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  #46  
Old 10-22-2010, 01:14 PM
Andromeda Andromeda is offline
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I prefer ebony on a fret board and that is for aesthetic reasons only. But I have seen some of the nicely figured rosewood fret boards that some of the luthiers have posted and I must say they look totally sweet, so I would never rule one out.
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  #47  
Old 10-22-2010, 01:36 PM
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I like em all.
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  #48  
Old 10-22-2010, 01:53 PM
steamfurnace steamfurnace is offline
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It's interesting that Martin has chosen to use Richlite on the fingerboard of their new Performing Artist FSC guitars. They can't get FSC ebony, but the Richlite qualifies for the certification. I imagine they could get FSC EI rosewood, but chose the Richlite instead.
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  #49  
Old 10-22-2010, 01:56 PM
billgennaro billgennaro is offline
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i like 'em all, too. but since i love wood that shows off its grain i lean towards rosewood fingerboards and bridges (aesthetically speaking). i find it interesting how the bridge material affects the tone of the guitar. makes sense since the bridge directly transfers the string's frequency to the guitar's top. but, as Mr. Mayes put it, if a good luthier goes by "weighting" then he/she can make the bridge sound the way he/she wants, regardless of the wood used. its amazing how many viewpoints there are on this thread!

bill
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  #50  
Old 10-22-2010, 02:33 PM
IainDearg IainDearg is offline
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My experience is that ebony is s-m-o-o-t-h and if you're rattling up and down the fingerboard that's some advantage. So, IMHO, ebony is faster. Not that I'm a virtuoso but I get beyond the 5th fret sometimes (nosebleeds permitting).

I couldn't really say if there's a difference in tone (compared to rosewood - or maple, for that matter ). I'd have to change 'boards on my guitar to find out - hoping I could remember the sound of the original by the time I'm swapped it out. What with the measuring and clamps and chisels and glue and shavings and all the hassle... frankly I can't be assed.

Looks? Oak is pretty neat...
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  #51  
Old 10-22-2010, 03:18 PM
Howard Emerson Howard Emerson is offline
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I've always thought that totally black ebony looked like plastic to begin with, and on top of that I've seen way many more cracked ebony fingerboards than rosewood in the 47 years I've been playing.

The ebony that my friend John Monteleone uses on his fingerboards, bridges and tailpieces ranges from light tan to brown to black and is much more interesting looking than the totally black stuff.

Rosewood has much more visual interest for me as well.

The tone difference is negligible at best, and from a practical point of view impossible to demonstrate in real time......and oh yes: I've seen more divoted ebony boards than rosewood.

HE
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  #52  
Old 10-22-2010, 03:35 PM
banshee87 banshee87 is offline
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For me, ebony provides better fit and finish (looks), better color (more consistent and black always looks cool), and gives me the feeling that the fretboard is faster. Ebony's wear properties are subjective......I have had guitars still wear pretty bad.....sharp strings, when played hard, will wear any wood, hard or soft.
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Last edited by banshee87; 10-22-2010 at 03:44 PM. Reason: added
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  #53  
Old 10-22-2010, 04:13 PM
ewalling ewalling is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Emerson View Post
I've always thought that totally black ebony looked like plastic to begin with, and on top of that I've seen way many more cracked ebony fingerboards than rosewood in the 47 years I've been playing.

The ebony that my friend John Monteleone uses on his fingerboards, bridges and tailpieces ranges from light tan to brown to black and is much more interesting looking than the totally black stuff.

Rosewood has much more visual interest for me as well.

The tone difference is negligible at best, and from a practical point of view impossible to demonstrate in real time......and oh yes: I've seen more divoted ebony boards than rosewood.

HE
Interesting to hear some positives for rosewood to even things up a bit!

What did you mean by "impossible to demonstrate in real time"?
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  #54  
Old 10-22-2010, 04:43 PM
Ed C. Ed C. is offline
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Before my enthusiasm is dampened for this thread, I like the clean look of ebony on most guitars and all of mine have it. That being said I've seen some very nice rosewood fretboards on kick a** guitars.

