Maple, rosewood, ebony or other?

[Dlew919]

It’s not about what is better. It’s about what you prefer. Expand in the comments if you like. Play nice - no choice is wrong.

 

[Snert]

Feel wise, I couldn't care less. Tonally on a fretted bass, I don't think it makes any difference, especially not anything you'll ever be able to detect in a mix. Aesthetically, depends on the rest of the instrument.

 

[GIBrat51]

Well, I currently own 24 basses, and honestly? What the fretboard is made of, has never been a factor in deciding to buy the bass or not. As long as the fretboard has a death grip on the frets - and doesn't give me splinters? I'm happy with it. I know that some people - usually the same ones that wade around in the Great Tonewood Swamp - obsess over the fretboard wood's tone, too; but, I'm not one of those people... To date, I've only had any input re fretboard wood on 3 basses. I chose a Rosewood/roasted Maple neck over a Maple/Maple one for my EBMM 4HH Stingray Special; but that was because I didn't like the body color on the Maple necked one. I chose a Maple/Maple neck for my Warmoth Mini-Precision, only because it was intended to be a "Mini Me" clone of my '78 Fender P-Bass. And, I chose whatever I chose (and, I honestly can't remember what it is) for my Serek Sacramento bass, because they're custom basses - and I had to choose something. They're still building it, but whatever the fretboard is? It will go nicely with the Daphne Blue body...
As for all my other basses? Their fretboards are whatever those basses usually come with. My '06 Carvin LB-20 has an ebony fretboard, but they're "custom" basses, and that's what the original owner specified for it. I just bought it used... But, it does look nice with the Lexus Pearl White body...

 

[Hot Rats]

The first neck I had made in '88 is an ebony fretboard and so that's been my favorite ever since. I like dark rosewood too. I've had many maple boards over the years but always sell them so I just know I can't really do maple. No matter how cool a black/black/maple P-bass looks, I always end up getting rid of the maple neck.

 

[mikewalker]

Just for LOOKS, a nice Ziricote will do the trick. Or perhaps one of those AAAAA birdseye maple units. Otherwise I tend to go for ebony (a black Diospyros crassiflora 'Gaboon' variety if possible...)

 

[chazolson]

I started playing cello and upright bass, so ebony is what works for me.

 

[Aussie Player]

Ebony cleans up the sound of rosewood.
Maple sterilizes the sound too much for me.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Ebony. Maple is a close 2nd. I only buy rosewood if it's such an awesome bass I can't live without it. I kinda dislike rosewood. Too soft for a proper fretless, tone too dull.

 

[JRA]

i voted "none....." --- i really like 'em all!

as long as there are no metal thingies hanging up the flow = they're all good!

previous favorites include: ebony, ebonol, rosewood, composites, maple, pao ferro, others.

 

[Hevy T]

I prefer Ebony most of all, but I voted maple! Maple is easier to get! But my order of preference is

Ebony
Maple
Rosewood

I am no fan of Pau Fero, and cant stand Indian Laurel!

 

[Maxi Funkl]

I have a bass with all of those

 

[ahbradot]

Maple, Maple, Maple. Did I say Maple..... Yay Maple..

 

[Thumpin6string]

I really like my graphite neck. Extremely stable (haven't had to adjust truss rods in 20 years) and increased sustain.

 

[themickster]

It’s not about what is better. It’s about what you prefer. Expand in the comments if you like. Play nice - no choice is wrong.

Anything but maple. My three fingerboards are all different, and I like them all. They are:
SR300E jatoba
SR600E rosewood
SR2600 panga panga.

 

[Jeff Scott]

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/what-is-your-favorite-fingerboard-wood.1624773/

Hope this helps.

 

[HardNHeavy]

could be plywood for all i care, as long as the action is low and no splinters!..but typically rosewood, i like the darker color wood for necks. Depends on the design/color of bass too. I do have a cpl maple necks and love them too.

 

[Jscriv]

While I do have quite a few rosewood boards I prefer maple to the point where I switch necks most of the time, especially for my gigging basses. I'm yet to try ebony though, so I can't really give a proper opinion. In my mind rosewood sucks tone out of the lowest 5 or so notes. Is that reality? Probably not. But confidence is key on stage and for some reason the maple board does it for me. And well...it just looks better.

 

[douglasbass]

I like ebony in my J bass for its "pop" -- the notes bounce more and are clearer than rosewood, to my ears.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

I like a P-Bass with rosewood and a Jazz with maple.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

Ebony. Maple is a close 2nd. I only buy rosewood if it's such an awesome bass I can't live without it. I kinda dislike rosewood. Too soft for a proper fretless, tone too dull.

Rosewood is actually harder than maple.