What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
- Thread starter wickenspoet
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Dr. Vegetable
New member
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
When did Kiss go back on tour, and how did I miss it? :yell:
When did Kiss go back on tour, and how did I miss it? :yell:
G
guitarrob
Guest
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
Are you trying to convince us or yourself? Are you one of the guys that buys a cheap low quality guitar and convinces yourself there is no difference between that and a high end high dollar instrument?
You have a bad case of wishful thinking.:fingersx:
Are you trying to convince us or yourself? Are you one of the guys that buys a cheap low quality guitar and convinces yourself there is no difference between that and a high end high dollar instrument?
You have a bad case of wishful thinking.:fingersx:
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
It's times like these when you have to ask yourself 'What would Edward Woodward do ?"
It's times like these when you have to ask yourself 'What would Edward Woodward do ?"
G0lden
New member
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
This made me LOL so loud when I clicked the link and the difference was there.
This made me LOL so loud when I clicked the link and the difference was there.
ExplorersRock
X-Files Duckbucker
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
+1 - I think you've hit the nail on the head.
I just want to say a couple final words to all those posting as I'm ready to look at other threads.
1.) To all doing legit commentary whether you agree or disagree, I've enjoyed reading your posts. We don't all have to agree, and the back and forth can be fun.
2.) To the Troll(s), get a life!
3.)I think Frank nailed the truth of the matter when he said some hear a difference and some don't and if you don't hear it then just enjoy the fact that the fretboard material doesn't matter. For those of us who've heard it, we can't unhear it like Frank said. This can spoil one's desire for a certain wood (why can't ebony sound warmer?).
4.) For those saying that fretboard wood really doesn't matter, my experience is that it does. I REALLY didn't want it to, but after several side-to-side comparisons, I can't deny what I'm hearing over and over. When I bought my first Gibson Explorer I played two back to back. I asked my wife who was with me if she heard any difference in tone. She listened for a few and stated that it was subtle, but the white one had sounded sharper and more clear while the natural one (which I bought) sounded more warm. The difference, which she did not know existed and had no basis of wood-tone description, was that the white one had an ebony board and the natural one had a rosewood board. No knowledge on the topic and she heard it. My brother can't tell the difference.
5.) What really matters anyway is what sounds good to whoever is buying/owning the guitar. I have picked up two guitars in the last two years that sounded fantastic! I usually don't go for maple, but when it sounds that good, does it matter? No matter what, this is the most important thing. My Trad Pro Explorer still has the BEST tone I have ever heard even compared to other Trad Pro Explorers I've played. It shall never leave my hands.
6.) Not to put down Epi's or any less-expensive guitars, but I will gladly take the "Pepsi-Challenge" with my Gibsons any day of the week. In fact I did it when I got my first Gibson Explorer against the Epi Explorer I had. Long-story-short, I don't own the Epi anymore. Main reason? I couldn't make the neck heaviness go away after moving the strap button, and it was so heavy my left shoulder went numb after playing for 20 minutes (literally numb guys, not exaggerating). Both of my Gibson Explorers are perfectly balanced and of reasonable weight (notice I never said "light weight"). Their are many more reasons, but that was a deal breaker.
+1 - I think you've hit the nail on the head.
I just want to say a couple final words to all those posting as I'm ready to look at other threads.
1.) To all doing legit commentary whether you agree or disagree, I've enjoyed reading your posts. We don't all have to agree, and the back and forth can be fun.
2.) To the Troll(s), get a life!
3.)I think Frank nailed the truth of the matter when he said some hear a difference and some don't and if you don't hear it then just enjoy the fact that the fretboard material doesn't matter. For those of us who've heard it, we can't unhear it like Frank said. This can spoil one's desire for a certain wood (why can't ebony sound warmer?).
4.) For those saying that fretboard wood really doesn't matter, my experience is that it does. I REALLY didn't want it to, but after several side-to-side comparisons, I can't deny what I'm hearing over and over. When I bought my first Gibson Explorer I played two back to back. I asked my wife who was with me if she heard any difference in tone. She listened for a few and stated that it was subtle, but the white one had sounded sharper and more clear while the natural one (which I bought) sounded more warm. The difference, which she did not know existed and had no basis of wood-tone description, was that the white one had an ebony board and the natural one had a rosewood board. No knowledge on the topic and she heard it. My brother can't tell the difference.
5.) What really matters anyway is what sounds good to whoever is buying/owning the guitar. I have picked up two guitars in the last two years that sounded fantastic! I usually don't go for maple, but when it sounds that good, does it matter? No matter what, this is the most important thing. My Trad Pro Explorer still has the BEST tone I have ever heard even compared to other Trad Pro Explorers I've played. It shall never leave my hands.
