Does fretboard wood make a consistent difference in tone that you can hear?

[Gorn]

So if you were having a bass custom built for you, your answer to the question of what fretboard material you'd want on the bass would be, "whatever is cheaper." Assuming you don't care about looks.

No. Look at the last sentence of my post. If I didn't care about looks, structural strength would be a factor. If every choice was equally structurally sound, and if I didn't care about looks, then I'd get the cheapest option. But if I was buying a custom bass than looks would be a major factor.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

No. Look at the last sentence of my post. If I didn't care about looks, structural strength would be a factor. If every choice was equally structurally sound, and if I didn't care about looks, then I'd get the cheapest option. But if I was buying a custom bass than looks would be a major factor.

That's why I said assuming you don't care about looks

 

[TonyP-]

I'm on Team No, and that's not the question I'm saying no to. I don't think there's a difference that anyone can hear in a testable and predictable way. Saying you can hear it, even if you're Roger Sadowsky or Michael Tobias, isn't the same as proving that you can hear it. I don't have more experiences testing it than they do but I'd say they don't have any experience testing it at all. They have personal experience and anectodal data dripping in confirmation bias.

And sure I'd spend over a grand on a bass. I'd pay for good craftsmanship, looks, sound, feel...all that. Because I think the concept of tone wood is bunk doesn't mean I wouldn't pay for a good bass. I don't really see the correlation there. I'd pay for a Sadowsky if I wanted one. They're well made basses. I'd get a maple fretboard cuz I like the way it looks.

I just wanted to post some food for thought and curious on peoples thoughts...I'm not going to get into the debate aspect of it, because it can be never ending. Its all good...Whatever works for You...

 

[chadds]

Consistent difference, no.

 

[honeyiscool]

Didn't Bob Taylor build an acoustic guitar out of shipping pallets just to dispel the myth of tonewoods and to make a point that he could build a guitar out of any wood that's structurally good enough?

Would you rather have a Taylor acoustic made out of pallet wood, or a Squier acoustic made out of named tonewoods?

 

[GrapeBass]

Didn't Bob Taylor build an acoustic guitar out of shipping pallets just to dispel the myth of tonewoods and to make a point that he could build a guitar out of any wood that's structurally good enough?

Would you rather have a Taylor acoustic made out of pallet wood, or a Squier acoustic made out of named tonewoods?

There's been a few variations including 3D printed and cardboard... they do sound like guitars, nothing really flavorful. LOL I've also only saw ones that used conventional necks including ones that had concrete bodies. All sounded like guitars. Though non sounded like a fender or gibson as they were shaped as (the concrete one was a slab).

 

[chadds]

The science proves body/neck rigidity, density affects sound.
Observation. #1 people believe whatever they want. People believe they don't need to wear seatbelts in rear seat even though the effects of physics is the same in an accident. #2 some people can't hear what others actually hear. #3 people believe that because there is a placebo effect that that explains what they can't hear isn't real. #4 some people are playing their solid body electrics to express the strings to pickups match through eq. rather than the particular acoustic properties of the instrument. So they are going to hear that emphasis every time. Other musicians are stressing the other nuances of their signal path. ie choosing the cab to be the priority of the sound influences.
#5 why does an SG sound different than a Les Paul and different than an ES335?
#6 looking for a recently deceased horse.

 

[tfer]

The science proves body/neck rigidity, density affects sound.
Observation. #1 people believe whatever they want. People believe they don't need to wear seatbelts in rear seat even though the effects of physics is the same in an accident. #2 some people can't hear what others actually hear. #3 people believe that because there is a placebo effect that that explains what they can't hear isn't real. #4 some people are playing their solid body electrics to express the strings to pickups match through eq. rather than the particular acoustic properties of the instrument. So they are going to hear that emphasis every time. Other musicians are stressing the other nuances of their signal path. ie choosing the cab to be the priority of the sound influences.
#5 why does an SG sound different than a Les Paul and different than an ES335?
#6 looking for a recently deceased horse.

I've never thought about #5. If only the strings and PUPs mattered, a single coil strat would sound the same as a tele, but they don't.

 

[GrapeBass]

I've never thought about #5. If only the strings and PUPs mattered, a single coil strat would sound the same as a tele, but they don't.

Some components make more of a difference than others and some people are more sensitive, others overlook the subtleties... Like swapping white pepper and black pepper on babby back ribs, some people would notice while others don't or might not even care.

 

[mark beem]

My thoughts...

