riffrocklives.com

General Category => Jam Room => Topic started by: Ranbat on November 03, 2012, 07:24:20 AM

Title: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: Ranbat on November 03, 2012, 07:24:20 AM
....and why? I prefer Maple even though most all my guitars have always had Rosewood. I just like the feel of a glossy fretboard. I don't much care for the unfinished Maple like some of the Squiers  and other budget guitars have. Which brings up another question, isn't Maple cheaper than Rosewood? If so, why do so many budget guitars have Rosewood fretboards? Just to make them look 'fancy'?
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: Mr. Foxen on November 03, 2012, 10:15:32 AM
I think rosewood is easier to do cheap fret work on, Most cheap maple board stuff ha a separate board part anyway, so its built in the same way. Maple is always finished, just some have a satin finish. Maple good enough for guitar necks might not be that cheap, can't get away with crappy batches so much, whereas a stuck on fingerboard is a relatively small piece of wood, you can bin a few with crags in them.

Since I can't help myself from fiddling with the frets on all my stuff, I prefer unlacquered boards since they are easier and less risky to take a file to.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: bass sic on November 03, 2012, 10:45:14 AM
My basses have always had maple necks, but I'm really wanting a rosewood one for some reason. My strats have rosewood and my lp is ebony. I don't know about difference in feel but the ebony looks better.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: Ranbat on November 03, 2012, 10:46:37 AM
There are Maple necks with too much finish on them too. The Squier Duo-Sonic was like that. And the satin finish is what I mean by unfinished. It feels alot like Rosewood and they get dirty looking quick. Which is an advantage if you like the well worn look on a neck.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: Discö Rice on November 03, 2012, 12:17:49 PM
I really like ebony, but every guitar I've owned has been rosewood. My T-40 had a maple fingerboard, and I loved it.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: Andrew Blakk on November 03, 2012, 01:10:19 PM
I've earlier had some problems playing om ebony fretboard but after getting a Flying V I sort of got used to it. But in general I do prefer rosewood. There's something with the way how the rosewood responses.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: bbottom on November 03, 2012, 02:53:12 PM
All of my basses have maple necks. To be honest I've always preferred the way that they look
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: bass sic on November 03, 2012, 03:31:35 PM
Quote from: bbottom on November 03, 2012, 02:53:12 PM
All of my basses have maple necks. To be honest I've always preferred the way that they look

I used to prefer the look. But now I think it depends on the bass. I have a black stingray with maple and I think it would look better rosewood.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: The Riffer on November 03, 2012, 03:41:07 PM
On a bass, I prefer maple. on a Strat, prefer Rosewood.on an LP I prefer Ebony...I 'm a lover, not a hater.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: VOLVO))) on November 04, 2012, 03:01:19 PM
maple on everything plz.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: clockwork green on November 04, 2012, 10:07:17 PM
Aluminium for sustain and energy transfer.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: zachoff on November 04, 2012, 10:13:24 PM
Maple on black is sexy.  One of my old Yamaha BBs is ebony neck on tobacco burst and that's pretty awesome too.  Not that I hate rosewood... I prefer it to maple when it comes to actually playing.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: lordfinesse on November 04, 2012, 11:00:27 PM
I really like maple, but rosewood is what I'm used to.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: clockwork green on November 05, 2012, 08:59:55 AM
I'm surprised no one reposted the "idiot" video.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: I,Galactus on November 05, 2012, 09:43:54 AM
Quote from: clockwork green on November 05, 2012, 08:59:55 AM
I'm pleasantly surprised no one reposted the "idiot" video.
Title: Re: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: VOLVO))) on November 05, 2012, 09:57:18 AM
OH NO ITS BRIGHT AGAIN! Ahhhh...  War... SHIT ITS BRIGHT AGAIN
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: bass sic on November 05, 2012, 01:31:08 PM
Yea that guy was an ass, but did make some good points I thought.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: rayinreverse on November 05, 2012, 02:20:44 PM
maple on my tele's. ebony on a les paul.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: Drama on November 06, 2012, 01:07:41 PM
I like Ebony and Rosewood, I've 2 Rosewood and 3 Ebony LP's a Rosewood LP Bass and an Ebony SG.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: grimniggzy on November 06, 2012, 02:42:54 PM
I'm usually have rosewood. Wouldn't mind maple one bit though.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: Baltar on November 06, 2012, 07:16:40 PM
Both.

(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a47/bren1973/TeleSpecial1002.jpg)
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: I,Galactus on November 07, 2012, 12:00:51 PM
Quote from: Baltar on November 06, 2012, 07:16:40 PM
Both.

(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a47/bren1973/TeleSpecial1002.jpg)

What kind of fret board you got on that dog?
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: Baltar on November 07, 2012, 12:38:35 PM
I dunno, he's Pug/J. Russel mix.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: Corey Y on November 07, 2012, 05:27:14 PM
I have all 3 on different basses and guitars. Tone wise, I really can't tell the difference since they're all different sounding instruments in general. Feel and looks wise, I prefer maple and ebony. Rosewood can look nice at its best, but it looks like mocha swirl at its worst and I don't like the wide open grain for a fretboard. Nothing is a deal breaker though, unless it's just a particularly ugly slab of wood.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: bass sic on November 07, 2012, 05:42:39 PM
I'm not to keen on those new Gibby boards. Baked maple and granadilo?
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: Drama on November 07, 2012, 07:12:53 PM
Quote from: bass sic on November 07, 2012, 05:42:39 PM
I'm not to keen on those new Gibby boards. Baked maple and granadilo?

Yeah indeed. Even a lot of the Rosewood now isn't a solid piece, it's two strips pressed together.
Title: Re: Maple vs Rosewood vs Ebony What's your preference
Post by: RacerX on November 07, 2012, 09:19:51 PM
They all work for me, but I don't like a heavily coated finish over maple. I like to feel a bit more drag.