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kneeoh

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Joined
Jul 17, 2005
Messages
711
Location
Troy, Michigan, United States
I'm partial to RW... big surprise, my incoming 25th has a RW board. I prefer my guitars to have a slightly darker tone which, to my ears, the RW confers. Having said that, if I had the choice of RW or maple on the AL, I'd probably stick to maple. The SSS combination just sounds better to me with a maple board.
 

roburado

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Joined
Jul 18, 2005
Messages
6,089
Location
Commerce, MI
I'm partial to RW... big surprise, my incoming 25th has a RW board. I prefer my guitars to have a slightly darker tone which, to my ears, the RW confers. Having said that, if I had the choice of RW or maple on the AL, I'd probably stick to maple. The SSS combination just sounds better to me with a maple board.

You think I don't know what you'd say? :p
 

roburado

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Joined
Jul 18, 2005
Messages
6,089
Location
Commerce, MI
Thus far, this is the best argument I've seen or heard for rosewood.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnzhvAjf1cw"]YouTube - Joe Bonamassa - Mountain Time[/ame]
 

Hakan

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Joined
Aug 10, 2009
Messages
67
I think try both in the GC you told and buy some picks, strings, straps, etc so that salesman will not get angry :) You will need these accessories anyway. I would never pay that money without a test.
 

mb99zz

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Nov 19, 2007
Messages
1,765
Location
Commonwealth of Virginia
I've only ever sampled a 25th w/RW FB. My guess is that you'd feel the same way about maple vs RW on the 25th as you do any other guitar. Just my guess there. I've never been able to pick-out a significant difference in tone between maple and RW fretboards. For me, it's more about feel. I think RW feels better.

In terms of looks, the birdseye on the 25th maple fretboards I've seen online are simply stunning. I think I like the look of the RW better overall, but both look great on the 25th.
 

paulstew64

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Joined
Jan 7, 2008
Messages
163
Location
Appleton, Cheshire
I think they both look truly amazing. I used to be a maple neck lover through and through, but now I'm totally rosewood.

You've got to go with your gut here and get what you prefer. It's all about what you hands prefer rather than your eyes.

Let's face it, if it was about looks we'd all be totally broke because we'd each own virutally every type in every colour, we just love em that much.
 

oldstrat

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2009
Messages
17
Location
wheeling wv usa
Tone wise, the difference is huge. There's more bite, spank, funk to the maple neck, and a bit rounder, darker tone with rosewood. If you like tele style pickin, get maple for sure. I bought maple mostly for looks, but I've always preferred maple strat boards. Seems to enhance the natural strattiness.
 

roburado

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Joined
Jul 18, 2005
Messages
6,089
Location
Commerce, MI
Part of the reason I ask is that I think the feel is often different. I don't know why, but I've tried Silo Spec RW boards that feel flatter than the maple ones I've tried. I think I'm more comfortable on the maple. However, my 20th is RW, and I love the feel of it.

I'm leaning towards RW, quilt, hardtail at this point--based partly on that Joe Bonnamassa video. Partly, it's because I would have loved to have a 20th Silo with hardtail. So, I think I'm going hardtail on this guitar.
 
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