Starting to dislike Rosewood boards

[Say Ocean]

Really, really don't like anything about rosewood, to be honest. I prefer maple with fender style or fender shaped guitars and ebony for other types. Ebony with no inlays just looks amazing

 

[ShaneV]

Really, really don't like anything about rosewood, to be honest. I prefer maple with fender style or fender shaped guitars and ebony for other types. Ebony with no inlays just looks amazing

Ebony is also acceptable

 

[puketem]

I hate to break it to you guys, but rosewood is brighter than maple. Maple has more mids (especially low mids) and less higs. There's alot more sizzle in the top end in rosewood. Just ask any builder.

I guess Tommy at USA Custom has got it all backwards then.

"Here are some subjective descriptions of the woods we use for our necks based on years of building, playing and listening.

HARD ROCK MAPLE - This is what we make 90% of our necks out of. Durable and bright and articulate. We of course carry all of the varieties for neck woods (Quarter sawn, Birdseye, and Flame).

ROSEWOOD - We have different varieties of Rosewood, but currently use Indian and Brazilian. Madagascar rosewood was our main choice until our suppliers were unable to get it due to deforestation concerns. We don't recommend bodies out of it, unless you are going to make a T style body like George Harrison's (which was Indian Rosewood). It comes in an array of colors (dark brown, burgundy, tan) and can be plain or very figured. It's oily and porous so it dampens some of the high end out of the Maple, creating a smoother tone. Awesome for Blues, Jazz and some breeds of Rock.

EBONY - Very hard and dense wood, comes in jet black and when available, in the Striped Macassar version. Great on Maple for players who really like to cut through the mix and get super twang. Or for rock and metal players that like high end and that forever sustaining note. It also works well to add articulation to Mahogany bodies and hollow bodies that need to be brightened up because they are a little muddy in the bottom end.

PAU FERRO - For players who like the tone of Maple but like a darker fingerboard! It always has nice grain, and can range from chocolate to tan in color. Great for fretless basses, because of its hardness, and it's not as bright sounding as Ebony."

Yes he has. I think Tom Anderson and John Suhr are 2 much more realiable sources.

EDIT: He is also talking about making the whole neck out of rosewood or maple. Quite a different thing compared to just the fingerboard. There is even a noticable difference between a one piece maple neck, or 2 piece.

 

[glpg80]

i prefer maple over rosewood, but rosewood over ebony.

i dont like the full rounded tone of ebony, rosewood still keeps an attitude simillar to maple but without the shrill bite-like maple attitude. solo's on rosewood sound great and so do rhythms.

ebony seemed to me to be more responsive to pickup heighth/string heighth - at least from my experience playing them. rhythms sound more solid than rosewood - it makes rosewood sound like a toy so to speak. but rosewood has more of warm tone to it like maple, only without the snap on the high end.

i also like the way rosewood plays over ebony - i dunno. you would think otherwise?

rosewood boards, to me, have a great rhythm and lead tone both - a very versatile board. and it can be just as smoothe as ebony depending on the player's sweat and the grain pattern/style since rosewood loves to hold oil. but i still prefer maple over both

 

[just42dave]

I'm looking around for an Ibanez with a maple board

Still love rosewood for a Les Paul,especially if it's nicely figured

I bought this cuz of the board

 

[unsafe]

I wonder if those cheap RG350M's can approach that awesomeness

 

[TeleBlaster]

..... I think Tom Anderson and John Suhr are 2 much more realiable sources....

Comedy gold.

 

[spawnofthesith]

I definitely much prefer my ebony boards to my rosewood one. Better look and feel. I would be lying if I said I could hear a difference though

 

[OldSkoolNJ]

I hate to break it to you guys, but rosewood is brighter than maple. Maple has more mids (especially low mids) and less higs. There's alot more sizzle in the top end in rosewood. Just ask any builder.

I guess Tommy at USA Custom has got it all backwards then.

"Here are some subjective descriptions of the woods we use for our necks based on years of building, playing and listening.

HARD ROCK MAPLE - This is what we make 90% of our necks out of. Durable and bright and articulate. We of course carry all of the varieties for neck woods (Quarter sawn, Birdseye, and Flame).

ROSEWOOD - We have different varieties of Rosewood, but currently use Indian and Brazilian. Madagascar rosewood was our main choice until our suppliers were unable to get it due to deforestation concerns. We don't recommend bodies out of it, unless you are going to make a T style body like George Harrison's (which was Indian Rosewood). It comes in an array of colors (dark brown, burgundy, tan) and can be plain or very figured. It's oily and porous so it dampens some of the high end out of the Maple, creating a smoother tone. Awesome for Blues, Jazz and some breeds of Rock.

