Are Rosewood FB Sterlings warmer sounding than Maple ones?

[philthygeezer]

Are rosewood FB Sterlings warmer sounding than Maple ones?

Here's the deal:

I have a Sterling with a maple fretboard and a Stingray with a rosewood one (excuse the overwrought picture - i don't have a better one). The Sterling cuts through anything loud, clear and bright, and the Stingray is still growly, but more thumpy, a little warmer/darker and more subdued. You have to EQ the Sterling to get more thump out of it, whereas the Stingray doesn't have the natural cut of the Sterling, but sounds deep and heavy even with the bass turned down. Is this typical?

I know the electronics and pickups are different in both basses: 2 band vs 3 band even! So is this due more to Sterling/Stingray differences, or does the fretboard matter as much as I think it does?

Has anyone directly compared maple vs rosewood fretboards on Sterlings? Are the rosewood ones warmer/thumpier? Really curious about this as I didn't expect the two basses to be such different animals...

Thanks,
Phil

 

[Aragorn35016]

I have a a rosewood 94 sterling and a friend of mine from conneticut (sorry cant spell) came down recently with his maple FB 2002 sterling. I couldnt tell a difference in sound between the two. I dont know in comparison to a stingray 4 but my sterling has seems to have a higher gain or a hotter sound than the two SR5's that ive owned.

John

 

[bdgotoh]

I think it's the preamp and pickups, not the fingerboard.

I recently got to compare two 1989 Stingrays for tone. Both were lightweight ash bodies, 2 band EQ, 4 bolt necks. One was rosewood and the other maple board. I couldn't tell any difference in tone at all.

 

[bovinehost]

I think only bats and Eric Johnson can hear the difference.

 

[ghunter]

I find a difference in feel and in tone, but I also know that this is a religious debate and there are two sides to a very bipolar issue.

 

[82Daion]

I find that rosewood is warmer while maple is brighter/more articulate. Since I like both qualities, I prefer ebony, but I'll settle for rosewood.

 

[AnthonyD]

Personally, I do not hear the difference - it's astheics to me...

 

[phatduckk]

I think only bats and Eric Johnson can hear the difference.

liar

a while back i posted sound clips from 2 of my sterlings: 1 w/ Rosewood FB and the other w/ maple FB. they both had the same strings etc ...

here's the clips:

maple

rosewood

 

[philthygeezer]

This is very interesting and thanks. I'm really liking this little Sterling at present. It's got a wicked aggressive sound, and the lightweight body and fast little neck just add to its charm. I dial in some thump on the amp and a little bit of low on the bass, and it seems to get everything. It's hard to describe, but I can always seem to hear the Sterling whereas sometimes the P-bass and the Stingray melt into the music when I'm practicing to CDs. It's a similar animal to the 'Ray, but has a charm all its own.

 

[Randracula]

Here's the deal:

I have a Sterling with a maple fretboard and a Stingray with a rosewood one (excuse the overwrought picture - i don't have a better one). The Sterling cuts through anything loud, clear and bright, and the Stingray is still growly, but more thumpy, a little warmer/darker and more subdued. You have to EQ the Sterling to get more thump out of it, whereas the Stingray doesn't have the natural cut of the Sterling, but sounds deep and heavy even with the bass turned down. Is this typical?

I know the electronics and pickups are different in both basses: 2 band vs 3 band even! So is this due more to Sterling/Stingray differences, or does the fretboard matter as much as I think it does?

Has anyone directly compared maple vs rosewood fretboards on Sterlings? Are the rosewood ones warmer/thumpier? Really curious about this as I didn't expect the two basses to be such different animals...

Thanks,
Phil

I have the same exact thing going on with my Sterling(RW)and SR4(Maple). The Sterling is warm and thumpy and the SR4 is bright and cutting. They both have their fair share of growl though. From my experience the Sterlings have a way hotter preamp than the SR4's. That coupled with the fact that your Sterling has a maple board would probably explain why it is such a monster.....

 

[kaaikop]

Lovely basses! I might wanna try Black PG on my Honeyburst SR5...

 

[bovinehost]

I just got off the phone with Eric Johnson.


He thinks it's the batteries.

Jack

 

[Motojunkie]

I just got off the phone with Eric Johnson.


He thinks it's the batteries.

Jack

Hahahahahhahaha!

 

[phatduckk]

I just got off the phone with Eric Johnson.


He thinks it's the batteries.

Jack

HA

i was surprised that i could tell the difference. but those clips are with everything set flat. i figure w/ some EQ magic they could sound identical

 

[4metta]

I prefer the feel of maple but think rosewood sounds better. I DO hear a difference between the two.

 

[prickly_pete]

In my opinion, with a bright EQ, maple sounds better for slapping (more pronounced click/attack); this difference is subtle and rosewood sounds great too for slapping. With a bassy/thumpy traditional EQ, the difference is negligible.

 

[ghunter]

I also perceive a difference, and prefer Rosewood for the deeper tone. If you don't think there's a difference, go and try two Telecasters with different fretboards - their trebly sound shows the difference very very well IMO.

 

[philthygeezer]

Lovely basses! I might wanna try Black PG on my Honeyburst SR5...

I agree: Ernie Ball makes the most appealing finishes! Here are some better pictures of the Sterling:

 

[phatduckk]

I agree: Ernie Ball makes the most appealing finishes! Here are some better pictures of the Sterling:

hot damn thats a nice finish!

 

[roballanson]

I also perceive a difference, and prefer Rosewood for the deeper tone. If you don't think there's a difference, go and try two Telecasters with different fretboards - their trebly sound shows the difference very very well IMO.

I am sorry a Tele - what? Is that like a broadcaster or newsreader.....