Members fragglerick Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 I'm trying to decide whether to use a maple or rosewood fretboard on my next project guitar.Here's the specs... Strat style body, rear rout, 1 pc. Honduran mahogany, nitro finish.Floyd trem, Duncan JB bridge, 59 neck.Maple neck, ??? fretboard. Is their really a drastic tone difference between maple and rosewood fingerboards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Prages Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 I almost always prefer maple fretboards on Strat and Tele style guitars. I don't hear a whole lot of difference though. Maybe a tiny bit more snap on the maple fretboards. I just prefer the look of the maple more than anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 I prefer rosewood. I like the feel better, the look better, and it's easier to do fretwork on than maple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 with mahogany body I think I would want rosewood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twotimingpete Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 to be honest I think this is mainly an asthetic decision. I realize the common wisdom is that rosewood is "darker" sounding, but I just don't agree. I don't think there's a difference in sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members captainultimus Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 maple board with black block inlays! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Edward Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 I was going to say that a maple board would look better, but as you're gonig to stick an ugly-as-sin Floyd on it, does it matter? Kidding, kidding.... it's your guitar! In my opinion, having been playing some 17 years and handled a lot of guitars in that time, I am inclined to the view that while obviously it must make some sort of a difference (in the same way that any variable between one guitar and another will do), but that difference will be so negligeble as to not be audible to the human ear - especially not once pushed through a set of pups and a cranked amp, maybe some f/x.....I know you're not going with a figured top, but I can see a maple board contrasting nicely with the mahogany in a way that makes me think of the EVH Musicman Guitars, oddly.... Equally, the rosewood against the mahogany would give it something of that vibe that Gibson Specials do.... Personally, I tend to prefer maple on Strats, partly cosmetically and partly feel - I prefer the feel of a finished maple board over unfinished rosewood.... That might be part of the equation for you. Will the mahogany body be light or darker in tone? Are you gonig to clear-coat it, or finish it with something that will darken it? Do you want the dark / dark look of mahog / rosewood, or a dark/light contrast as with mahog / maple? No direct answer from me, but hopefully some helpful questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vintage55 Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 I like them both. I do think there is a very minor difference in how they sound, but that's always difficult to determine, when you're dealing with different guitars when comparing. I would go with what you think will look better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fragglerick Posted November 18, 2009 Author Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 I've been a rosewood guy for a long time now, but for this guitar I was leaning towards maple for aesthetic reasons. (guitar will be black) Plus I figured it would add a little bit of brightness to the mahogany body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 I've been a rosewood guy for a long time now, but for this guitar I was leaning towards maple for aesthetic reasons. (guitar will be black) Plus I figured it would add a little bit of brightness to the mahogany body.I do prefer maple with black guitars. That's my one exception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 Ebony or African blackwood for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fragglerick Posted November 18, 2009 Author Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 Thanks guys. I think I'm gonna go with maple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 Thanks guys. I think I'm gonna go with maple.wait wait wait. No so fast. You will be posting pics of your progress, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fragglerick Posted November 18, 2009 Author Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 wait wait wait. No so fast. You will be posting pics of your progress, right? Sure. The body will be here in a couple of weeks, and I just ordered a neck from Warmoth.I'll keep ya'll posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ExiledCrow Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 For me it all depends on the look/color of the body ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members benzem Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 Maple, cuz if you don't like it you can sell it to me. Thats almost exactly what I want to put together. My next strat will be maple, I have a 06' dlx w/RW. I noticed how all my guitars but a few have RW or Ebony boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bro Blue Posted November 18, 2009 Members Share Posted November 18, 2009 Maple boards have always felt sticky to me. I love the way they look, but rosewood just plays better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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