Fretboard

Bdog

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May 12, 2015
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Illionois
I'm getting ready to buy a sterling hh 5 string and am wondering I like the stealth black but I think it only comes with ebony fret board. Am I going to loose low end with a ebony board vs rosewood.
 
There are different opinions about fretboard materials and how they affect your sound. But in general rosewood sounds warmer while maple is snappier. Ebony should be somewhere in between.

That being said, my personal experience is that it doesnt affect the bassic tone of your instrument but if you get a bit if fret buzz or if you do alot of slapping (anny situation where strings hit the frets) that "noise" of the frets is verry different. But this is for me just a detail. Sound wise i prefer rosewood. For looks i prefer maple so i will play both. I do try to stay away from ebony but thats because i once had a verry bad experience with a ebonny fb shrinking and cracking on me.
 
I had an ebony board on by Big Al 5HHH (which I sadly had to part with, it was too heavy for me), and there was no loss of low end. My fretless stealth also has ebony, and has plenty of low end.
 
With the active 3 band EQ on the Sterling you can have enough low end to destroy the galaxy. :D I usually pick woods based on looks rather than tone (for electric instruments).

I've had a couple guitars with ebony fretboards before with no issues. But with all my guitars I always oil the fretboard and neck whenever I change strings to keep it from drying out.
 
Mayebe i should add that one of the warmest sounding basses ive ever owned is my classic ray. (Both plugged in and acoustic) and this is a laquered maple neck.... wich should sound verry thin if you follow all the internet myths. In reallity it really does depend on the complete construction, woods and electronics of your bass.
And with the active 2 or 3 band eq you can still alter a whole lot. So i would say buy it if you like how it looks or even better try one out first of its possible.
 
Thankyou for the good words I bought the bass but in black as I don't have much patience and couldnt wait 12-24 weeks maybe next bass, that stealth black sure looked awesome thanks again
 
I got the rosewood and matching head stock should be here Wednesday. Man I cant wait first real expensive bass
 
Mayebe i should add that one of the warmest sounding basses ive ever owned is my classic ray. (Both plugged in and acoustic) and this is a laquered maple neck.... wich should sound verry thin if you follow all the internet myths. In reallity it really does depend on the complete construction, woods and electronics of your bass.
And with the active 2 or 3 band eq you can still alter a whole lot. So i would say buy it if you like how it looks or even better try one out first of its possible.

+1 the same with my 77 laquered maple
 
Man this bass is a monster. Absolutely awesome sound, plays beautifully worth every penny!!!
 

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