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Post subject: Maple Fretboards on Acoustic Guitars
Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 8:48 am
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Hi all.

I've wondered about this from time to time. Why are there almost no acoustic guitars with maple fretboards while maple is available on many electrics?


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Post subject: Re: Maple Fretboards on Acoustic Guitars
Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 10:01 am
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My guess is primarily hardness. Maple is a relatively soft wood compared to what acoustic fingerboards are made of. The fingerboards are also relatively thicker compared to the fingerboards on electrics, lending strength to the neck. On some electric guitars with "rosewood" fingerboards, it's not much more than a veneer for the looks and feel.
The string pull is much harder on an acoustic, so extra strength is welcome.

Secondarily, maple is not an oily wood and needs to be lacquered. Otherwise it sucks up moisture and deforms, and absorbs dirt and looks nasty. That may be acceptable for rock'n-roll, but not when you sit in a tuxedo on stage.

That Leo Fender decided to use one-piece bolt-on maple necks was really to keep the costs down.


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Post subject: Re: Maple Fretboards on Acoustic Guitars
Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:01 pm
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arth1 wrote:
My guess is primarily hardness. Maple is a relatively soft wood compared to what acoustic fingerboards are made of. The fingerboards are also relatively thicker compared to the fingerboards on electrics, lending strength to the neck. On some electric guitars with "rosewood" fingerboards, it's not much more than a veneer for the looks and feel.
The string pull is much harder on an acoustic, so extra strength is welcome.

Secondarily, maple is not an oily wood and needs to be lacquered. Otherwise it sucks up moisture and deforms, and absorbs dirt and looks nasty. That may be acceptable for rock'n-roll, but not when you sit in a tuxedo on stage.

That Leo Fender decided to use one-piece bolt-on maple necks was really to keep the costs down.


+1

I'd add that maple's rep as a "bright" tone wood (whether real or perceived) may not translate into a sonically-pleasing vibe when used as a fretboard for acoustic instruments.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Maple Fretboards on Acoustic Guitars
Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:42 pm
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The only ones I've ever heard of were the Ibanez NW series.
This one is the NW40.
There have been discussions in the past (elsewhere) asking this question.
The NW series is the only model range I ever saw somebody come up with.
Needless to say, I've never seen one in person.
I think they were made in the early to mid 80s.

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Post subject: Re: Maple Fretboards on Acoustic Guitars
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 1:28 pm
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The fist acoustic I purchased was a Ibanez just like that in 1981 , but it had a high fret at the body joint so I returned it and got a Fender F-75 . I liked the all maple look so when the chance to get this came up I grabbed it . Even the bridge is maple . ImageImage


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Post subject: Re: Maple Fretboards on Acoustic Guitars
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 2:24 pm
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There are a few out there :

http://www.instrumentalley.com/Oscar-Sc ... lick=21214

The problem with light-colored woods used for "high-traffic" areas is that they don't stay light-colored unless they have a finish applied to them. They attract oils and dirt that you don't notice as much on dark fingerboards, quickly taking on a not-so-nice appearance.

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Post subject: Re: Maple Fretboards on Acoustic Guitars
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 6:51 pm
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As a kid I remember having a jumbo Western guitar (can't recall the name - hey, I was a kid). :lol:and it had a maple fret board. Tanglewood is another that used maple fretboards for acoustics.

I read that ebony fretboards common to violins, cellos, and such are chosen for resistance to wear, hardness, and beauty. Sound did not come up in those articles. Maple and dark stains can be used as well. Rosewood not so much if at all. Apples to oranges? If sound is not the key concern here, why no rosewood? Possibly, tradition and history of trade.

With a one piece carbon back, sides, and neck, and a laminated carbon fingerboard ready for any weather, it would be hard to argue the sound that Yo Yo Ma makes whether his Stradivari or Carbon instrument.

Incidentally, Stradivari's and Guarneri's were not always the chosen instrument. Fashion and music dictated. Having touched a Guarneri I can say it sounded beautiful; however, the looks took my breath away.

How does this all relate to guitars? Well, one of only two known Strad' guitars will be found if you could make it to Vermillion, South Dakota, and a visit to their National Music Museum.

It is well known that Leo hated the worn maple neck look when he saw it on TV. Rumour has it he saw Buddy Holly with one of those worn necks. Mass production, better control, less waste, and profit was added to the mix. In any case, in this change, there appears to be some uncertainty if tone was at the forefront at that time.

With those observations, it would seem that choice of fingerboard often skips past the tone afficiendos. Different maybe, but many other considerations seem to be the case.

FSB

FYI where tone is mentioned:
http://www.frudua.com/guitar_woods_maple.htm

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Post subject: Re: Maple Fretboards on Acoustic Guitars
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 6:56 pm
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Cool Yamaki, Riderock. Thanks, for the pics.

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Post subject: Re: Maple Fretboards on Acoustic Guitars
Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 12:35 am
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Miami Mike wrote:
The problem with light-colored woods used for "high-traffic" areas is that they don't stay light-colored unless they have a finish applied to them. They attract oils and dirt that you don't notice as much on dark fingerboards, quickly taking on a not-so-nice appearance.

It's not just that you don't notice it so much; dirt doesn't penetrate into the wood itself for ebony, Brazilian rosewood and other dense oily woods.

Maple is one of the worst woods for sucking up dirt, which is why you so seldom see it used for things like handles, bannisters or other applications where it's touched a lot. For lightly colored wood, oiled birch is much more grime resistant.


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Post subject: Re: Maple Fretboards on Acoustic Guitars
Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 1:06 am
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To me, a Maple fretboard just doesn't look right on a acoustic guitar .


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