• From: Southampton, UK
  • Registered: 2011-09-06
  • Posts: 231

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.

I agree with all this, especially the bit about finding what's right for you and the music you play.  A guitar is a tool - it creates the sounds we want to hear produced.  So for me, it's not about maple VERSUS rosewood - it's more about what job do I need a guitar to do?  OK, so now I'll go get me a guitar with the right spec for the job, whether that's just a sound/tone thing, or perhaps even a cosmetic/styling thing too.  Good luck with the hunt - assuming you've got the money to buy the instrument of your dreams, finding the right one by trying a few out is a blast!

Gibson LP '89 Custom * Gibson LP '04 Classic * Gibson JB LP Studio * Fender 50th Ann. Deluxe Strat * Gibson Explorer Pro * Epiphone Korina SG * Michael Kelly Patriot Premium * Ibanez 105NT Artcore Custom * Takamine acoustics * Fender Blues Deville 4x10" * Marshall DSL100 and DSL50 * Marshall 1960A * Laney LH55 * Bugera V55HD * Bugera 212VT * Marshall 1912 * Roland Cube 60

Coolaxeman's Website

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

Re: Maple v Rosewood

Thank you to everyone for the replies.

I see a common trend with everyone's comments - go try it out! I won't go there with a decision already made...I'll try them all!

Jonny L

Videos of my playing: http://www.youtube.com/user/JonnyLowtherMusic
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Maple v Rosewood

This preference is sort of a confidence things for two reasons:

1. you want to play what's vintage. I think the air, environment, etc. has changed so much in the last 50 years that wood now, isn't exactly what it was 50 years ago... it's slightly different makeup. Does that mean that vintage tone cannot be reached? prolly not. Can it be reached with other woods? probably.

or

2. you want to play what someone else has because of their tone. I think we can all agree you can get similar tones out of different woods.

When it boils down, you just want to play something that makes you confident. If you can't do it with an junker guitar and upgrading to a nicer guitar can give you that confidence, you start the quest for the ultimate guitar that enhances your confidence and inspires your creativity. cool Ain't nothing wrong with that!

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

Re: Maple v Rosewood

I had the joy of playing a 58' strat unplugged and can honestly tell you it was better then any other Strat I've ever played.  It had a Maple neck and I was told that it sounds totally different then a normal strat you'd hear today.  When I ask him how guitars compaired to this one today the guy said that "If you were to buy a custom shop of today it would only be as good as a less then average 50's Strat."

AD3THREE's Website

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

Re: Maple v Rosewood

AD3THREE wrote:

I had the joy of playing a 58' strat unplugged and can honestly tell you it was better then any other Strat I've ever played.  It had a Maple neck and I was told that it sounds totally different then a normal strat you'd hear today.  When I ask him how guitars compaired to this one today the guy said that "If you were to buy a custom shop of today it would only be as good as a less then average 50's Strat."

+1
I played a white mid 50's Fender Esquire and an early 60's baby blue strat... and they do have some voodoo about them that seems to allow you to play on auto-pilot. I didn't notice so much in tone (because I was a teenager) but I noticed a HUGE difference in feel and sustain.

- 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