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Post subject: P-bass Fretboard Maple vs Rosewood (again)
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:17 am
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First of all i'd like to mention that i'm new on this forum, and i've seen a few posts already about this subject (done some research) and i do not want to open a new discussion about audible sound differences between maple and rosewood fretboards.

I am looking for a precision bass and i am going to play a few at different local music stores the next couple days and i was wondering if you can enlighten me about the playability differences between the two. I understand the maple one has some coating and rosewood is raw wood with natural oils.

The next thing i've noticed is that the original p-bass had maple fretboards and a few years later they switched to rosewood and now they give us the option between the two (except for left handed models). Why did fender do this, was it a cost issue, easier production, availability of wood, issues with neckwarping? And why do lefties only get rosewood, is that easier to produce or cheaper?

Does anyone know the statistics of what kind of fretboard p-basses sell better, or what the general mass wants?

I'm looking foreward to testing a couple different fretboards this weekend and i hope that i can feel the differences myself with my limited experience.

Thanks,

Skid


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Post subject: Re: P-bass Fretboard Maple vs Rosewood (again)
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:32 am
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I prefer a one piece maple neck. Outside of the audible differences I have found rosewood boards to be "softer" to the touch. I don't know if that makes sense. Some people like it. Some don't. I actually love both, but find that I prefer maple for sound and playability. I'd just pick up and play a bunch. Go with what feels right.

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Post subject: Re: P-bass Fretboard Maple vs Rosewood (again)
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:37 am
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Thanks kingofpain, with one piece do you mean the ones with a skunk-stripe in the back? Do they still make those?


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Post subject: Re: P-bass Fretboard Maple vs Rosewood (again)
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:52 am
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Yes. For awhile Fender started doing cap board maple necks. I believe it was when they first came back in the late 60's. For a time there was a switch from one piece maple to rosewood. The cap board maple didn't last long as I understand it. At somepoint Fender just went back to making maple necks the old way, and rosewood necks remained laminated.

Most Fender Maple Boards are one piece maple necks and they still make them. (ie: the fretboard is part of the neck) As opposed to the Rosewood boards which are laid over top of the maple neck.

If you buy a modern Precision with a maple neck it's a one piece neck. (unless you special order it from the Custom Shop as a cap neck obviously) Just like they were originally. (with differences to specs, finishes and frets aside)

In the end, You really can't go "wrong". There is no right or wrong when it comes to P basses and fretboards. Or just P basses in general. Just find what you dig and play the hell out of it.

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Post subject: Re: P-bass Fretboard Maple vs Rosewood (again)
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 8:39 am
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The all maple 'white' neck is actually cheaper to produce than one with a rosewood fretboard. Rosewood itself is costly and you have additional production costs with more milling, glue time, and more man/hours of labor.

The white neck is shot with a clear poly to keep it from discoloring. Naked maple turns a nasty brackish black pretty quickly dependent upon the player's personal body chemistry.

I just went to Fender's American Design Experience and put together a left-handed Precision with a white neck for a total just a penny shy of $1,900. While quite expensive compaired to a stock lefty American Standard Precision from a major e-tailer, it is still cheaper by far than a full blown Fender Custom Shop build. That's really only $600 more than an Am. Std. P. Here's what I put together http://www.fender.com/american-design/configurator/

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Post subject: Re: P-bass Fretboard Maple vs Rosewood (again)
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:47 am
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Thankyou both for the info :D


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Post subject: Re: P-bass Fretboard Maple vs Rosewood (again)
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 11:40 am
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Here's a few pics of my left-handed '76 Precision with white neck. I ordered this in 1975 for something like $400 I think.

Image

Image

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Post subject: Re: P-bass Fretboard Maple vs Rosewood (again)
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 4:06 pm
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I've always liked rosewood better than maple on my basses. now guitar is an entirely different thing, maple all the way.

My latest addition has a maple neck and for this bass, it works really well.

My best advice is, play as many as you can, the best one will stand out.

Good luck.


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Post subject: Re: P-bass Fretboard Maple vs Rosewood (again)
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:22 pm
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I go with Maple when I can. The feel is a bit harder on the Maple, and possibly a bit quicker. You may not have to press down on the board as hard with a Maple board.

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Post subject: Re: P-bass Fretboard Maple vs Rosewood (again)
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:34 pm
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For me it sort of depends on the instrument type. P-Basses with split coils I prefer maple because I think it brightens up the tone. On a Jazz or any single coil I prefer rosewood because I think it adds mellowness to the brighter single coils. If I was using split or stacked coil pickups or Noiseless pickups on a Jazz then I'd be more apt to desire maple on it too.

Most players don't even consider the neck wood quality so it is good to read this post. All people seem to talk about is body woods. It is my opinion that the quality of the woods used and the integrity of the neck build matter probably more than body woods do.

Rosewood wears faster than maple yet doesn't actually show the wear. Maple shows discoloration faster than rosewood, usually between the first couple of frets.


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Post subject: Re: P-bass Fretboard Maple vs Rosewood (again)
Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 1:23 pm
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Thank you all for your replies.

I tested about 10 fender bassguitars last weekend, with maple and rosewood. And i definately felt the difference between fingerboards but i haven't established my preference yet.

One thing that confuses me though:
The maple fretboards used to be a one piece with a skunkstripe in the back to fit the trussrod, the rosewood don't need a skunkstripe because it is glued on top.
I'm guessing that the graphite reinforcement is to big to fit thru a skunkstripe so nowadays all "modern" maple fretboards are glued on top like the rosewood and the skunkstripe is no longer needed (see american standard 2012 maple pbass has no skunkstripe).
However i saw a mexican standard 2012 maple pbass (has no graphite reinforcement i think) and it had a maple fretboard glued on top AND it had a skunk stripe in the back.
Did i make a wrong assumption somewhere? Please help me out


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