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.
One may also ask, can you use lemon oil on rosewood fretboard?
Instead, they’re just mineral oil or some other other fretboard-safe oils, with lemon scent and yellow coloring added. For this reason, most of the guitar lemon oils on the market are 100% safe when used in moderation on your guitar’s rosewood or ebony fretboard (don’t use lemon oil on maple–more on that below).
Also, do maple and rosewood fretboards sound different? Rosewood is a warm, sweet tonewood. 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.
Accordingly, does fingerboard affect tone?
Does Fretboard Wood Affect Tone? The guitar fretboard may not play as large a role as the body wood in defining your sound, but it certainly will have a perceptible effect on it. … In terms of tone, a guitar with a one-piece maple neck might have a bright sound with a strong attack.
Does fingerboard wood make a difference?
The fretboard wood, for example, can certainly make a difference to the tone of an instrument, and some woods can suit certain players and styles more than others. … Not only do these fretboards have a tonal difference, but the wood also makes a difference in terms of playability and feel.
Does fretboard wood affect tone?
The neck wood affects the tone of a guitar by impacting the way that the vibrations produced by the strings behave. Denser neck woods, like maple sound brighter and have less sustain. Mahogany on the other hand, produces a warmer and darker tone with better resonance and sustain.
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.
Does guitar neck wood affect tone?
The neck wood affects the tone of a guitar by impacting the way that the vibrations produced by the strings behave. Denser neck woods, like maple sound brighter and have less sustain. Mahogany on the other hand, produces a warmer and darker tone with better resonance and sustain.
Does walnut make a good fretboard?
Walnut isn’t particularly hard stuff.. I would be worried about string dings and gouges…… Not sure I personally would use it unless it was impregnated somehow…. If you didn’t really care about string dings or finger wear – then yes, it would make a fine fretboard…
Is Amaranth fretboard good?
Purpleheart/amaranth is an excellently balanced tonewood with notable sustain, pronounced bass response, clear top end and a superb overtone profile. It’s a well-respected and popular option for fretboards and necks (particularly laminated necks).
Is pau ferro good for fretboard?
Pau Ferro has a tighter density than rosewood, meaning slightly less frequencies are absorbed into the fretboard. This results in a brighter, snappier tone, while still retaining the depth of rosewood designs. The feel of pau ferro is comparable to that of ebony, meaning an effortless, smooth playing experience.
Is rosewood better than maple?
Rosewood is a warm, sweet tonewood. 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.
Is rosewood better than walnut?
Rosewood has great durability and decay-resistance properties. It can be used for indoor and outdoor furniture without any hassle. If we talk about the hardness of rosewood, then it is harder than oak and walnut. Its Janka hardness is 1,780 LBF (7,900 N).
Is walnut a good fretboard?
I would not. Walnut is an open pore wood that’s not extremely hard and is somewhat prone to splintering. An open pore wood will trap dirt. And it won’t hold frets as well as a harder wood.
Is Walnut good for fretboard?
All things being equal, a plain walnut board will not last as long as an ebony board, but with some care, walnut should work fine for quite a long while as a fretboard. Sealing the pores with an epoxy could help stiffen the fibers to make it very durable.
What fretboard material is best?
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.
What is fingerboard wood?
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.
What is technical wood fretboard?
S-Tech wood is a heat-treated wood product produced by Sendai Technologies in Japan. It is employed by Ibanez in the treatment of some guitar necks and fingerboards. During the patented S-Tech process, wood is placed in a pressure-resistant container which is filled with nitrogen.
What wood is good for guitars?
Spruce. This evergreen, found in northern temperate regions of the globe, is literally top choice: the ideal wood for the soundboard, or top, of an acoustic guitar. Its look — light in color, even in grain — is appealing though somewhat plain; what sets it apart is its beautiful tonal properties.
What wood is used for guitar fretboard?
Most Common Fretboard Wood for Electric Guitars
The 3 most common types of wood used in the fretboard of an electric guitar are Maple, Rosewood, and Ebony. Basically every guitar out there, either electric or acoustic, will likely be using one of these 3 materials for the fingerboard.
When was rosewood banned?
Which is harder maple or rosewood?
A maple neck is harder and feels very smooth under your fingers, while rosewood has some sponginess to it due to the porous properties of the wood.
Why did fender stop using rosewood?
Fender Musical Instruments is officially moving away from using rosewood fingerboards in the manufacturing of its Mexican made instruments due to the recent CITES regulations (see our previous post on CITES here). … Some say that this tone wood has more “snap” than rosewood (a characteristic more consistent with maple).