Whatever differences arise tonally due to fretboard wood are negligible. "Joe Public" wont hear the difference (maple, rosewood, ebony, whatever) whatsoever and frankly, they wont care. I pick fretboard woods for aesthetic purposes only. It's not something to spend a lot of time thinking about.

 

[GrapeBass]

My thoughts...

Whatever differences arise tonally due to fretboard wood are negligible. "Joe Public" wont hear the difference (maple, rosewood, ebony, whatever) whatsoever and frankly, they wont care. I pick fretboard woods for aesthetic purposes only. It's not something to spend a lot of time thinking about.

"Joe Pubic" also doesn't really care if you're using a Ricky or a Fender but we do (as artists and aficionados).

 

[mark beem]

"Joe Pubic" also doesn't really care if you're using a Ricky or a Fender but we do (as artists and aficionados).

You're absolutely correct. We "artists and aficionados" tend to fixate on the minutia of all things bass/amps/strings/effects/etc. We're NOTORIOUS for "navel gazing".

My point is this; sweat the details, but only insofar as they allow you to fully express yourself on the instrument. Your overall tone will come more from EQ than from any one component on your instrument.

Again, this is all my own personal viewpoint.

 

[tfer]

You're absolutely correct. We "artists and aficionados" tend to fixate on the minutia of all things bass/amps/strings/effects/etc. We're NOTORIOUS for "navel gazing".

My point is this; sweat the details, but only insofar as they allow you to fully express yourself on the instrument. Your overall tone will come more from EQ than from any one component on your instrument.

Again, this is all my own personal viewpoint.

I believe that it's part of our job to sweat the minutiae.

A butcher will have a set of knives that he prefers over others. Same with a suis chef.

When you get your meal, or prepare your own steak, does it matter what tools they used? Probably not to you, but to the butcher and chef, they mattered.

A lot.

 

[Munjibunga]

So how would you describe the tonal properties of different fretboard woods?

The word on ebony is that it provides a sharp attack.

 

[bucephylus]

I'm good with how players want to look at this whatever way. If looks matter more, then go with that. If cost matters more, then go with that. If endangered species matter more, then go with that.

The tonal effects, even if you can discriminate them, are not a major effect.

That said, I do slightly prefer the sound and feel I get with Ebony. So, if I am spending a bunch of money on a build where I am choosing the woods, I will take Ebony. I spend a lot of time with the instrument, and I do notice the little things. But, I am also quite happy with the generic Fender in either the blonde or brunette variation.

Fingerboard wood matters, if it matters.

 

[mark beem]

I believe that it's part of our job to sweat the minutiae.

A butcher will have a set of knives that he prefers over others. Same with a suis chef.

When you get your meal, or prepare your own steak, does it matter what tools they used? Probably not to you, but to the butcher and chef, they mattered.

A lot.

But why does the butcher prefer those knives? Does the wood on the handles allow him to cut better? Which is more important, the minute details of the knife - carbon blades or not, stamped or forged, wood handles or synthetic material - or that the blade takes and holds an edge that allows him to make those precise cuts and is constructed in an ergonomic way that allows him to work free of fatigue and/or pain?

Yes, quality in any instrument, whether a bass or set of butcher's knives, is important. But as I said. I don't sweat the details beyond what is required to allow me to play to the best of my ability. I spent a lot of time trying different things with basses (I've owned over 75 in my 35 years + playing) and I've found a set of specifications that works for me (lightweight, 35" scale, 19mm spacing). And to me (stress "to me") I cannot hear a significant difference between rosewood/maple/ebony. Not one that would make me choose one over the other for anything other than purely cosmetic reasons.

Let me add that I don't think you're wrong for laboring over every detail of your bass. They're an investment in pursuing our love of and passion for making music. I've always said play what you want and piss on what anyone else thinks.

 

[GrapeBass]

I believe that it's part of our job to sweat the minutiae.

A butcher will have a set of knives that he prefers over others. Same with a suis chef.

When you get your meal, or prepare your own steak, does it matter what tools they used? Probably not to you, but to the butcher and chef, they mattered.

A lot.

A much better analogy than cars

 

[tfer]

But why does the butcher prefer those knives? Does the wood on the handles allow him to cut better? Which is more important, the minute details of the knife - carbon blades or not, stamped or forged, wood handles or synthetic material - or that the blade takes and holds an edge that allows him to make those precise cuts and is constructed in an ergonomic way that allows him to work free of fatigue and/or pain?

