What is the difference between a maple fretboard and rosewood

Different players have different preferences. Those who have been playing guitars for years, especially those who have used different guitars with different fretboard material, can distinguish one from the other. They can develop a knack for identifying the fretboard material used based on how the fretboard looks and feels. These two materials will be compared based on tone, playability, as well as aesthetics. Rosewood has colors ranging from dark caramel brown to light.

Maple, on the other hand, has a lighter color, and depending on which tree the material is taken from, it may appear to be almost white. Guitars with maple fretboard age beautifully, revealing that vintage and classy look. You can find maple fretboards in Fender Standard Telecasters and Stratocasters.

Rosewood, on the other hand, comes in two kinds — Indian and Brazilian rosewood. The former is characterized by even grain, which may appear to be reddish-brown. Usually, when you see a guitar with rosewood material, it usually refers to the Indian kind because the Brazilian rosewood has been banned since the s. If you have walked to a guitar store or shopped online, you have seen a guitar with a rosewood fretboard. The feel of the guitar determines the playability of the instrument.

Rosewood is a more porous fretboard material and naturally oily. If you want to play blues, with lots of bends, guitars with rosewood fretboards are the best for you. Maple is also a porous fretboard, but usually given a lacquer coat or nitrocellulose finish to make them look glossy. Especially if your fingers are sweating while playing the guitars, it could feel grimy.

The key difference, aside from the look, between maple and rosewood fretboards, is that the whole piece of maple makes up the neck as well as the fretboard, whereas a rosewood fretboard is usually glued on to another piece of wood to make up the neck. Maple is an extremely dense hardwood that is found in the northern United States and Canada. It can appear almost white depending on the tree it has been harvested from, which aesthetically really helps it stand out when coupled with a darker toned body.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about a maple neck, and something that divides guitarists, is its ability to tarnish over time. A well-played maple neck will eventually show serious signs of wear, wearing down the finish and absorbing dirt into the wood. For some guitarists, this is a desired after effect and cause for some pride, but for others, it would just be considered dirty and unclean.

So maple shows off more wear and tear than a rosewood or ebony fretboard which is something that needs to be considered when purchasing a guitar. Some guitarists tend to avoid maple necks due to the fact the finish, which is applied to stop it from warping, can feel less natural than the likes of ebony or rosewood fretboards.

However, those who want a brighter, zestier tone that offers greater sustain will often choose maple. Out of the three types of fretboard wood, maple is often described as having a tighter top end. Again, many players will simply just choose a maple neck due to the fact they prefer how it looks, but luthiers and players alike will still say that a maple neck, with its lacquered finish, will offer a different tone with a more reflective sound.

It also offers a visually appealing option in the long run as the more you use the guitar, the more it will begin to look like a rock and roll relic. Finally, we have the ebony fretboard, a common choice for metal or hard rock guitarists who prefer their guitars to look as dark as their music! It can also be found on a wide range of acoustic guitars owing to its porous qualities.

The most common types of ebony fretboards are of African or Asian origin. The African ebony wood is predominantly all black, hence the metal guitarist connection, whereas the Asian ebony wood can have brown stripes running through the wood - again it comes down to personal preference, as both types have an almost identical tonal quality. In fact, a lot of guitarists may even say that Ebony and Rosewood fretboards look the same — I can hear fretboard boffins crying out in outrage already!

I expect a true pro player can, and should, be able to play responsibly. It's only the hacks that need Rosewood and Ebony to get by. At least that is what runs through my thoughts whenever I see a pro babbling on about their latest new guitar acquisition. Mere mortals might need help, if they believe in magic wood. Last edited: Mar 15, Age: 55 Posts: 4, I think the difference between pots have a lot to do with the "Certain pickups works better in some guitars " , that , and actual installed height.

I cant hear a difference between maple or rosewood , brass or steel saddles , rosewood and ebony But as said , I also dont expect much of a change , and hardly ever play amplified at home Maybe thats why I cant even hear the difference between aluminum tailpieces and zinck ones on Les Pauls. If it matters to others , and they hear it , fine! Just dont state it as fact on the internet. In general , I grab a guitar , tweak a few knobs and go Posts: 1, Ones light, ones dark. Anything else is subjective.

Posts: Ignatius and nojazzhere like this. I prefer the feel of rosewood, but maple is ok as long as the finish is light. Lots of poly is a turn off to me. Play what feels better to you.

I have guitars that have bodies made of some kind of Canadian basswood, mahogany , maple, and others. I pretty much sound the same whatever I play. Another import that says made of hardwood. Play what feels right. Macrogats likes this. I'm buying a baritone neck, and for the base price I have the choice of maple or rosewood fretboard; I'll be getting rosewood, strictly for the look.

In the case of fretboard material, I think whatever makes you feel good about it is the way to go. Posts: 6, Child or troll? Tommy Biggs likes this. Posts: 4, They sound very different. IMO The neck itself is the 1 biggest difference in a fender and the FB wood is huge in that equation. Anyone who disbelieves that is doubting John Suhr because thats what he says too. The fact is, some people just dont hear a lot of things, ot just this.

Part of that is experience. When i started playing in the early 70s i couldn't tell the difference between any 2 fenders regardless of woods or models or anything.

I arely heard the difference between a gibson and fender! In time your ear becomes more and more sensitive to it Also it takes a LOT of experimentation, especially where you have the scenario of "all is being equal". In other words, you cannot listed to a few rosewood models and maple and be sure of what u r hearing. The best way is to put different necks on the same guitar, but necks of the same type, IE: 2 fender vintage RI necks on the same guitar, one maple board one RW.

If you just experience mape and rosewood boards without that type of scenario you will still come to hear the difference in time over the course of many years and many fenders, but swapping necks will really ake it obvious much quicker.

So thats why theres so much confusion and conflict on the subject. As far as tone, those who hear it may not all hear it the same, or even if they do thier descriptions may be very different partially because theres probably more of a language barrier between payers trying to put tone into words as there is between different languages. In any case mine is as follows. I hear maple as being tighter in the low end, especially with OD.