Maple fretboards.......

[airborne1]

are commonly used on electrics, why not acoustics? With some exotics being harder to come by, it would seem maple could be an option. Thoughts?

Probably because Claude F. Martin didn't do it back in 1791 or whatever.

[lowrider]

Maybe this is why;



or this;

Originally Posted by lowrider

Maybe this is why;

Just bake it:

[airborne1]

Originally Posted by lowrider

Maybe this is why;



or this;

I have seen threads on the net where that circumstance is looked upon as a badge to worn proudly. Different strokes, different folks!

[charles Tauber]

Originally Posted by airborne1

... it would seem maple could be an option.

If that's the look you want, someone will be happy to make you an acoustic guitar with a maple fingerboard. That looks does not appeal to me and is the exact reason that I don't used unfinished maple on any exterior part of the guitar, including fingerboard binding.

[Rodger Knox]

I've made a couple of acoustics with maple fretboards. They work fine, but I'm not all that pleased with the way they look. A dark fretboard just looks better on an acoustic.

[Wade Hampton]

I do believe that maple fingerboards will become more common on acoustic guitars in the near future. However, I suspect that it'll be the torrefied maple, both darkened and hardened by its controlled vacuum baking process, that will be used more often.

Unlacquered maple fingerboards get grubby-looking in a hurry, and lacquered ones get grubby soon enough. Although I've been accused on a previous thread of being narrow-minded for not liking that particular look, I don't like that particular look, and I'm not going to be guilt-tripped into pretending that I do...

From what I can tell, lots of other players dislike that look, as well.

Torrefying the maple used for fingerboards solves those problems, both by darkening the wood and by making it harder. So it seems like that might be a more practical solution all the way around.


Wade Hampton Miller

[seannx]

I think this baked maple neck could look good on an acoustic. I like how the maple necks on my Strandberg and G&L electrics feel.

[Otterhound]

I am currently favoring Mulberry and Black Locust .

[drive-south]

I'm wondering how maple would hold up with bronze wound strings.

Originally Posted by drive-south

I'm wondering how maple would hold up with bronze wound strings.

Maple is a darn hard wood. If walnut fretboards can handle it, maple certainly can.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by drive-south

I'm wondering how maple would hold up with bronze wound strings.

Willie has it right: it’s not a question of durability so much as it is cosmetic.


whm

[MChild62]

I have a Snap Dragon acoustic travel guitar with a maple fretboard. A couple of years ago, the company replaced rosewood with maple on all their acoustics. Of course, the goal is transportability (not facing a problem crossing borders) as opposed to aesthetics or even tone.... for playability, really no difference vs rosewood.

[Paddy1951]

While it may not be as influential as other elements of a guitar's build, the fretboard material does effect a guitar's tone. Maple would accentuate the highs.