I think we should stop arguing about maple vs rosewood (see inside)

[DrGroovenstein]

Sadowsky Metro 4 string- Maple on Alder - Sweetly balanced. Blindfolded I would have said Rosewood.

That is impossible, as Metros are not sold in that wood combination. They are only Maple/Ash or Rosewood/Alder.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Rosewood has more mass than maple. That leads to an obvious conclusion...

But then what would it sound like if we were playing under a different gravity than the earth, like the moon? Thats the real question here, I think.

 

[KayCee]

But then what would it sound like if we were playing under a different gravity than the earth, like the moon? Thats the real question here, I think.

It would sound like it does on the bars here on earth. The crash cymbals would be next to your head, and you wouldn't be able to breathe.

 

[alanbass1]

What?? My strings never touch the fingerboard (fretted bass). If they did, there would be dents/scrapes/whatever in the fingerboard. You all are crazy. I mean sheesh, what are you fretting the string right between the two frets (or even closer to the fret behind) to be able to bend it all the way down to the fingerboard?? And I have some seriously tiny frets on my MTD, and any sideways vibrato is only putting pressure on the fret. If not, man you have a whack technique or are trying to bend the note by pushing the string into the fingerboard. I'l start calling you the hulk.

I'm not really sure where you are coming from regarding strings not touching the fingerboard. I was the one who said I had a pronounced sideways vibrato technique and, yes, I do press the strings firmly behind the fret and this results in them touching the fingerboard. It is common for this to be the case as evidenced by many well used instruments showing such wear on the fingerboard. Am I a ghastley hulk type character....well, no I'm not.

As an aside, it was not me who derided you in a previous post, but it is you who seem to be a little insulting with regard to my technique. I would guess that many players who read this post will do likewise; on depressing the string behind the fret the string makes contact with the fingerboard. I can't see any issue with this.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Shrug. I'm not insulting or insulted. Just expressing my opinions. Take it as you will. Notice the ducking icon. I am no expert in anything bass related, but I know in my (which I would assume is normal) technique, no way I would be pushing the strings that hard. I've owned dozens of basses, majority of which are used, and I've seen worn frets but never worn fingerboards. I think I'll get the feeler guages out tonight to check and see if I can get the strings to touch the fingerboard on my MTD.

<edit> I don't use light guage strings. I would also agree that this is definitely possible on a guitar, as I have done this to bend the strings (instead of normal bend), but we're talking a huge difference in string guage here. And then that is not something I did enough that would have worn the fingerboard anyway. Maybe I'm just a special case heheh

 

[Moo]

I would guess that many players who read this post will do likewise; on depressing the string behind the fret the string makes contact with the fingerboard. I can't see any issue with this.

If you have an electric tuner try it with the bass plugged in. you'll see it makes your strings go out of tune.

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

yea the neck isn't aluminum. Imagine a full graphite neck. with a VERY thing sheet of aluminum over the fingerboard.

That could be interesting. Maybe as a fretless. Lefay makes one with an SS board, but I think that it has a wood neck.

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

What if it this is all just related to mass. Can we all agree that a bass with more mass will be brighter?

I doubt it. I've played some warwicks that were way heavier, but not as bright as the F Bass I owned.

I guess that would be the selling point for those hefty bridges such as BAII, etc. Which fingerboard would have more mass? A maple or rosewood?

</post-fest>

The specific gravity of maple is about 0.75 and Rosewood is (depending on species) 0.85 - 1.2.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

I doubt it. I've played some warwicks that were way heavier, but not as bright as the F Bass I owned.



The specific gravity of maple is about 0.75 and Rosewood is (depending on species) 0.85 - 1.2.

So much for that theory!

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Shrug. I'm not insulting or insulted. Just expressing my opinions. Take it as you will. Notice the ducking icon. I am no expert in anything bass related, but I know in my (which I would assume is normal) technique, no way I would be pushing the strings that hard. I've owned dozens of basses, majority of which are used, and I've seen worn frets but never worn fingerboards. I think I'll get the feeler guages out tonight to check and see if I can get the strings to touch the fingerboard on my MTD.

It also depends what the height of the frets are on your bass. I have Banjo frets (0.040") on my Dingwall and they are available with Mandolin frets (0.037") as well. Jumbo fretwire is around 0.053".

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

So much for that theory!

It could be true in many but not all cases though, just not for the F Bass/Warwick comparison. Also, Warwick and F Bass also have very different electronics and most likely had different strings. I can come up with extreme examples where a heavier bass would definitely be less bright.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

It also depends what the height of the frets are on your bass. I have Banjo frets (0.040") on my Dingwall and they are available with Mandolin frets (0.037") as well. Jumbo fretwire is around 0.053".

Yeah, I know My MTD is pretty tiny fretwire. I've had plenty of basses go through my "collection" so I know the difference

 

[de la mocha]

I like maplewood for the looks....

 

[Pickebass]

I have two fender jazz basses that are the same except for the neck and there is definitely a difference in the tone. The maple neck has a brighter sound and definitely more attack. Maybe it's just an illusion, but I do notice a difference as most others who have heard the two

 

[SundanceChile]

Hey Fretless Freak: My pads do touch the fingerboard, especially on the D and G strings, and when I am bending or"warbling" a note. I've got pretty long fingers for a 5' 8" guy, but not fat fingers. Fingers not currently in use on a note will also touch areas of the neck as I play and mute. I notice a "feel" difference between necks. I'm currently playing a fretted 64 Jazz and a fretless 2001 MIM Jazz, both with Rosewood. The two Rosewood necks even feel different. I've played bass for 32 years. I don't like the way maple fingerboards feel.

To each his own, I have Jimi Hendirx hands(literatly, I put my hands into his mold at the rock walk). Also, which "feel" are you talking about? Not to start arguments, but is it the texture or how hard the wood is that turns you off of maple? Personally, I think this would make a LARGE difference in why people prefer wood A vs. wood B.

 

[rotero]

That is impossible, as Metros are not sold in that wood combination. They are only Maple/Ash or Rosewood/Alder.

My bad. I looked like alder to me. I guess I just think sunburst-therefore alder.

Since the thread is about fingerboards and therefore necks, I think my point still stands.

 

[NecroticImbecil]

Are we arguing about not arguing about the maple vs rosewood argument? I'll argue it's arguable.

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Are we arguing about not arguing about the maple vs rosewood argument? I'll argue it's arguable.

I disagree.

 

[Tom Crofts]

I disagree.

I concur.

 

[SundanceChile]

I concur.

I'm going Switzerland now.