EBONY - Very hard and dense wood, comes in jet black and when available, in the Striped Macassar version. Great on Maple for players who really like to cut through the mix and get super twang. Or for rock and metal players that like high end and that forever sustaining note. It also works well to add articulation to Mahogany bodies and hollow bodies that need to be brightened up because they are a little muddy in the bottom end.

PAU FERRO - For players who like the tone of Maple but like a darker fingerboard! It always has nice grain, and can range from chocolate to tan in color. Great for fretless basses, because of its hardness, and it's not as bright sounding as Ebony."

Yes he has. I think Tom Anderson and John Suhr are 2 much more realiable sources.

EDIT: He is also talking about making the whole neck out of rosewood or maple. Quite a different thing compared to just the fingerboard. There is even a noticable difference between a one piece maple neck, or 2 piece.

Looks like it is mostly mentioning Fret boards materials to me ..

Some qoutes from Suhr's site.
Let's not forget that there are many things that influence tone; the body and the neck wood are a strong part of that but they are not all that matters. For years I played a Solid Quilt Maple Standard with a Rosewood board neck and a Floyd. Bright you think? Not really... The Floyd isn't very bright - sort of neutral and the rosewood warmed it up.

Maple – Our Maple necks are 1-piece vintage style with skunk stripe and headstock plug made out of Pau Ferro. We use a very light satin wood-feeling finish. Maple has a unique tone, strong in the midrange with a sweet spanky high end. Maple will cut through when you need it and it is never muddy on the bass. Maple is good for overdrive with good harmonics.

Maple / Indian Rosewood – Sweet and warm with some sparkle on the top end, Indian Rosewood is probably one of the most popular fingerboard woods. It is open grained with colors ranging from brown black to red brown. Warm and fat, it is not too bright and not too dark - very neutral, it does however have more "sizzle" than 1-piece Maple necks.

 

[Big Rich]

i think i like rosewood the best it has such a rich sound and it feels like it resonates more.... i really like how it works with alder guitars or mahogony bodies with maple caps

sometimes ebony has a dead feeling to it it feels smoother but it sometimes feels like it has no sustain to it...

maple is comfy and has great note definition and separation

i like all of them but if i had to pick a fav it would be rosewood

 

[Strat+Marshall]

I hate to break it to you guys, but rosewood is brighter than maple. Maple has more mids (especially low mids) and less higs. There's alot more sizzle in the top end in rosewood. Just ask any builder.

Indian rosewood is generally duller but has some spikes in it that can make it harsh. I much prefer brazillian over indian, they are a lot different. Maple is much more even sounding, it is a little bit bright but doesn't get harsh or ice picky like some other woods.

 

[puketem]

I hate to break it to you guys, but rosewood is brighter than maple. Maple has more mids (especially low mids) and less higs. There's alot more sizzle in the top end in rosewood. Just ask any builder.

I guess Tommy at USA Custom has got it all backwards then.

"Here are some subjective descriptions of the woods we use for our necks based on years of building, playing and listening.

HARD ROCK MAPLE - This is what we make 90% of our necks out of. Durable and bright and articulate. We of course carry all of the varieties for neck woods (Quarter sawn, Birdseye, and Flame).

ROSEWOOD - We have different varieties of Rosewood, but currently use Indian and Brazilian. Madagascar rosewood was our main choice until our suppliers were unable to get it due to deforestation concerns. We don't recommend bodies out of it, unless you are going to make a T style body like George Harrison's (which was Indian Rosewood). It comes in an array of colors (dark brown, burgundy, tan) and can be plain or very figured. It's oily and porous so it dampens some of the high end out of the Maple, creating a smoother tone. Awesome for Blues, Jazz and some breeds of Rock.

EBONY - Very hard and dense wood, comes in jet black and when available, in the Striped Macassar version. Great on Maple for players who really like to cut through the mix and get super twang. Or for rock and metal players that like high end and that forever sustaining note. It also works well to add articulation to Mahogany bodies and hollow bodies that need to be brightened up because they are a little muddy in the bottom end.

PAU FERRO - For players who like the tone of Maple but like a darker fingerboard! It always has nice grain, and can range from chocolate to tan in color. Great for fretless basses, because of its hardness, and it's not as bright sounding as Ebony."

Yes he has. I think Tom Anderson and John Suhr are 2 much more realiable sources.

EDIT: He is also talking about making the whole neck out of rosewood or maple. Quite a different thing compared to just the fingerboard. There is even a noticable difference between a one piece maple neck, or 2 piece.

Looks like it is mostly mentioning Fret boards materials to me ..

Some qoutes from Suhr's site.
Let's not forget that there are many things that influence tone; the body and the neck wood are a strong part of that but they are not all that matters. For years I played a Solid Quilt Maple Standard with a Rosewood board neck and a Floyd. Bright you think? Not really... The Floyd isn't very bright - sort of neutral and the rosewood warmed it up.

