Ebony or rose wood fingerboard?

Joelman

Joined: Sep 07, 2006
Posts: 1506
Redlands, CA
United States

Posted on Dec 14 2017 03:02 PM

Ebony or rose wood fingerboard?
Given a choice which would you choose?

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Dec 14 2017 03:05 PM

Ebony, all day and everyday. I have Ebony on two necks a Jaguar and an ES-355. Just a fantastic wood to have on a fretboard.

Really old and oily Rosewood is a treat as well. Newer and dry rosewood is not such a treat.

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Chippertheripper

Joined: Mar 11, 2011
Posts: 819
Semass
1 Security Pin

Posted on Dec 14 2017 04:32 PM

Anything but maple, that’s my stance.
Even that blasphemous richlite.
The only time I’ll accept maple is if it’s paired with a black body and black pg. that’s it.

Between the two you actually asked about, I’m fine with rw. Oil it up so it’s nice and dark.

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Redfeather

Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 896
3 Download Pins

Posted on Dec 14 2017 04:45 PM

I actually prefer the look of lighter rosewood to dark and definitely prefer either over ebony. I have a Mexican strat with a light rosewood board and I just find it very woody and natural looking.

Tangentially, I was building a virtual neck on the Warmoth site and used roasted maple neck and board with cream colored dots and it looks irresistible. It's a really striking tone on tone effect that you just can't get with a dark fingerboard (if you want to retain any marker dot functionality, anyway.)

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crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Dec 14 2017 06:03 PM

African Black Ebony is desirable but also on the endangered species list. Most Ebony coming out of Asia these day is Macassar Ebony stained black sometimes clear lacquered. I'm no expert but I own a Ebony shod guitar and I'm reading up about another at the moment. I wonder if there is a good reason for lacquering Ebony, anyone? I'd like to know.

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Joelman

Joined: Sep 07, 2006
Posts: 1506
Redlands, CA
United States

Posted on Dec 14 2017 08:10 PM

Actually I like the look of both, but I suppose I wasn't clear in my question.
I'm looking for playing preferences. You know, feel, ease of movement differences.
Things like that.

Last edited: Dec 14, 2017 20:13:14

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Squid

Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 1019
Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers
18 News Pins

Posted on Dec 14 2017 08:49 PM

I haven't noticed differences among ebony, bakelite, rosewood, maple and fiberglas-epoxy fretboards. My various guitars have these. I very much notice differences from neck thickness, guitar weight, body size and right hand access to strings.

—

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

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RobbieReverb

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2392
San Jose, Ca.
3 News Pins

Posted on Dec 14 2017 11:33 PM

I'm with Jake. Ebony, without question.

—

Bob

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stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Dec 15 2017 04:33 AM

Unfinished maple.

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

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crumble

Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
United Kingdom

Posted on Dec 15 2017 07:32 AM

Ebony is high on the density/hardness scale. See here Can be highly reflective when polished and super slippery under the fingers.

It is all variable with different species. Here's a picture of a Royal White Ebony fretboard.

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Joelman Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 1506 Redlands, CA	Posted on Dec 14 2017 03:02 PM Ebony or rose wood fingerboard? Given a choice which would you choose? Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Dec 14 2017 03:05 PM Ebony, all day and everyday. I have Ebony on two necks a Jaguar and an ES-355. Just a fantastic wood to have on a fretboard. Really old and oily Rosewood is a treat as well. Newer and dry rosewood is not such a treat. Top
Chippertheripper Joined: Mar 11, 2011 Posts: 819 Semass	Posted on Dec 14 2017 04:32 PM Anything but maple, that’s my stance. Even that blasphemous richlite. The only time I’ll accept maple is if it’s paired with a black body and black pg. that’s it. Between the two you actually asked about, I’m fine with rw. Oil it up so it’s nice and dark. Top
Redfeather Joined: Jul 30, 2016 Posts: 896	Posted on Dec 14 2017 04:45 PM I actually prefer the look of lighter rosewood to dark and definitely prefer either over ebony. I have a Mexican strat with a light rosewood board and I just find it very woody and natural looking. Tangentially, I was building a virtual neck on the Warmoth site and used roasted maple neck and board with cream colored dots and it looks irresistible. It's a really striking tone on tone effect that you just can't get with a dark fingerboard (if you want to retain any marker dot functionality, anyway.) Top
crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Dec 14 2017 06:03 PM African Black Ebony is desirable but also on the endangered species list. Most Ebony coming out of Asia these day is Macassar Ebony stained black sometimes clear lacquered. I'm no expert but I own a Ebony shod guitar and I'm reading up about another at the moment. I wonder if there is a good reason for lacquering Ebony, anyone? I'd like to know. Top
Joelman Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 1506 Redlands, CA	Posted on Dec 14 2017 08:10 PM Actually I like the look of both, but I suppose I wasn't clear in my question. I'm looking for playing preferences. You know, feel, ease of movement differences. Things like that. Last edited: Dec 14, 2017 20:13:14 Top
Squid Joined: Aug 22, 2010 Posts: 1019 Portland, Oregon with Insanitizers	Posted on Dec 14 2017 08:49 PM I haven't noticed differences among ebony, bakelite, rosewood, maple and fiberglas-epoxy fretboards. My various guitars have these. I very much notice differences from neck thickness, guitar weight, body size and right hand access to strings. — Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com Top
RobbieReverb Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 2392 San Jose, Ca.	Posted on Dec 14 2017 11:33 PM I'm with Jake. Ebony, without question. — Bob Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Dec 15 2017 04:33 AM Unfinished maple. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
crumble Joined: Sep 09, 2008 Posts: 3158 Guildford England	Posted on Dec 15 2017 07:32 AM Ebony is high on the density/hardness scale. See here Can be highly reflective when polished and super slippery under the fingers. It is all variable with different species. Here's a picture of a Royal White Ebony fretboard. Top

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Ebony or rose wood fingerboard?