• Registered: 2009-03-28
  • Posts: 14

Topic: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

Ok. This has been plaguing me lately on a decision. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

I'm about to purchase a f#nder strat neck from Warmoth but I'm curious as to what fretboard wood I should buy. I'm leaning towards a Pau Ferro or Brazilian rosewood. However, I have a one piece maple neck which is killing me with the highs and I prefer a warmer/rounder sound. I've read that Pau ferro has characteristics that are close to a one piece maple neck? I'm looking for a Stevie Ray Vaughan kinda sound(cliche I know). I've already got Rocketfire pickups and an alder body, but the Rocketfires are fairly vintage sounding so they are a little on the bright side.

Ok now for the question smile Has anybody had/have any experiences with a Pau Ferro fretboard??? How comparable is it to maple? Brazilian rosewood is kind of an obvious choice but it's a few dollars more.

Thoughts? Suggestions?? Clarifications???

Fender HRD, 2006 Fender American Standard(with every possible upgrade),Marshall JCM2000 Dsl halfstack, Visual Sound Rt. 66, Mi Audio Crunch Box, Boss DD3, Morley Wah, and anything else I can find to feed my obsession!
  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

Maple & Brazilian RW with clay dots smile

3 Reply by stratpaulguy86 (edited by stratpaulguy86 2009-06-13 15:04:16)

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

GuitarShogun wrote:

Ok. This has been plaguing me lately on a decision. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

I'm about to purchase a f#nder strat neck from Warmoth but I'm curious as to what fretboard wood I should buy. I'm leaning towards a Pau Ferro or Brazilian rosewood. However, I have a one piece maple neck which is killing me with the highs and I prefer a warmer/rounder sound. I've read that Pau ferro has characteristics that are close to a one piece maple neck? I'm looking for a Stevie Ray Vaughan kinda sound(cliche I know). I've already got Rocketfire pickups and an alder body, but the Rocketfires are fairly vintage sounding so they are a little on the bright side.

Ok now for the question smile Has anybody had/have any experiences with a Pau Ferro fretboard??? How comparable is it to maple? Brazilian rosewood is kind of an obvious choice but it's a few dollars more.

Thoughts? Suggestions?? Clarifications???

The fingerboard wood won't save a bright guitar, but it can help a little.  I would stay away from Maple and Ebony like the plague, they will brighten the guitar the most.  Rosewood is rosewood to my ears and it just varies on looks mostly.  I have played dead sounding guitars that are supposed to have super high quality brazillian, and others that sound like magic with Indian rosewood.  It all depends on how much you want to spend.  If you can swing the brazillian, that's what I would go for.  I too went through the SRV obsession just like about every blues guitarist coming up nowdays...I won't open that can of worms but I just got tired of that particular sound.  IMO Stevie made it work and not even KWS, Garza, Mato, Mayer, or any of the other 1,000,000 guys could truely pull it off.  The closest I got was a cheap maple necked Mexican Strat loaded with Texas Specials through a Fender Blues JR. and a Boss BD-2 Blues Driver.  I could NAIL that sound all day on a bright maple strat.  I suggest wenching some of the heaviest strings available on there, raise the action way up, 5 trem springs, crank that amp up super loud and slam it with a couple tubescreamers.  That should get you pretty close!  Good luck and best wishes!  Don't forget to find your own sound along the way!

          -Justin

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2009-03-07
  • Posts: 74

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

If I were you I'd go with Brazilian.  To me, pao ferro has a brighter sound than brazilian and brazilian has a more silky feeling.  Brazilian also looks nicer, the grain patterns can be very nice very nice.  Also, remember that Fender used brazilian up until the mid-60's so to stay true to vintage specs you gotta go with brazilian.  It may cost more but all things considered it's worth it.

If nothing else get brazilian just for the bragging rights. big_smile

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

If you can find good old growth Brazilian Rosewood (which by the way is protected and has been since 1968) then go for it but you'll pay out the wazoo. Otherwise I'd go with Ebony w/ stainless frets. Nothing against Warmoth, but I think Musikraft makes a better neck. Good Luck!

  • Registered: 2008-11-01
  • Posts: 103

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

You're trying to tame the highs so Brazilian is a good choice but you didn't mention what the body wood was or the type of pickups you're using.
Pickups wound down around the 5.6 to 5.9K will sound brighter than those wound around 6.1k and higher which will have less highs and more mids.
It's not just about the fretboard wood when taming highs but brazilian maple will definitely warm it up somewhat and feel good to play on as well.
I'd stay away from ebony in your case.

