• From: Cambridge
  • Registered: 2011-01-15
  • Posts: 912

Topic: Maple v Rosewood

I'm looking to start playing a Strat or Tele .... before I go to try one out I'm curious as to the difference in feel and tone between a maple and rosewood fretboard?

Thanks smile

Jonny L

Videos of my playing: http://www.youtube.com/user/JonnyLowtherMusic
  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: Maple v Rosewood

I find maple too bright and spanky..though not always the case...maybe its that the rosewood sounds a bit fuller in the lower mids. I feel you can make rosewood sound more like maple than the other way around...using amp settings and pedals.
Rosewood is more grainy and so has more drag (I would call that feel) in playing a neck, and of all the necks I've played, the graininess leads to build up of dirt, so needs more maintenance.
These are not solid facts, but my experience and opinion.
It is a decider on an instrument, but I would say a bigger one is playing through a range of all different types of necks and finding the correct shape for yourself first.

  • From: New Hampshire, USA
  • Registered: 2010-12-21
  • Posts: 3,650

Re: Maple v Rosewood

DaveWammbarro wrote:

I find maple too bright and spanky..though not always the case...maybe its that the rosewood sounds a bit fuller in the lower mids. I feel you can make rosewood sound more like maple than the other way around...using amp settings and pedals.
Rosewood is more grainy and so has more drag (I would call that feel) in playing a neck, and of all the necks I've played, the graininess leads to build up of dirt, so needs more maintenance.
These are not solid facts, but my experience and opinion.
It is a decider on an instrument, but I would say a bigger one is playing through a range of all different types of necks and finding the correct shape for yourself first.

Exactly I could not have said it better. Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
"Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them"
Skinner #1,JBLP 145(aged),252, (unaged),#285HM, Bburst #026, Joes 052 BCC black LP, Strat> RT,EC Gilmour,Beck,Lenny LP> PK 83,CC#2,3,4,9,Amps>Carol Ann RAH JB-100 SN 001,JB100 Red SN02,OD2, OD3,Tucana 2&3 Triptix,Twinkle land, Plexi ,JB Jub, Jubs,Plexi,Satch,Two Rock>others
  • From: New York
  • Registered: 2011-02-13
  • Posts: 444

Re: Maple v Rosewood

You gotta play a bunch until you find "The One". I prefer rosewood, but am not opposed to maple. The tonal difference matters little to me. That's why guitars have tone knobs. Look for resonance, sustain, feel, and pickup sound. Good luck!

Gibson Custom Joe Bonamassa Ltd Signature Les Paul VOS # 31
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Maple v Rosewood

Maple boards are coated with lacquer. Rosewood ones are not so you need to oil them. You can use guitar polish on maple boards that are coated with lacquer and they'll become more slippery.

I associate maple boards with Fender. I associate Rosewood boards with Gibson. So whenever I get a fender I usually get a maple board first. If it sounds too bright, you can always roll-off on the tone knob.

Telecasters with maple boards and standard pickups with 9's can give you a real twang, honk or spank. Strat might be a little more versatile, but a different animal all together... more of a quack tone on the in-between positions. That said, you can dial almost any guitar to sound 'similar' to another in a pinch.

nowadays, I go for guitar weight and neck thickness before assuming wood. i.e. "comfort over coolness."

- 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
  • From: Cambridge
  • Registered: 2011-01-15
  • Posts: 912

Re: Maple v Rosewood

Thanks for the replies.

I used to have a road worn strat and I really hated it ... couldn't get on with it at all because it was very hard to play

I'm mainly looking for playability here because, as you say, the tone can be changed

Maple seemed to be a little easier to play when I tried some out a year or 2 back if I remember correctly

Jonny L

Videos of my playing: http://www.youtube.com/user/JonnyLowtherMusic

7 Reply by DougH (edited by DougH 2012-05-21 11:59:22)

  • DougH
  • DougH
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
  • Posts: 1,705

Re: Maple v Rosewood

Whether Joe was playing ebony, rosewood, lacquered maple or baked maple, I'd still be listening to him


btw Gibson is using baked maple that can be oiled unlike the Fender maple fret boards

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)

8 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2012-05-21 12:19:39)

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

Re: Maple v Rosewood

Jlowther wrote:

I used to have a road worn strat and I really hated it ... couldn't get on with it at all because it was very hard to play.

