'If only it had a maple board, id be all over it'

[kcole4001]

I own 6 basses and 3 electric guitars, and only one has a maple 'board.

I'll be the guy saying "if it only had a rosewood 'board" even if seemingly everyone else prefers maple.

 

[cr250_977]

I prefer the look of maple boards.There is an early 90s
black P for sale here locally(Rosewood) at a decent price.. If was maple "I'd have been all over it"...

 

[AndybradleyUK]

I prefer ebony to maple, but that doesn't put me off trying basses with rosewood, maple or pau ferro boards. And if the bass sounds better without maple, why choose maple?

 

[LowNotes1]

Although I also tend to prefer the aesthetics of a maple board, back in the days when I was gigging I preferred them for a different reason. I have always been near-sighted, and when I first started performing on-stage I found it difficult to see the white pearl fret markers on a rosewood board in the dim light of a club/bar. The greater contrast of a black marker on the lighter-colored maple board was a little easier for me to see.

At one point I bought an Ibanez jazz bass copy that looked like today's Geddy Lee's with the maple neck and black blocks. That was REAL easy to see. The only problem was that it was a lousy bass, and I quickly disposed of it.

 

[DTF]

Some peeps like the maple. But besides that you see all kinds of "If only it had 'x', I'd be all over it!" responses in the classifieds that probably aren't the least bit serious. Consider them goodwill bumps from folks who know they won't be buying .

this

 

[HaMMerHeD]

I don't like maple fingerboard at all. I think it makes a bass look cheap. I don't really like rosewood either. I prefer ebony.

 

[jbossolo]

To each his own.
I have a Birdsong on commission that will have a bocote fretboard. Now that will be something to see:

 

[seedokebass]

The real answer?

Ancient aliens.

 

[tabdog]

I always wanted rosewood.

Somehow, all my best basses
have maple???

Tabdog

 

[Moving Pictures]

The real answer?

Ancient aliens.

I just about spit out my coffee when I read this...thanks for the laugh!

 

[G On Bass]

.... honestly when was the last time you heard someone say 'If only it had a rosewood fretboard'

The last time I had a bass for sale with a maple fretboard. Multiple times. Seriously.

 

[smcd]

But besides that you see all kinds of "If only it had 'x', I'd be all over it!" responses in the classifieds that probably aren't the least bit serious. Consider them goodwill bumps from folks who know they won't be buying .

+1

 

[experimental bassist]

FWIW, Rosewood is MUCH harder than (unfinished) Maple.

That's why Rosewood necks are mostly found on basses unfinished. Maple has to have a finish applied over it.

In the old days, Maple was a cheap way to finish a neck, just throw some laquer over it since the neck was already made out of the stuff. Saved the step of having to set a Rosewood cap on the neck.

My opinion, it's purely a matter of aesthetics. My first bass had a maple neck, yet all my basses (and guitars ) today have Rosewood. It's just a preference.

Oh, and +1 to the "goodwill bump" observation.

 

[SassyS]

... but honestly when was the last time you heard someone say 'If only it had a rosewood fretboard'

I prefer the way rosewood looks over maple. A maple fretboard looks a little bland to me, I guess. Does that make me weird?

 

[otherclef]

So are we saying here there is absolutely no tonal differences???

 

[Pilgrim]

Ive seen this quote pretty often in the classifieds. Anybody knows whats with the maple fetish?

I understand that each individual will have his own preference, but honestly when was the last time you heard someone say 'If only it had a rosewood fretboard'

It doesn't matter to me. I don't hear any difference. There is a visual difference, but I have never chosen a bass because of fretboard wood. Can't imagine that I ever would, either.

Since maple gets dirty more easily than rosewood (or at least displays dirt more readily), if I were to choose, I'd go for the darker wood.

 

[meatwad]

To say one likes the way one fingerboard looks over the other is feasible, but IMO, it's impossible to "hear" the difference. Especially on a fretted bass. For years my preference was "maple for bass, rosewood for guitar". Now, except for certain color combinations, it really doesn't matter to me one way or the other.

In short, as already said a dozen times, mostly aesthetic reasons. To some, it must mean enough to pass up a good deal, I suppose.

 

[TNCreature]

I have noticed this trend as well, but I don't know why other people do anything that they do. Many opinions come down to someone believing something they read or heard somewhere, or copying someone they look up to.
I have maple and rosewood necks. It is ONE consideration out of MANY when I buy a bass. I just slightly prefer the feel of rosewood. But neck or fretboard wood alone would not be a deal-breaker for me.
I have a friend who will never play a maple neck, he swears it "rips up his hands". I have no idea what he is talking about. I think this is a belief of his, or technique issues.

 

[Pilgrim]

I think bass and guitar players run out of meaningless things to obsess about, so they find new ones.

 

[SBsoundguy]

I much prefer maple and it's only because I like the way it looks. I think a lot of companies that mass produced basses cheap out on the selection of rosewood boards. They don't all look beautiful like the boards on 4003s.