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Maple vs Rosewood on a SR

W

williamk

Apr 2, 2008
871
28
#1
My local guitar shop has a MM Stingray classic that's been sitting there for 2 years, and the guy can sell it to me for 1450$ (CAN$), which is probably the best price I'm gonna get for a new one. It's in a discontinued cream color and sounds amazing. BUUUT
it has a rosewood fretboard, which I find absolutely ugly. I really like maple necks. I know it has been debated before and I've tried reading on the subject as much as possible. I'd like to have the opinion of someone who has had both types of neck on a SR. Is there really a sound difference between the 2? A buddy of mine says he likes recording with rosewood necks because they sound better in the studio.
The bass sounds great but looks ugly, but at that price, I'm wondering if I should just pull the trigger, especially if the rosewood neck sounds "better in the studio". I unfortunately do not have maple neck SR to test them side by side.

Thanks!

edit: I'm into fingerstyle and a little slap, pop stuff mostly
 
#3
I have both, and I notice a bit of sound difference. I find the maple to be a bit punchier, and the rosewood to be a bit warmer. My 4 string is the maple board, and my 5 is the rosewood, so I'm not sure if that contributes either. Whatever the case, I love the sound of both, and I'm sure you will like it. If it were me, at that price, I would buy it, play it for a while, and if you're really feeling you want a maple fretboard, you could probably find someone who would swap with you.
 
#4
shwabilly said:
If it were me, at that price, I would buy it, play it for a while, and if you're really feeling you want a maple fretboard, you could probably find someone who would swap with you.
Click to expand...
that's true...
I have noticed though that SRs have a poor resale value for some reason. I rarely see a used stingray on kijiji or CL over 1000$ where I live. Then again I've been looking for a used classic and never saw one...
 
#10
I currently have a maple neck Stingray and have owned in the past several rosewood neck Stingrays and Sterling's. I honestly cannot say that I hear any difference in the tone between the two. Same with my Telecaster and Strat guitars. I guess my hearing is not that sensitive. Its most certainly nothing that you can't fix by EQ'ing, imo.

Notwithstanding, I have in fact purchased basses in the past that I didn't like the looks of (most recently a trans orange EBMM Sterling) because they were a great deal. Big mistake. I just never warm up to them and end up selling them (will I ever learn?). If you really thinks its ugly, are you actually ever going to enjoy playing it? Just something to think about first. Maybe it won't be a big deal for you....I don'know....
 
#11
I used to only play basses with maple boards. Thought rosewood looked horrible. Then I played one for a while.... maaaan. Feels and sounds a million times better, IMHO. Now I don't think I'll go back to maple.
 
#13
Every piece of wood is different and no two basses will sound exactly alike. Comparing two basses (one with a rosewood board and the other with a maple board) will tell you how different those two basses sound but not necessarily anything more. I do believe that different woods have different sonic tendencies and, if I am going to order a bass then I go with a certain wood based on how it is "likely" to sound. But ideally you try the bass and, regardless of the wood, decide whether or not it is for you. If you love the sound of the bass and can live with the look (as someone who used to own a white MM with a Pau Ferro board I disagree with your assessment of the looks ;)) then I would say buy it. You could try fifty other MMs that don't sound as good to you no matter what the wood combination.
 
#15
The wood is 100% aesthetics. If you don't like how it looks or sounds, don't buy it. If you just don't like how it looks, debate how much you want the sound and if you can cope with the looks or not. Myself, I hate the look of maple boards, but I have had a bass with one, and I liked enough other things about it that it was alright (I did end up selling it though).

$1450 isn't that great a price on an SR in Canada. It may be decent for a brand new one, but as others have mentioned, you can do far better than that (<$1000) on the used market including kijiji and the classifieds here. I've even seen used SRs at Long and McQuade for under $1000. If it was me, I'd hold out for one where I liked the tone and the looks.
 
#17
williamk said:
My local guitar shop has a MM Stingray classic that's been sitting there for 2 years, and the guy can sell it to me for 1450$ (CAN$), which is probably the best price I'm gonna get for a new one. It's in a discontinued cream color and sounds amazing. BUUUT
it has a rosewood fretboard, which I find absolutely ugly. I really like maple necks. I know it has been debated before and I've tried reading on the subject as much as possible. I'd like to have the opinion of someone who has had both types of neck on a SR. Is there really a sound difference between the 2? A buddy of mine says he likes recording with rosewood necks because they sound better in the studio.
The bass sounds great but looks ugly, but at that price, I'm wondering if I should just pull the trigger, especially if the rosewood neck sounds "better in the studio". I unfortunately do not have maple neck SR to test them side by side.

Thanks!

edit: I'm into fingerstyle and a little slap, pop stuff mostly
Click to expand...

Let me ask you a question. Which do care the most about; the sound and feel of the bass or it's looks? If you don't care about it's quality, and how well it fits you, then go for the looks. Yes, you need to love it, but you should not be asking us to make this decision for you. It will be YOUR bass, not ours. You need to ask yourself what you want the bass for.
 

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