Maple is tonally similar to ebony in that it produces a well-defined, crisp and bright sound with good sustain. Maple Fretboards Maple: Tone, Feel and Appearance Let’s take a look at the characteristics of each one, to help you decide which is the best choice for you. Sometimes you might want the qualities of two or three different woods, so may need to weigh up which of these three factors are most important to you. So the best fretboard wood choice will vary depending on the sound, aesthetic, or feel that you are looking for. What Is The Best Wood For A Guitar Fretboard?Įbony, maple, and rosewood fretboards all exhibit unique tonal and visual characteristics, as well as a distinctive feel when playing.

What Woods Are Fretboards Made Of?Īlthough there is a huge variety of woods (and other materials!) used in guitar fretboards, you are most likely going to find one of three main species on the majority of guitars: Maple, Rosewood, and Ebony. If you understand the basic tonal colors and feel and appearance of each wood, you will much more easily be able to narrow down the selection of guitars you are considering for your particular situation. So it’s important to select the choice that’s appropriate for you. Whereas if you were to add an ebony fingerboard, the sound would likely become even brighter!

If you were to pair it with a rosewood fretboard, the sound would be rounded out with a warmer tone to the top-end. In terms of tone, a guitar with a one-piece maple neck might have a bright sound with a strong attack. 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. And not just in terms of tone produced – the fingerboard will also affect the feel of your guitar whilst playing, as well as changing its aesthetics. The various woods which come together to assemble your guitar all have an impact on the overall tone produced. Players will often concentrate on the woods used in the body, and to a lesser extent, the neck, when trying to define the sound produced by their guitar. But just as important as the body and neck composition, is the wood used for the fingerboard. Guitar fretboards (or fingerboards!) are more often that not made from 3 main types of wood – ebony, rosewood and maple.īut what are the differences between the 3 in terms of tone, feel and visual appeal? In this article we’ll compare all of the qualities of these woods to find out which is the best fit for you!

Pale moon ebony bass