Yes, quality in any instrument, whether a bass or set of butcher's knives, is important. But as I said. I don't sweat the details beyond what is required to allow me to play to the best of my ability. I spent a lot of time trying different things with basses (I've owned over 75 in my 35 years + playing) and I've found a set of specifications that works for me (lightweight, 35" scale, 19mm spacing). And to me (stress "to me") I cannot hear a significant difference between rosewood/maple/ebony. Not one that would make me choose one over the other for anything other than purely cosmetic reasons.

Let me add that I don't think you're wrong for laboring over every detail of your bass. They're an investment in pursuing our love of and passion for making music. I've always said play what you want and piss on what anyone else thinks.

You're absolutely right - the quality and build matters.

But for me, sonic requirements matter as well. We are dealing in audible circumstances. And for me, rosewood makes an audible difference that I prefer, as does the maple neck and body woods.

Mahogany on fretless.

Ash on fretted.

If another player can't hear those differences, I'm not concerned about it. But those are the specs that I start with. Weight doesn't matter a lick to me - my fretted is almost 15 lbs, while my fretless is under 9.

I prefer a 35" scale because I only play 5s and 6s, but I wouldn't turn away from a solid sounding 34".

But I won't ever go away from those wood combinations.

 

[Norwegian Bass]

Answer is: yes!. Of course, it's also a matter of what degree of "what matters". I'm a little bit in the "tone freak" camp. I don't necessarily think that it is so much that the people who don't think wood is so important, is that they "can't hear", is more that "they don't know what to listen for" (because it doesn't matter(?)), and that they haven't paid attention to it, again, in their world about non essential stuff. I've paid and continue to pay very close, focused attention on these things, mostly because of extreme interest. I've gotten props for it too, on bass and guitar, both electric and acoustic (not acoustic bass). When I was younger, I was more focused on playing and becoming a real gunslinger, compliments on tone then was few and far in between. A couple of times I even got flak for my tone; I was like "Huh? Now, look at this!" babbitybabbitybiddybabing! slapping fast triplets or ripping through Donna Lee! Now, I rarely slap, and since Jaco did Donna Lee better, I don't play that anymore, other than by myself to check that I can still do it, or to show friends how crazy good Jaco was and how hard it is to pull a tune like that off, they can hear my puffs and grunts hahaha, when I play it! Plus Jaco had that gorgeous vibrato and the little slides and vocal quality of his fretless playing, which is all the life in that tune anyway, when doing it on the bass IMO.
But comparing guitar forums to talkbass, tone is much more obsessed over, over there than here. Perhaps, it's because of the bass being more a functional instrument, no matter how you slice it, in a way, than guitar? With that being said and following this comparison with guitar and bass forums, my observation has been that: This "wood doesn't matter" don't hold much traction in the guitar world. Anyone who have spent some time with some decent examples of say, a rosewood Strat vs a maple Strat for instance, don't think that it doesn't matter. It's a very distinct difference. There are some naysayers there too, of course. But those are the types that will (and some also have) make a guitar out of cardboard, play it and say it "sounds great", or buy a Chinese knock off Les Paul, and write on forums that it's "just as good" as a Gibson Custom, so why pay $5000 extra "for nothing". I watch youtube videos of this kind, and I think "You wouldn't know good tone if it hit you in the head with a sledgehammer", about the guy talking. And the comments section is split, with people saying either "Right on, man!" or "Go rinse your ears!" It could also be some have a fetish for doing things cheap, and doing "a lot with a little", which is totally valid, but then just say so. I made a cardboard Strat, I can play music on it! I can even shred on it! Hurray! That's awesome. But don't go around claiming it's "the same thing" as a Fender Custom Shop Strat. It's not!
To be a little serious:
I think the market pretty much speaks for itself. The fact that there is a market and support for the high end in the industry, tells me what people believe. What people do, say more about what they believe, than what they say they believe. That!, I BELIEVE! (Oh, dear!) The fact that Fodera is not out of business, speaks volumes, really IMO. The people who think that people buy Foderas because of "the pretty butterfly" on the headstock, must think that those customers, must be stupider than a bag of bricks. To pay that much, when "they could've" just got the same pickups, and put them in the same places on a Warmoth "whatever wood"- build, and "that would be that!", why wouldn't they do that? Perhaps there is more to it than that? Perhaps the customers are smarter, more informed, and they know exactly what they're doing? And Fodera tones are niche stuff! (Precision=The industry standard). I think people know what they're spending their money on and why; and that they're NOT fooled by bling or marketing.
I do not play a Fodera. But I do know that they just did their version of a Les Paul (I know Les Pauls very well), and their single cut is a very, very good sounding Les Paul type guitar. Great tone IMO. And it has the pretty butterfly, too!
3 words there to answer the question, and a loooooong rant! (Sorry!) And a little Fodera love there on the end. I don't play them, but I totally get what they're about, and I do admire their work, and I'm happy that they are supported by players. (I play Fender and Sadowsky)