Maple – Our Maple necks are 1-piece vintage style with skunk stripe and headstock plug made out of Pau Ferro. We use a very light satin wood-feeling finish. Maple has a unique tone, strong in the midrange with a sweet spanky high end. Maple will cut through when you need it and it is never muddy on the bass. Maple is good for overdrive with good harmonics.

Maple / Indian Rosewood – Sweet and warm with some sparkle on the top end, Indian Rosewood is probably one of the most popular fingerboard woods. It is open grained with colors ranging from brown black to red brown. Warm and fat, it is not too bright and not too dark - very neutral, it does however have more "sizzle" than 1-piece Maple necks.

Says right there, more sizzle than maple. He has talked alot about this over at HRI, and he clearly states that rosewood is brighter.

 

[OldSkoolNJ]

So why doesn't he just say it sounds brighter than maple instead of sizzle? Considering he is already using the term not to bright?

My experiences owning the same exact 2 guitars except with different fingerboards the maple boards are always the brighter sounding guitar to my ears..

 

[Mike Moriarty]

I agree. Cant stand rosewood anymore. Matter of fact if it aint maple I dont want it.

 

[puketem]

So why doesn't he just say it sounds brighter than maple instead of sizzle? Considering he is already using the term not to bright?

My experiences owning the same exact 2 guitars except with different fingerboards the maple boards are always the brighter sounding guitar to my ears..

Because sizzle is a description of how the highs sound too. It's like saying that an amp has alot of bass, that isn't conclusive, you want to know HOW the bass sounds too. Is it flubby? Tight? etc etc.

I've tried the same thing several times, and rosewood always had more highs. Maple has more cutting mids though, and is also louder and snappier, so don't confuse that with brighter.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I love Rosewood. Out of these 2 guitars, the one with the Rosewood board sounds better.

 

[locoed]

I'm tired of the look of it for one. Just bored of the brownish color, and doesn't go well with many body colors IMO. Also, it sounds a lot darker and mushier than maple or ebony. I'm also getting sick of fret markers; namely the dots. They seem kind of pointless and almost elementary, like you need a guide or something. As long as the side of the neck has em, you're good to go, no?
I still like inlays if they have a cool design, like PRS's birds and whatnot, but I think a maple or ebony board with no inlays is sexy as hell! Am I alone here? I seem to dislike a lot of things today...male PMS maybe?

I agree,it's plain,makes a nice guitar look cheap,take Ibanez,they make a decent guitar but the necks ruin it,RUIN it,i want to buy one but i prefer ebony boards,however i like not having fret markers.
Side markers? Of course.
Maybe Ibanez will quit being lame,but i doubt it.
Just my opinion.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I hate to break it to you guys, but rosewood is brighter than maple. Maple has more mids (especially low mids) and less higs. There's alot more sizzle in the top end in rosewood. Just ask any builder.

First time i hear this?

It's an old myth that maple is brighter. Just ask John Suhr. The reason for this, is that the old Fender necks used way to much laquer on the maple fretboard, so what you where hearing was the laquer, not the wood.

It was a long time since I've heard somebody say maple is brighter.

Do not agree with this at all. I also think there a LOT more involved in what makes a guitar more or less bright. BUT, every PRS McCarty I've played that had the solid Rosewood necks have been the darkest guitars I've heard. And guitars with maple boards are usually brighter than their Rosewood counterparts.


Just take the Suhr Pro Series, the S3 are darker sounding than the S4's. Guess which ones have Rosewood? S3.

 

[killertone]

I hate the rosewood on LP Standards, I have tried numerous times by owning Standards and always end up selling them. They just feel cheap to me with rosewood boards. I much prefer the ebony boards on my LPCs, they feel more substantial for one, and I love the tone.

I recently got 2 new guitars with maple boards and I am really loving them. They both have satin finished necks and they feel awesome to play on. One of them has abalone inlays which I think look kickass.

I have a couple other guitars with Rosewood boards and I like them as well. They both have Ash bodies so maybe I just dig that combination.

 

[puketem]

I'm tired of the look of it for one. Just bored of the brownish color, and doesn't go well with many body colors IMO. Also, it sounds a lot darker and mushier than maple or ebony. I'm also getting sick of fret markers; namely the dots. They seem kind of pointless and almost elementary, like you need a guide or something. As long as the side of the neck has em, you're good to go, no?
I still like inlays if they have a cool design, like PRS's birds and whatnot, but I think a maple or ebony board with no inlays is sexy as hell! Am I alone here? I seem to dislike a lot of things today...male PMS maybe?

I agree,it's plain,makes a nice guitar look cheap,take Ibanez,they make a decent guitar but the necks ruin it,RUIN it,i want to buy one but i prefer ebony boards,however i like not having fret markers.
Side markers? Of course.
Maybe Ibanez will quit being lame,but i doubt it.
Just my opinion.

You can't compare on different guitars. It must be the same guitar, and also a double blind test.