The fingerboard (also known as a fretboard on fretted instruments) is an important component of most stringed instruments. It is a thin, long strip of material, usually wood, that is laminated to the front of the neck of an instrument. The strings run over the fingerboard, between the nut and bridge.
Herein, does fretboard wood affect playability?
The fretboard has arguably the most influence over playability than any other part of the guitar. So what the fretboard (a.k.a. fingerboard) is made of will have a significant influence over the overall playability of a guitar.
Subsequently, does fretboard wood matter for electric guitar? The body and fret board affect the tone of acoustic and electric guitars in the same way that the neck wood does. It really comes down to how dense the wood is. The denser the wood, the brighter the tone will be, and the less sustain it’ll have.
Moreover, does fretboard wood matter?
In Short. As you can tell, there’s definitely more that matters when it comes to the wood used for fretboards. Some guitarists may over-exaggerate the effect on the overall sound, but no one can deny that each type of wood looks uniquely different.
How do I make my guitar neck slippery?
Is maple or rosewood fretboard better?
Compared to maple the difference is notable, as rosewood will soften the sound, even for guitars with maple necks. This is one of the reasons some guitar players prefer Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters with the option of a rosewood fretboard. The rosewood takes a bright guitar and mellows it out a bit.
What is a laurel fingerboard?
Indian Laurel Wood is a medium brown wood with occasional dark brown streaks and a straight grain that takes a nice high gloss finish. It’s ever so slightly more evenly colored than Rosewood throughout the fretboard.
What is ebony fretboard?
It is heavy, dense and has superior bend strength as compared to any other wood species. Ebony finishes extremely smooth and it is very durable. It is the only fingerboard wood that can take decades of wear and tear in violins and other fretless instruments.
What is the best type of fretboard wood?
The Big Three Fretboard Woods
- Ebony. Considered the supreme tonewood for fingerboards due to its solidity, resiliency, and firmness, ebony was the primary fretboard wood in use from the 15th century till very recently. …
- Rosewood. …
- Maple. …
- Indian Laurel. …
- Ovangkol. …
- Padauk. …
- Pau Ferro. …
- Walnut.
What is the difference between fretboard and fingerboard?
The distinction between fingerboard and fretboard however is a very easy one to make. Fretboard: A bass guitar that has frets on it. Fingerboard: A bass guitar that has no frets on it. (Note: The above is a Fender Jaco Pastorious Jazz Bass, which has fretlines but not frets, so it is a fretless instrument.)
What wood is used for guitar necks?
Guitar necks are traditionally made from the dense wood of maple, in part because of its strength, and in part, because the material can highlight and amplify the wood in the body.
Which fretboard material is good for guitar?
Rosewood fretboards are generally favored by players who are looking for a warm sound, or by those who wish to tame the harsh highs on a bright sounding guitar. Another reason to choose rosewood is for the smooth playing experience thanks to it not needing a sticky feeling finish.