Question Rosewood Fretboard Technical Question...............

[Laredo]

Recently got my third EBMM this year!...................

Anyway, on my most recent aquisition (Sterling 5), I noticed some variance in the color of the Rosewood fretboard. I am not complaining, but rather, I am wondering the cause of this?

I have seen basses on line with the usual "all dark" fretboards, but recently have noticed many EBMM photos with a lighter "marbling" of the Rosewood. Mine is not that noticable, mostly in one corner................I have seen photos of basses where the lighter Rosewood runs through out the entire length of the fretboard.

Is this because:

- EBMM uses a higher grade Rosewood?
- The Rosewood is not dyed, but left natural?
- They use a different kind of Rosewood that has natural variations?
- EBMM's rock, who cares!

Thanks in advance for your insight!

 

[Grand Wazoo]

EBMM Rocks - who cares is the answer!!

I have seen a tiger striped rosewood f/board once on a very rare and expensive PR$ guitar and when I asked about it I was told that there is a particular crop of indian rosewood that can show a lot of cream coloured streaks and with these one in a thousand trees have this "tiger striped" look to them, which is only achieved when they are cut transversally to the grain rather than longitudinally.

And you are right EB does use a very high grade of rosewood for their instruments, and I very much doubt that they and other makers dye their rosewood, because the dye would rub off and you get black fingertips as you do with some cheapo jap copies.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I think it's just that some pieces of wood vary more than others. Each one is unique in its own way, much like the flame and bird's eye figure in some maple.

 

[thunder]

that rosewood my friend. some companies dye or stain the wood to give it a uniform look. natural rosewood has a kind of tiger stripe look.