Rosewood vs maple fretboard?

[Hordehunterx]

I'm thinking of buying a standard fender p bass ( worth it ? ) and I'm wondering if I should get a rosewood freeboard or a maple fretboard what do you guys think ?

[BassGen]

Can I be the first to say "Go play both of them and see what you like?"

Seriously, lots are spoken about both but in reality you have to decide. Go to a music store and play both through the same set up. Listen for subtle tone differences. Some say maple is brighter and more lively while rosewood produces softer, warmer tones.

There are no shortage of opinions on TB but in the end it's you who will be playing it so you have to experiment and see what it is you like more.

[Bassdirty]

Depends on the color of the bass...I say...Maple today.

[sikamikanico]

no.1 deciding factor should be playability... don't choose color over playability!
(I think of rosewood vs. maple in terms of color)

but then again, I never even consider maple, haha, I don't like the way it looks :P

[snyderz]

When you ask a few thousand people an either/or question, you'll get both answers about equally. Play them both, and pick one.

[Blake Bass]

I prefer rosewood but a couple of years ago i had the opportunity to buy a new Sadowsky NYC at a reduced price that saved me $1000..it has a maple fb and honestly I can't tell the difference in sound. The biggest difference is in feel..rosewood has an unfinished dry feel while maple has a smoother finished feel and the difference in feel is pretty subtle. So just pick the one you think sounds best and looks best.

[Mike in Chicago]

I've had both...like both. I'm using maple now...But sunburst with a rosewood neck and a black pickguard is IMHO the classic look.

See...Smithereens, "behind the wall of sleep". Nice lookin bass.

[Darknut]

I've never been a big fan of rosewood fingerboards but I've warmed up to them a bit in resent years.

I still like Maple the best but rosewood on the right bass I would def go for these days.

[spufman]

I own and enjoy both. Shouldn't be the deciding factor in a bass, when there is so much going on for overall tone and feel. The two boards look, feel and (at least acoustically) sound slightly different, which makes me play them slightly different. I've found the maple ones get some fret sprout in New England winters.

[electracoyote]

Dan Atkinson has a nice audio comparison

Can You Tell The Difference??? MAPLE vs. ROSEWOOD

IMO, maple boards have just a little more snap and brightness, but that's just me. you have to decide. Plus, there are so many other things influencing the tone, even if there is a difference between maple and rosewood, one of the other factors could be countering that aspect.

[JimmyM]

it doesn't matter in the slightest tonally imho. it's a looks issue. people think maple sounds brighter because it looks brighter. there's no proof that fb wood matters to tone. so get what you think is prettiest.

[kellyrojo]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

Dan Atkinson has a nice audio comparison

Can You Tell The Difference??? MAPLE vs. ROSEWOOD

IMO, maple boards have just a little more snap and brightness, but that's just me. you have to decide. Plus, there are so many other things influencing the tone, even if there is a difference between maple and rosewood, one of the other factors could be countering that aspect.

I agree with this....so many variables go into your tone this is a small one. I would worry more about how it feels than the way it shapes my tone. Looks should be considered after the feel and sound....Good luck!

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

it doesn't matter in the slightest tonally imho. it's a looks issue. people think maple sounds brighter because it looks brighter. there's no proof that fb wood matters to tone. so get what you think is prettiest.

Ha! In the final analysis, this is exactly what I do! Matching FB to body color and pickguard consumes me.

[UncleMattGuy]

Again this is all opinion and perception, but I have always associated maple boards with cheaper build quality. Rationally I know that this isn't true, but when I look at basses the maple board makes me think "" next!!!""

[tabdog]

My perception has always been that rosewood is
better.

But, of the basses I have tried and bought, maple
out numbers the rosewood 2 to 1.

Personally, when playing by my self, I like rosewood.
I don't know why.

When playing with people, I like maple.

The maple seems to be heard better in the mix.

When I was younger, I dug in at times. I would go
from soft and easy to digging the finish off a bass.
The maple neck would growl and moan in a way
that seemed nice in a band, but it would sound
flaky to me if I played that way alone.

My favorite bass has a maple neck and has been in
the shop for two months now.

I'm about to pull my hair out!!!

Tabdog

[scottbass]

I have never been able to discern a difference in sound. They certainly feel different, but to me neither one feels better or worse than the other - just different.

My basses all have maple boards only because on a dark stage I have an easier time seeing black side dots against the light wood than white side dots against dark wood. Buth that's just me and my own personal eyesight. YEMV (Your eyesight may vary!)

[Konigstiger22]

I have both and don't notice a difference. I think the maply looks cool when it gets all dirty, worn and grimey.

[rockosocko]

Play both basses and let your ears decide.

[Tampabass]

what Jimmy said - really doesn't matter, except visually.

I prefer maple on my fretted basses, but I'm not going to claim that it owes to anything aside from how much I like that look.

(and on my fretless, I prefer ebony or rosewood )

[Tampabass]

& I'll add that it's GREAT to finally see a thread on this subject.