Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Fender P - Maple vs Ebony
- Thread starter Just2play
- Start date
Ain't gonna tell ya which one to buy.
IME and YMMV, I find ebony and pao ferro both to be a bit on the "tappy" side. What is meant by tappy? When the string is fretted down onto the metal fret, I can hear a tap or tappy sound with ebony and pao ferro (because they are very hard woods).
Maple and rosewood for me. IME and IMHO
"To each his own." "Whatever floats your boat."
I hope that you can reach a satisfying decision.
Usually, it is better to over buy than to under buy.
IME and YMMV, I find ebony and pao ferro both to be a bit on the "tappy" side. What is meant by tappy? When the string is fretted down onto the metal fret, I can hear a tap or tappy sound with ebony and pao ferro (because they are very hard woods).
Maple and rosewood for me. IME and IMHO
"To each his own." "Whatever floats your boat."
I hope that you can reach a satisfying decision.
Usually, it is better to over buy than to under buy.
That black one is 'chef's kiss'!
The ebony on black on black with matched black is total Hotblack Desiato (or would be if he wasn't a keyboard player).
If you go for maple sunburst, when that beautiful piece of kit is available then you don't deserve to have a plutonium record; let alone to spend a year dead for tax reasons.
The ebony on black on black with matched black is total Hotblack Desiato (or would be if he wasn't a keyboard player).
If you go for maple sunburst, when that beautiful piece of kit is available then you don't deserve to have a plutonium record; let alone to spend a year dead for tax reasons.
I remember playing the Ebony at GC not too long ago. Maybe it was the specific model, but it was set up perfectly and played like a dream. Wish I had bought it.
I would go with maple, but I'm a sap for fender basses with maple fretboards.
Whereas i'm the opposite to you and I'd get pretty much anything other than sunburst with maple.
LOVE the look of that ebony board and matching headstock.
I think maple is more of a traditional tone, but between these two I'd go with Back in Black...it's pretty sweet!
Ebony is far harder and more dense than maple. Depending on the instrument, and depending on your ears, it can add a slight edge in definition and a bit more zing in the high end. If this is present, it would be a very subtle difference, not some big night and day difference.
On the other hand, because of that stiffness, ebony easily reinforces the neck stiffness vis-a-vis relief adjustments, which generally requires less attention generally vs. a maple fingerboard.
Again, all these are subtle differences which I've seen after owning more than a few ebony fingerboard basses.
Should you get a chance to see the ebony bass in person, the best ebony looks almost synthetic showing very little grain.
On the other hand, because of that stiffness, ebony easily reinforces the neck stiffness vis-a-vis relief adjustments, which generally requires less attention generally vs. a maple fingerboard.
Again, all these are subtle differences which I've seen after owning more than a few ebony fingerboard basses.
Should you get a chance to see the ebony bass in person, the best ebony looks almost synthetic showing very little grain.
Maple (with finish) is a hard surface. Ebony is harder than a finished maple. The rule-of-thumb for me is that I get a brighter and punchier response (very noticable with slap style) the harder the fretboard surface is,,,,but its only a rule-of-thumb: the not-mentioned rosewood is a softer wood that I usually get a warmer response from but Ive played very bright and punchy rosewood basses and duller maple ones, so its not an exact science for me. My Stingray HH is Ebony and I like it...Your mileage may vary
Down side to darker bass guitars is they require cleaning more often as hand and finger prints show up to easily.
The ebony bass has a pizazz about it that the other one wishes it had. It's run of the mill, plain old vanilla ice-cream in comparison to the ebony..
Is it worth the extra 140 Euros?
You betchya it is.
Even I'd look good playing that..and that's saying something...
The ebony bass has a pizazz about it that the other one wishes it had. It's run of the mill, plain old vanilla ice-cream in comparison to the ebony..
Is it worth the extra 140 Euros?
You betchya it is.
Even I'd look good playing that..and that's saying something...
I’d go black. It just looks so cool. I play upright so I love the feel of ebony under my fingers (I’d feel the same with frets). Occasionally I hear that ebony is becoming more difficult to get so it may just become more exotic in the coming decades. That’s not enough money to squabble over when it comes to instruments. Get the one that speaks to you. The top one is fine but nothing special. The black one is clearly special (so ducking special, but I’m a creep).
