• 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 freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Fretboards: maple or rosewood, and why?

IMG00072-20110120-2148.jpg

Those are stunning!

Black and Maple's still my fav...

Not always my #1 favorite, but I really do love black and maple. Very classy.

In fact, I've noticed over the years that while I'll see a flashy guitar or bass, like LPB or CAR, it can really get me drooling with GAS.

But the guitars and basses I've kept the longest and bonded with the most through the decades are more plain--black, natural wood, burst, white (esp. vintage white or creamy off-white or ivory shades.)

I still love more colorful finishes--pastels like surf green and sonic blue, metallics like LPB, CAR, Sherwood Green, etc., and even some metal flake and sparkle finishes and the occasional flame job hot rod look, etc.

But for me personally as far as what I own I just like thigs more plain and "classic" somehow.

That said, I do have an old beater guitar that I think of refinishing in Firemist Gold someday.
 
i like both but i prefer maple, i have two maple precision's- a 50s classic reissue and a 2008 american standard 5 string precision, and i have a rosewood board lakland joe osborn. To me it is barely any difference, just looks and feel more so. Fretless is another story the difference is more noticeable.
 
im all for the maple. I like the bright edgy tone it gives. It feels alot nicer than rosewood too. I dont like the way rosewood looks (especially on fenders) if the headstock is the same color as the neck. And therefore the headstock is maple and the fretboard is rosewood, It looks hideous-like your bass is wearing clothes. Thats also why i like maple-it keeps the same color for the neck up to the headstock.
 
Maple - mostly because it was the fretboard on my favorite bass (USA Peavey Millennium) which happened to be the second bass that I bought after an SX Jazz with a rosewood board. Had it been a pau ferro Millennium, I would probably be singing the praises of pau ferro instead.

That said, I do like the look of maple and the brighter sound is a nice match for the active MM/J pickup configuration on the Millennium.