Goncalo alves neck and fret board or goncalo alves neck and pau ferro board?

[WarmothRules]

I got a fender body yesterday and am ready to get a neck. Originally I was going to get a fatback but don't feel like waiting for the custom build, just would rather get a neck from the show case. I'm going to get a dimarzio evolution for the bridge which sounds precise and cutting and needs to be mellowed out. What do you all think? All goncalo neck or goncalo with pau ferro board?

 

[Cagey]

Pau Ferro is somewhat denser, so it makes for a nice fretboard.

 

[line6man]

I've never like necks made from two pieces of the same species of wood. Without contrast between the fretboard and shaft wood, you get an ugly, mismatched grain, where the woods meet.

 

[musicispeace]

I think Goncalo is a good neck to get off the showcase as you will know exactly what you will be getting and can actually take advantage of the variations in that wood. Fretboard wise I tend to agree with posters here who advocate going for what provides the aesthetic you would be happiest with. A lot of people here like one of the harder woods (Pau Ferro or Ebony) for fretboards for the feel. Would be good to see a few additional options here but I suspect the Goncalo itself stands the bigger chance of having a bit of a calming effect on a comparatively edgy sound. A hard fretboard may simply add a little bit more snap to the articulation of the notes maybe. I have Rosewood, Cocobolo, and Bubinga represented and was playing for part of an afternoon this week on a strat with a maple neck and ebony fretboard and aside from a tinge of possible variation on articulation I don't find life changing differences since its the fret the string primarily contacts. The hard woods do feel nice but I have an affection for Rosewood nonetheless. I am a believer that neck wood has an effect along with pickups. Just don't lay awake at night over this.....

 

[zebra]

I've never like necks made from two pieces of the same species of wood. Without contrast between the fretboard and shaft wood, you get an ugly, mismatched grain, where the woods meet.

+1 to this.  Thanks Line6Man, you saved me some typing!