Exploring the differences between the two most common guitar fretboard (or fingerboard) materials. Maple and Rosewood.
Looks
It depends on the Guitar. I’ve seen some gorgeous maple guitar fretboards with a little flaming, but a lot of them, particularly at the cheaper end of the spectrum, are just too anemic/plain looking. Up close, the darker rosewood looks a lot more luxurious and contrasts with the shiny silver fretwork a lot better.
Guitar Fretboard Feel
Assuming we’re talking about Fenders, maple fretboards tend to feel like an extension of the neck with the frets installed on top. Rosewood, on the other hand, feels like a proper, separate entity, which is something I prefer.
A lot of the feel comes from the fretwork as opposed to the fretboard, but I currently own a maple fretboard equipped guitar and I miss the whole process of applying lemon-oil to a rosewood fretboard. Polishing the frets and cleaning the fretboard with wire wool, applying the oil, and then a final rub-down to bring everything up to sheen is a labor of love. You wouldn’t do that to the lighter maple fretboard for fear of it marking the wood.
Personally I much prefer the feel of rosewood, it feels nicer, more comfortable (given my history of playing Gibsons), and, as a result, I can play with more confidence.
Tone
In the tone department, maple is snappier and brighter, while rosewood is darker and thicker. In the case of the Fender Stratocaster, those looking for the traditional trademark, classic strat sounds should probably go maple. It’s where all those unique in-between settings can be heard in their purest form.
Those who want to veer more into heavier styles, with a little more grunt, go rosewood. It naturally takes away that sometimes annoying top-end shrillness that Fenders are known for.
Of course, there are exceptions. Yngwie Malmsteen is famous for his maple board Strats yet you wouldn’t associate him with clean playing.
Gibson has famously almost always favored rosewood, which is just one element to their rich tone.
Conclusion.
There are discernable differences in the look, feel, and tone of maple and rosewood fretboards. The choice you make will depend on the style of music you play and the tone you’re looking to achieve.
Personally, I prefer rosewood for it’s more luxurious look, it’s more comfortable (for me) feel, and its ability to thicken up Fender-type tones.
What’s your preference? Drop me a comment below…
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