Now if we were talking bridges. . . .
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  #55  
Old 10-22-2010, 04:53 PM
Howard Emerson Howard Emerson is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ewalling View Post
Interesting to hear some positives for rosewood to even things up a bit!

What did you mean by "impossible to demonstrate in real time"?
Exactly what I said: You can't play a guitar with an ebony board, change it right then and there, within seconds, to rosewood and play it again to hear the difference, if any.

The bottom line is that the only reason needed for either one is that you like the way it looks.

HE
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  #56  
Old 10-22-2010, 04:59 PM
guitarsruleyeah guitarsruleyeah is offline
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matter of taste. I love rosewood.
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  #57  
Old 10-22-2010, 05:21 PM
IainDearg IainDearg is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Emerson View Post
I've always thought that totally black ebony looked like plastic to begin with,
Eh.. well, I had to go and look at my OM-28V fingerboard and I must say I scrutinized it from 2 feet, 5 feet, 10 feet. Fluorescent light, candlelight and moonlight (I will check it again tomorrow in daylight) but I'm skramoozled I haven't seen plastic like it. But what do I know. I'm from Glasgow. We're well known not to be having sophisticated eyes.

Actually, joking aside; I do see your point. I wish I could say - to balance the sway - that rosewood fingerboards felt like sandpaper, but that, too, would be an exaggeration.
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  #58  
Old 10-23-2010, 03:34 AM
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wthurman wthurman is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tone Gopher View Post
Argghhhh, enough!

The word is "damp" when referring to acoustic properties. "Dampen" means to wet.
Uhhhh....

dampen (ˈdæmpən)

— vb
1. to make or become damp
2. to stifle; deaden


Dampen is a proper use for acoustic properties, too.
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Wade


Worry less about the guitars you want. Play the guitar you have more.
The answer will come, and it will not be what you expect.

A guitar is a tool, and a friend. But it is not the answer.

It is the beginning.


Current Guitars:


Taylor 716C Modified
Voyage-Air VAOM-04

CD: The Bayleys: From The Inside
CDBaby
Amazon
Also available from iTunes



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  #59  
Old 10-23-2010, 03:36 AM
wthurman's Avatar
wthurman wthurman is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tone Gopher View Post
Argghhhh, enough!

The word is "damp" when referring to acoustic properties. "Dampen" means to wet.
Uhhhh....

dampen (ˈdæmpən)

— vb
1. to make or become damp
2. to stifle; deaden


damp·en
[dam-puhn]

–verb (used with object)
1. to make damp; moisten: to dampen a sponge.
2. to dull or deaden.


Dampen is a proper use for acoustic properties, too, although damp works, also... even if it is tenth on the list:

damp [damp]
–adjective
1. slightly wet; moist: damp weather; a damp towel.
2. unenthusiastic; dejected; depressed: The welcoming committee gave them a rather damp reception.
–noun
3. moisture; humidity; moist air: damp that goes through your warmest clothes.
4. a noxious or stifling vapor or gas, esp. in a mine.
5. depression of spirits; dejection.
6. a restraining or discouraging force or factor.

–verb (used with object)

7. to make damp; moisten.
8. to check or retard the energy, action, etc., of; deaden; dampen: A series of failures damped her enthusiasm.
9. to stifle or suffocate; extinguish: to damp a furnace.
10. to dull; deaden.
__________________
Wade


Worry less about the guitars you want. Play the guitar you have more.
The answer will come, and it will not be what you expect.

A guitar is a tool, and a friend. But it is not the answer.

It is the beginning.


Current Guitars:


Taylor 716C Modified
Voyage-Air VAOM-04

CD: The Bayleys: From The Inside
CDBaby
Amazon
Also available from iTunes



Reply With Quote
  #60  
Old 10-23-2010, 04:00 AM
skyver skyver is offline
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I like both. I have four guitars and a bass with ebony fretboards, and four guitars with rosewood. I've never had one with a maple fretboard, but I suppose I could get used to it.
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