• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

Maple or Rosewood

  • Maple

    Votes: 17 45.9%
  • Rosewood

    Votes: 20 54.1%

  • Total voters
    37

spencer

Well-known member
Joined
May 4, 2006
Messages
591
I am dead split between maple or rosewood.

Bass Im getting will be a sterling H/S but rose wood or maple?

This is one of the few cases I think rosewood looks great i love the darkness it gives to the bass however maple is my favorite neck material by material alone. I love the way it ages and darkens with time and begins to show dirt/mojo [which I love] and it just feels so much more natural or organic are the words that come to mind..

I know this might sound silly but I have never spent this much on a bass and am so excited it will be my first musicman ordered to my specs..

I have to say I think the rosewood would look better, but the maple would look great too [once it ages.] Its so hard to explain.

pictures for comparison

IMG_2540sm.jpg

TOWN8019CustomImage4137683.jpg


product_590.jpg

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And to make matters worse if I went with rosewood I don't know if I should go with matching headstock..
 
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spencer

Well-known member
Joined
May 4, 2006
Messages
591
I know I'll just have to get both.. If I wasn't in love with honeyburst maple would be must
 

JimB52

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 21, 2005
Messages
211
Location
Mid-Atlantic
Maple trees have beautiful foliage in the Fall.
Maple syrup is delicious on pancakes.
Maple necks on basses are both beautiful and delicious.

Jim B
 

five7

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 24, 2008
Messages
4,296
Rosewood is the only way to go. Maple fretboards always feel sticky to me.
 

spencer

Well-known member
Joined
May 4, 2006
Messages
591
I swear this is the hardest decision I have ever made.. The maple looks like it's missing something and it's not a white pickguard..
 

ausf

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Messages
48
Location
New York
Maple syrup on Swedish pancakes, Maple leafs on Canadian flags, Rosewood fingerboards on all basses.

I've heard the hype regarding maple necks being more alive, but does a MM need to brighter? It's brightness defined.

Maple necks always feel clunky to be. I know it's stupid, but it's pure perception which makes it true in my mind. When I was trying out Rays, the first two were maples and I was a bit turned off (even though not having a 'finish' makes it leaps and bounds ahead of others). When I picked up a rosewood, it was heaven, even though I'm sure they are exactly the same thickness.
 

oli@bass

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2007
Messages
4,272
Location
Switzerland
I had one of these, exactly in that configuration...

product_590.jpg



...but with the old style bridge. Killer bass. Unfortunately I sold it.


If you like maple, go with maple.
 

Psycho Ward

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2005
Messages
5,053
Location
Elk Creek, VA and Murrells Inlet, SC
For the record I don't hear much, if any difference. I do feel a difference sometimes depending on the strings used. Its pretty much a cosmetic decision for me.

Stupid? Probably, but that's the way I look at it. I think rosewood looks good on almost everything so I have more rosewood necked EBMM's. See? But I love maple on others, especially on a natural body. (...any excuse I know...) :D

DSC03342.jpg
 

spencer

Well-known member
Joined
May 4, 2006
Messages
591
great now it's a tie..

Love maple rosewood looks better I think I'm going rose... Save the maple for my next bass

Now matching or no matching headstock?
 

spencer

Well-known member
Joined
May 4, 2006
Messages
591
It's offically rosewood and matching.. I have not seen a picture of honeyburst with matching headstock other than bass central and their pictures are horrible. I really think they would sell more if they had better pictures like theperfect bass..

Im still really iffy about the matching headstock on sterling.. Does anyone have any pictures they can post sterling or stingray.. I have been through every musicman gallery here and on gave site and don't recall one...

And for the maple I will have one one day maybe black blue or white just not honeyburst..
 

bdgotoh

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 2, 2005
Messages
970
Location
Pacific NW
It's not honeyburst, but I bought a cherryburst Sterling from the Dubaldos, the MHS looks great.

large.jpg
 
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