  • Registered: 2009-03-28
  • Posts: 14

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

Thanks for all your answers! I'll definitely go with Brazilian Rosewood. It's actually only $40 more. Next is to change that damn cheap speaker that come with all Fender HRD. Far too harsh sounding. I've already got the TS, Rocketfire Total 60's pickups, Callaham block(great addition tonewise for a reasonable price!! Must have for a strat!) Kind of funny though...went through a jazz/fusion stage for the last few years, and now I'm back where I started playing blues/rock! I credit JB with my drifting back to the roots of music. That's the main reason for the neck change. After years of playing, I now feel most comfortable with huge necks. Isn't the never ending growing search for tone great!? smile

Fender HRD, 2006 Fender American Standard(with every possible upgrade),Marshall JCM2000 Dsl halfstack, Visual Sound Rt. 66, Mi Audio Crunch Box, Boss DD3, Morley Wah, and anything else I can find to feed my obsession!
  • From: South England
  • Registered: 2009-04-23
  • Posts: 154

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

Ahh Tone Hounds unite!

This thread has just reminded me that I've got a fingerboards worth of Brazilian Rosewood at the back of my cupboard just waiting for the right neck! Bought it from a cabinet makers offcuts pile for like £5.. Wonder what it's worth now??

  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

GuitarShogun wrote:

Ok. This has been plaguing me lately on a decision. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

I'm about to purchase a f#nder strat neck from Warmoth but I'm curious as to what fretboard wood I should buy. I'm leaning towards a Pau Ferro or Brazilian rosewood. However, I have a one piece maple neck which is killing me with the highs and I prefer a warmer/rounder sound. I've read that Pau ferro has characteristics that are close to a one piece maple neck? I'm looking for a Stevie Ray Vaughan kinda sound(cliche I know). I've already got Rocketfire pickups and an alder body, but the Rocketfires are fairly vintage sounding so they are a little on the bright side.

Ok now for the question smile Has anybody had/have any experiences with a Pau Ferro fretboard??? How comparable is it to maple? Brazilian rosewood is kind of an obvious choice but it's a few dollars more.

Thoughts? Suggestions?? Clarifications???


It's okay. You can say Fender. tongue

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

My ReverbNation page for Dees & Friends - check us out!
www.reverbnation.com/deesfriends

10 Reply by BluesMan (edited by BluesMan 2009-06-15 22:50:05)

  • From: Wisconsin
  • Registered: 2008-08-15
  • Posts: 7,284

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

Deezer wrote:

It's okay. You can say Fender. tongue

Fender...a person or thing that wards something off.

Fender....Nautical - a piece of timber, bundle of rope, or the like, hung over the side of a vessel to lessen shock or prevent chafing, as between the vessel and a dock or another vessel.

Fender....a mudguard or splashboard on a horse-drawn vehicle.

Fender....a device on the front of a locomotive, streetcar, or the like, for clearing the track of obstructions.

Fender....the pressed and formed sheet-metal part mounted over the road wheels of an automobile, bicycle, etc., to reduce the splashing of mud, water, and the like.

Fender....JB's newest guitar.

Who would have thought there are so many differnet "Fenders" out there! wink

Roy

Joe is the Best!
  • Registered: 2008-07-05
  • Posts: 85

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

Old growth Peckerwood.  Far better than even Brazilian rosewood.  Very rare, and expensive, but worth it wink

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

Why not ebony? That's my favorite. Bigger guage strings might help you out too.

I understand that the comment as "you want SRV sound for a foundation to build your own tone." You can't fault anyone for that. Either way, the stereotypical SRV sound should be fairly easy to get with any strat through a driven tube amp. You shouldn't have to buy some exotic neck from warmoth to get it IMO. I'm sort of embarrassed that I'm chiming in on the es-are-vee thing (again).

My favorite woods:
1. Ebony - is it bright? really? Never noticed. I thought it was full
2. Maple - yes, this one is bright
3. Rosewood - what I'm forced to get when a guitar doesn't come with ebony.
have not tried exotic woods...

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2009-03-28
  • Posts: 14

Re: Please help decide on fretboard wood!!!

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

Why not ebony? That's my favorite. Bigger guage strings might help you out too.

I understand that the comment as "you want SRV sound for a foundation to build your own tone." You can't fault anyone for that. Either way, the stereotypical SRV sound should be fairly easy to get with any strat through a driven tube amp. You shouldn't have to buy some exotic neck from warmoth to get it IMO. I'm sort of embarrassed that I'm chiming in on the es-are-vee thing (again).

My favorite woods:
1. Ebony - is it bright? really? Never noticed. I thought it was full
2. Maple - yes, this one is bright
3. Rosewood - what I'm forced to get when a guitar doesn't come with ebony.
have not tried exotic woods...


I had a Carvin with with an Ebony fretboard, it is certainly brighter than others, especially consider it was mostly mahogany. Seems to my ears very close to Maple. The neck isn't really "exotic." Brazilian Rosewood is actually more vintage correct than anything. It's what was used on many strats prior to the wood becoming scarce. For me, the difference between rosewood and braz rosewood is significant enough to my ears that I would pay the extra cash for it. But then again, maybe I'm just pickier than most with equipment? smile

Fender HRD, 2006 Fender American Standard(with every possible upgrade),Marshall JCM2000 Dsl halfstack, Visual Sound Rt. 66, Mi Audio Crunch Box, Boss DD3, Morley Wah, and anything else I can find to feed my obsession!