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Is this rosewood? Or is it....

BrandonS

BrandonS

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... ????

This edit shows three bass guitars. The two I own from brand X are definitely rosewood (from instrument specs) even though one is noticeably lighter than the other.

This unknown monster on the left is the 2000 Stingray 5 (pearl platinum body and head). Is rosewood that variable in color (I just assumed it was rosewood).
Or is it another wood that was (is?) in use?

The three pics were taken against the same wall, same time, same lighting.

Thanks!

fingerboards.jpg
 
Bart B

Bart B

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oR EBMM dyes the rosewood fretboard for a darker color?

(I read domewhere that some manufacturers do this)
 
BrandonS

BrandonS

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The two 'brand X' boards are each 4 years old or less. The lighter owned by a player who really takes good care, the other kept (mostly) in a closet with some use, likely never treated.
The SR5 history is pretty much unknown, but it is clean.

When I got each of the three I immediately did a wonder-wipe treatment :)
 
T

tommixx

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Actually all three are SOME type of Rosewood. There are numerous different species of "Rosewood" that come from various different geographic areas of the planet. There are African, Indian, Honduran, and Brazilian (the ONLY true "Brazilian Rosewood" is Dalbergia Negra). There are of course others but I give you these 4 just to illustrate. Rosewood can be colored from light red/red orange, to a deep rich red, all the way to a brown, sometimes even black dark chocolaty color. Some of it even SMELLS like Chocolate. Most Manufacturers just choose to call the Board "Rosewood" without identifying which species of Rosewood it is or what geographic region it came from. All rosewoods are NOT the same and there are sound and feel differences among them. I LOVE Dalbergia Negra but it is getting VERY expensive due to its rarity. I also really like Honduran Rosewood as it has some of the same properties of Maple (nice and percussive and punchy as he77 as well as being bright in a good way but warm at the same time. It is VERY clear sounding and has more zing than Dalbergia or Indian in my experience.) EBMM uses VERY high quality "Rosewood" and of course they use Pau Ferro on some if not all of their fretless instruments. Judging from the pictures here you can't tell much of anything with any certainty but my GUESS is that the 2 on the right (Non EBMM) are actually the SAME species of Rosewood. At the risk of looking like a fool I would guess they are both possibly Indian or African Rosewood but can not say with any certainty at all. The one on the left is MUCH harder to tell but it is NOT Honduran (not Red enough) and I do not believe it is African or Indian. It is dark enough to be Dalbergia but that would be a rare treat! It is impossible to know for sure without going back to the Customer service department and give them the serial number. They should be able to tell you what the wood is from that...Good luck finding out and let us know what they say!

Peace,

T
 
BrandonS

BrandonS

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Thanks for the lesson!! I've shot off an email to EB customer support with the serial no. We shall see if they have records! thanks!
 
BrandonS

BrandonS

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Final Answer: This just in from EB Customer Service...

... wow, they reply quickly! Thanks, A.J.!

"That bass was completed on June 9th, 2000. It is indeed Pearl Platinum. Although records don't tell us exactly what type of rosewood was used on that particular bass it is safe to say that the fretboard is made from Indian rosewood as that is all we use."
 
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