So I found out that it is quite possible that my fretboard on a new Highway One I just recently purchased is made from Pau Ferro. I have searched and read some information on the internet but I was wondering if there is a tone or quality difference between the two? I just want to be sure that is I am paying top dollar for an authentic Stratocaster that comes with a Rosewood fretboard I am not being sold something that is cheaper and of less quality. Thanks.

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Fender Highway One HSS Stratocaster '09
Modified Fender Champ600
Honer Special20 Harmonica

As far as I know, H1s were only made with maple or Rosewood. What makes you think it is Pau Ferro?

If it is you weren't ripped off. Nothing wrong with Pau Ferro (I am not tryg to open up a tone debate) it probably costs more than Rosewood.

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AmDlx HSS
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Luke w/Piezo
Carvin Belair

Right under where it says "Guitar Shop" on the left side of the screen there's a button that says "Neck Woods", click that. It should tell you what you want to know.

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Necks/Str ... thPro.aspx

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Well, I sent of some pictures to Fender as the fretboard was an unusual but distinctive two tone in colour (I have the pictures in another post) and I got a reply from one of the Fender guys saying that from the looks of the pictures it was quite possible that is could be Pau Ferro, and when they asked for a rosewood in the build process a Pau Ferro was used instead.

It could be a psychological factor but in some reviews I have read it states that Pau Ferro is smoother and I swear after playing a '04 Highway One for the last 3 to 4 months this neck was noticably smoother and it felt like faster a neck than the previous one.

I worked out that it was nothing suspicous like being made from two pieces of wood and the colour centainly does not bother me but when you see a guitar neck like you have never seen before, and you just brought this guitar brand new it does bring attention to it.

If you can imagine buying a brand new car and then finding places where the have been scratches covered up by touch up paint, no doubt you would be eyeing of you car everytime you hop in it to go for a drive and you would most certainly look over the whole car looking for others. The psychological aspect comes into play.

And considering I used to be a Vehicle Spray Painter these kinds of colour differences stand out to my developed eye for variations, whereas I could take it back to the store and they might not even have a clue what I was on about and find it difficult to spot the difference.

Well I posted at the same time as that last post, thanks I will check it out

Well there you have it, I just read the description of the Pau Ferro wood and it was exactly how I described it in my post, this might be Pau Ferro after all. Is there any way of finding out for sure, just like a wood test or something?

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Fender Highway One HSS Stratocaster '09
Modified Fender Champ600
Honer Special20 Harmonica

That's kinda cool if you ask me. I've always been a fan of the look and feel of Pau Ferro, and it certainly sounds like that's what you've got. Helpless comment, I know.

Don't know if it would go beyond the look and feel of it.

To my knowledge (received from a thread I made regarding this) it doesn't really matter what is on the neck, because once it's plugged in and you step on your overdrive.. maple or rosewood, it won't matter. Sounds in the equipment.

If I'm wrong, someone please post a scientific experiment that would disprove this.

I want to be disproved. :]

They put pau ferro on the SRV Strats so if you want to compare with something more substantial go find one. Pau Ferro is the in between of Ebony and Rosewood in feel, so it is moderately tighter in grain than rosewood but not quite as tight as ebony.

I have had a guitar in my hands for over 30 years and this is the first I have ever heard of pau ferro. I am totally with Krad on this one once you krank up and start playing, unless your Eric Johnson who would make you think if he took one screw of his pickguard he would here a difference in tone you really would not be able to distinguish pao ferro from a pork chop. Personaly and I feel most platers would agree it is more about feel of the fretboard than anything tone related. In that respect I prefer rosewwod over maple and maple over ebony but I like all 3.

Different woods used in a neck as well as the different ways a neck can be put together means that the charcteristics of the neck will differ. Because of this it is natural that the way the strings will vibrate will differ and what does a pickup read? One piece necks, milti piece necks different combinations of woods all act diiferent. Density of the wood , stiffness of the neck, and the grain can all cause differences on what the harmonic wave of the string will do. Tap on two pieces of wood cut the same length and roundness but are made on different species and the vibration at the other end will not be the same. What happens when you strke an open note and tap the head stock?

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