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maple v rosewood fender jazz fingerboard

miles'tone

miles'tone

Feb 26, 2008
975
353
Wales, U.K
#1
Hey Y'all. Bought my Fender Jazz USA standard (pre S-1 switching) new in 2001. It's a sunburst model with a maple fingerboard - looks amazing and feels great to play. Here's the thing, I've never been 100% about the tone - too thin and cold sounding - so I've replaced the pickups twice and now I'm on Seymour duncan quart pounders and that has helped heaps but even acoustically it doesn't sound that warm (sounds kind of piano-like).
Was wondering if any of you have experienced this as I'm sure it is down to the maple board and the graphite support rods in there making the neck too stiff to resonate properly.
Am I alone in thinking this? Would a rosewood board neck make THAT much difference? :help:
 
#2
Hi Miles, it is a big debate here on TB, some feel the type of wood matters, some don't. My feeling (which is only based on general observation; I've never directly compared two basses that were identical except for the fretboard) is that there is some difference, but less difference than, for example, using a different set of strings.

As an example, I was watching a Wailers DVD the other night and noticed Family Man was playing a maple-board Jazz bass. I would not describe his sound as "thin," "cold," or "piano-like"!!!

If I were in your shoes, I would experiment with different types of string. If you have your heart set on a rosewood board, I bet there is somebody out there in TB land who would be willing to swap necks with you!

Good luck.
 
#9
Hi there and thanks for the input guys. Fair comment about Family Man, can't argue with that! It's not the pups as it has this bright/thin feel even when not plugged in (also trying to dig in by the bridge is hard as it has no give, too tight - it's not me as I've had no probs in this area on other basses, jazz's included). Gotta be the graphite supports mixed with the hard maple board. Erm, I'm using D'addario Xl 100-40 at the mo; I've had on Ernie Ball regular Slinky's (105-50); Rotosound 66's; Thomastik flat-wounds and probably a few more I've forgotten about! The original pups were no good in my opinion - I've since put them in a friends Squire Jazz (with rosewood board) and they do sound better in that bass than mine. (Great). I dunno what to do or think about it as I've had the bass so long now I've gotten attached to it but there's just that niggle that it just won't open up anymore than it has and this is how it's gonna be. I don't think it's a string issue 'coz I've used so many and the personality of my bass is always there. Since my first post I've been the local bass shop and tried a rosewood jazz and it felt like pure Zeppellin. I mean my bass is great at cutting thru on a gig and is a good soloing BG but I want that early Kravitz sound myself so it's either get a rosewood neck or a new bass. Cheers again for the input everyone.
 
#11
miles'tone said:
Hi there and thanks for the input guys. Fair comment about Family Man, can't argue with that! It's not the pups as it has this bright/thin feel even when not plugged in (also trying to dig in by the bridge is hard as it has no give, too tight - it's not me as I've had no probs in this area on other basses, jazz's included). Gotta be the graphite supports mixed with the hard maple board. Erm, I'm using D'addario Xl 100-40 at the mo; I've had on Ernie Ball regular Slinky's (105-50); Rotosound 66's; Thomastik flat-wounds and probably a few more I've forgotten about! The original pups were no good in my opinion - I've since put them in a friends Squire Jazz (with rosewood board) and they do sound better in that bass than mine. (Great). I dunno what to do or think about it as I've had the bass so long now I've gotten attached to it but there's just that niggle that it just won't open up anymore than it has and this is how it's gonna be. I don't think it's a string issue 'coz I've used so many and the personality of my bass is always there. Since my first post I've been the local bass shop and tried a rosewood jazz and it felt like pure Zeppellin. I mean my bass is great at cutting thru on a gig and is a good soloing BG but I want that early Kravitz sound myself so it's either get a rosewood neck or a new bass. Cheers again for the input everyone.
Click to expand...

Yeah, well maybe it is just that bass. Trade 'er in on one of the new '08 American Standards!! Olympic white with a rosewood board... Mmmmm....
 

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