Maple or rosewood fretboard on a MM Stingray?

A rosewood fingerboard is softer - you feel when the string "sits down" on the fret, but it's harder to slide, maple fingerboard is not so soft, but easier to slide. IMO you just should test both options and choose the better one for you = there is noa nother way. Enjoy your new guitar

 

It's up to you, but I think maple looks much better-but not the yellow maple. That's just ugly. I'd say get maple. I have a stingray with a maple board and it looks beautiful. Having the neck in one piece makes it look smoother, as opposed to having a piece cut into it wiht rosewood.

 

I used to have a stingray 5 with a rosewood board & I sold it because the bass was just too dark. Some might like it...I dont. If it was a maple board, I would still be playing it.

Maple is definatly brighter, but you can dial out alot of the high end if thats what you like. It just gives you more options.

 

If ever there was a bass designed for a maple board I would say its a Stingray. If you've decided on a Ray ,might as as well get the full bite and sizzle the maple adds, the piezo pick up option wouldn't be bad either.

 

I have 'Rays with maple and rosewood boards. If there's any sonic difference whatsoever, its miniscule. I think the biggest difference is in the FEEL of the fingerboard, as well as its physical appearance. I'd recommend you pick the one that feels best to you.

 

if YOU like it, snag it

i have a natural ash/maple fingerboard/3 EQ and i think it looks like a million bucks.

i do sometimes wish a had one with a rosewood fingerboard though, i think the tone is way different. darker/softer deffinately... not as much bite...

ash + maple on a stingray is bright.. but it IS a stingray

rosewood fingerboards are not nearly as prone to humidity changes as a maple fingerboard... especially with that unfinished neck.

maple looks better in my opinion... especially on a natural finish.

quite a difference in ash or alder too, in my opinion... ash is brighter, alder maybe a bit more resonant.

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

get a desert gold(orange) stringray with a maple fretboard, and a white pick up.

the epitome of sexy.

 

you might actually preferr the rosewood over the maple. doesnt hurt to play it and see how you like it. i like the maple for cosmetics, but rosewood and ash really sound good together in my opinion. mmm, trans orange with rosewood, now that looks sweet.

 

Maple!

When I bought my Ray, I could have walked out the door with a rosewood neck, or wait several weeks for a bass with Maple neck to be shipped out from the states. I chose to wait for the Maple. Then I was informed a bass would have to be made especially for me in that colour/neck combination so it would be mort like 4 months. I decided to wait. It was worth it.

As for looking better than rosewood, I agree if we're talking brand new of from a distance. But maple necks tend to look a bit worn and dirty after they've been played for a few months. Doesn't bother me but it could bother others.

 

I use maple boards and I use rosewood boards!

I feel the maple board is brighter in sound........don't you??


Treena