Roasted maple/roasted maple, or Roasted maple/ebony?

[hillerheilman]

So I'm putting together a guitar and I can't quite decide on a fretboard wood. I've only ever had guitars with rosewood boards before, so I wanted to try something different. I know I want a roasted maple back, preferably quartersawn for stability and without a finish. I figured the most logical choice would be to go with roasted maple for the board as well, but then a friend recommended I try ebony. I'm also concerned that it might not look good. The body is going to be some kind of transparent white with a brown fire stripe pickguard. What would be the difference in feel? Anyone have any good advice and/or pictures? Thanks in advance,
~ Hiller

 

[zebra]

IMO, if you can feel the fretboard, you should have chosen bigger frets!  But even if lower frets are your thing, I don't think roasted maple and ebony would be too much different in terms of feel, and I'd let aesthetics control the decision. 

Roasted maple can vary in how light/dark it gets, and it's hard to predict how the hue will work with other colors.  If I were you, I'd go with the ebony fretboard - it would contrast well with the white body, and it would be sure not to clash with the pickguard. 

 

[Cagey]

IMO, if you can feel the fretboard, you should have chosen bigger frets!  But even if lower frets are your thing, I don't think roasted maple and ebony would be too much different in terms of feel, and I'd let aesthetics control the decision. 

Roasted maple can vary in how light/dark it gets, and it's hard to predict how the hue will work with other colors.  If I were you, I'd go with the ebony fretboard - it would contrast well with the white body, and it would be sure not to clash with the pickguard.

Exactly so.

 

[BigSteve22]

I definitely have to go +1 on the ebony fretboard. Did a quick search on google and checked out a few white bodied/fire striped pickguard guitars. I think the ones with a dark fretboard look the best.

Just MHO....

 

[dmraco]

I just ordered a roasted maple with an amazing rosewood board and it looks fantastic.  I think the ebony would look killer too.

I will comment that roasted maple does get a bit dirty and more quickly than my other unfinished necks (canary and GA).  On my all roasted maple neck, I use orange oil to clean it at string changes and it looks great.  If this bothers you, you should go with another fretboard wood.

 

[hillerheilman]

I just ordered a roasted maple with an amazing rosewood board and it looks fantastic.  I think the ebony would look killer too.

I will comment that roasted maple does get a bit dirty and more quickly than my other unfinished necks (canary and GA).  On my all roasted maple neck, I use orange oil to clean it at string changes and it looks great.  If this bothers you, you should go with another fretboard wood.

that was part of my thinking in getting a maple neck, I quite like the way that maple looks when it's been played for awhile. I suppose I'll wait till my pickguard comes in the mail to decide

 

[WindsurfMaui]

I suppose I'll wait till my pickguard comes in the mail to decide
[/quote]

So how about an update. What did you finally decide? How do you feel about it? Did it work out the way you liked?