6.) Not to put down Epi's or any less-expensive guitars, but I will gladly take the "Pepsi-Challenge" with my Gibsons any day of the week. In fact I did it when I got my first Gibson Explorer against the Epi Explorer I had. Long-story-short, I don't own the Epi anymore. Main reason? I couldn't make the neck heaviness go away after moving the strap button, and it was so heavy my left shoulder went numb after playing for 20 minutes (literally numb guys, not exaggerating). Both of my Gibson Explorers are perfectly balanced and of reasonable weight (notice I never said "light weight"). Their are many more reasons, but that was a deal breaker.
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
I wonder if they know they are not plugged into any amps. :fingersx:
I wonder if they know they are not plugged into any amps. :fingersx:
TheTranslator
New member
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
Ah, it looks like someone either added or erased a spot on that (burgundy?) robe/shirt thingy :smack:
Still, the difference between maple and rosewood fingerboards is more obvious than that; especially in the clean channel.
Ah, it looks like someone either added or erased a spot on that (burgundy?) robe/shirt thingy :smack:
Still, the difference between maple and rosewood fingerboards is more obvious than that; especially in the clean channel.
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
I think this is the truest and most honest and sincere comment on this thread. Pretty much sums it up. Good job.
I think this is the truest and most honest and sincere comment on this thread. Pretty much sums it up. Good job.
constant mesh
New member
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
How come most of the guitarists can hear a definite difference between fingerboard material and give a clear defition that this difference and no other has caused the sonical difference, but not many point out they can also hear differences when the guitar is exposed to whacky climate? There are a few days of the year or clubs or gig rooms especially my guitars sound like crap even acoustically. Honestly. But I still can't be sure about fretboard material difference, because even if there is any difference in sound between them, how can I know these two guitars have the same heel-to-pocket tightness and fit/or glue joint, same body grain structure, finish coats, amount of filler, same cavity bleed, screw holes and wiring routings in the same place? Why is no one ever bothered with these details but as soon they compare maple to rosewood they strive to point out an obvious difference related only to fretboard. And what about neck construction, 1-piece vs 2? Oh, and the skunk stripe and no stripe?
You see Steve Vai knocking on guitars to spot that special one he might favour, but he never said "yeah there was that time I jammed with a buddy in Texas and my guitars sounded like crap". No, they take the knocking as the most serious method of determining the quality of an instrument while it is being and always will be tempered by other sources minute by minute, day by day. Do they have brain neurons and ear canals that can adapt to that simultaneously so they can still define the same character the instrument gives?
There's no way a guitar will resonate in unison in all circumstances, only at the very exact, and no more. A neck is long and narrow. A body piece is wide and short. And most of the time, materials are different. Resonating the same exact frequencies, every time, from your bedroom to a bar gig to Rock in Rio, eh?
How come most of the guitarists can hear a definite difference between fingerboard material and give a clear defition that this difference and no other has caused the sonical difference, but not many point out they can also hear differences when the guitar is exposed to whacky climate? There are a few days of the year or clubs or gig rooms especially my guitars sound like crap even acoustically. Honestly. But I still can't be sure about fretboard material difference, because even if there is any difference in sound between them, how can I know these two guitars have the same heel-to-pocket tightness and fit/or glue joint, same body grain structure, finish coats, amount of filler, same cavity bleed, screw holes and wiring routings in the same place? Why is no one ever bothered with these details but as soon they compare maple to rosewood they strive to point out an obvious difference related only to fretboard. And what about neck construction, 1-piece vs 2? Oh, and the skunk stripe and no stripe?
You see Steve Vai knocking on guitars to spot that special one he might favour, but he never said "yeah there was that time I jammed with a buddy in Texas and my guitars sounded like crap". No, they take the knocking as the most serious method of determining the quality of an instrument while it is being and always will be tempered by other sources minute by minute, day by day. Do they have brain neurons and ear canals that can adapt to that simultaneously so they can still define the same character the instrument gives?
There's no way a guitar will resonate in unison in all circumstances, only at the very exact, and no more. A neck is long and narrow. A body piece is wide and short. And most of the time, materials are different. Resonating the same exact frequencies, every time, from your bedroom to a bar gig to Rock in Rio, eh?
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GoldenVulture
Braindeadologist
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
Well a combination of all those things you mention give a guitar its resonance. Change one and it all changes, maybe only minutely, but it will change.
