Members The Rover Posted April 14, 2013 Members Share Posted April 14, 2013 I have this SX Tele that I really love. Its got a big fat maple neck with a maple fingerboard and jumbo frets. I put in a vintage 3 saddle bridge and new pups/electronics. Its got a Texas Special in the bridge, a Fender era Gretsch filtertron in the neck and a 300k tone pot with a Greasebucket circuit. I also refinished it with Dakota red nitro paint. It seriously sounds great and not just for a cheap guitar. Only problem is I really prefer rosewood fretboards and I think a new rosewood neck would look a lot better with the Dakota red. I must admit part of me just wants a Fender licensed headstock to make it look like a proper Tele. :catembarrassed:So. . I want to get a Warmoth Tele neck with the same general specs, big round neck, jumbo frets, 1 5/8" nut. . . only with an Indian rosewood board. Im just afraid it will alter the tone of this guitar too much and it wont sound the same. Will having a different fretboard wood, or for that matter a new neck, alter the tone significantly? In other words, what makes this guitar sound so great? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WoodenDuckMaker Posted April 14, 2013 Members Share Posted April 14, 2013 Its mostly your pickups and amp/effects.I highly doubt anyone can hear the differences between different types of rosewood in the fretboard. Especially if you're using effectsor playing dirty.Your choice should be made based on specs, price, availability, and looks.Warmoth is good stuff, but keep in mind there are great deals to be had on eBay with people selling fender brand tele necks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Rover Posted April 14, 2013 Author Members Share Posted April 14, 2013 I guess this will be a cool little experiment. The last Warmoth neck I got was a huge improvement over the old neck, but that was a Mighty Mite. I really like the feel of this neck so Im mostly concerned with replicating that, which is why I can't buy an "off the shelf" neck. There's very specific specs I need, like the narrower nut and jumbo frets. Also, Ive personally found any kind of Fender brand neck to be way overpriced on Ebay. I can get a new Warmoth neck with all my customizations for well under $200 minus tax/shipping. That would barely cover a MIM neck on Ebay. YMMVAnd of course I save a lot of money by finishing it myself.Warmoth charges a fortune to spray 'em.Bottle of Tru Oil-$6, paper towels-$2. . .done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jkater Posted April 14, 2013 Members Share Posted April 14, 2013 It does affect the sound to some extent but the set up even more, then how thick the neck is. There's also the aspect of how well certain wood hold the frets but all usual fretboard wood do a adequate job at that. In your case, it seems you'd be happier with the new look and get some enthousiasm out of making it to different specs. It would make you play more... would make you better... and you know what they say, the tone is in the fingers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Rover Posted April 14, 2013 Author Members Share Posted April 14, 2013 Jkater wrote: In your case, it seems you'd be happier with the new look and get some enthousiasm out of making it to different specs. It would make you play more... would make you better... and you know what they say, the tone is in the fingers... Yeah, and worst case scenario it makes the guitar sound weird and I put the old one back on, then use the Warmoth neck for another Tele project. I love Teles. Well see. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted April 14, 2013 Members Share Posted April 14, 2013 Somebody here posted a sound clip a while back with a direct A/B comparison of the same strat with a maple and rosewood neck. It was a pretty noticable difference from what I remember. I mean...not a fundamental difference or anything like that, but definitely different.Actually here's a different one I found on youtube.... I don't know about you but I certainly can hear a difference. I think the typical stereo types apply nicely on that demo....rosewood is more warm and "round" sounding with the maple having much more attack and that old well used word "snap".So there you go. If you think what your hearing there is too much of a potential difference then don't change it. If not...do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kayd_mon Posted April 14, 2013 Members Share Posted April 14, 2013 Fretboard wood isn't the most influential of woods on an electric guitar, I don't think. Subtle differences will occur, but nothing major. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lz4005 Posted April 14, 2013 Members Share Posted April 14, 2013 If you love how the guitar plays and sounds don't mess with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted April 14, 2013 Members Share Posted April 14, 2013 If you are only changing the neck for aesthetic reasons, don't, it will sound different. However, Pau Ferro is the most similar to maple (from personal experience), in sound and looks a little the same albeit a bit lighter. It's smooth and plays (feels) really good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted April 16, 2013 Moderators Share Posted April 16, 2013 My neighbours always compliment me when I use rosewood in the fire, however both maple and ebony draw no comments at all and the smoke from ebony is a tad particulate heavy, 'part friom that it's all good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PrawnHeed Posted April 16, 2013 Members Share Posted April 16, 2013 The papal conclave can be demanding like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JTEES4 Posted April 20, 2013 Members Share Posted April 20, 2013 Ebony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Darkstorm Posted April 20, 2013 Members Share Posted April 20, 2013 Rosewood will sound warmer the maple. Woodier to, in part due to no finish like maple allways has. But it wont be a bog diff. Small, notceable when you listen. You could compensate tone wise somewhat for the most part by adjusting pups for little treblier voice. Or having tone control full open if you now use it partly rolled off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members skybluegary Posted April 20, 2013 Members Share Posted April 20, 2013 Personally, i love ebony! To me it just feels fast, silky, classy, I like the look too. But, I do agree that you should get whichever neck you really like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brainfertilizer Posted April 21, 2013 Members Share Posted April 21, 2013 Re: How Important is Fretboard Wood? In ny experience, very important. Without fretboard wood, the frets kept falling off, and the D and G strings kept getting hung up on the truss rod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted April 22, 2013 Members Share Posted April 22, 2013 I just like the way that ebony looks and feels? Sound? Who the hell knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JTEES4 Posted April 22, 2013 Members Share Posted April 22, 2013 Not needed at all on my old Steiberger and my current Parker Fly Deluxe. No wood on the fretboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knotty Posted April 22, 2013 Members Share Posted April 22, 2013 No sound then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lz4005 Posted April 22, 2013 Members Share Posted April 22, 2013 Brainfertilizer wrote: Without fretboard wood, the frets kept falling off, and the D and G strings kept getting hung up on the truss rod. Not so fast, there, chief.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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