Question pau ferro vs. rosewood

[billy carr]

What if any are the differences between pau ferro and rosewood fretboards? My luke3 has pau ferro, everything else seems to have rosewood. Anybody prefer one over the other?

 

[DrKev]

I prefer the lighter colour. Tone wise? Who knows!

 

[guitvai1]

Pau Ferro is harder and denser like ebony essentially.

 

[coldsummer]

I don't think it makes any difference apart from the look. I prefer the full rosewood but the PF with roasted maple looks nice too, and maybe sounds a little brighter but I think that could be attributed to the neck wood rather than fretboard.

 

[billy carr]

Thanks for your replies.

 

[JayDawg]

On my one Bongo that has a Pau Ferro fretboard the one thing I have noticed on it is that when I play it I can feel the grain of the wood more prevalent over the other fretboards I have. Concerning the looks, I think they all look great and have no preference and as far as tone goes, My one Bongo with the Pau Ferro fretboard does have a slightly warmer tone to it but that could also be because of the african mahogany body too.

 

[Tollywood]

Hi Billy,

I have an Axis with the Pau Ferro fretboard, and I really like how it looks. It feels like ebony to me. I can't comment on tone, since that particular Axis has such different woods and frets. It's from the same run as your Luke.

 

[billy carr]

That honey burst finish is so hot. love it!