 

[tfer]

Answer is: yes!. Of course, it's also a matter of what degree of "what matters". I'm a little bit in the "tone freak" camp. I don't necessarily think that it is so much that the people who don't think wood is so important, is that they "can't hear", is more that "they don't know what to listen for" (because it doesn't matter(?)), and that they haven't paid attention to it, again, in their world about non essential stuff. I've paid and continue to pay very close, focused attention on these things, mostly because of extreme interest. I've gotten props for it too, on bass and guitar, both electric and acoustic (not acoustic bass). When I was younger, I was more focused on playing and becoming a real gunslinger, compliments on tone then was few and far in between. A couple of times I even got flak for my tone; I was like "Huh? Now, look at this!" babbitybabbitybiddybabing! slapping fast triplets or ripping through Donna Lee! Now, I rarely slap, and since Jaco did Donna Lee better, I don't play that anymore, other than by myself to check that I can still do it, or to show friends how crazy good Jaco was and how hard it is to pull a tune like that off, they can hear my puffs and grunts hahaha, when I play it! Plus Jaco had that gorgeous vibrato and the little slides and vocal quality of his fretless playing, which is all the life in that tune anyway, when doing it on the bass IMO.
But comparing guitar forums to talkbass, tone is much more obsessed over, over there than here. Perhaps, it's because of the bass being more a functional instrument, no matter how you slice it, in a way, than guitar? With that being said and following this comparison with guitar and bass forums, my observation has been that: This "wood doesn't matter" don't hold much traction in the guitar world. Anyone who have spent some time with some decent examples of say, a rosewood Strat vs a maple Strat for instance, don't think that it doesn't matter. It's a very distinct difference. There are some naysayers there too, of course. But those are the types that will (and some also have) make a guitar out of cardboard, play it and say it "sounds great", or buy a Chinese knock off Les Paul, and write on forums that it's "just as good" as a Gibson Custom, so why pay $5000 extra "for nothing". I watch youtube videos of this kind, and I think "You wouldn't know good tone if it hit you in the head with a sledgehammer", about the guy talking. And the comments section is split, with people saying either "Right on, man!" or "Go rinse your ears!" It could also be some have a fetish for doing things cheap, and doing "a lot with a little", which is totally valid, but then just say so. I made a cardboard Strat, I can play music on it! I can even shred on it! Hurray! That's awesome. But don't go around claiming it's "the same thing" as a Fenden Custom Shop Strat. It's not!
To be a little serious:
I think the market pretty much speaks for itself. The fact that there is a market and support for the high end in the industry, tells me what people believe. What people do, say more about what they believe, than what they say they believe. That!, I BELIEVE! (Oh, dear!) The fact that Fodera is not out of business, speaks volumes, really IMO. The people who think that people buy Foderas because of "the pretty butterfly" on the headstock, must think that those customers, must be stupider than a bag of bricks. To pay that much, when "they could've" just got the same pickups, and put them in the same places on a Warmoth "whatever wood"- build, and "that would be that!", why wouldn't they do that? Perhaps there is more to it than that? Perhaps the customers are smarter, more informed, and they know exactly what they're doing? And Fodera tones are niche stuff! (Precision=The industry standard). I think people know what they're spending their money on and why; and that they're NOT fooled by bling or marketing.
I do not play a Fodera. But I do know that they just did their version of a Les Paul (I know Les Pauls very well), and their single cut is a very, very good sounding Les Paul type guitar. Great tone IMO. And it has the pretty butterfly, too!
3 words there to answer the question, and a loooooong rant! (Sorry!) And a little Fodera love there on the end. I don't play them, but I totally get what they're about, and I do admire their work, and I'm happy that they are supported by players. (I play Fender and Sadowsky)

I completely agree that the differences are much more noticeable on guitar than bass, because IMO, the difference in wood affects upper harmonics more than the fundamental.