Members zosoKing5 Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 As most gibson fanatics know, Gibson stopped using brazilian for the fretboards in 03, and the price has been jumping on the R8's year after year. Im really happy with the way my ebony fretboard plays, but i have to know, can any of you actually feel a difference in the brazil fretboards? There are so many factors that could make it feel different- the fretwire, actual neck, neck finish, neck width, the strings... I know about the historical implications, just that brazilian fretboards were used on original 58 and 59 les pauls, which would mean there will never be an exact reissue of a 58 again. But as far as sound and feel is concerned, if you think there is a notable difference throw it up here, id like to know why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 I found this online:Fretboard materials also exert an influence on overall tone, although they probably act more as icing on the cake than as a layer of the cake itself. Brazilian rosewood fretboards and their denser rainforrest counterparts add sparkle and ring, and Indian rosewood fretboards can help fatten up the midrange. Wenge, a dense, dark-colored African hardwood unrelated to the rosewoods, has tonal properties remarkably similar to those of Brazilian rosewood. here: http://www.pantheonguitars.com/tonewoods.htm I only have one guitar (it's an acoustic) with a Brazilian board and it's pretty mellow, but it's almost 40 years old. I think that it's probably 80% hype and 20% fact, or maybe 90/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bassopotamus Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 They all have different densitites, so presumably wood would have some effect on tone. That said, the fingerboard is what, maybe 1/10 of the mass of the guitar? I have really come to appreciate Pau Ferro as a fingerboard wood (smooth, brighter than rosewood, darker than ebony) but according to warmoth, it is brighter than braz rw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Professor Tom Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 It may be relevant to point out that most but not all Gibsons with Brazilian rosewood boards are getting very aged and well played in by now and wood improves at a molecular level with age on a guitar. Perhaps that's why Brazilian has this mythical reputation ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members No Soul Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 Ive got a bunch of BR guitars. Its hype. It only looks good when its brand new, not to mention most newer pieces you see with it are crap cuts of wood. What do you think is going to change your tone more?What kind of fretboard you use, or what kind of guitar speakers you use?Now guess which one is cheaper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members White Falcon Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 i think once you stamp 22 frets into it they all pretty much are the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Existentialist Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 I have no idea what any of the fretboards on any of my guitars are made out of... am I a freak? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rob14 Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 Same question as for necks & body woods and the same answer. Every bit of wood is different. The influence of a fretboard at playing volume would be hardly noticable at best. having said that I have 6 pieces of fretboard sized Brazilian Rosewood thats been racked in my shop for 20 years, any offers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoddy Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 It's hype to suck in the cork sniffers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 I think fretboard material has an effect on tone. That's why I like guitars that have dot inlays with no neck binding. :cop:More wood is better right! Does one kind/pc of rosewood have a dif' tone compared top another kind/pc of rosewood...I imagine it does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Professor Tom Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 I think fretboard material has an effect on tone. That's why I like guitars that have dot inlays with no neck binding. :cop:More wood is better right! Does one kind/pc of rosewood have a dif' tone compared top another kind/pc of rosewood...I imagine it does. I like dot inlays and no neck binding too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burningleaves Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 I like dot inlays and no neck binding too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members clay sails Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 I have no idea what any of the fretboards on any of my guitars are made out of... am I a freak? I don't even know what a guitar is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 211dave112 Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 I think fretboard type has an affect on the guitars sound, but once amp'd up I think it's largely irrelevant. Good marketing by some companies though has given it some kind of mythical status which, as always, people get sucked into. I'd rather save the money on the fretboard material and see it spent elsewhere on the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lowbrow Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 I have a few 60's guitars with Brazilian boards. Of course, I have no idea how it effects the sound, as they've always had them and so I have no basis for comparison. However, I also have (or had) some guitars with African and Indian rosewood boards. There is a difference in look and feel. The old Brazilian is almost closer to the look and feel of today's ebony than the other rosewoods. It's dense, dark and smooth with tight grain. One of mine, my `61 Gretsch Corvette, often fools other guitarists who think it is ebony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bigconig Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 As an investment on a historic LP they seem to be rather desirable- playability? pure hype. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chittypantz Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 They all have different densitites, so presumably wood would have some effect on tone. That said, the fingerboard is what, maybe 1/10 of the mass of the guitar? I have really come to appreciate Pau Ferro as a fingerboard wood (smooth, brighter than rosewood, darker than ebony) but according to warmoth, it is brighter than braz rw I LOVE pau ferro. Maybe my favorite fretboard material, at least for any guitars that would tend to be on the bright side naturally. I really ages well too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rileykill Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 It's largely but not entirely hype (specifically with fretboards) ... it's extremely difficult if not impossible to tell the difference between Brazilian and Indian rosewood on an acoustic guitar's back and sides much less a fretboard. Plus, BRW is unstable and prone to cracking. It's beautiful wood, though. My favorite fretboard is on my Gibson WM-00 acoustic ... I think it's made of Morado. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Norcal_GIT_r Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 It's pretty much hype as far as playability and tone goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluefoot Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 I like to play without a fretboard so to me it really doesn't matter. I personally feel that the best combo is string through body and a fingers through neck. with locking tuners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cold Gin Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 Wait a second now! Does it speak portuguese?? ehm he he..he...he..he Ok ok...I fail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Motorcycle Posted October 17, 2008 Members Share Posted October 17, 2008 BR = Great resale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitslinger Posted October 18, 2008 Members Share Posted October 18, 2008 Kingwood makes an excellent substitute for Brazilian rosewood, the sonic properties are very close, and Kingwood looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members axepilot Posted October 18, 2008 Members Share Posted October 18, 2008 I know about the historical implications, just that brazilian fretboards were used on original 58 and 59 les pauls, which would mean there will never be an exact reissue of a 58 again. But as far as sound and feel is concerned, if you think there is a notable difference throw it up here, id like to know why. I'm sure that the fret board wood adds it's part to the sound of the guitar - most particularly with acoustic guitars. Plug your electric into the amp and all bets are off on just how the board wood impacts the tone - the signal chain and amp will be the determining factors. I can see dissecting the woods as far as feel among the different woods go, but I doubt any of us can feel the difference between Brazilian rosewood or any other well finished rosewood. To get into which species of rosewood fret boards sound better on an electric guitar is just cork sniffing. I'm sure that there are some that will profess to being able to tell the difference between BR or any other rosewood with a blindfold on plugged into a dimed out Mesa Triple................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HanSolo Posted October 18, 2008 Members Share Posted October 18, 2008 Save the rainforest, buy a Hagstrom! Brazilian Rosewood is now a protected species isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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