Aerodyne has maple neck but with rosewood board. I say go black 'n maple. Do it, do it , do it.
It's funny, I really love maple, but I don't have a single bass with a maple board.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
the age old debate: maple or rosewood?
- Thread starter Bassmingo
- Start date
Aerodyne has maple neck but with rosewood board. I say go black 'n maple. Do it, do it , do it.
It's funny, I really love maple, but I don't have a single bass with a maple board.
- Aug 25, 2007
- 835
- 6
- Disclosures
- I manufacture for several companies including but not limited to: Bridge City Sound, Catalinbread, more.
ya know i used to love maple. i still think its a little brighter according to hardness of the wood but then i got an ibanez sr505, put some hi beams on it and damn. its freaking bright. maybe it dosnt make that much of a difference.
The only wood difference that I have consistantly noticed sounding different is ebony- there has been a really clear and quick/sharp response on all the basses I've had with ebony fingerboards. I would tend to agree that the maple snapiness is often attributed to laquer finish that some manufacturers put over maple fingerboards. My G&L, on the other hand, has a maple board with a very thin finish- which is not noticeably snappier to my ears than a rosewood board...
Karl
Karl
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
It's really quite simple and it is based on whether you look at the fingerboard when you play or not.
If you do look, you'd want maple becaue the blond shimmer of maple looks likes a beautiful girls long blond hair, and isn't picking up chicks the whole reason why you started playing bass in the first place?
Any other difficult questions?
The answers to most bass players questions typicaly are:
Louder, chicks, we got so high, incredible groove, know a good drummer, what's the gig pay, and she is so fine.
If you do look, you'd want maple becaue the blond shimmer of maple looks likes a beautiful girls long blond hair, and isn't picking up chicks the whole reason why you started playing bass in the first place?
Any other difficult questions?
The answers to most bass players questions typicaly are:
Louder, chicks, we got so high, incredible groove, know a good drummer, what's the gig pay, and she is so fine.
Wow... I seem to be in the minority here, but...
To me, maple and rosewood ABSOLUTELY have different sounds. The maple is "glassier" and the rosewood gives you a stronger fundamental. Maple is less forgiving with finger/string noise, but really projects if you slap, for example.
I never pick woods based on looks. Always the sound.
So, I would recommend going for the rosewood, to expand your palette.
To me, maple and rosewood ABSOLUTELY have different sounds. The maple is "glassier" and the rosewood gives you a stronger fundamental. Maple is less forgiving with finger/string noise, but really projects if you slap, for example.
I never pick woods based on looks. Always the sound.
So, I would recommend going for the rosewood, to expand your palette.
I've been liking goncalo boards a lot lately.
and I also think board makes a difference in sound
and I also think board makes a difference in sound
I like the look and the bright sound of maple.
those are fine, but I think you should get a bass with a maple fretboard.
Can I cheat and pick Pau Ferro? It's pretty much in the middle, in looks, sound and feel.
Personally my overall pick goes to Wenge, probably.
Failing those two, I like the roundness of rosewood. It mellows it out a bit but can still be bright with the right pickups.
Personally my overall pick goes to Wenge, probably.
Failing those two, I like the roundness of rosewood. It mellows it out a bit but can still be bright with the right pickups.
Whichever looks better to you. I'm not sure that fretboard wood affects the tone that much anymore with the big frets use on modern instruments.
