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Post subject: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:24 am
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I have a confession to make. I believe I've never played a guitar with a maple neck. Some say there is a difference in sound. I imagine that it must feel quite different. I noticed David Gilmour seems to use maple necks only.

So I'm curious to see if people prefer one or the other and if they do, is it because of the tone, looks or feel?

(sorry if this has been addressed before, I found no thread dedicated to this discussion)


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:47 am
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VGA wrote:
I found no thread dedicated to this discussion

Hi VGA: gosh, really? It has been discussed before, ooh, just once or twice...

Do you have a crash helmet? You might need it as this thread develops. It's kind of a red button subject round here.

Cheers - C

PS: I think maple fingerboards look nice and have a sort of Fendery vibe to them. That's my answer to the question.

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:52 am
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Haha only a million times this has been done. But, in brief, rw is usually 'raw' but maple usually has a finish over it, as it would get very dirty very quickly. This means rw sometimes has a bit more 'bite' to the feel. Sound wise, I personally don't think it makes any difference, some will tell you maple is snappier. I say you don't notice, especially if you're plugged into an amp.

So for me, it is mostly looks. I prefer maple, most of the time. But some colours just look right with rw, and some just look wrong. Also obviously a maple board is generally a 1 piece neck. A rw board is obviously glued to the maple neck on most Fenders.


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:52 am
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Ceri wrote:
VGA wrote:
I found no thread dedicated to this discussion

Hi VGA: gosh, really? It has been discussed before, ooh, just once or twice...


I kinda figured... :wink:

Now, let the games begin. :shock:


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 9:38 am
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VGA wrote:
I noticed David Gilmour seems to use maple necks only


Is that so? 8)

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 10:27 am
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I have both. The difference in tone is subtle, your guitar will still sound like a Strat either way. Maple, in relative terms, is a bit "brighter" with a "stronger snappier attack". Rosewood is "warmer". Both perceptions are subjective. I started out preferring rosewood because it easier to service and clean, all you need is lemon oil and fine steel cotton. Once the finishing on maple goes and you don't like that "worn look", it will cost you to refinish it. I still prefer maple, it also has a smoother feel... again .. YMMV!

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:00 am
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Have some of both, but prefer Maple by a slight margin. Like the sound and feel of it.

It's not an overwhelming choice, more like a 'If you could only have one Guitar...' sort of thing.

But my absolute Fingerboard of choice, because of how it feels, sounds and looks is Ebony !

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 11:23 am
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I prefer rosewood mainly because of the feel. With vintage frets, it's easier to bend on a rosewood board than on a maple board. With big frets, this is less of a concern. Lookswise, I also prefer rosewood. A maple fingerboard only looks good to me if it has a nice dark tint to it. Most of the maple necks I see today look like a piece of scrap lumber from the cutoff bin at Home Depot. As far as sound goes, there are many variables that make one guitar sound different than another. I think fingerboard material is an insignficant one.

I'm going to make a copy of this post so I can use it every three months. :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 1:33 pm
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I used to be skeptical that there was any difference at all,
and that the differences that I was hearing was just a placebo-effect from the power of suggestion.
Four similar Strats, same strings, same amp settings, two maples and two rosewoods compared:
Rosewood just "seemed" a little warmer and (for me) felt better to fret.
Maple "seemed" to be quackier and just naturally easier to dig into hard when bending or hammering.

No preference, like 'em both, but like the look of maple better.


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:03 pm
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I prefer rosewood, because of the feel, but maple is more durable, because you wear the lacquer, not the wood itself. Re-lacquering a maple fretboard is easy and relatively cheap.

Too bad ebony isn't an option (except Custom Shop and special runs).


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:05 pm
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stratmangler wrote:
VGA wrote:
I noticed David Gilmour seems to use maple necks only


Is that so? 8)

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Not in the 70s, but look at recent photos and you'll see maple all the time. Mind you, I didn't undertake a scientific study, but I haven't seen a rosewood neck in his hands for years.


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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 3:20 pm
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Let me put this to rest.

Fender-Maple
Gibson-Rose Wood

End of story. LOL

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 3:46 pm
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VGA wrote:
Not in the 70s, but look at recent photos and you'll see maple all the time. Mind you, I didn't undertake a scientific study, but I haven't seen a rosewood neck in his hands for years.


You'll be telling me he always plays Fender guitars next ...

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 4:00 pm
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Yeah, but he never plays a rosewood neck on a harmony guitar on a Wednesday morning with gloves on, standing in the back of a pickup truck while wearing no shirt. Ha! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Rosewood vs Maple?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 4:20 pm
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I own a few of each and I don't see any difference at all.


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