Maple and Rosewood Fretboards - 2 Piece Necks vs. '57 P-Bass

[roberthathaway]

I just got off the phone with Fender support and was surprised to find out that with the exception of the '57 P-Bass Custom, all other bass guitars have a two piece neck, a fret board of either maple or rosewood and the neck to which it is bonded. The '57 P-Bass is a one piece neck of maple with the frets installed directly into the neck not a seperate fret board. I understand the reason behind this as being easier to perform the fret work on a seperate board then on the actual neck. At any rate this surprised me because I though all Maple necks were one piece with frets applied directly to the neck.

I just purchased a American Standard Jass Black, White Pick Guard with a Maple Fret Board, because I wanted to get a MIA Fender as close to the MIJ Geddy Lee bass as I could. I havn't received the base yet because it is on back order, my dealer told me a couple of weeks.

So if both rosewood and maple fret boards are bonded to the neck that throw out my understanding of a one piece maple neck and I began asking why would one select rosewood over maple and vice versa. Both fret boards will have a glue line and must have some resonant impact on the instrument vs. a one piece neck/fret board. Unfortunately when I went to the two dealers in my area, every bass they had on display had a rosewood fret board. It was crazy I went to the first looked at all the basses and turned around and went to the other dealer. He had one Lakeland with a Maple fret board everything else was rosewood. This is like 50 bass guitars total that had rosewood fretboards. So I wasn't able to play one against the other and determine what sonic differences exist. Do the maples sell faster then the rosewood or do the rosewoods have the higher selling rate?

So I am sticking with the maple based on my love for Geddy Lee's sound and I am sticking with the MIA Fender Jazz because Geddy relies on Fender as do plenty of other professionals.

But here is my question, fretboards - rosewood or maple? I am very interested in any and all comments? In addition, I believe there is a misconception out their that maple fretboards are integral with the maple neck, they are not except on the '57 P-Bass.

[ThePerfectBass]

Maple tends to lean a little brighter than Rosewood on tone... Or you could say that Rosewood is a little warmer in tone... Both are good, we sell a lot of maple, but probably a little more basses with Rosewood fingerboards. One is not better than the other, they are simply 2 different flavors.

It's like asking is chocolate better than vanilla.... Some will like chocolate, some will like vanilla...

It's not uncommon, rather it's more of the rule that the fingerboard and the neck are 2 separate pieces that are glued together. This makes manufacturing fingerboard options easier and also makes truss rod installation neat as you don't have to route the back of the neck and fill it in...

Hope that helps, peace!

[madbass6]

Don't drive your self nuts.. why mess with what's working for you.. i agree with James, it's kind of like choosing between Bartolinis and EMG's(pick ups & or preamps) EMG'S tend to have a brighter sound then Barts.. if thats what your into,then just go for it! or even choosing between different woods for the body or necks Graphite V.S wood ect. it's what ever works for you man.. : ) never mind what Geddy lee uses,He's not the one who's going to be playing YOUR bass! so point being, it's just a preference thing, totaly depending on your taste! good question thou.. good luck..

[ThePerfectBass]

Amen madbass6!