Fretboard

[LP_Studio_FTW]

Hello there,

 

I'm just curious, what are the differences between mahogany, ebony and rosewood fretboards(maybe there's more??)?

 

Everything is appreciated...

[BigKahune]

Mahogany is almost never used for fretboards - The three woods you see the most are -

 

Maple - Dense, producing brighter sound and higher overtones. The bass sounds are tight. Think about the Fender sound - they use a lot of maple fretboards. Gibson has offered models with maple fretboards, currently found in the Raw Power models.

 

Rosewood - Open grained and oily, it has a more even repsonse from low to high than maple and produces a richer sound. Think about the traditional Gibson sound - a lot of rosewood fretboards.

 

Ebony - Dense, a bit harder than maple and oily, it has a stronger and richer tone than Maple. Balanced sound, but a bit tighter, with a more crisp attack than rosewood, and comparatively longer sustain. You see it used on practically all classical string instrument fretboards as well as some mainstream guitars. Ebony is standard on certain Gibson models and can be custom ordered.

 

I prefer ebony. But I've got rosewood and maple necks in my stable. B)

[jmm555]

I’d like a Les Paul with an “ebony” fret bd, just to add a difference to the few guitars I own. That’s what has me looking at a white LP Studio. Don’t really need to buy another guitar but you know how that goes. Don’t care too much for a LP Custom.

 

I’d like to see Gibson mix it up a bit more but rosewood seems to win the day,

offered on most if not all of there guitars. I only know of the White Studio and

a LP Custom having an ebony fret board, any others?

[LP_Studio_FTW]

Mahogany is almost never used for fretboards - The three woods you see the most are -

 

Maple - Dense, producing brighter sound and higher overtones. The bass sounds are tight. Think about the Fender sound - they use a lot of maple fretboards. Gibson has offered models with maple fretboards, currently found in the Raw Power models.

 

Rosewood - Open grained and oily, it has a more even repsonse from low to high than maple and produces a richer sound. Think about the traditional Gibson sound - a lot of rosewood fretboards.

 

Ebony - Dense, a bit harder than maple and oily, it has a stronger and richer tone than Maple. Balanced sound, but a bit tighter, with a more crisp attack than rosewood, and comparatively longer sustain. You see it used on practically all classical string instrument fretboards as well as some mainstream guitars. Ebony is standard on certain Gibson models and can be custom ordered.

 

I prefer ebony. But I've got rosewood and maple necks in my stable. B)

 

Thanks man...

So fretboard can actually change the guitar's tone?? Cool..

[BigKahune]

I’d like a Les Paul with an “ebony” fret bd, ... I only know of the White Studio and a LP Custom having an ebony fret board, any others?

 

Ebony sometimes shows up on special runs - you've got to keep watch to catch them.

 

 

 

 

... So fretboard can actually change the guitar's tone?? ...

 

To a certain degree.