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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:18 am
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I say Rosewood all the way... Maple fretboard finish wear annoys me and the maintenance free rosewood is there to last(Refrets seem more stress free). I see the appeal of rosewood being a few steps less of a hassle from a manufacturing point (fine hand tools of old had rosewood handles). Sides maple does not have grain pattern and is pretty bland.


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 10:47 am
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I have six strats with rosewood boards. When I bought number seven, it only came with a maple board. When I played it, I realized how narrow minded I had been.


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:24 am
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About eight years ago, I ordered a CS Strat with a Clapton neck profile and a 22 fret rosewood board. They just couldn't get the neck to feel the way the neck with the 22 fret maple board did. During a private discussion with one of the Masterbuilders about two years ago, he attributed the issue to the demands of the thickness of the rosewood board. I'm committed to the idea that Tele's and Strats were best designed around the idea of a 21 fret solid maple neck, though there's no accounting for tastes and happiness is a warm puppy.

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 6:25 am
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I don't have the "ear" or the "feel" to say I prefer one over the other in that respect. However, I'm anal about looks, and think rosewood wears better over the years, though some strats and teles just need a maple neck. It's a tossup, isn't it?


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 9:29 am
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Minnesotastrats wrote:
I have six strats with rosewood boards. When I bought number seven, it only came with a maple board. When I played it, I realized how narrow minded I had been.


I've played quite a few maple necked guitars and completely gave up on them. I'm an ebony guy. I do have one maple neck Strat that I won't ever sell that I did recently buy, but that's a deviation from the norm for me, but I still prefer ebony.


RCB-CA-USA wrote:
The simple solution to this debate is: Fender should randomly grab 2 telecasters and 2 stratocasters, same models, 1 maple and 1 rosewood of each, and put them through one of them thar spectrum anal-lie-zers, plus do a blindfold players' test. The machine will give you the actual numbers, the blindfold test will test the ears of the players. Done. Then, we won't have to go back and forth on this ever again!

Of course, many of us can feel the difference between rosewood and maple, so...the blindfold test won't really be a blindfold test to some.


Doesn't need to be done. Just go out and buy guitars and play them. You'll soon get a feel for what you like or don't like.

I know for a fact that rosewood does nothing for me. I like the colors. That's about it. I know I like ebony fretboards. I guess everyone should have a maple neck Strat in their arsenal. Try a Strat with ebony. It's like the opposite of 'vintage'. It's really quite nice.


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 10:17 am
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RCB-CA-USA wrote:
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.

Absolutely spot on....they are tonewoods and rosewood is warmer than the brighter toned maple.


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:02 pm
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The age old debate. Add a little gain to the amp, you won't know the difference. Its all about feel, slick smooth feel of the bend on the maple, or dig in and feel it grind on rosewood. All about choice. I like both, but usually move toward rosewood because that feel is the same on my Les Paul and ES guitars.

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:19 pm
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DetroitBlues wrote:
The age old debate. Add a little gain to the amp, you won't know the difference. Its all about feel, slick smooth feel of the bend on the maple, or dig in and feel it grind on rosewood. All about choice. I like both, but usually move toward rosewood because that feel is the same on my Les Paul and ES guitars.

...nope. Even adding gain yields a difference. The rosewood will have a punchier mid-range and the maple will have a brighter top with clearer lows.

But, again, the only way we can conclude this debate is with a spectrum analysis.

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:21 pm
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I love maple necked Strats as I like the feel a lot. That being said, my Strat has a rosewood neck and I like it a lot as well. I know it doesn't help but the bottom line is if you like the look and feel, that's the neck for you!


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 3:10 pm
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If I recall Fender used different rosewood in the 60s? There is, for example, Brazilian, African, and Indian rosewood amongst others.

I chose my maple neck after having an Indian rosewood one that I know did not have the appearance (such as more closed versus more open grain) or characteristics of an original '62 Strat which I was fortunate to play back when. I would think that rosewood choice is affected by exotic wood restrictions. Even toy/clone Strats can have rosewood . . . all for less than a C note.

With the differences in the rosewood as mentioned, any thoughts of characteristics or preference amongst the rosewoods (no need to address the bird version of maple which comes at a premium)?

I would assume that maple necks of today would resemble their ancestors more than today's rosewood versions would in a similar fashion. For those who generically give warm or bright tones to the fretboards - here's a little more fodder.

I like them all, but differently, as others have posted.

My observation is simply to add some kindling to the fire for y'all to have some fun. :D

Cheers!


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 5:51 pm
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Always good to have several different wood guitar, a maple and a rosewood, they have a different sound to play.


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:37 pm
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I always get a kick out of these "vs" battles. There's no "vs" only "differences". Good or bad is subjective and up to the individual. With that said, my preference is

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 10:53 pm
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This question for me has always given me trouble. I have Guitars with both maple and rosewood fretboards and I Like all my guitars for the same reason, they just feel right to me. I played several instruments everytime i was looking for a new gem and I am almost split down the middle with my guitars. for me i like the look of Maple better but as far as sound goes i don't find enough of a disernable difference when i have them plugged in and add my few pedals to the mix. Maple may be slightly brighter completely clean but once i overdrive it a bit I don't notice much. Now I am a hobbyist guitar player and just do it for fun and the love of guitars and music, I am by no means a professional in any respect but I know what feels right to me in each of my guitars and once i find it i get it.

Dave.

Sorry if I rambled a bit on this one.

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs. Maple Fretboard
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:16 am
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Check out the Premier Guitar archives online for the series of articles entitled 'The Psychology of Tone.'

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