Rosewood fretboard vs Maple

[bokeh]

Playing my second Strat HM, the rosewood fingerboard is not as good as the maple on the other Strat. Just my opinion, but the maple is better.

[halo71]

I've really bonded more with maple boards lately myself. The crispness that maple affords over the warmth of rosewood is a nice change sometimes.

[stratznhatz]

I was put off maple boards initially thanks to my first guitar, a Hondo Strat copy, the reason being it was finished in laquer and it was real sticky, particularly if your hands were sweaty. It's only recently that I've tried a maple board (my Stormshadow axe) that is unfinished and it's really slick, with none of that sticky laquer in the way. Having said that, my playing style seems to bring out the treble in the mix, so I personally prefer the warmer rosewood tone, but cosmetically I think maple looks nicer. ;D

[heem6]

I like the look of maple, especially on any kind of a Strat. I really don't care for the laquer either, though.

Ebony is my fave right now, kinda giving the best of both worlds.

[nickwellings]

I like the Maple neck of the HMs, as the neck shape is different (fulelr) than rosewood.

I can also "see" where I am a bit better on maple

Maple sounds more "spanky" to me too. If you could have the warmth of rosewood and the "can see well" of maple that'd be awesome.

[Bodaggit23]

To be honest, I can't remember the last time I played a neck with a Maple board.

I usually play with too much effect to probably notice a difference. ;D

I do prefer the look of a Rosewood board, though. When a Maple board gets worn, it kinda looks like cr@p. IMO

[mrfist9]

Worn maple means the owner liked it very much
I am a rosewood guy. But I am leaning to maple.

[heem6]

Here's a picture of the board on my Purple Crush. It's made out of Coco Bola. I had never heard of it before, but the shop that built this neck uses it a lot - it is "oily" and holds up well in the desert climate without drying out and it sounds similar to rosewood.

[spacerocker]

Rosewood for me on both my Teal HM strats. I think it suits the HM strat and gives it a bit more fullness, but I've never played a maple version.

I have a maple neck on my traditional standard LPB strat. This was mainly to replicate an old Tokai strat I used to have, but I think the maple adds a lot of "twang" which really suits this particular guitar.

[hassalfocker]

I have never owned an axe with a maple board but I have played a couple and true the finish can make your fingers stick to the fret board. However, the HM Strat I just bought on ebay has one, so I plan to sand the sheen off the board usin 600 grit sandpaper which should solve that problem. I agree that when they get worn it look like crap, but I figure if I keep up with cosmetic maintenance I can prevent it getting that bad.

[lbeast]

Jun 7, 2010 0:11:44 GMT -5 heem6 said:

It's made out of Coco Bola.

Coco Bolo is supposedly one of the hardest woods from what I recall. A buddy of mine had nunchaku made with it. (That's numb chucks for all you guys here in the South). Just kiddin' Cooter, settle down. It was very hard as I can attest to from being hit in the head with them. Houston, we have loose cobwebs.

Here's an old pro using nanchaku!

[Bodaggit23]

Rofl! Faceplant FTW!

[heem6]

Okay, I promise never to hit you with the Coco Bola guitar neck, Beast. (It sounds like you've had enough punishment already)!

Hilarious video!

[bokeh]

Just wanted to follow up with something I have learned about Rosewood vs Maple HMs.

The 1987 Strat HM with the maple fretboard has a less bright tone than the 1988 Strat HM with the rosewood fretboard. The 1997 American standard Stratocaster with a maple fretboard is slightly brighter than the rosewood one. I always thought rosewood fretboards were darker toned, but maybe I was wrong. The Rosewood Strat HM sounds closer to a Stratocaster than the Maple HM.

Never expected it.

[davidben1973]

Personally I prefer the maple necks, I can't wait to try the HM Strat maple when the guitar is ready.