The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Tele neck choice, maple or rosewood?
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Tele neck choice, maple or rosewood?
Len Amaral

 

From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2018 7:56 am    
Reply with quote

Thinking about ordering a Tokai Guitar from Japan. Have always admired these guitars since I heard Duke Robilard playing one in the 80’s. Tokai also has a “super vee trem system” that keeps the Tele vibe, bridge and ashetics.

Ok, I have a Tele with a rosewood neck and have played maple necks. What’s your choice of necks and why?

Tokaijapan.com
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Joachim Kettner


From:
Germany
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2018 9:29 am    
Reply with quote

I think maple sounds sharper and snappier. I would use it for Country. But for other styles especially old R&B and Beat Music (a European term for sixties music) I would prefer a rosewood Tele, as the wood gives more resistance to your finger movements. You have to press a little harder and this is good. For Blues, Robben Ford prefers one too.
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Dustin Rhodes


From:
Owasso OK
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2018 9:34 am    
Reply with quote

I like both fine. Maple necks seem a bit less convenient to work on due to the finish. Some want to say that maple is more twangy but Pete Anderson sort of blows that theory out the window. I do prefer the look of maple most times though.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Joachim Kettner


From:
Germany
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2018 9:42 am    
Reply with quote

But they are laquered. I think that makes string bending easier.
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Dustin Rhodes


From:
Owasso OK
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2018 10:01 am    
Reply with quote

Bending should really be more about string on fret friction.

Here are 2 of my favorites bending it up on rosewood teles.

https://youtu.be/BvFqaKnGbJc
https://youtu.be/fcWoYWONszw
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Joachim Kettner


From:
Germany
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2018 12:11 pm    
Reply with quote

Don't really know, but the frets are the same on both Teles Confused
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Dustin Rhodes


From:
Owasso OK
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2018 12:37 pm    
Reply with quote

Joachim Kettner wrote:
Don't really know, but the frets are the same on both Teles Confused


Was going to say earlier though that if you want slick bending get stainless frets.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Len Amaral

 

From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2018 5:40 pm    
Reply with quote

Dustin, Jerry Donahue is a great Tele picker. Thanks for the vids.

I think I'm going with a rosewood finger board.👍
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Dustin Rhodes


From:
Owasso OK
Post  Posted 18 Jan 2018 5:53 am    
Reply with quote

Len Amaral wrote:
Dustin, Jerry Donahue is a great Tele picker. Thanks for the vids.

I think I'm going with a rosewood finger board.👍


He's one like Jeff Beck or Sonny Landreth who's style is so individual that I'm not sure how you would ever imitate them.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Len Amaral

 

From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
Post  Posted 18 Jan 2018 12:17 pm    
Reply with quote

Not trying to imitate, just inspired by their playing.

"One last guitar! Honey, I promise, this is the last guitar I will ever buy" Laughing
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Andy Volk


From:
Boston, MA
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2018 2:39 am    
Reply with quote

I've had both and I prefer maple for aesthetics and feel but it would look absolutely wrong on most other guitars.
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

ajm

 

From:
Los Angeles
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2018 8:37 am    
Reply with quote

I like the look of maple, probably only because a lot of players I like have used primarily maple. Don Rich, Ritchie Blackmore, Robin Trower, etc etc etc.

I have a feeling that a lot of guys choose one or the other based upon the look and not much else.

If you were blindfolded, and someone handed you ten Teles, could you pick out which ones were maple versus rosewood? I have a feeling that in most cases I know the answer.

And........

When you hear a Tele on record, can you tell which it is, based ONLY on the tone? Nine times out of ten, I think I know the answer.
But if you just guessed maple, you'd probably be right, because that is what most guys choose, primarily because of the look.
View user's profile Send private message

Dustin Rhodes


From:
Owasso OK
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2018 10:42 am    
Reply with quote

Len Amaral wrote:
Not trying to imitate, just inspired by their playing.

"One last guitar! Honey, I promise, this is the last guitar I will ever buy" Laughing


I assumed. Just commenting on his very unique style.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Tom Wolverton


From:
Carpinteria, CA
Post  Posted 25 Jan 2018 6:43 pm    
Reply with quote

One factor might be the cost of a fret job. I suspect the lacquered maple fretboard is more labor intensive to do a fret job on.
_________________
To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Dustin Rhodes


From:
Owasso OK
Post  Posted 29 Jan 2018 12:03 pm    
Reply with quote

Tom Wolverton wrote:
One factor might be the cost of a fret job. I suspect the lacquered maple fretboard is more labor intensive to do a fret job on.


That it is.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Godfrey Arthur

 

From:
3rd Rock
Post  Posted 12 Feb 2018 4:47 am    
Reply with quote

Waxing offshore Teles I looked into SX's offerings.

It's made in China.

Here's mine with a maple and channel bound fingerboard.








Best $200 I've spent on a guitar.

I have an 1980 MIA Fender Tele in a custom factory color with a rosewood board. The model with the TBX tone control.

I tend to play the SX maple more.

Spanks with D'Addario EXL120's.



Only thing I changed on the SX is the jack to a Switchcraft.

But if you've only got the one, I would go with the rosewood.
_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7
View user's profile Send private message

Larry Dering


From:
Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 23 Mar 2018 6:34 pm    
Reply with quote

I have both. Country twang I prefer maple, smooth chords or blues it's the rosewood. Most of my other guitars are rosewood so it's my 1st choice.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

David Gertschen

 

From:
Phoenix, Arizona
Post  Posted 30 Mar 2018 9:36 am    
Reply with quote

Personally, I prefer the feel of a rosewood fingerboard. Would recommend you try both versions before deciding for yourself.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

David Mason


From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
Post  Posted 30 Mar 2018 12:34 pm    
Reply with quote

Comfort, both mental and physical, and appearance are all I think really matter. In terms of tonal difference, with everything else accounted for, if turning a few amp knobs from 7 to 6 1/2 or 3 to 4 etc. don't do it, you need a better amp, not more gits. In order of the last purchased by mee'zms:
3) Pau Ferro
2) Ebony
1) Axooly, last not ordered yet, but I'm Strongly Leaning towards roasted maple*.... I know, I'm sorry we Warmoothians are a litte pervy when it comes to wood, but we know a lot about wood. At least if you ax us about it.

IF I don't it'll be pau ferro, because it's as smooth as ebony, a bit warmer and easier to work on, no finish needed. It starts as a light-medium brown, so you can (judiciously) shade it anywhere from that out to black if that's screamingly vital. IF I do roasted maple, I'll use some combination of beeswax & a non-hardening oil. If I can get it glass-smooth and it's hard enough, I don't have to think about dirt, if there's any texture to it where dirt can stick, I'll have to THINK (oh darn etc).
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP