Why not maple on mahgony?

[Cederick]

I notice there's no maple fingerboard option on mahogny necks.

Actually, it looks really cool.

 

[DangerousR6]

Yes it does, not really sure why it's not in the builder options, maybe because it's not a popular request. I'm sure they'd make you one if you wanted. But you'd probably have to call and special order it.

 

[Cederick]

But not having it because it's not a popular request would seem a bit odd... There's other options that might be unpopular too but are there anyway.

 

[stubhead]

Historically, it's just kind of weird. I don't think there were such a thing as maple boards before Leo Fender; and everybody just knows that if you want to upgrade you go from maple to rosewood. The fact that maple turned out to be a good fretboard wood doesn't enter into it, because... if something was true 50 years ago, it's got to be ever more truth-ish now! And I'm pretty sure Leo didn't do it originally because he thought maple was better than anything else.  :laughing3: I mean, it's like cherry - even though cherry is held to be a nicer wood than alder by cabinetmakers, and cherry is almost certainly indistinguishable from alder in a blindfold sound test (+poplar, all three), a guitar maker would be crazy to make guitars out of cherry alone, because Leo Fender "proved" that alder is what you make guitars out of. The fact that it used to be cheaper couldn't have anything to do with it.... I think the first time I saw a maple board on a "fine" guitar was Zakk Wylde's signature Les Paul, and I imagine that when you told the boys at Gibson they could charge MORE for a Les Paul with a maple board that for a Les Paul with an ebony board, much mirth ensued.

 

[DangerousR6]

Historically, it's just kind of weird. I don't think there were such a thing as maple boards before Leo Fender; and everybody just knows that if you want to upgrade you go from maple to rosewood. The fact that maple turned out to be a good fretboard wood doesn't enter into it, because... if something was true 50 years ago, it's got to be ever more truth-ish now! And I'm pretty sure Leo didn't do it originally because he thought maple was better than anything else.  :laughing3: I mean, it's like cherry - even though cherry is held to be a nicer wood than alder by cabinetmakers, and cherry is almost certainly indistinguishable from alder in a blindfold sound test (+poplar, all three), a guitar maker would be crazy to make guitars out of cherry alone, because Leo Fender "proved" that alder is what you make guitars out of. The fact that it used to be cheaper couldn't have anything to do with it.... I think the first time I saw a maple board on a "fine" guitar was Zakk Wylde's signature Les Paul, and I imagine that when you told the boys at Gibson they could charge MORE for a Les Paul with a maple board that for a Les Paul with an ebony board, much mirth ensued.

You must be rather young or been living underground stuby, cause maple has been used on "fine" guitars since the 50's... :redflag:

 

[DangerousR6]

But not having it because it's not a popular request would seem a bit odd... There's other options that might be unpopular too but are there anyway.

Possibly, but those options might still be even more than maple on mahogany. Otherwise you may not have posed this question, right? :toothy11:

 

[Cagey]

Maple has traditionally required a hard finish if you wanted it to behave itself, and I'm probably not alone in not liking the feel of a finished fretboard or its appearance after some use. But, now that we have roasted Maple available it opens up some choices.

 

[DangerousR6]

Maple has traditionally required a hard finish if you wanted it to behave itself, and I'm probably not alone in not liking the feel of a finished fretboard or its appearance after some use. But, now that we have roasted Maple available it opens up some choices.

Well it was believed that maple requires a hard finish, but it has been proven over the years and by many other makers that it doesn't. Charvel, Jackson and Ernie Ball to name a few have been using maple for years with just oil finishes and have had great success. :dontknow:

 

[Cagey]

I believe that's true, but back in the days when I had a full-blown woodshop I made a number of different things out of Maple that ended up wonky. Didn't know back then that it was such a squirrelly wood. I'm sure if it's properly seasoned, it's less susceptible to such tomfoolery, but you never know. That's why Warmoth won't warrant it.

 

[DangerousR6]

I believe that's true, but back in the days when I had a full-blown woodshop I made a number of different things out of Maple that ended up wonky. Didn't know back then that it was such a squirrelly wood. I'm sure if it's properly seasoned, it's less susceptible to such tomfoolery, but you never know. That's why Warmoth won't warrant it.

Perzactly, the key is how the wood is treated, ordinary lumber isn't usually seasoned for such strenuous conditions as guitar neck wood. But you are correct, we can never be for sure...