What is the difference Between Rosewood and Maple Fretboards?

[RavynWolf]

Only if you can guarantee that the note is plucked EXACTLY the same and that the neck is mounted on the same body, has the exact same setup and action that the neck woods are PERFECTLY identical with the same amount of tension on the truss rod...

I agree, but it is those subtle differences that greatly injure this comparison. For everything to be exact for a reliable response, this would show that the fretboard has little bearing on sound.

 

[Ryan Mohr]

Not that pickup placement would do that...

Which is why I said one of the key factors...

 

[lousybassplayer]

I think it has more to do with pointy guitars sound darker and round ones sound warmer. THat chuck norris bass that was on here is the punchy sounding one. Does anyone care about what the fretboard was on that bad boy?

 

[rcarraher]

Although they may offer differences in sound, the popular belief being that rosewood is warmer whilst maple is brighter, I think these characteristics are overstated in so much as the fretboard wood alone will not change the sound a bass produces significantly (at least no more than any other part). If there is a change it also depends on the individual example of wood and I should imagine generalisations over an entire species may only give a rough idea at best. I wouldn't bank on the fretboard imbuing your bass with any predictable, distinct tonal characteristics.

Because of this, I would choose a fretboard firstly upon looks and feel, something which is particular to each person.

The only disadvantages would be if you were playing a fretless as maple, I believe (although please correct should I be wrong), get's chewed up more by strings unless it is given a very hard finish - something not everybody likes. Again, I would be hard put to come with any objective advantages or disadvantages with either of these woods; it's very much up to you.

Many people will disagree with me I'm sure, and as always, this topic has been covered a lot in the past, so it's worth doing a search. I'm sure you'll find comments from those more emminent, experienced or otherwise more qualified than me.

As always, YMMV and IMOs and IMEs apply were necessary.

I have basses with both, and I tend to choose between rosewood and maple (and ebony for that matter). as to what looks best on a particular bass. Certain colors to me look silly mixed with anyone of these woods. That said, I do notice a certain brightness with maple, not sure I could tell the difference between rosewood and ebony. Another thing, and this is probably just in my twisted little mind, maple "seems" faster to me. Maybe this is because maple tends to come with a harder finish. As far as wear, there is probably a study somewhere that messuses this, but I have basses that are 40 years old and older with all three necks and don't see any appreciable difference in wear.

 

[BurningSkies]

True, but this isn't an encyclopedia, its a forum.

For example I bet if we searched it we'd find this same debate before, but I am not going to argue with a guy who may have died a few years ago via the internet when there is a living specimen here.

Yes. there are plenty of live people to argue with.

But if you're really interested in reading information or you've come here for that information, then learning how to search is important. If one searched you'd find not only the list of a few dozen I posted but more than a few dozen pages of listings. There's no new territory here. None.

 

[BurningSkies]

I think it has more to do with pointy guitars sound darker and round ones sound warmer. THat chuck norris bass that was on here is the punchy sounding one. Does anyone care about what the fretboard was on that bad boy?

Be careful. Pointy guitars can give you VD.

Be safe.

 

[lousybassplayer]

I will take that under advisement .
BTW I am not trying to be a jerk about it overmuch, and you are right about the no knew territory thing, but really, there is only so much to talk about in "Which bass", "P or J" , "Is SX any good", "I just got a new superduper unicorn poop rare bass" threads anyway. Its all kind of old hat, but rehashing it keeps the forum interesting. IMO and IME of course.

 

[BurningSkies]

I will take that under advisement .
BTW I am not trying to be a jerk about it overmuch, and you are right about the no knew territory thing, but really, there is only so much to talk about in "Which bass", "P or J" , "Is SX any good", "I just got a new superduper unicorn poop rare bass" threads anyway. Its all kind of old hat, but rehashing it keeps the forum interesting. IMO and IME of course.

Me neither...It's cool. That's why I don't just snarl 'do a search'. TB is a great well of information if someone wants to harvest it. Lots of times people just want the easy answer, but then this is one of those questions that is so entirely subjective and anecdotal that there IS no right reply. Fewer re-treads means more room for fun new stuff, like my new 16 string unicorn poop bass...It's got a ebony fretboard.

 

[5StringBlues]

"I just got a new superduper unicorn poop rare bass"

You are SO sigged.

 

[lousybassplayer]

gotta admit, your approach was much more amusing than the snarl tactic too.

Thank you 5, I am here to please.

 

[5StringBlues]

YW. Now all I gotta do is figure out how to do it correctly.

 

[lousybassplayer]

that I am not too sure on. I did it once but I was hammered. these space boxes and their crazy industrial magic only work for me when I am inebriated.

 

[5StringBlues]

I got the box thing ,cant figure how to bold your name.......................



Back to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

[lousybassplayer]

PErhaps a bit of a derail, but in the right ballpark. Which one seems to hold up better to roundwounds in fretless applications? Does the lack of frets exacerbate whatever tone difference there may be?

 

[becker4567]

They look different. Other than that, there're too many variables to pin anything sonic to one or the other. People often cite maple as being brighter than rosewood, but that doesn't take into account many other things that could contribute to the difference. Comparing a Fender-style one-piece maple neck to a Fender-style rosewood neck (which is really a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard glued to it) utterly fails to account for the glue in the rosewood neck.

My Laklands (one has glued on maple board, the other had glued on rosewood board) were indistinguishable on recordings. And even side-by-side the difference was so slight that it was probably due more to the different body woods (ash with maple vs. solid alder). The only way to nail it down would be to build around two dozen necks as identical as possible with the exception of half having rosewood board glued on and half having maple boards glued on. Then bolt those necks onto the exact same body and listen to them closely.

But just to compare two, or two dozen totally different instruments (because there ain't no such thing as two identical wooden instruments) is pointless.

Go with what looks right to you if you have to choose. Or better yet, ignore the cosmetics totally, and just go by what SOUNDS right. Play enough basses and you'll find one that says "Hi, honey- I'm home!!" That's the one to get regardless of who made it where, what name is on the headstock, what old dead bassist or new hip bassist played/plays one similar, whether it's considered "correct" for any genre, etc.

Play the BASS, not the catalog!

jte

What he said!

 

[5StringBlues]

Ebony should hold up best to roundwounds (Fretless)

Maple second,rosewood third.

IIRC,IMHO,YMMV,IHOP,ETC.

 

[lousybassplayer]

IHOP. LOL.

My thoughts too, but I did see that someone had said maple would wear quicker.

minor derail, what is YMMV? your something may vary I was guessing.

 

[Jim Carr]

Most rosewood is not rosewood.

 

[5StringBlues]

I THINK maple is harder than rosewood,think being the key word.


Yo mileage may vary.

 

[5StringBlues]

Most rosewood is not rosewood.

Pau Ferro?