Rosewood=OVERRATED! *fretboard poll*

[nevusofota]

Many say that it would be very difficult to use ebony more often in today's automated manufacturing scheme because ebony is more likely to break when a machine forces the frets in the slots and this is why ebony is used more in hand made fretboards. Any truth?

 

[bigdaddyd]

Ebony looks and feels great but brings nothing good to the tone party on an electric guitar. An ebony boarded electric that sounds great does so in spite of it, not because of it. I've tested it based on Tom Anderson's assertions that its a garbage tonewood and I've come to agree.

While I have no personal preference, you are welcome to play my LPC anytime. Anyone that plays it comments on it's playability and it's awesome tone. Also, as knoweledgable as Tom is, he is still human.

 

[primerib]

I like Rosewood. But I prefer ebony... just like my women

 

[rcm78]

When I first started playing, I thought rosewood was mostly on cheap guitars. My first Hondo had a rosewood board, my Kramer Focus had a rosewood board. So not knowing any better I thought it was junk and wanted a maple fretboard like EVH... Maple seemed hard to get so it must be better right? So I found a couple super strats (Charvels, and BC Rich's) with maple boards and played those for a couple years.

Then I got into Hamer USA guitars. My first one was an '86 Chaparral with ebony board. Fantastic fretboard on that guitar. I liked the Chappy so much I bought another one. An '87 with a rosewood board. There's definitely a difference in the rosewood used on my old Kramers, and a USA Hamer. The Hamer board was thicker, the grain was tighter, and it didnt look dry all the time like the Kramer.

I've tried them all and think I know a little more about whats good and what isnt. I prefer Maple boards. I like the look and sound. I like the faster attack, and response from maple.

I still have a fantastic Hamer with a rosewood board, and a Kramer with an ebony board, but my live guitars (Wolfgangs and a PC-1) all have maple boards...

 

[Coopster]

So, how has it that rosewood became (and still is) the standard for making up most of the fretboards being made today? What does rosewood have that the others don't?

If I understand my history of electric guitar (and I could be very wrong), a lot of the blues players preferred the rosewood on strats because it was "faster" and the feel was better than the heavily lacquered maple. They could dig in more and really wring the notes out of the neck. Also the warmer tone was a factor.

Personally, I like 'em all.

 

[Subclavian]

I prefer Ebony on Les Pauls and Rosewood on Strats...not a fan of maple fretboards.

 

[blackba]

I like all three. On starts my favorite is maple. On les Paul's I prefer ebony. For me though, fretboard wood is not a deal breaker, I just have slight preferences.

 

[Cflat96]

For a long time, I would write off any guitar with a rosewood board as one that I did not want to bother with. I used the usual excuses. It doesn't feel as fast as ebony or maple, it doesn't look as nice as ebony or maple, and it doesn't sound as nice as ebony or maple. After all these years of playing and going through more guitars than I can count, I've realized that it really doesn't matter. It was all in my head. Rosewood doesn't slow my playing down. I can't do anything more on an ebony or maple board that I can do with rosewood.
Your fingers don't even touch the fretboard much with Jumbo frets(which I prefer and have on many of my guitars). In fact, I might have a hard time telling the difference if you switched out the fretboard material without telling me(in a blindfold test). I might have an easier time telling the difference if I knew I was being tested.

I've also realized that while rosewood, maple, and ebony might have inherent tonal properties, each individual guitar will have its own sound and can vary wildly from what it's supposed to sound like according to its wood. This means that just because one guitar has a rosewood board, does not automatically mean that it will sound warmer than one with similar construction and a maple or ebony board. I have many examples of this in my collection. I have a bunch of guitars with all three fretboards, and my current favorite player has a rosewood board. So, I don't really care anymore. It's practically a non-issue when choosing a guitar.

 

[sandman]

maple has always been my favorite...but honestly....i can appreciate maple, rosewood, and ebony....it's all subjective....but they are all useful tools of tone and how a guitar looks

 

[JTyson]

I like all of them for different reasons... There are too many variables in any guitar to think what your hearing is just the fretboard. Its a combination of all the elements, the fretboard is probably the least of the elements.
just sayin...

 

[nevusofota]

To the original question, how and why did rosewood become the most popular. especially since it seems most guitarist prefer something else with this pole being no different. i agree with many saying they cant tell the difference. i know i couldn't tell the difference if blind folded and someone else playing, but I do like the other options for aesthetics alone.

 

[Heritage Softail]

To the original question, how and why did rosewood become the most popular. especially since it seems most guitarist prefer something else with this pole being no different. i agree with many saying they cant tell the difference. i know i couldn't tell the difference if blind folded and someone else playing, but I do like the other options for aesthetics alone.

According to your poll....

People prefer rosewood by over 50% to be next closest offering.

Manufacturers usually sell what people want, so they will move more units. The market seems to state that for what most players want, at a determined price point, rosewood is the winner. If people really wanted maple more, I think the smart business owner would make guitars with maple planks to sell more units.

 

[stephen sawall]

I prefer ebony with most guitars .... but like all three.

 

[bpetersen]

I like all three. On starts my favorite is maple. On les Paul's I prefer ebony. For me though, fretboard wood is not a deal breaker, I just have slight preferences.

yup.

 

[Luca79]

For what i read, but could be wrong... rosewood was a cheaper, and more easy to work, in alternative to ebony.

 

[nevusofota]

For what i read, but could be wrong... rosewood was a cheaper, and more easy to work, in alternative to ebony.

I have consistently read this also. However, I'm sure there are examples of very expensive species of rosewood but these are probably in the minority. It seems reasonable that ebony would be used more if it was more condusive to the modern automated guitar building process. Because of this and that most rosewood is cheaper, it does make for a better business decision to use it. I mean, you're going to see rosewood on the $100 Target-sold guitar, but you will most likely NEVER see ebony. Another reason could be, and I don't know this as fact, rosewood is more abundant.

 

[Luca79]

However, I'm sure there are examples of very expensive species of rosewood but these are probably in the minority

You must back at '50 years, when the Brazilian don't was a protected species, and a cheaper alternative.
After 60 years the things are changed, and today RW is a standard.
I think it still a standard because it grow in many countries.

Watch this about ebony:

 

[DrugDM]

I have 2 all rosewood necks and have really grown to appreciate the sound. Before I only played all maple necks which I still love but the rosewood just has a nice warm tone plus the dark color covers up my finger dirt...

 

[Badronald]

I like all three.

I prefer maple neck Strats. It's just aesthetic for me.

 

[nevusofota]

However, I'm sure there are examples of very expensive species of rosewood but these are probably in the minority

You must back at '50 years, when the Brazilian don't was a protected species, and a cheaper alternative.
After 60 years the things are changed, and today RW is a standard.
I think it still a standard because it grow in many countries.

Watch this about ebony:

Great video! Thanks for posting.