When considering which fretboard or neck material to go for with your next guitar, or your next mod, there are typically two main candidates: maple or rosewood. Other than their obvious contrast in appearance – maple, anywhere from a light creamy color to a more pronounced yellow or light caramel, whereas rosewood is a darker nutty brown featuring reddish hues, with some grains even verging on black – what else sets them apart?
There are some key differences between the two that play nicely into the tribalistic nature of guitarists, with many claiming one holds particular advantages over the other. And there is plenty of truth in that; each has a distinctive feel and can even impact the sound of your guitar, so read on to find out how picking a fretboard or neck can be more than just an aesthetic choice and why either maple or rosewood may suit you better.
