Why do, if you do, prefer one fingerboard material over the others?

[jmattbassplaya]

Usually maple. I think they're easier to "read" on dark stages.

 

[Koog]

Where does one get a roasted purpleheart neck? I love my purpleheart neck but have never seen a roasted one!

I became aware of it through Andrew Drake (Drake Custom Bass). He sourced it from LMI, but tells me tonight they are closing. He has not researched other sources as he bought several extras when he did a FB replacement for me....so he has a small supply.

It is sometimes marketed as Royal Blackwood. It is hard and is so dark it has the appearance of very dark Ebony.

Hope this helps.

Koog

 

[pcake]

I like the "waxy" feel of a good rosewood. Not really greasy, but kinda slippery--hard to describe. I have an ebony board mandolin, and it has that feel too. Both pao ferro boards I've gotten have felt very rough/dry until I took 1500 grit sandpaper to them--after that plus some f-one oil, they also have that same feel. So any of those in my top category.

Maple, satin board is OK, but not totally happy with a hard glossy board. Also, there are some colors I think don't look good with a pale maple. Roasted maple/rosewood/PF can go with anything.

@pcake touched on another issue--side dot readability. One of my PF boards has cream side dots on orangey PF and it's very hard to see the dots. I've been working up the courage to drill the dots and install Luminlay glowing dots. OTOH, black dots on pale maple a joy.

i also have a PF board with cream dots, and i also find them harder to spot. i hadn't thought of glowing dots. hmmm...

 

[bullshark]

My current bass is Olympic white, I like the rosewood fingerboard for the contrast.
On a black bass body I'd go with maple. I like contrast.

What I don't understand is the claim that some materials "feel" better than other, considering you don't actually touch the fingerboard while playing; so what "feel" is there to have?

 

[Tim Schnautz]

I've always preferred rosewood over maple
Maybe it's just me but I've always felt like I play faster on a rosewood over maple board

 

[Tim Schnautz]

Ebonol on the old aluminum-neck kramers was pretty cool too!

I've always preferred rosewood over maple
Maybe it's just me but I've always felt like I play faster on a rosewood over maple board

 

[Dlew919]

What I don't understand is the claim that some materials "feel" better than other, considering you don't actually touch the fingerboard while playing; so what "feel" is there to have?

You're absolutely correct. Yet here I am. I prefer the feel of maple.

I honestly can't explain it.

 

[Gervais Cote]

My current bass is Olympic white, I like the rosewood fingerboard for the contrast.
On a black bass body I'd go with maple. I like contrast.

What I don't understand is the claim that some materials "feel" better than other, considering you don't actually touch the fingerboard while playing; so what "feel" is there to have?

I "feel" the fretboard wood very well when the strings are removed, I don't know about other fellows ?!

 

[bullshark]

You're absolutely correct. Yet here I am. I prefer the feel of maple.

I honestly can't explain it.

Perfect candidate for a blind experiment?

 

[bullshark]

I "feel" the fretboard wood very well when the strings are removed, I don't know about other fellows ?!

Yes, it also make the bass extremely playable, but very quiet

 

[Nightsprinter]

I "feel" the fretboard wood very well when the strings are removed, I don't know about other fellows ?!

"If your frets aren't worn down to the board, you aren't practicing enough"

 

[Wyrdlow]

For aesthetics, I like exotic hardwoods like Pale Moon Ebony, Mac Ebony and Bloodwood. Outside of that I don't really care.

For fretless though, I prefer phenolic it's the most resistant to rounds…

Bloodwood

View attachment 5290036

Mac Ebony

View attachment 5290037

Pale Moon Ebony

View attachment 5290038

Pale Moon Ebony? I've just learned that that's a thing! What a gorgeous wood.

 

[conttador]

Pale Moon Ebony? I've just learned that that's a thing! What a gorgeous wood.

That's how I discovered it! Now I have three basses w PME tops & a fretless w a PME board!

 

[GIBrat51]

TBH, I don't have any particular preference. All I require of a fretboard is;
1. Hold the frets securely;
2. Don't get all splintery on me.
Other than that? They just... are what they are. The fretboards on my 26 basses run the gamut; Maple, Rosewood (both real Dalbergia, and other "Rosewoods"), Pau Ferro, Bubinga, Ebony, and Ebanol.
When it comes to fretless basses though, I definitely prefer Ebony, with Ebanol a not-so-close second. In fact, my only complaint about my '93 Fury Anthem lined fretless, is that the fingerboard is Pau Ferro. It is pretty, but... it's very obvious that at least one previous owner had it strung with rounds - and played it a lot. It doesn't need refinishing - yet, but... those marks kind of bug me. My 3 other fretless basses do have Ebony fingerboards, though...

 

[FearNoEvil65]

I think my fav is my ebony board, I like the dark color. I didn't expect the pearl colored block inlays to grab as much light as they do, even on a dark stage if the lights go down they glisten and it's one of my easiest fretboards to see, even more so than my maple with black block inlays.

 

[rockscott]

I have 4 basses, with different boards, laurel,maple,rosewood & ovangkol. I like them all!

 

[Iridescentone]

Playing-wise, good quality pau ferro has a nice silky feel. So does ebony.

My vision isn't the greatest anymore, especially in the dark. Easy-to-see side markers matter more to me than the fretboard wood species. I used to not care much for neck binding, nowadays it's a "plus" feature for me!

Looks-wise I like wenge, black ebony too. They have nice cosmetics for when I'm in a "Men Who Stare At Basses" mood.

 

[DDawg]

Best fingerboard for metal?

 

[Watchootognbout]

To me,a bass with a dark body looks unbalanced if it has a maple fingerboard.

A bass with a light body looks unbalanced if it has a dark fingerboard.

 

[58kites]

A bass with a light body looks unbalanced if it has a dark fingerboard.
View attachment 5294237

For me, that ash body in the last pic needs a rosewood fretboard on the neck.