It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 5:55 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 74 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 4:12 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2011 6:16 pm
Posts: 18
I feel as though I need to apologize to the Vets here as I'm SURE this has been discussed on this forum, but I've tried searching past posts and can't find it. What do you guys see as the general pros and cons of maple vs. rosewood fret boards?....It appears as though Fender went completely away from maple circa 1960? with rosewood only for some time until they brought maple back as a choice with the rosewood...I'd love to read some pros and cons and also if someone could enlighten me on Fender's history with these fret boards.....Thanks!

Chris in Florida


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 5:27 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
Except for the obvious esthetic differences there is a slight difference in the feel of the fretboards and some people find the maple boards are easier to do string bending on.Personally I like the grainy feel of the rosewood boards just a little more. The notion that maple necks give a brighter tone than the rosewoods is an urban myth that just keeps on being perpetuated by self-professed "experts".I have owned and/or played maple neck Strats that were quite mellow sounding and rosewoods that were so bright that they could give a Tele a run for the money in the treble register so that alone debunks that myth and no doubt many others have experienced the same thing.

_________________
'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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:20 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:31 am
Posts: 1281
When I was younger, back when I didn't know how to setup, tune, or play a guitar, when I knew nothing about tone wood, when I knew nothing about what made guitars different, before any bias set in, there was a tone I always liked that really captured my attention whenever I heard it. It was bright and airy with lots of character. As I matured in my knowledge of guitars, I discovered there was one factor present when achieving that particular tone...maple necks were *always* involved.

Ironically, I kept chasing after that tone on rosewood necks but to no avail. Finally, after listening to many guitar players, I recognized the pattern.

And yes, there are exceptions to the rule...you'll find a few tight grained, way hard rosewood boards that have a bright air and maple necks that are dull sounding. But, all things being equal, generally speaking, based on my experiences, to my ears, rosewood sounds dark and gritty as compared to maple, which is bright and airy.

_________________
"The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a Conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists. The American mind simply has not come to a realization of the evil which has been introduced into our midst." J. Edgar Hoover


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:24 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:49 pm
Posts: 838
There's been a lot of discussion on this topic. Here is one of what I'm sure are many links:
http://www.fender.com/community/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=69558

_________________
This is the Blues. Are you listening?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:34 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
After almost 50 years of playing guitar and doing all sorts of repairs restorations,refinishing etc. and among them countless Strats, I stand by what I said as do many who have been playing Strats for decades.This topic has been flogged to death many times but as always I'll stick to my opinion based on my experience with the aforementioned countless Strats over the almost 50 years of playing.BTW a lot of techs share my opinion too as there too many dynamics involved for a 1/8" piece of wood to make that drastic a difference to the overall tone.That's all I'm going to say about that as nothing would sway my opinion.

_________________
'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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:41 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2012 12:39 pm
Posts: 721
I prefer maple on my strat..why you ask because I know absolutely bupkis about the finer details of an electric guitar I do however own a maple necked strat plus so there for it must be the better choice..In closing I must state this is a totally unbiased opinion..

_________________
Mona
"Music is What Feelings Sound like"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:44 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:18 am
Posts: 1530
Location: The Frozen Tundra of MN
[quote="guitslinger"]Except for the obvious esthetic differences there is a slight difference in the feel of the fretboards and some people find the maple boards are easier to do string bending on.Personally I like the grainy feel of the rosewood boards just a little more. The notion that maple necks give a brighter tone than the rosewoods is an urban myth that just keeps on being perpetuated by self-professed "experts".
+1 rosewood is my board of choice also.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:48 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
asgard636 wrote:
I feel as though I need to apologize to the Vets here as I'm SURE this has been discussed on this forum, but I've tried searching past posts and can't find it...


Really?!?! Not much of a try. :roll:

"Maple vs Rosewood", even limited to topic title reveals many threads.
http://www.fender.com/community/forums/search.php?keywords=Rosewood+vs.+Maple&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=titleonly&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

Maple vs Rosewood without limiting to topic title reveals even more threads.
http://www.fender.com/community/forums/search.php?keywords=Rosewood+vs.+Maple&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

guitslinger wrote:
...there too many dynamics involved for a 1/8" piece of wood to make that drastic a difference to the overall tone...


Why do the detractors always have to exaggerate? No one claims "drastic" differences, but simply subtle differences. There are subtle differences between woods, parts, nuts, bodies, necks, pickups, strings, on and on. If you can't tell, that doesn't mean that someone else can't. :roll:

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 6:59 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:31 am
Posts: 1281
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQffNqkx-mM&feature=related

_________________
"The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a Conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists. The American mind simply has not come to a realization of the evil which has been introduced into our midst." J. Edgar Hoover


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 8:55 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 1:47 pm
Posts: 54
I have rosewood on my acoustic and Strat Blacktop HH. Just like the look, that's all. :D

_________________
2012 Fender Blacktop HH Black
2010 Fender Kingman "10"
2012 Fender Mustang II


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 5:31 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:57 am
Posts: 13164
Location: Peckham: where the snow leopards roam
asgard636 wrote:
I'm SURE this has been discussed on this forum, but I've tried searching past posts and can't find it.

Hee-hee... Hi Chris: this one has been discussed rather a lot, to say the least. If you haven't found those threads you won't know about the enormous can of wriggling worms you've just opened. This subject tends to lead to cyber fist fights before the end of page one: sit back and enjoy... or run for the hills.

Cheers - C

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 5:43 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:12 pm
Posts: 41
Location: Houston, TX Area
asgard636 wrote:
I feel as though I need to apologize to the Vets here


No, you don't need to apologize. It can be difficult to search some forums, especially
if you are new to it and not used to it yet. Don't let the impatient posters run you
down with their rudeness. You have a legit question and if it is so cumbersome to
them, they could have moved on to another thread.

Now - maple is my favorite. I recently traded a nice Strat with rosewood to get
one with maple, and it made all the difference in the world to me as far as the
way it felt and played. Funny, though, I like the rosewood on Gibsons. I always
felt there might be a bit of a sound difference, but I have never been certain. I
guess to me, when it feels better, it sounds better.

_________________
Bobby
Coming again soon to a club near you
... or at least one near me. Hopefully.
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 6:30 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
Which tastes better, pepperoni or sausage on pizza?

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 6:35 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2012 10:12 pm
Posts: 41
Location: Houston, TX Area
Martian wrote:
Which tastes better, pepperoni or sausage on pizza?


Maple. :mrgreen:

_________________
Bobby
Coming again soon to a club near you
... or at least one near me. Hopefully.
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 6:57 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
bivie wrote:
Martian wrote:
Which tastes better, pepperoni or sausage on pizza?


Maple. :mrgreen:


Indeed. :roll: :lol:

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 74 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: