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What type of woods do you use for fretboards. Electric players I have talked to swear their axes have a noticeably better sound using maple rather than ebony. They believe ebony has an adverse affect. I have seen some of the same opinion re: accustic. It seems like the best tonewoods should also make the best fingerboard material. What do you think.

the "better" argument of ebony or rosewood v. maple for electric boards has a lot to do with sort of sound they are after. ebony or rosewood tends to produce a less bright, but warmer or darker sound than the maple. some like one, some like the other. for example, you won't see many les pauls with maple boards. you will see strats with either. horses for courses.

unless the client makes a specific request for something else, i use ebony.

crazymanmichael38475.6614699074

It has been my experience that clients want ebony fretboards. That said,
me experience tells me that the rosewood boards sound better, at least
on acoustics. I think it has to do with weight. I try to talk commissions
into rosewood boards and bridges but do not succeed much as far as
fretboards go. Most will agree to a rosewood bridge if I push. I usually tell
them that the weight difference on the top is about 2/3's that of ebony. I
always weigh the finished bridges on my guitars and ebony is always 30
-35 grams; rosewood 17-25 grams. That is convincing!

_________________
Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com

Sylvan,

Do you think that the less the weight of the bridge, the better? Or is it that ebony in addition to being heavier, is more "dead" than rosewood (at least that is what I have learned from others?) So that the rosewood bridge, and fingerboard for that matter, are more "alive" than ebony?

Just wanting to have you explain a bit further.

Thanks!

Jeff
Jeff Doty38475.7030092593

What the crazy dude said. I know plenty of electric players who don't like the tone or look of Maple neck instruments. I'm kinda one of them, when it comes to sound, and I'm not wild about playing on or over a laquered surface m'self. The wood I've used most myself is Ebony, although I've got a very large stash of rosewood boards now, so I'll probably save the ebony for electrics, mostly, and for anything that's getting fancy pants inlay. Because Ebony, good black ebony, is the kindest wood in the world to inlay into.

Bridges, unless specifically requested otherwise, are always gonna be some sort of rosewood. I've only got one ebony bridge blank, because the guy I'm building one for was really rather insistent. I'm thinking I'll make it as light as possible, and, well, gotta at least say I've tried it once, right?

Thank you all. Seems like 'strokes for folks'

Jeff -
In my opinion the less weight on the top the better. The bridge is actually
the largest and heaviest top "brace" on the top. It is the only brace that
directly receives the vibrations of the strings through the saddle and, in
order for it to transmit the sound to the top it must "rock" or vibrate,
moving the top. The lighter the better, in my opinion.

_________________
Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com

Greg Smallman who builds lattice braced classicals is so focused on the weight of the bridge that he will only build with padauk bridges as they are even lighter than rosewood but look dark enough. There are some heavier species of Padauk but he is using the lighest he can find.

Besides the weight of ebony it also has a higher amount of dampening which is why it is preferred for classical fingerboards but nto good for bridges.

Thanks all.
It seems to me that each component should be made from the best tonewood available, consistant with other needs-strength color etc. True?

I'd posit that 'the best tonewood available' is a very personal, relative thing. But yes, obviously.

Mattia,
So why use Ebony (not good tone wood) for bridges and fretboards.

Whether or not ebony is a good tonewood is up for discussion, clearly. I use it in particular on instruments that are getting a fair amount of inlay, or where I feel it works aesthetically. It polishes beautifully, wears very well, and doesn't go funky lookin' too quickly, and it is traditional, in the end. On electrics, I definitely like the tone, and I've played plenty of acoustics with ebony boards that I like a lot. Would they have been 'better' with rosewood? Perhaps. But different.