My new 2011 strat has a rosewood fingerboard and my older 2010 model has a maple fingerboard with polyurethane on it.They both have the standard medium jumbo frets that come on Am Standard strats. The rosewwood frets are just a little taller(all of the fret is exposed) because the fretboard doesn't have the thick coat of urethane on it. It seems for me its a little easier to play than the maple neck. Also the string height is set a little higher on my new one and I think this helps too. I've learned that for me, low action isn't better or easier. I gotta raise the action on my 2010 now and see how I like it. Does any of this make sense to anyone.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

yes. i feel a little fast in maple...but RW rule´s :headbang: jaja

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I find it hard to dig into if the action isn't set a little higher than stock. I personally just got a maple neck MIA and love it. It plays like butter vs my rosewood strat. Sometimes on the rosewood, I can literally dig the strings into the wood. Not so much on the maple neck.

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"If it ain't one thing, it's another."

Hi bshane84: ignoring all the silly shouting that goes on regarding the rosewood-maple thing, it seems to me what you've just said is a sensible reason to prefer one to another. If you like the feel of one or the other you need no further justification to make your choice. Way to go.



It makes perfect sense to me. Lotta people want the lowest action they can get, and that's fine. But personally I like mine set pretty much to Fender spec, which I guess is average, and there's nothing wrong with higher still. It makes your fingers work harder and so your fretting could end up being more positive, which might be no bad thing.

Action is entirely a case of strokes for folks. Don't let anyone else's preference divert you from your own.

Cheers - C

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What feels best for you probably is...

There's no one-size-fits-all solution in guitars... Strats, Teles, LPs, there's something for every taste, hand size, and preference.


If you like the action a little higher and aren't bending strings out of tune it's ALL GOOD<G>

My Tele and the 335 are set up completely differently, but they both fit me wonderfully!

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Still looking for that One Guitar To Rule Them All since 1964...
FSR Fender 60 Anniversary Strat HSS MIM, Gibson ES 335, Taylor 555, Ovation Custom Balladeer-12, Baby Taylor, Fender Princeton Chorus (stereo), Fender Champ 600

I've been playing with my action too low which is why I can't grab holt of the strings. It's alot easier with the action set higher . Hammer ons, pull offs, bends, even chording is easier with my action set higher. I mean, its not super high, it's just around what Fender recommends. It's really nice. Thanks for the comments guys.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

I guess I've always liked rosewood better. I like maple - when the finish is worn off and it mellows out a bit. I always think of shiny new maple fretboards as being good for that whole sparse Prince-esque splanky funk sound, where the notes just really "pop". Other than that, it's just a bit bright for my taste. Although throw huge-enough frets on like a lot of new guitars and I really don't think it makes that much of a difference.

Maple vs Rosewood...String Height...Guage of Strings...all this is a personal choice for the guitarist playing that guitar. There is no absolute right or wrong, just what feels good to you. Keep Rocking!

For me I prefer rosewood finger boards, string height to be as low as possible without buzzing (and this does vary on my guitars), and I play 10-46 pure nickel strings on all my guitars. This has worked for me for many years. With this set up I feel I get a mellow tone.

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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

For me, the only reason to select rosewood or maple is the colour/type of the guitar. Strats should be maple, 335s should be rosewood. Beyond that, once I'm playing, I really don't care. The only wood I have a real preference for is ebony, which is uncommon, anyways.

Absolutely right - I was thinking two years of getting a Standard Strat in Lake Placid blue with rosewood - and then I chose the maple neck - and it looks great on the guitar. I cannot feel much difference to any rosewood neck, but this is personal preference and everyone should get the neck they prefer. My sunburst Squier e.g. looks amazing with rosewood...

Sounds like fret replacement on a maple neck could be a lot more painful than on the rosewood.

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.