As for your guitars sounding like crap somedays, lifeless sounding ?
Probably low air prssure days. Low air pressure makes all sorts of things that use the air, sound crappy. it makes your stereo sound lifeless and your instrument amp. Doing a mix on a live desk can be " great fun " on a low air pressure day.
Well a combination of all those things you mention give a guitar its resonance. Change one and it all changes, maybe only minutely, but it will change.
As for your guitars sounding like crap somedays, lifeless sounding ?
Probably low air prssure days. Low air pressure makes all sorts of things that use the air, sound crappy. it makes your stereo sound lifeless and your instrument amp. Doing a mix on a live desk can be " great fun " on a low air pressure day.
BEACHBUM
New member
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
If you play a Gibson chances are good that you already are. It's amusing to read threads discussing Gibsons recent fret board/wood changes (laminate, baked maple, etc.) and the effects those changes are supposedly having on the tone of todays Gibson guitars when with 22 frets and 9 large "mother of toilet seat" acrylic fret board inlays those same guitarists are playing instruments that have 41% of their fret locations basically covered with plastic. Does this mean that the notes that I fret on wood are good notes and the notes that I fret on plastic are bad notes? Does it mean that the notes I fret on wood are voiced differently than the ones I fret on plastic? Wow! Why haven't I ever noticed that?
Gibson has been covering large portions of their fret boards with plastic for more years than I can count and it's used as their standard inlay material on their lowest through their highest priced instruments. If what you are saying about plastic is true then I guess that us Gibson players are going to have to concede that all of our Les Pauls have crappy fret boards.
If you play a Gibson chances are good that you already are. It's amusing to read threads discussing Gibsons recent fret board/wood changes (laminate, baked maple, etc.) and the effects those changes are supposedly having on the tone of todays Gibson guitars when with 22 frets and 9 large "mother of toilet seat" acrylic fret board inlays those same guitarists are playing instruments that have 41% of their fret locations basically covered with plastic. Does this mean that the notes that I fret on wood are good notes and the notes that I fret on plastic are bad notes? Does it mean that the notes I fret on wood are voiced differently than the ones I fret on plastic? Wow! Why haven't I ever noticed that?
Gibson has been covering large portions of their fret boards with plastic for more years than I can count and it's used as their standard inlay material on their lowest through their highest priced instruments. If what you are saying about plastic is true then I guess that us Gibson players are going to have to concede that all of our Les Pauls have crappy fret boards.
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frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
Because your 41% math figure is totally misguided. Most inlays are less than 1/8" deep. Big block inlays are more likely less than a 5% transplant once radiused. Plus, the fret is still solidly seated in the fretboard material, not the inlay material. It's inconsequential.
BEACHBUM
New member
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
:smack: Your'e grasping at straws. On the one hand you "Tone Woodies" contend that almost every aspect of a guitar makes a tonal difference while at the same time you make the statement that covering large portions of the fret board with up to 1/8" thick plastic makes no difference. Would you folks please make up your mind. Are you telling me that you really don't see the circular reasoning here and how inane this conversation truly is?
:smack: Your'e grasping at straws. On the one hand you "Tone Woodies" contend that almost every aspect of a guitar makes a tonal difference while at the same time you make the statement that covering large portions of the fret board with up to 1/8" thick plastic makes no difference. Would you folks please make up your mind. Are you telling me that you really don't see the circular reasoning here and how inane this conversation truly is?
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ExplorersRock
X-Files Duckbucker
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
Frank for the win! Nuff said, I couldn't have put it better. BTW, some of the higher end Gibsons use real mother of pearl. Les Paul Customs for example.
Frank for the win! Nuff said, I couldn't have put it better. BTW, some of the higher end Gibsons use real mother of pearl. Les Paul Customs for example.
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ExplorersRock
X-Files Duckbucker
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
If it's so inane, then stop caring and stop posting. If you don't hear a difference, then fine. No one's gonna give you a hard time if you don't.
If it's so inane, then stop caring and stop posting. If you don't hear a difference, then fine. No one's gonna give you a hard time if you don't.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
BEACHBUM
New member
Re: What if fretboard wood doesn't matter?
You just did give me a hard time about it. Ah, the intolerance of fanaticism. So he says, if you think this stuff is silly then go away and let us have our fun. Nope, I've got a right to be hear and speak my piece every bit as much as you do.
You just did give me a hard time about it. Ah, the intolerance of fanaticism. So he says, if you think this stuff is silly then go away and let us have our fun. Nope, I've got a right to be hear and speak my piece every bit as much as you do.
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