Fender did a terrible job with these in my opinion. the wear on the maple fretboards didn't look natural at all, and it was just way overdone.

http://fredm.webs.com/50's%20road%20worn.jpg

Most experts agree that most vintage instruments can show obvious wear, but they don't seem beaten or worn out... meaning the wear on them is less than what we would imagine it to be in our heads. People might have played the h*ll out of their guitars, but at the same time cared for them and cherished them.

DougH wrote:

btw Gibson is using baked maple that can be oiled unlike the Fender maple fret boards

YES! Gibson isn't lacquering their baked maple boards, so you can oil them. cool that probably makes them a little warmer than a lacquered maple one too.

http://www.andertons.co.uk/@@STORETEMPL … 1158_2.jpg

- 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
  • From: London town
  • Registered: 2011-10-15
  • Posts: 99

Re: Maple v Rosewood

I generally find maple boards to have more mids and treble, whilst rosewood has more bass response to it and a little darker - simplest way I can liken the sounds is maple is a bit like bridge pickup and rosewood closer to using the neck pickup.

In terms of feel, both normally sit on maple necks with strats/teles so that feel is the same, the actual board itself I always notice a rosewood board more when playing than a maple.

10 Reply by Spider (edited by Spider 2012-05-21 15:27:31)

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: Maple v Rosewood

It's usually Maple is brighter. Rosewood is warmer.

I don't know what you playing experience has been but I say stick to what you like. There's too many variables with Strats or Teles where fingerboard wood doesn't really makes that big of a difference.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for that so bring it on.

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Maple v Rosewood

I like Ash body telecasters with maple necks.  Its bright as heck.  I like Strats with Alder bodies and maple necks.  If I'm playing a strat with an ash body I would prefer to have a rosewood fret board, however my favorite strat has ash and maple together so I'm not sure what to tell you.  I think people tend to like Rosewood better for a more do anything type sound where Maple really shines when you want that spank sound.  I love the way maple looks on Fenders and thats what all my fenders have but I've had a few rosewood necks.  I think my tastes are changing though.

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2010-12-26
  • Posts: 206

Re: Maple v Rosewood

I have a maple neck on my strat always loved it but lately I've been thinking about putting on a rosewood neck but someone told me it's not that easy to do and could lead to problems [ don't know if that is true].

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Maple v Rosewood

Words of wisdom by phil x  go to 14:30 he discusses rosewood or maple
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd_CK4vO … re=related

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: Maple v Rosewood

AD3THREE wrote:

Words of wisdom by phil x  go to 14:30 he discusses rosewood or maple
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd_CK4vO … re=related

You can never go wrong with Phil X.

  • From: Ridgeland, MS
  • Registered: 2009-08-12
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: Maple v Rosewood

Phil X is a monster player. Love to see how much fun that guy has every time he picks up a guitar!

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

Re: Maple v Rosewood

Never heard of Phil X, great video....

- 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
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Maple v Rosewood

I have 1 of each. Honestly, I like the look of both and I don't hear any difference in sound because of the fretboard. The guitars sound different but its because they are different guitars, dif specs, dif pickups etc..

  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 1,374

Re: Maple v Rosewood

Great descriptions of body, neck and fingerboard wood options:
http://www.suhrguitars.com/wood.aspx

My music & music blog: https://vincedickinson.home.blog/
New prog/rock album "Atlantis" available everywhere, including:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/atlantis/1411523163
https://open.spotify.com/album/3InrPujiALJCslZqp9V6e2

ZeyerGTR's Website