What advantages does Maple have over Rosewood?

[Mulligan77]

ok so...
Im a huge fan of rosewood fretboards. I mean, there smooth and they break in good and not that its important but they look damn cool. And I like the sound over maple as well.

Now I know some people PREFER maple fretboards, but why? I mean, they take forever to break in, and that gloss makes my fingers stick a litle bit.... just my opinion. I know they sound brighter, but asides from sound alone, what playability advantages does it have if any?

Do people pick maple PURELY because of sounds? or is there actually playability advantages?

 

[lefty007]

1-Not all maple boards are glossy - they can be done in satin finish. Actually, most basses besides Fenders or Fender-style maple boards are finished in satin.

2-I would say most players pick them for sound and looks. They generally make a bass sound brighter and with a quicker attack. Some player just pick them because they like the looks.

3-There are no playability advantages, if by playability you mean "ease of playing."

 

[3toes]

Not all maple fretboards are glossy

edit: beaten!

 

[gmstudio99]

Maple players get post-gig sex more than rosewood players.

 

[Mushroo]

ok so...
Im a huge fan of rosewood fretboards. I mean, there smooth and they break in good and not that its important but they look damn cool. And I like the sound over maple as well.

Now I know some people PREFER maple fretboards, but why? I mean, they take forever to break in, and that gloss makes my fingers stick a litle bit.... just my opinion. I know they sound brighter, but asides from sound alone, what playability advantages does it have if any?

Do people pick maple PURELY because of sounds? or is there actually playability advantages?

Also, maple is an abundant and renewable resource (at least where I live, North America), whereas rosewood comes from far away and may be environmentally questionable (in the case of Brazilian rosewood). If that kind of thing is important to you.

 

[Mushroo]

Also, maple is better on pancakes than rosewood syrup.

 

[spade2you]

1-Not all maple boards are glossy - they can be done in satin finish. Actually, most basses besides Fenders or Fender-style maple boards are finished in satin.

2-I would say most players pick them for sound and looks. They generally make a bass sound brighter and with a quicker attack. Some player just pick them because they like the looks.

3-There are no playability advantages, if by playability you mean "ease of playing."

Pretty much sums it up. It can make a tonal difference, but that depends on a boatload of things.

 

[WarwickFan]

Forget Maple or Rosewood. Wenge is where it's at.

 

[john_g]

Forget Maple or Rosewood. Wenge is where it's at.

No no, ebanol...now theres a board!

 

[Mulligan77]

Also, maple is better on pancakes than rosewood syrup.

Yes I am from Canada.... so ur damn right about that one!
thanks for the advice all...
I still think I prefer the rosewood I was just curious
and can you really play faster on a maple?? is that because its harder??
cause i know i cant play faster with a glossy maple fretboard, but maybe ill try out a satin finish maple for my next bass...

ANOTHER QUESTION: I was thinkin of getting a marcus miller or a standard MIA jazz (Which is why i wanna know the difference) and so, is the MArcus Miller fretboard have a glossy or satin finish?

 

[Webtroll]

Forget Maple or Rosewood. Wenge is where it's at.

+1 I'd like to see an unfinished maple fingerboard some day. I know it would get dirty quickly, but that would be part of the charm for me.

 

[thehangingmist]

i have never seen a fretless bass with a maple fretboard. why? or i haven't just not yet looked far enough?

 

[moomoocajoo]

I prefer my fretboards made from the crushed bones of small pigeons.

 

[Mulligan77]

lol bone fretboard, that would be BAD ASS!! guaranteed it would sound mint too
A nice deer bone fretboard, not to mention they would look cool as ****!

 

[fenderhutz]

Rosewood looks better with brown tort

 

[spade2you]

i have never seen a fretless bass with a maple fretboard. why? or i haven't just not yet looked far enough?

Not durable enough and gets really dirty. This requires finish or being acrylized. A few of us have one.

 

[Mushroo]

i have never seen a fretless bass with a maple fretboard. why? or i haven't just not yet looked far enough?

There's actually a thread here on TB about maple fretless, hope you can find it because there were some SEXY basses on that thread. Gorgeous birdseye and flamed maple f'boards, yummy!

I used to have a maple fretless, but it was finished.

 

[Marill]

my preference is rosewood and it's purely cosmetic preference, i like how the color contrasts with the silver strings.

 

[73jbass]

I prefer maple just because I like the way it looks.I have MM Sterlings with maple and rosewood boards. No tone difference.If there is a difference,it's so subtle that it really isn't worth worrying about.Too many other factors involved as far as tone goes.

 

[ilikeindie]

I think Maple looks better, feels A lot better and smoother, and Idk.
All my basses are rosewood and I really don't like them, It makes it feel kind of cheap to me.

I don't know, I just love the way maple plays, especially for using a pick.