PFDarkside
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Anything wider than 1-3/4” or more narrow than 1-5/8”
Anything thicker than about .900” or thinner than .780”
Anything thicker than about .900” or thinner than .780”
What specs would stop you from enjoying a guitar?
- Thread starter Rex_Rocker
- Start date
beaubrummels
Well-known member
For me, any Jazzmaster or Mustang vibrato (or any bridge/tailpiece combo that doesn't keep tune during use). Tuners that slip or otherwise don't hold tune. Kahler or other Floyd-type locking systems that cut/break the string at the clamps. Necks/neck joins and tailpieces that aren't stiff and go out of tune/flat just by leaning forward with the guitar.
IME if it's a super strat, DiMarzio Injectors or Vintage '54 Pro solve that. I even have an Injector neck in the middle position on my Jackson that sounds like a perfect Gibson 22-fret PAF neck pickup.
IME if it's a super strat, DiMarzio Injectors or Vintage '54 Pro solve that. I even have an Injector neck in the middle position on my Jackson that sounds like a perfect Gibson 22-fret PAF neck pickup.
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Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Interesting. Yeah, if I were using a neck pickup as much as you, I'd certainly prefer my guitar to have it in the sweet spot.
I am the other way around with the bridge pickup. I like to be as close to the bridge as possible. I hate some of those Jacksons that have it like a mile off towards the neck.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Oh, I hate tribal inlays myself. Like those on James Hetfield's Ken Lawrence. Totally tasteless, IMO.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
I like the look of ebony boards. I just wouldn't buy another guitar with an ebony board myself. My best sounding guitars have always had rosewood, and I like the look of rosewood just fine. And I've had ebony boards crack a little too. And I hear that's actually common.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Not all of them. I had an EX-401 that had a Pau Ferro fretboard that looked just like rosewood, just smoother.
But yeah, the pale ones are kinda ugly. Same with Laurel. Luckily my Epiphone is fine.
I've seen some pretty pale/ugly rosewood boards as well, though.
80's_Thrash_Metal
Slightly_Glazed_Believer
That's interesting, my best sounding guitars have all had ebony boards.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
The one exception for me was the Epi LPC that I mentioned in the thread where you asked about the Koa Epi. That one did sound good. Like fat from the mahogany with some sparkle from the ebony.
But I've also had the Chapman in that pic, an EC-1000, a PRS SE Nick Catanese, and maybe some others that I'm not remembering. They all sounded thinner than anything comparable with a rosewood board that I had. Not snappier with some added attack, mind you. I would've liked that. But thinner with less body overall. The Chapman was kina thin and wiry, but I don't think the ebony is to blame for that. It might have been the ash body and the neckthru construction.
Maybe I've had bad luck. I haven't really owned a high-end guitar with an ebony board. But the boards on the PRS SE and the LTD did start developing slight hairline cracks. Granted the weather where I lived was kinda dry, but it was temperate, and I did oil and condition the fretboard regularly like after every odd string change.
I've heard many people complain their Solars with ebony boards come cracked from the factory too.
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NegativeEase
New member
Ebony feel, play and sound better in my experience.
Mikelamury
New member
I've always liked rosewood but would be open to trying an ebony board if I could find a Gibson USA with an ebony board.
Mikelamury
New member
How is the feel and sound Compared to rosewood?
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
IMO, the same, LOL.
I never feel the fretboard while playing. Not even with the Gibson tiny frets. I avoid pressing too hard on the strings so that intonation doesn't suffer as much. I know you sometimes have to when playing lead, and not to pass out judgement, but I've akways been told it's bad rhythm technique to press too hard. And my fingers are kinda bony, TBH. And my left hand is really weak compared to my right. And my fingertips aren't squishy because of callouses. I guess you kinda have to if you do really wide vibrato or over 1 whole step bends or got really fleshy fingers.
But if you do, it's smoother and sleeker because it's less porous and not as oily.
I like the feel of rosewood, personally. It's kinda like those Warwick necks where you can feel the grain. They feel great, IMO.
But everyone is different and has different priorities. I like the sound of rosewood so much that I don't mind the feel. Or maybe I'm not as picky. I don't know.
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NegativeEase
New member
It just feels good to the touch and makes the overall feel and playing of the guitar -I dont know how to describe -you just need to try one with low action in a guitar store and try.
As for sound, it's hard to tell the difference from rosewood, just a little snappier -but not close to a Maple fretboard amount of snap
The other thing I encourage people to try in a store is an asymmetrical neck profile -These days alot of end Musicman guitars have them if you are looking around -like Sterling Axis Series
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
EVH's come with an asymmetrical profile as well, right? Those guitars play like butter.
