fingerboard---rosewood or maple????

[threshhold2]

on AMERICAN STRATOCASTER---whats the difference??

 

[Bighauler]

Maple has a brighter sound, Rosewood a bit darker, Ed

 

[travelin travis]

tend to like rosewood myself. ebony is nice also.

 

[Anfontan]

I have a few guitars with maple fretboards, the rest are rosewood. To me the rosewoods are just more comfortable to play and more mellow toned. I think rosewood makes a Tele more versatile for rock & blues sounds.

 

[philboyd studge]

Rosewood. It makes the manufacturer have to work harder and spend more money.

 

[gbdweller]

Rosewood is a little warmer. It is also easier to deal with when re-fretting because a maple board must have some type of finish applied. Once the finish is compromised on a maple board, the wood is stained by sweat and grime and that is it. Some do prefer this look as it gives the guitar a well played look. I personally prefer the feel of ebony under my fingertips because I bend a lot and the lack of finish gives a 'slick' feel. My fingers stick on a finished maple board, unless it's an oiled maple board which has a similar feel to ebony.

 

[Zaphod B]

I like rosewood and ebony fretboards. Finished maple fretboards are slow.

 

[espskully]

I get hung up on finished maple necks. Rosewood or ebony for me.

 

[msly]

I am a big Gibson fan... but my favorite axe is my 74 blonde tele with rosewood fretboard....... but it is funy i certainly play diffrent on a maple fingerboard then i do on a rosewood...probably just a mental thing LOL

 

[jimistone]

I have a strat with a rosewood board and one with a maple board. I like them both....not a huge difference IMO. The maple board strat is a slight bit brighter in tone. Not enough to matter though.

Play some and get the one that you prefer is my advice.

 

[darrvid]

I've got a maple, and agree with those that said the finish is kinda 'sticky'. When I play my friends strat w/ rosewood, it's a bit smoother to play. That said, unless you're a thrasher or something, it really shouldn't matter. If you're able to play fast then you're able to play fast, on a piece of unfinished bark if needed.