounds I have ever had when paired with a Dmzo crusier

These are the sounds I needed in this cover everything gtr but I have other bridge pups in other guitars that are great in those gtrs- Bottom line is that a lot of folks have had very good JB expereinces-

On maple vs rosewood I happen to prefer maple unless we're outside a lot- changes in humidity really affect the 'slcikness' of the finish on the maple board and can really lead to strange bends-
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

aldu74 said:
Mmmh... I was under the impression that the JB/Jazz were designed for a famous guitarist's (whose initials just happen to be JB as well...) Les Paul Standard.
Click to expand...


Mr Duncan made the JM/JB set for the infamous Tele-Gib that Mr Beck played on a number of recordings.
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

zionstrat said:
Frankly I find the JB one of the most versital pups I have ever used and that is the reason I like it- We play practically everything from blues to Jazz and in my set up here is where it really shines-
1. Perfect classic rock pup- It just nails everything from cat scratch fever to back in black, to limelight, to white room with room to spare-
2. It gives one of the best position 2 quack sounds I have ever had when paired with a Dmzo crusier

-
Click to expand...
Well, it may be versatile as far as Duncans, Dimarzio's, and EMG's go (alot of one trick ponies in that bunch IMO) but, there are in fact alot more versatile pickups out there IMO. I find the JB versatile in the way that it does alot of things but, none of the really well! Yea, alot of folks used them in the 80's but, look at the choices back then. You either had PAF's, Dimarzio's super Distortions, or total crap factory buckers!!!! Of course a JB is a huge inprovement over "most" 80's factory buckers, people wanted higher output than PAF's offered, and some folks dont like the Super Distortion. So what does that leave??? The JB, hence why they were sooo popular in the 80's!!! Today, there are so many more choices out there that (once again IMO) I find alot more versatile or do a certain sound(s) alot better than the pickup in question!!
 
Re: Strat Fretboard Advice: Maple vs. Rosewood

At the end of the day it's all down to your ears.As the saying goes"One mans posion is another mans cup of tea"
 
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