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I had somebody ask me today why maple fretboards (for electrics) usually have a finish while ebony and rosewood usually don't. Does anybody know why maple fretboards usually have a finish? I'm thinking maybe the discoloration, but is there a better reason than that?

Thanks!

John

You hit the nail on the head. Imagine that gunk you get on your fretboard if you don't clean it for a long time all over a maple fretboard. Maple also doesn't resist absorbing the oil and dirt on your fingers as well since it's not oily like rosewood or (essentially) nonporous like ebony, so it'll discolor below the surface as well.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

as bob said. if you want a dirty grey black fingerboard just use poor ebony. you don't have to wait for it to change to dirty grey.

So that means after a few years an unfinished maple fretboard becomes ebony....

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

I'm sure that the maple f.bds. were just a way for Leo to save a few bucks. Just like the parts on his amplifiers! Everybody thinks that just because this or that is in there, it's the cool, or mojo thing. Bottom line is, they used that wood for economic purposes, or marketing purposes only. Sorry, give me ebony, rosewood, or another "oilable" wood for a fretboard. I play lap-steel now, because my wrist is messed up, so, it's a mute point. Also, I've talked to guitarists that prefer rosewood to ebony. So I don't know what the answer is. What was the question? Oh yeah, why finish a maple finger board. Answer is, because they get dirty, and darker woods don't. Players say, "they're faster", but I never noticed it. I think it's all in the look of the finished product. And oh, isn't tit funny the way some people want the fretboard to look old, before it really is? It will get there someday, as long as you play it a lot, like you should. Sorry, just a-rantin', because I'm a player, and a builder, too. Alan.