Ebony Vs. Rosewood - Page 3

JJEMMER777 · #31 09-18-2006, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van

No two hunks of even the same species of wood are identical and no two hunks of wood sound identical.

Well...true, but how come my 91' FP and my 88'FP are the only two Jems I have which sound EXACTLY the same???

They are the only two Jems I have with like woods throughout.

**GilkyBear** · #32 09-18-2006, 07:05 PM

Well of course they sound identical Jim, you're using the same ears both times, DUH!

**elcid** · #33 09-18-2006, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van

Problem there is you're assuming the necks and bodies sound identical and the only difference maker is the fretboard. Not so. No two hunks of even the same species of wood are identical and no two hunks of wood sound identical. So, what you're attributing to the fretboard wood could easily be the result of any of a number of other factors.

That's the point I was trying to make, their volume and tone control,s and I would bet (though I'm not sure) even the pick ups aren't exactly the same, they do fall within a certain range, but there is definately a margin of error of +/- a certain %. Not to have anyone start a stupid thread like I saw on another board, but I would bet in a blind test very few, if any people could tell the difference by listening to 3 clips where one was ebony, one rosewood and one maple.

Van · #34 09-18-2006, 07:54 PM

I'd bet my house that in a truly controlled blind listening test done over and over enough times to really establish patterns not even Eric freaking Johnson could pick out the species of fretboard wood in an amplified electric guitar.

Then, keeping in mind that the vast majority of JEMs, which is after all what we're talking about here, will be played through amps using a high amount of saturated gain...

...and nope, there's no way in hell there will be a noticeable and identifiable tonal difference based on fretboard woods. The way most JEMs are played even the body woods are irrelevant to the amplified tone.

What matters with a JEM's amplified tone are the p/ups, pots, caps and the fact that it's a 24 fret bolt on maple neck guitar. The 24 frets matter in terms of the neck p/up tone (makes it brighter) and the bolt on maple neck gives the JEM a snappier, livelier feel and tone than either a set neck or neck through guitar. Otherwise, all the rest of the tone is down to the electronics...and the player, obviously.

It's just a fretboard. Go for looks and feel. Those two things are all that matter with the fretboard on a guitar designed for high gain rock.

rya · #35 09-18-2006, 07:57 PM

alright this is my first time really postiing on this thread aside from starting so here goes.

Am i the only guy who loves rosewood and maple?? Ebony the least??

jemplayer55 · #36 09-18-2006, 08:01 PM

Nicole....... Ebony....... I think I can tell the difference!

Van · #37 09-18-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rya

alright this is my first time really postiing on this thread aside from starting so here goes.

Am i the only guy who loves rosewood and maple?? Ebony the least??

Nope. I'm right there with you.

Rosewood's my favorite, followed by maple and then ebony.

I'd take pau ferro over ebony as well. Ebony just does nothing for me, since it has no real feel to it. I'll agree that on certain guitars it looks as classy as can be but then again on other guitars rosewood or maple look better.

Now, make it a good hunk of macassar ebony and while I still won't prefer its feel to rosewood's it's just tough to argue with its amazing good looks.

ryanb · #38 09-18-2006, 08:09 PM

I don't disagree with really anything said so far. But for those who say they don't like the feel of rosewood, you need to try a GOOD rosewood board. Yes there are a lot of boards that are grainy and inconsistent in color (especially on low-end guitars). But they can be quite nice too. For example, my JS sitting here has a rosewood board that is as glass-smooth as any ebony board. There's no open grain, and it is very dark and consistent in color ... not a whole lot different from ebony. It feels great. Just shows it all depends on the piece you have and how it is prepared.

Having said that, i'm going to select my board preference based on the guitar not the slight difference in sound. If the color or the inlay goes better with ebony, then ebony it is. When rosewood works better, so be it. (Unless it is a Strat ... in which case it HAS to be maple

) Pick the one that makes you happy.

ryanb · #39 09-18-2006, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van

Nope. I'm right there with you.

Rosewood's my favorite, followed by maple and then ebony.

Me too. Rosewood, maple, ebony ...

Van · #40 09-18-2006, 08:21 PM

Nicole's ebony...bloodless, cold and yes, beautiful, smooth and elegant.

Rosewood is Salma...warm, full bodied, voluptuous and awesome to the touch...

Also, there's this...

Slunt is posing with a guitar, and looking mighty tasty doing it. Game over.

mi2tom · #41 09-19-2006, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van

Halle seems more kinda down and dirty funky...

Nice!! And yummy at the same time

ChrisPcritter · #42 09-19-2006, 06:21 AM

I like ebony better. I do think it sounds a little brighter but mainly it feels slicker to me. ..

andy7jem · #43 09-19-2006, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van

Halle seems more kinda down and dirty funky...

She needs bigger hands...........i better go and assist

Flobanez · #44 09-19-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mi2tom

Nice!! And yummy at the same time

+1

henryb · #45 09-25-2006, 02:43 PM

Have the best of both worlds... I own a 7DBK which has a Rosewood fretboard. It was already a fairly dark sample of Rosewood... but after I applied some Fret Doctor (Bore oil)... it turned a very nice shade of Dark Rosewood. You would be hard pressed to tell the difference without a close examination of the thickness of the grain that it wasn't Ebony!

Really it's a perfect match visually with the Black/Mirror body on the 7DBK.
Brent.