Maple vs. Rosewood fretboard

[ChefKen]

Ebony. Perfect medium....not as bright as maple but brighter then rosewood while retaining warmth. My favorite.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

In my experience, Maple is a little brighter than rosewood. When I changed the neck on my P bass about 8 years ago from stock MIM Rosewood to a Might Mite full maple, the Mighty Mite was a little bit brighter.

 

[Mike N]

I have both and prefer rosewood.

My last cover band I brought two MIA P basses to rehearsal, one with a Maple board and the other in Rosewood. Besides that difference, the two basses were exact in every other way, right down to the choice of strings. The drummer commented that the Rosewood one sounded warmer than the Maple did, and you know anytime a drummer notices anything it must have been significant.

 

[bassinflorida]

If you still have to look at the fretboard when you are old and your vision takes a crap, the maple neck might be high on your gas list.

 

[iriegnome]

I so much prefer maple, but most of my basses are either rosewood or phenolic, but I much prefer maple

 

[birminghambass]

There is certainly a difference between rw and maple. Is it audible? That's a different argument that only you can determine. After 12+ years on TB I'd rather argue Coke vs. Pepsi. The clear winner is Coke, you're a damn fool if you think otherwise.

 

[DWBass]

In the context of a live band mix, with a blindfold on, no one is telling the difference.

 

[Batmensch]

I'm convinced the perceived brightness and darkness/warmth of maple and rosewood is all in people's heads. Maple is lighter in color. Rosewood is darker in color. Lightness/bright tone. Darkness/dark tone.

Very much agreed. It's really matter of personal taste more than anything else, how those woods affect the tone is negligible at best.

 

[T-MOST]

There is some dude (Williseasyguitar) on Youtube who wrote out a blackboard full of equations that is supposed to "prove" wood does NOT effect tone. SMH

 

[fender68]

I think my next bass is gonna be maple. Never had a maple board before but it sure looks classy on three tone sunburst!!

 

[oysteivi]

I think maple looks better, and I have more fun playing when I really like the bass. Makes it an easy choice.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

One substantive difference is that maple fingerboards are usually laquered, which can make them "stickier" than rosewood, which is a bit naturally oily to begin with. A minor consideration to be sure, but I never liked how laquered fingerboards (even on my old Rick 4001) feel. Based on no empirical evidence, I'm guessing that the glued lamination effect of rosewood on a rock maple neck is inherently more stable than just a slab of maple with frets cut into it, but somebody will probably tell me I'm wrong about that.

 

[seansbrew]

This might sound weird, but I feel more creative when I play my maple board bass.

So, I would recomend you buy the one that looks inspiring and feels good in your hands.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

There is some dude (Williseasyguitar) on Youtube who wrote out a blackboard full of equations that is supposed to "prove" wood does NOT effect tone. SMH

Do any of his equations explain why two massed produced basses with identical parts, electronics, and finish can sound completely different? Maybe it's the WOOD!

 

[friendlybass]

There is defenitely a difference in sound. It is a matter of taste.

Listen to this, close your eyes.
And pick the Maple neck with your eyes closed easily.

Love that video

 

[friendlybass]

Pick one you like! Those standard basses can be some of the best. Love me some maple, but pao Ferro is by far the coolest looking fingerboard wood

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

99.999999% what you like to look at.

0.0000001% sound difference

 

[Big Hoss]

I tend to prefer rosewood cosmetically maple doesn't look right to me...

 

[JamesFoxBass]

There is certainly a difference between rw and maple. Is it audible? That's a different argument that only you can determine. After 12+ years on TB I'd rather argue Coke vs. Pepsi. The clear winner is Coke, you're a damn fool if you think otherwise.

Coke on it's own, Pepsi for mixing

As for the debate, wood does make a difference, but to what extent it makes a difference depends on what you put on the wood and how you use the bass. Majority of tone is in our fingers and the way we play. FWIW, I like both Maple and Rosewood. The best bass I've ever played is the one in my pic, unfortunately I don't, and doubt I ever will, own it, but it's a 1966 Precision with a rosewood board, if I could afford that bass I'd be buying it right now as it felt perfect in my hands and sounded perfect to my ears. Had it been a maple board and felt and sounded the same way then I'd still be buying it right now. Buy your bass based(punny) on how it sounds and feels to you.

 

[telecopy]

Dark sounds dark. Bright sounds bright. All psychological. I am inclined to think.