Neck - Maple or Rosewood - Does it Make a Difference

Brian_Strat_215 · **Joined:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:16 pm **Posts:** 288

I don't hear a difference. And thinking about it, the string doesn't even contact the fretboard in a meaningful way... the pressure is on the fret itself where it gets transferred directly to the neck wood. So the fingerboard isn't really part of the equation. I would think fret material and neck wood would affect your tone more, but I'm no professional.

wferguson · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:00 pm

Found a better video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH9o9AvA ... re=related

wferguson · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:05 pm

Brian_Strat_215 wrote:

I don't hear a difference. And thinking about it, the string doesn't even contact the fretboard in a meaningful way... the pressure is on the fret itself where it gets transferred directly to the neck wood. So the fingerboard isn't really part of the equation. I would think fret material and neck wood would affect your tone more, but I'm no professional.

The string vibrations have to travel through the fingerboard to get to the main neck :roll:

Unless you can explain to me how the vibrations can completelty bypass the fingerboard.... and as a counter argument, the fingerboard gets most of the vibrations, as it being closest to the strings, whereas the neck itself is not..... and even thinking about it even more... you said since the strings don't touch the fingerboard, it's tone is negligible, well do strings ever touch the pickups, ( or at least there not supposed to...), so you are also saying pickups have no effect since the strings never touch the pickups....

xFallenx · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:19 pm **Posts:** 106

wferguson wrote:

Found a better video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH9o9AvA ... re=related

I hear it clear as day.Maple all the way and that wasnt meant to rhyme lol

nikininja · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 3:47 pm

wferguson · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:53 pm

Well then why aren't all guitars made of cheap plywood?? How can you claim a maple and mohogany body on a Les Paul has no effect?? You have obviously never taken a luthier course... because your ignorance is VERY apperent. You and SOME others dont understand.. EVEN AN ELECTRIC GUITAR IS AN ACOUSTIC FIRST. I want you to make an electric guitar from plywood and tell me how it sounds, becuase I think you are the only one who will want one...If all we needed on an electric was a pickup, than why aren't the guitars made with a pickup slapped under a neck? The wood is there for a reson, for tone and sustain. Please take a luthier class before you discuss luthier topics....

Brian_Strat_215 · **Joined:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 4:16 pm **Posts:** 288

So what I'm getting is that you've started this thread to showcase your expansive knowledge of luthiery and guitar mechanics, and also to scoff at those of us who respectfully disagree with your point of view. You ask a question and deride anyone who answers with a response different than the one you had in mind. Why ask the question if you already know the answer? If the difference is so apparent to you go buy a guitar with whatever fingerboard you prefer and kindly refrain from starting threads like this one in the future.

nikininja · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 2:25 am

Also gone

wferguson · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:00 am

I have taken summer courses at Augusta Heritage Center in WV, and I have made plans to go to Bob Benedetto's guitar seminars in GA. I am also a member of the Guild of American Luthiers.
Happy??
So where in your extensive 50+ years of life have you inherited the knowledge of knowing everything about guitars? Have you ever built one? Probably not. You just assume since you have been playing for 5 years you automatically know everything there is to know, and since your mommy said so, your'e always right aren't you??

Screamin' Armadillo · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:26 am

I respectfully disagree that the body wood does not matter.

I agree that the pickups (and other electronic componenets, from pots to pedals to cables) make a larger difference than body wood/fretboard material.

What I totally disagree is the disrespect given to another Forum-ite for stating his opinion, experience or anecdotal evidence.

WFerguson, you are out of line in the manner you're addressing NikiNinja. Whether his opinion was valid or not, you tried to pick a bar fight from behind the keyboard (and an ocean between the two of you as well). That makes you look like an agressive coward.

Play nice or go home.

nikininja · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 7:35 am

another one of my lesser posts... gone

Rebelsoul · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:00 am

Screamin' Armadillo wrote:

I respectfully disagree that the body wood does not matter.

I agree that the pickups (and other electronic componenets, from pots to pedals to cables) make a larger difference than body wood/fretboard material.

What I totally disagree is the disrespect given to another Forum-ite for stating his opinion, experience or anecdotal evidence.

WFerguson, you are out of line in the manner you're addressing NikiNinja. Whether his opinion was valid or not, you tried to pick a bar fight from behind the keyboard (and an ocean between the two of you as well). That makes you look like an agressive coward.

Play nice or go home.

+1
WFerguson,your whole insulting tone in this thread makes you look like the kid that mommy couldn't teach much to.

Rebelsoul · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:04 am

Rebelsoul wrote:

wferguson wrote:

I've seen the videos and I've plaed them myself. Maple is brighter, more full sounding. Rosewood is like putting candle wax on your strings. It just dulls the sound.If you want the dark look of rosewood get an ebony fretboard, because ebony is also bright like maple.

"Like putting candle wax on your strings".... :roll:

now there's a new one. :roll:

Did they teach you about that in luthier school?

xFallenx · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:19 pm **Posts:** 106

nikininja wrote:

Wferguson prove it, where are your builds? Let's see em! And I want to see carved wood, not a partsocaster. If you at all think that the string of a fretted instrument at all impacts fretboard lumber, I doubt that you've even re-strung a guitar. That is utter stupidity.
Then please explain in clear English (spelt correctly too please) why fingerboard material matters. Why is maple supposedly brighter than rosewood. If you have such understanding please enlighten us.

As for me

Never built nothing... check.
Been playing five years... check
Mommy always said I'm always right... check.

But I unlike you, can offer real world reasoning that complies with the laws of physics why I disagree with you're opinion. You however can't offer anything other than 'I'm a luthier' (have you ever carved a lute?), nonsense unfounded claims that you spout in type. Coupled with offensive belittlement of all who may vary from your mindset.
You're a unintelligent buffoon spoiling for a argument from what I read on this thread. Unable to correspond with those who try to engage you. Whether that is because you don't understand what is being written (looking at your command of the English language, I suspect so), or just because you choose to be arrogant. I don't really care. Point of fact you act like a spoilt kid.
I suggest you go sit in a room, suck your thumb, get blanky out and give it a cuddle. Whilst you try and grow up a bit.

Hello

I'm not defending anyone,being rude,or offensive only putting my input in I do hear a difference personally in the types of wood but I think its more dominant when the electric isn't plugged in. There are vibrations that do travel through the neck because of where the strings lay at the top on the neck leading to the headstock also the machine heads where the strings go through the metal are connected to the headstock that is on the neck and the neck that is connected to the body and so forth.My friend has the same guitar and it sounds a little different with the rosewood but its only noticed because you're looking for it.To be fair I prefer the maple it does sound brighter to me but not just that it really comes down to feel and me liking brighter colors and thats just my opinion

Rebelsoul · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:52 am

Yeah you can hear more differences when the guitar isn't plugged in...that's apparent...but when the guitar is plugged into the amp,the simple turn of a tone knob will make more difference in the signal that the amp receives than all the tone wood ever put into a guitar.
You will never hear anything as dramatic as that change....and all that comes from a tone pot and a 1/2 watt signal of the Strat pickup. :wink:

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