Maple Madness

[Navybass]

I was just looking at my basses and realized that they had something in common, maple necks/fretboards. I guess I'm just drawn to a good old maple board.

There has been much debate about the difference in tone from maple, rosewood, ebony, etc. I don't know about that, all I do know is that I like the feel and look of a maple board. To me it's the original, since Leo's first production bass had a maple fretboard.

So, with that being said, let's see those basses with maple fretboards.

Here are my 3.

From top to bottom/left to right: Peavey T-40, Fender American vintage 57 reissue Precision bass, 2008 Fender American Jazz bass.

 

[Bass Viking]

Nice! That P bass appears to have some figuring on the fretboard. Is it a Custom Shop model?

 

[JimB52]

I like Maple too. Most of my basses and guitars have maple necks.
Here's a few.
Lakland JO, 4-94, Skyline JO Musicman Stingray 20th Anniversary.

 

[JimB52]

And a few more Fenders
1990 MIJ '51 RIs, 2003 Roscoe Beck IV

 

[JimB52]

2001 50th Anniversary P, 1982 '57 AVS Precision Frankenfender w/ 1972 Jazz neck

 

[Navybass]

Nice! That P bass appears to have some figuring on the fretboard. Is it a Custom Shop model?

Nope, just a regular production model. The figuring on the neck is very nice for a non-custom shop bass.

 

[Swerve]

I certainly like the look of maple necks but I've never played one I really enjoyed.

I started on rosewood and just can't seem to shake it.

Oh well.... maybe one day!

 

[Bone]

There are so many factors that effect tone but I'm not sure if maple or rosewood is one of them. For some reason I'm just drawn to a maple board.

 

[scottbass]

Here are my two main players:

 

[phatbass30]

here's my Sadoswky MS5 and Zith Custom J

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[Johnny Mack]

having only one bass for many years and being stuck with rosewood, i longed for maple. so i got one to match the white P a year ago or so. i really dig having maple boards. now for some reason i want a rosewood board...

 

[Barkless Dog]

JE / Leon Wilkeson Fenderbird replica

Gibson RD Artist -90% Maple 10% Moog = excellence > electronic boat anchor

Blueshawk bass project

 

[MaddAnthony_59]

Here are mine:
The one that started it all, the 51 P-Bass (Re-issue of course! Look familiar )

83 P-Bass Elite

91 P-Bass Deluxe Plus (22 frets!)

200X G&L SB-2

But all that being said, I prefer the Warmth & Depth of the Rosewood fingerboard. For the most part I use Maple to Heat the House!!! (See examples behind 2005 Roscoe Beck IV)

 

[Gary Lynch]

I have always liked maple. Not because I perceive any tone difference but because when I look down the fretboard it is bright and much easier for me to see where I'm going. I have always like the feature over a dark board. The only dark boards I like are pure black ebony on a fretless with no lines.

The argument about if there is a tone difference is kind of mute these days because of the many different pickups, strings, preamps, and EQ on amps you can make what ever tone you like anyway.