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Rosewood/Maple Finger Boards - Tone difference?

#223
MikeBass said:
Hmmmm, dunno who started it....:eyebrow:

But who would have thought a simple little line like that did all this........:eek:
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The amazing thing is, there was a thread just like this a few weeks ago... same topic, same disagreement, same large number of posts!

The discussion does make sense to me. As Roger stated, in general, there is a difference. However, it's an oversimplification to say 'maple board basses sound like this' or RW board basses sound like this'. The discussion IMO was not so much that there isn't a general difference, but that it's a much more complicated relationship than most are willing to admit.
 
#226
Sadowsky said:
Agreed!

I still wonder why there is so much arguement over this. There are very few people who have the experience that Mike Tobias and my other colleagues have in this regard. We all agree. Of couse, every piece of wood is different. Of course, lots of other things affect tone. But given everything else being a constant, I stand by my comments regarding the tone of the fingerboards.

I come from a hard science background and I do understand scientific method. But since it very difficult to test this empirically, especially at a reasonable cost, you'll have to rely on my experience. As I said, I have nothing invested in this point of view. I really don't care if I make more basses with rosewood or maple boards.

Roger
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Quoted for emphasis, nothing to add really.
 
#230
lug said:
I feel that using a taralabs power cable has more effect on the tone than the fretboard ever will.






......runs like hell
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confused0050.gif
 
#234
paulraphael said:
I'll add this comment: people talk about these kinds of differences being a matter of opinion, but I don't think that's quite accurate. Opinion is a better description of a preference or a judgement. Which sounds BETTER is a pure matter of opinion. Which sounds DIFFERENT is still subjective, but is a lot less arbitrary.
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Maybe someday a thorough and conclusive scientific study will be performed. Until that happens, this is still a matter of opinion and therefore subject to debate.
 
#236
SMASH said:
Gard, do you agree that the fingerboard has a "HUGE" effect on tone and more so than even the body wood?

Kudos to Mr. Sadowsky for clearly stating what he thinks.

It's still not clear where most of the "+1" crowd stands though, and while many (not you, but many) will mock those who state an opinion they don't agree with, at the same time very few of them are stating what they actually agree or disagree with.
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Trying to figure out where you came up with the "Huge effect on the tone and more so than even the body" thing.

I just went back through 13 pages and the closest I could find was in post number 56 where the poster is talking about wood in general having a huge effect on tone, not specificly fingerboard wood.

.



I responded to this question from you in post number 157 saying that the fingerboard wood has some effect, but not a huge one (paraphrasing)

Post number 197 by MikeBass also adresses this question from you, saying something very similar to what I had said 40 posts earlier.

I don't think anyone said that fingeboard wood has more of an effect than the body wood. It's a subtle difference.
The difference in tone between an UB and a Stingray is what I would define as a HUGE difference. Roswood vs. Maple fingerboard. Subltle difference.

I wasn't one of the +1 crowd you speak of, however I do agree with what Mr. Sadowski had to say
 
#238
SMASH said:
Yes, so far two people when directly asked have ante'd up with their own opinion rather than just vaguely citing someone else's. Kudos.

FYI - 3rd time posted in this thread. It doesn't seem like you agree with Mr. Sadowsky after all (?). Many have cited, perhaps incorrectly, that several major luthiers including Roscoe agree on this topic, and I figured I'd ask the source (Gard).
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O.k. Smash, I see where this idea came from now. Forgive me, but non of those are from this particular thread. Those post are all from threads that I have not read (well I don't rememeber reading those anyway :D )

I'm not sure I agree with that anyway.
 
#239
Calaverasgrande said:
hahaha, I agree, honestly though, I was trying to make a point. It has been brought up that it would be dubious at the best that any one could claim to disnguish an ebony, rosewood or maple fretboarded intrument by sound alone. The conlusion reached is that they dont sound different. My point was that most of us couldnt tell 10 from a 12 or a 12 from a 15 by sound alone. Does not mean they dont sound different right! I have a GK 4x12 loaded horn cab that goes lower than any 15 I own. I also have a 2x12 that has almost no bottom end. And the sound differences betwen my EV 15 and my JBL 15.... I can tell which is which blindfolded!

on another note. The idea that luthiers cant hear things any better than us mere musicians is nonsnense. Any reputable luthier has spent a long time learning to discriminate which materials and methods sound good and which do not. Sure there is variability from piece to piece in one species of wood, and there are many other variables like finish, moisture etc. But I am sure they are able to compensate. Otherwise certain masters of the craft would not rise to the top. Sadowsky, Tobias et al do hear things differently. Same as a musician who watches a band hears it differently than someone who in not initiated into the mysteries of key, tempo and time signature. Or how a filmaker watches a movie differently than an ordinary joe. Otherwise, luthiers make their art by accident? Chance? They do not have better hearing in a physical sense, but they have the mind tools, the software if you will to take the same raw audio data and interpret it differently.
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I honestly doubt I could hear the difference between miced cabs and a DI on a studio recording, solo or with a band. :rolleyes: Shows how much I know.
 

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