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Maple fretboard...or darkwood

#6
I like the way maple looks, can't stand playing bass guitars with maple boards. Feels too hard and sounds too bright. However, that's the way I think Strats (like mine) and Teles should be. If you can rock a bass with a maple board, you have more options open to you.
 
#7
Myzee said:
Looks of the bass are very important to me long with the usual sound and feel. I just can't help it.....I just DO NOT like the way a maple fretboard looks. Any darkwood does it for me. Rosewood, Wenge etc. Ive owned one bass in my 35+ years of playing that had a maple fretboard.
What about you? Anyone else not like the way maple looks?
Click to expand...
I hate rosewood necks, interestingly though, most of my basses have rosewood necks.

homer thinking.jpg
 
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#9
As far as looks I like maple, especially with black block inlays. I don't know why, but a Rosewood fretboard just feels better. I've owned both. My next bass will be Warmoth, probably either a maple or Pau Ferro fretboard with black block inlays (and black hardware!).
 
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#10
Myzee said:
Looks of the bass are very important to me long with the usual sound and feel. I just can't help it.....I just DO NOT like the way a maple fretboard looks. Any darkwood does it for me. Rosewood, Wenge etc. Ive owned one bass in my 35+ years of playing that had a maple fretboard.
What about you? Anyone else not like the way maple looks?
Click to expand...

Mmm... maple.

1.jpg
 
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#11
Myzee said:
Looks of the bass are very important to me long with the usual sound and feel. I just can't help it.....I just DO NOT like the way a maple fretboard looks. Any darkwood does it for me. Rosewood, Wenge etc. Ive owned one bass in my 35+ years of playing that had a maple fretboard.
What about you? Anyone else not like the way maple looks?
Click to expand...
So you say you "just can't help it". And you say you "owned" a maple boarded bass. So I presume you no longer have it.
Well, in the interest of helping a fellow TB'er, I think there is a deeper problem underlying this issue. My approach to it is below.

I think it would be best if you were to get another maple-fretboarded bass. A cheapie would be fine.

Here are the "Thens":
--Then hide it under your bed.
--Then wait for unexplained noises to start coming from under the bed.
--Then go to sleep with one arm and hand draped over the edge of the bed and discover if anything will grab it, perhaps starting out as a gentle brush against your hand.
--Then see how long it is until the headstock (also maple) starts to inexplicably and repeatedly be slightly moved while you are away so that it is "peeking" from under the bed.

--Then get back to us.
 
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#12
JKos said:
It really just depends on the overall look of the instrument. Some look better with maple, some look better with something else.

- John
Click to expand...

Agreed. I’ve only owned three basses in my life. A blue burst with ebony fingerboard and matching headstock. A green burst with ebony fingerboard and matching headstock. And a black with rosewood fingerboard and matching headstock.

You’d think I was only interested in dark boards and dark headstocks. I’m gassing for a Ray with maple board and unfinished headstock...
 
#14
There is a definite softer feel to rosewood when compared to maple or ebony. Sonically more subdued, also. Out of 14 basses, I only have a couple of with rosewood. Two are ebony, the two Rics have bubinga, and the rest are maple. There isn't one of them that's not comfortable to play (even the Carvin is great in that regard, I just can't get used to it). As a youngster I thought maple necks were the coolest looking things ever. Maybe that's why there are so many in the stable.
 
#18
I don't care about looks.
Fret board feel is something many can adapt to.
If I need a quick glance to check finger position, I like maple a lot more.

I still wrestle with the question of tonal difference (Fender P's).
Never had 2 basses that were close enough in age to be sure (1960 vs. 1972 or 73' maple).

You Fender guys ever have 2 P's that were the same approx. weight in alder, same era, same strings, and the only difference being the finger board? Question being is there a consistent difference.
 
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