Rosewood vs maple or vice versa and why

[Gary Stevens]

I’ve always preferred a rosewood board, no tonal reason, just prefer the look.

Cocobolo R osewood fretboard with Watco Danush Oil finsh. I get cocobolo fretboards from Luthiers Mercantile

 

[TH63]

I’ve always preferred a rosewood board, no tonal reason, just prefer the look.

Me too

 

[dspellman]

I’ve always preferred a rosewood board, no tonal reason, just prefer the look.

Neither rosewood nor maple. Always preferred ebony.

I don't even mind the "variegated" ebony that's showing up these days (to make ebony more sustainable); that works for me, too. But definitely ebony if there's a choice.

One of my favorite necks and fretboards is on a 1989 24-fret Carvin LB-75 (five-string), with MOP block inlays.

 

[Mark Sellers]

I've always been a sucker for maple fretboard. I just love the way they look and feel. Of my 7 basses, 5 have maple fretboards.

 

[NYBassPlayer]

I have a general rule of thumb:
Dark pick guard = Rosewood fretboard
Light pick guard = Maple fretboard
There are exceptions, of course.