Ok we all know how they feel but can anyone here REALLY tell if the rosewood is a 'warmer' tone given all the variables of a guitar?

Has anyone swapped two different fingerboards that share a similar finish on the neck, are the same age, have the same machine heads and then used strings of the same type and age through the same amp with the same settings in the same position in the same room while playing the same song with the same pick?

To me it just seems like too many variables goin on to REALLY tell the difference.

Would be good to hear opinions,
Cheers,

CC

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Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

I think Nikininja did a swap with video a while back.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Really? Wonder if there is a sizable difference. As I said, there are too many variables to consider but if its very noticeable then for sure it must stand out.

I wonder....

CC

_________________
Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

Well CC to keep it real I would not be able to tell by listening if someone was using a maple or rosewood board but if I am playing especially with single coils I can detect a warmer tone using a rosewood board if I put it down and picked up an ax with a maple one, it would sound a bit brighter and have that snap to it but it is subtle and nothing that stands out boldly. Just a choice to have, in fact if I am going to solo using major pentatonics I like using a maple neck.

I'm sure that as it was said there are many other variables, but I have two short scale basses, a 78 Musicmaster with rosewood, and a new SX Jazz bass with maple.

The SX definitely has a brighter tone, but again it's almost 30 yrs newer so that may have alot to do with it. They are both fun to play.

I would think that the shape of the neck means alot on how you play them too.

i can tell the difference, i play both types thatre set up the same and the maple always comes out bright... Seriously strike maple in a vampires presence and it'll ash right there and then

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A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski~

I have the guitars to offer a good test, but I have some hurdles in the way. The biggest being I have never done a youtube vid.

My guitars are two 2004 American Standard strats. Both hardtails. Both with sunburst finishes and stock pickups and wiring. The only difference in the two instruments is the fingerboards.

Here it is:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... ingerboard

Frankly, as good a test as I've come across on the internet on this subject.

CC, there's 13 pages of that thread, and some of it gets quite heated. Read through that lot - and you'll never want to hear about this issue ever again...!!!

Cheers - C

CC

Theres nothing in it mate. The perceived volume difference in the guitars is down to a mistake I made by having the pickups on the sunburst deluxe closer to the strings.
Theres another difference too, gold hardware on the deluxe, if that makes any difference at all. I've never heard it.

Sorry about those factors dirtying the results a little. I really dont have the capabilities to do it any beter than that other than to swap necks and tuners with the hotrod. Which I'm just not prepared to do.

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No no and no

I could easily be mistaken, a common occurrence if you speak to my wife, but I was always under the impression that the fretboard, whether be it maple or rosewood, was for appearance and possibly feel but didn't matter much for tone.

Ron

It doesnt matter much for feel, you hardly touch it ever with your fingertips unless your fretting too hard.

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No no and no

That could very well be a problem of mine. I really ought to take some lessons. Maybe a few this spring if I can find a decent instructor locally.

Rosewood is warmer, slightly more shimmery than maple and slightly 'hollow'

Maple is 'woody' and Bright/spanky in the bridge and glassy in the neck and mid

I think its more appearance than " warm or bright " tone. I like the look of maple with most finishes but thats just my opinion.

Just concentrate on relaxing your fretting hand a little. A lot of the reason people grip too hard is because they fret with the other hand and dont feel confident in it. Its worth spending a bit of time mucking about working out exactly how relaxed you can be about it. You dont need the bonebreaking handshake muscles.

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No no and no