Maple fretboard...or darkwood

[ezstep]

My mother (now RIP) went to purchase a new car. She went to a dealership, which happened to be a Honda dealership, to look. She was asked what kind of car she wanted. Her answer? "Silver." They found her a silver Civic. She was happy. But she really limited herself to only four vehicles of their entire stock, not to mention what they could have ordered.

Don't limit yourself.

 

[Son of Wobble]

Mark me Maple

 

[mongo2]

I prefer rosewood for both feel and aesthetics.

I'm not a fan of the look of a natural pale maple fingerboard except for the one on my Blue Flower SCPB RI. Somehow, I don't know why, that just works for me. The only other basses I like with a maple neck is on a blond/natural ash '51- mid '57 style SCPB or Telecaster style and then only when the bass and neck are darkened to amber by age or a tinted finish.

But that doesn't mean I won't play one, I just prefer rosewood.

 

[58kites]

I have two Rosewood and one Pau Ferro ...and all the rest are Maple.
I like Maple best... Pau Ferro and Ebony second, and Rosewood the least.

 

[GIBrat51]

Does it hold the frets good and tight? Yes?
Do I get splinters when I play it? No?
Then it's fine with me...

 

[MEKer]

2 Maple
2 Ebony
6 Rosewood
...and 1 Partridge in a Pear tree (which I can probably take care of with a # 6 pellet load in my 12 gauge)

Ahem...back on subject: They all play just fine, no "feel" involved that can make me favor one over another as far as the fretboard is concerned.

 

[G On Bass]

Both these basses of mine have maple necks. One is roasted maple, one is birdseye.

 

[DD Gunz]

I love maple boards. I thought everyone else did as well until now.

 

[madbass6]

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?

I like them both ! OK, I'm just stating the obvious folks, its not about the looks its more about the sound different fret board woods produce for certain type of instruments (J Bass v.s P Bass etc.) as well as certain styles of music ! (FUNK V.S Blues v.s rock etc.) I have basses with both types , depending on what the gig calls for I'll have options! ! regarding the looks , in my opinion it don't really matter .

 

[Bass V]

for ol'skul there is simply 0 to match the looks and sound of a '50s Fender blondie at it's finest.

 

[eureka kid]

I'll tell you what, go to sadowskys web site and check out his nyc basses with burnt(roasted) Birdseye maple necks, man oh man I fell in love

 

[Solarmist]

I like both, and pretty much depends what body woods are used along with the finish type.

 

[Wisebass]

I love to quote myself

Sorry I prolly should take a familly shot

maple, rosewood, rosewood, ebony. I love them all!

View attachment 2927718 View attachment 2927721 View attachment 2927719 View attachment 2927720

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

...taking a closer look, my next will prolly have a .......P pickup?

Wise(b)ass

 

[fretlessguy]

I prefer maple on Fender fretted basses. It just seems to be the right combo. All the rest of my fleet sports rosewood or ebony.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I prefer maple. Easier to see on a dark stage, firmer feel with less give, and to my ears they are more present in a mix. I also happen to think they look nicer.

 

[Joybass]

I love a maple fretboard, but am also drawn to a nice dark rosewood job. I do both. I guess I am not really out of the closet on this one.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

Blocked maple necks are my favorite. I've got two. Plus two rosewood and two wenge. How diverse of me!

 

[58kites]

I prefer maple. Easier to see on a dark stage, firmer feel with less give, and to my ears they are more present in a mix.
I also happen to think they look nicer.

+1 ...Closed grain, finished, easier to keep clean with a quick cloth wipe, won't ever need a bit of linseed oil like Rosewood.
I have to admit my G Bass has a Graphite neck with Pau Ferro fretboard and it feels very good.
For some reason I prefer the feel of Rosewood on guitar fretboards.

 

[SirMjac28]

I love the maple board on my Marcus

 

[MotorCityMinion]

I can live with maple. Not my 1st choice, how the instrument feels takes that spot. I can't stand the looks of new maple though. To white for me. It's gotta have the gold tint to it. BTW, anybody else here with a maple board use steel wool to knock the gloss off it?