What is it about a maple fretboard P?

[ghostdog93]

I'm definitely one who prefers darker wood fretboards (rosewood, pau ferro, ebony, etc.) on most basses, and every P I've ever owned had a rosewood (or similar) fingerboard.

But...my VM Mustang has a maple board that I've grown to love over the years. Does that count?

Curious — is it a visual thing or a feel thing? Tone?

For me it's strictly visual. I can't really say there's a noticeable tactile difference under my fingers.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I don’t wanna start a debate on tone woods but to me, they have a punchy mid that cuts in the mix and they require no maintenance.

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Classic look for sure.

 

[Crusher47]

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What is that bike in the background??

 

[PNC7]

On the flip side why are Rosewood necks just so much more natural for J basses?

 

[SC Guy]

Maple boards are great when playing in low light conditions!

 

[GIBrat51]

"What is it about a Maple fretboard?"
I don't know; you tell me. Honestly, every time the subject of fretboard woods comes up, my answer is always the same. As long as it holds the frets securely, and doesn't give me splinters? I do not care what kind of wood it is.
As for Maple in particular? It's... OK. It can look good - depending on the rest of thebass - and as long as the finish coat on it is intact. Unfinished? It gets pretty grungy pretty quick, and cleaning it back up is a major operation. Which, in my book, is a drawback. Fortunately for me, that hasn't happened to mine - yet... Out 30 basses currently in my "bass Herd"? I only have... 4, maybe? with Maple fretboards And, out of the 4 basses I've had made, only one has a Maple fretboard. But, only because I wanted a short scale clone of my '78 Fender P-Bass. Otherwise? The fretboard would have been Bubinga, maybe - or Rosewood...
Otherwise? The fretboards on my basses, simply... are what they are...

 

[Gervais Cote]

Traditional, Tradition, …………Tradition, Tradition .
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I wanna be traditional !

 

[jd56hawk]

This one looks good, feels good, and sounds just like you'd expect a P bass to sound.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

What is that bike in the background??

02 Zx6r

 

[BowserGriff]

This is sitting in the Tokyo fender flagship custom shop in yhe 3rd floor.

 

[TDR1138]

Not a true P, but close enough for me.

 

[retslock]

I personally don't like the look but I did buy a Stingray with a maple board back in '82. It turned out that I didn't like the sound either. It went.

 

[chris_b]

I've owned basses with both, but my preference is for a dark fret board.

 

[Keitor]

Maple? Better yet: roasted maple!

 

[5StringBlues]

Beats the hell outta sniffin' burlap.

 

[Yahboy]

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I’ll play:

 

[Ostie]

Mustang PJ maple. When I ordered it I thought I was getting RW (or more likely PF) but when it arrived it was maple. But it looked and played great so I kept it.

 

[osv]

Maple fretboard on a P just fits with the general theme of the no nonsense, utilitarian aspect of the instrument. Simple perfection.

 

[pbass74]

Well, they sure look good...and they also sound great!