Why do most pros prefer dark fingerboards?

RoboChrist · #1 07-04-2010, 06:07 PM

I prefer them myself, but I can't think of too many visible "name" players who play a blond fingerboard. Why is that? Please feel free to debunk my theory with some examples.

fdeck · #2 07-04-2010, 06:44 PM

Blond fingerboards take at least a couple hundred gigs to turn black and nasty, whereas dark fingerboards are already dark.

plangentmusic · #3 07-04-2010, 06:44 PM

Maybe because maple fingerboards are usually on cheaper instruments. In other words, you never see an upright or a cello or a violin with a maple fingerboard.

Having said that, I like a maple neck on a guitar, though I'm not sure if I could tell the difference with my eyes closed.

T-MOST · #4 07-04-2010, 06:46 PM

I can't say that is true at all. For every pro I see with a maple board I see another with a rosewood. It's all about personal choice.

kaputsport · #5 07-04-2010, 06:53 PM

Maybe it is to show contrast so you can bask in there awesome while actually seeing there awesome...

bass12 · #6 07-04-2010, 06:53 PM

Most pros are not gentlemen, apparently.

KTFunkAlive · #7 07-04-2010, 07:09 PM

[quote=plangentmusic;9359859]Maybe because maple fingerboards are usually on cheaper instruments.

?????????????

MysticMichael · #8 07-04-2010, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoboChrist

I prefer them myself, but I can't think of too many visible "name" players who play a blond fingerboard. Why is that? Please feel free to debunk my theory with some examples.

Never heard of such a thing...

There's really no way to debunk your theory, short of some sort of rigorous statistical analysis. Come to think of it, there's really no other way to support your theory either...

MM

I<34080 · #9 07-04-2010, 07:17 PM

Plenty of signature Fenders have maple boards.

4001 · #10 07-04-2010, 07:18 PM

Have you checked out the new blonde neck with pearl block inlays that is now attached to Geddy Lee's old Fender Jazz Bass body?

Nice.

pica · #11 07-04-2010, 07:18 PM

I think it's just a matter of personal preference. There's no rhyme or reason to it.

Wyrm74 · #12 07-04-2010, 07:29 PM

I can't stand maple fingerboards because they feel "sticky" to me. It's just personal preference, but...maybe others feel that way too?

jerry · #13 07-04-2010, 08:54 PM

I don't know if you can be anymore visable than Will Lee, Marcus Miller, Sting and Christian Mcbride.

Luckie · #14 07-04-2010, 09:41 PM

Steve Harris and George Porter play maple neck basses.
Both Gentlemen are well established professionals.

Zitch · #15 07-04-2010, 10:05 PM

Maple fingerboards tend to have a brighter sound to them. Choosing a fingerboard wood is as important as choosing the wood for the body and neck, its all about personal preference for tonal characteristics and for some just the look.

Big Cadillac · #16 07-04-2010, 10:10 PM

Zitch nailed it with that comment.

Simorchid · #17 07-05-2010, 06:36 AM

Maple is possibly the second most common wood used for fretboards after Rosewood. As mentioned before it has a brighter sound character. They are commonly used on Fender, Musicman, G&L, Lakland and Sadowsky basses amongst other quality bass manufacturers.

Handyman · #18 07-05-2010, 06:58 AM

As requested, here's my attempt at debunking this.

PJSShearer · #19 07-05-2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

Maybe because maple fingerboards are usually on cheaper instruments.

??

At my first "professional" audition there were seven of us going for the gig. Six of us had Rosewood Neck, Sunburst Precisions (the other guy had an EB3 - the saddo :-)).

At that time in the UK (late '70s), a (Fender) Maple neck was 10% extra, and a solid colour was another 5%.

plangentmusic · #20 07-05-2010, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

??

At my first "professional" audition there were seven of us going for the gig. Six of us had Rosewood Neck, Sunburst Precisions (the other guy had an EB3 - the saddo :-)).

At that time in the UK (late '70s), a (Fender) Maple neck was 10% extra, and a solid colour was another 5%.

I should clarify -- you'll see maple on low end guitars more often (where the rosewood isn't added -- it's just one maple piece) and it's never used on violins or cellos because it doesn't resonate as well -- which isn't as much of a factor on a fretted instrument. . That doesn't mean it's bad or some high end instruments don't use it.

Honestly, fingerboard wood doesn't matter that much to me. I'd use anything as long as it felt good and sounded good.