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Maple or Rosewood board... what do you think?

ubado

ubado

Mar 7, 2007
2,272
25
FL
#1
I'm looking to change out the neck on my P Elite II bass for a Jazz neck. I just don't know what kind of board to get... Maple or Rosewood.

I've only had one Maple boarded bass (an MTD Heir, but didn't dig the MM PU). Prior to that the majority my basses have had either Rosewood or Ebony.

Could someone A/B them... I need a bit of help. Cheers.
 
#2
Lots of talk and debate regarding this topic if you use the search. Essentially, RW is typically warmer while maple is brighter\snappier. Some folks seem to think it makes a difference in tone - others not so much and say you should pick whatever looks the best to you.

I do think it makes a difference - I like both. Personally, I would not get maple again on a passive bass - on active basses, I like both for different reasons. Maple on a passive bass sounds thin to me.
 
#4
Personally I love Maple boards because they look so cool. They also allegedly have a slightly different sound than Rosewood.

No offense to anyone here, but when people say they can tell the minute difference in sound or more surprisingly tone, between certain woods or parts, I think they're crazy. The difference is so small that it's almost impossible to hear. Plus, even if you have two identical basses in every way, except one has a Rosewood board and the other a Maple, any difference in sound and tone is due to a lot of factors, including the pickups (which differ from one to another) the body wood used (two examples of Alder on two basses will sound slightly different because not all trees even within a species are exactly alike), etc.

So my points are: 1) it's hard to hear subtle differences in "tone" unless you have hearing like a dog and 2) two examples of the same bass will sound sound different and it's hard to pinpoint the source of that difference.

But like I said, I'm not looking to start a war or "diss" anyone here. If you really can hear the subtle difference, you have better ears than I do.
 
#6
I'm on the same page with DeanT here. It's like cables: some people swear they can hear a difference, even though there's no physical basis for it.

Anyhow, I really love maple fingerboards. The BEST one I've had a Tribute L2000 with a wide, flat neck finished in satin.

But I get along fine with my Classic '50s Precision with its 7-1/2" radius and gloss poly finish...ditto the '51 P Reissue.

I do have a rosewood fingerboard Jazz fretless, but it will be replaced once I get the unlined maple fretless from Warmoth for my #2 Precision. Then I'll be all maple.:smug:
 
#9
DeanT said:
No offense to anyone here,
Click to expand...

None should be taken. There's no science indicating whether or not a difference in tone exists. It's all opinion.

The difference *is* subtle, and comparing fingerboards is only valid if you're comparing on the same bass (as is the original poster). When you're comparing tonal differences between, say, a Fender and a Fodera, fingerboard wood isn't significant: the difference (if any) will be completely overwhelmed by differences in construction, pickup placement, electronics, etc.
 
#10
I have always played maple necked p's or coated rick boards,
I rolled the dice on a 62ri p-bass, maybe im wierd but a uncoated rosewood fretboard gives me the creeps, its the feel of it. I dont know, its like nails on a chalk board to me.

thats why i put the bass on ebay to buy a maple necked p-bass.
 
#13
Thanks for all the input! :)

With my limited use of maple necks... I would have to agree that it did feel different than the Rosewood and Ebony necks I've played for years. The maple neck on my ex- MTD heir, felt strange to me... since I didn't care for the MM PU I couldn't truly find the difference (didn't have it long enough to be convinced).

As for hearing the tonal differences... between Rosewood and Ebony... I can to an extent... mainly in the upper registers.

... if it just boils down to feel, and not so much sonically... I think I'll stick with Rosewood. :smug:

Please enlighten me if I'm off base

Thanks again! :)
 
#15
Im in the camp that thinks there shouldnt scientifically be a difference, but I think I can tell a difference so Im one confused boy.

Your strings touch the frets, not the fretboard. Theres shouldnt be a difference, but especially in stingrays I could tell in a double blind test which is rosewood and which is maple.

Realistically its more of a visual thing that anything. If some people can tell a difference and some cant that means the difference is pretty small if at all. The feel and looks are gonna make a bigger difference to you in the long run than some tiny bit of tonal difference.
 

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