Tell me about speed

[gambit1983]

I've been dreaming about getting a HSS Jazzmaster, chambered body made out of swamp ash with a korina top.  I wanted a neck made out of mahogany with an ebony fretboard. I see other woods on the website that say they are as fast as ebony.  I would kind of like something that is just as fast as ebony but maybe has a tad more warmth to it and a little more resistance on the fingers.  Sometimes I feel that ebony is almost too smooth.  I read somewhere a guy was saying he felt that Pau Ferro was just as fast as ebony. I heard a few samples on youtube and wasn't sure what to think. Same with Bocote. I just hear a midrange with these woods that I'm not sure about. Then again..it is youtube.. :help:

 

[AutoBat]

I've a mahogany & ebony neck on my strat.  It's quite nice.  My other is wenge & bloodwood.  They have different feels as the former has clear poly and the latter is raw wood.
Both ebony & bloodwood are tightgrained smooth woods, which I prefer for fretboards.
I'd say try them out, but not many places offer them.  I bought both necks blind and love them both.

 

[gambit1983]

ty sir

 

[telecutie]

I have pau ferro on maple, and I really like the feel.  However, I find that the 'gummy' nitro on the maple limits the speed on the fretboard-- that thumb sometimes just won't slide.  I also have a one-piece goncalo that is beautiful, fast and very warm!  Raw wood is the ticket for my playing style!

 

[gambit1983]

I think I'm going with pau ferro. it's either that or ebony i think. the thing now i'm worried about is if it will be neck heavy cause of the mahogany neck and it being chambered.

 

[Cagey]

The heaviest neck I've encountered is a "Pro" series Ebony over Bloodwood part w/ locking tuners I have here. That's 2lbs. Even that won't make a Jazzmaster neck heavy.

 

[line6man]

Friction, not speed.

Pau Ferro is lovely stuff.