Maple Or Rosewood Fretboard?

[amphlett7]

I can't decide

I Wanna get an SX P Bass and then customize it
but i cant decide between Maple or rosewood

I was gunna do new bridge
ner pickguard(Tort)
new knobd
then new pickups
prob Seymour Duncans Quarter Pounder

so yeh

your opinions

 

[Phalex]

The difference between Maple and Rosewood is mostly cosmetic. Someone will undoubtedly argue this point, but I notice no tonal differences.

So the question you gotta ask yourself is: "Do I want a light colored fret board, or a dark colored fret board?"

 

[psychotiger]

The difference between Maple and Rosewood is mostly cosmetic. Someone will undoubtedly argue this point, but I notice no tonal differences.

So the question you gotta ask yourself is: "Do I want a light colored fret board, or a dark colored fret board?"

+1 I have never been able to hear any differences between maple vs rosewood. I like the 'feel' of rosewood as it seems a bit softer than maple but not so much that it would trump cosmetics. I just ordered a black Lakland with a maple fretboard, so there.

 

[gmstudio99]

+2 on the purely cosmetic.

I know, I know there MUST be some sort of tonal difference, and I'm sure there is...but I don't ever hear it either.

Surprised some enterprising company hasn't done half maple half rosewood boards...you know, slap the maple under the D & G strings for some zing, but warm up those E and A strings...meh...

 

[LutherHeggs00]

Doesn't rosewood require more maintenance (oiling, etc)?

 

[dezspet]

Only cosmetic??????
Go to a store, get two Fender American Standard Jazz Bass in your hand. One with Rosewood neck and one with Maple neck. OK, the bodies are different too, but the overall difference is significant (rosewood fb comes with alder body and maple comes with ash).
I am a rosewood fan, because that gives me more depth, fullness/body in tone. It's warmer.
Maple is a bit faster, has a little bit more treble feeling, better sustain, and overall better for slap.
Certainly the differences are little, but still audible IMO. And the feeling is totally different.

 

[bassteban]

I have always preferred rosewood over maple. I won't argue tonal differences(real or perceived)but I have not played a maple fretboard(other than a Geddy)that 'did it' for me, though I suspect it's never been purely the FB. I might be more on dezpet's side if I had everA/B'd twwow utterly identical basses w/differing FBs, but until then, I just try to be aware of what I've liked in the past. Not in a terribly 'rosewood is the best/maple should be outlawed' way, the RW just slightly gets the nod.
One point to consider perhaps is that only you & any bassists in the crowd will 'hear' any tonal difference(IMO/E).

 

[psychotiger]

Only cosmetic??????
Go to a store, get two Fender American... OK, the bodies are different too, but the overall difference is significant (rosewood fb comes with alder body and maple comes with ash).

IMO, the bodies being different is the primary variable here.

 

[plopswagon]

The rule of thumb is that the maple is brighter and the rosewood is darker, but as many have already stated the difference is pretty subtle if not imperceptible. I prefer maple but my favorite bass has a rosewood.

I expect this thread will go the way of "less filling" "more taste" of the old beer commercials

 

[Ric5]

I DO notice the difference ...

Maple is brighter and snappier sounding.

Rosewood is warmer and darker sounding.

Also maple is usually finished and the finish changes the sound as well.

 

[bassteban]

IMO, the bodies being different is the primary variable here.

I definitely agree w/this, & it may have had much more to do w/my always liking RW in the past.
On upkeep, I've never done more than a light scrub w/an old toothbrush on my fretboards, but I like the looks of my own player wear. Authentic, sincere relicing, if you will.
Maple(usually), being lacquered, will clean up more easily.

 

[lf-p]

undoubtly the consruction of a bass is responsable for basic sound differncies.

i once had the same bass- music man 4 string- with one rosewood a maple fingerboards. the differencies where noticeble, especially in the dryness of the sound. for my ears the rosewood had more deep mids, wihc is good for a rounder more subtle sound. the maple was more dry, more deep and thatfore better for brighter slap sound or harder playing.
but dont forget !!! the frets- their size and shape- and material is probably as important !!!!
i prefer for harder slap sounds and total rocksounds a graphite neck.
its even more dry sounding and very controllable.... but very tricky when you play open air stages in hot summer........ once the strings where liying almost on the frets.... buzzing and buzzing.....until it got colder when sun downed......

probably the choice is more in the moment you touch a bass:
whether its great or forget it..... your playing will make it work for you anyway...