[color=#BFFF00]Hi Guys, I'm new here,
I'm going to buy a new Stratocaster I wanted to know which one would be better either rosewood fingerboard or maplewood.
Is there any methods to find out whether its a genuine one or not?
Kindly reply.
Thank you.[/color]

Worried about fakes? Buy from a reputable Fender dealer.

Rosewood v Maple fretboards could fill 10 pages here. But in a nutshell, Roswood board for warmth, maple board for clarity and a slightly harder treble tone. But thats very speculative - so many other things on the guitar will have a greater effect on sound.

Sometimes it boils down to what do you like the look of?

As ever, try before you buy and internet shopping be damned!

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

I strongly recommend you do what I did and buy one of each. Now, I can never be wrong.

The guitars sound different but that's manly because different pups. I can't say I notice a tone difference attributed to the fret board.

I like the feel of the rosewood better, but my maple board has lower frets and I like the fret wires on it better. I guess I could sink some cash in the rosewood one and have it refretted but I'm OK with it the way it is.

The best advice and you'll most likely get it several times before this thread runs it course is to go to a store, play as many different ones as you can and then pick out the one that you like the best. An by like the best, I'm talking about the one your hands and ears like the best. How a guitar looks is secondary to sound and feel.

Buy guitars with hands and ears not eyes.

Jeff

Hi Guys, thank you very much.
I have been playing semi electric guitar for 3 years now.
I will surely check whatever you have mentioned.

Out of curiosity is there any difference between costs of maple wood and rose wood.
Is the price of $220 for the strat is official or fake I'm speaking about the pacifica series. Is there Maple wood guitars in this series.? I searched everywhere and didn't find it kindly help me out.
Thank you.

I have a MIM with the maple and it sounds like heaven....

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

In my opinion: Any sound differences between rosewood and maple can be adjusted out with the amp. I like maple because to me it just looks better. If you need to know if a Strat is a Genuine Fender Strat, well all you have to do is post some really good pictures of it on this forum. There's an endless amount of experience here.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

Hi, as I have said fairly new to Guitar, 3 years, and first day on the forum. So not an expert just trying to participate.

I live in the UK and at $220 you could not buy even a Mexican Strat. Maybe a Squire. The last Mex Strat I bought about 2 years ago cost in excess of £300 sterling as I recall.
My USA built Highway which is bottom end of American built in UK, cost about £599.

Fender Highway, Gibson ES335 and SG, Washburn J6 and Freshman Acoustic.

Have been told my those more experienced than me the name on the headstock not always the criteria for tone / quality sound ? Think I'll put this on it's own.

On a Fender there isn't any cost difference between a rosewood fingerboard and a maple fingerboard, although sometimes a maple fingerboard Strat might come with an ash body and you will pay an upcharge for the ash body.

You mentioned "Pacifica" series - that is a Yamaha guitar, not a Fender. I believe their current Pacificas are pretty similar to guitars in the Squier range from Fender - low-priced imports from various Asian sources.

Yes indeed - just caught your latest post and John C has rightly picked up your Pacifica reference..

A Yamaha guitar of course - not Fender, but a little bit like a Stratocaster, with it's alder body, 2 good (but not great) quality alnico single coils, Fender replica trem system and S shape. The latest upgraded Pacifica is actually a cracking guitar for the money. Some may disagree, but I think it's a better instrument than a basic Squier Strat - certainly better set up, and it's good to go straight out of the box. It has an incredible reputation as THE budget guitar to have. I have 3 Fenders, but my 2 Pacificas still get played every day and I love the damn cheeky things.

To answer your question, the Pacifiica 112V only comes with a Rosewood fretboard..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

adey - thanks for adding on the Pacifica info; I haven't played a Pacifica in probably 15-16 years (and it was one of the ones they made with USA-built Warmoth necks). I've always heard that these are priced like a Squier Affinity but play more like the top-line Squiers.

Welcome to the forum thendrall-any difference between maple and rosewood fretboards is mainly aesthetic but you may feel the grain of the rosewood under your fingertips more so than maple.I have played maple board Strats that were mellow and rosewood board Strats that were bright so that theory has been blown out of the water.As long as you buy a Strat from an authorized dealer you'll have nothing to worry about.BTW steer clear of internet"bargains",it's very easy to get burned.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Both are great necks to play.

Rosewood vs maple

Old argument, but basically comes down to personal choice. Although I prefer the look of rosewood, when purchasing a new guitar, I let my fingers and ears make my choice. Good luck with your journey.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Hey guys, Thank you for all your kind suggestions, I bought an Stratocaster Eric Johnson signature model. I played on both rosewood and maple wood and I liked the tonal clarity of maple wood, but more than that I liked its looks so I bought it. It was 680£ worth investing.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.

Nice choice. Have fun with it!!

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head