Electric Guitar Trends

Most guitars have rosewood fretboards. It’s been that way for several decades.  In the 1960’s even cheap guitars used Brazilian rosewood for the fretboards.  But those rainforests are protected now, and there is no secure supply of Brazilian rosewood anymore.  Enter - the Indian rosewood fretboards.

Indian rosewood typically does not have as much grain as Brazilian rosewood: it looks more like a chocolate bar.  It is also slightly harder than Brazilian rosewood, which tends to make the sound slightly brighter.  This is why some people will pay a premium to have a guitar with a Brazilian rosewood fretboard - it has a unique, vintage sound.

Ebony has been used to make fretboards, for many years.  Historically, ebony fretboards are associated with higher end guitars.  Ebony is famous of course, as the hardest wood on the planet.  That means it is hard to work into shape; has a bright sound; and wears very, very well.  I really like the smooth, glassy feel of an ebony fretboard.

I also have a Traveler guitar with a Pao Ferro fretboard.  Pao Ferro has not seen much use on guitar fretboards until recently. It used to be called Bolivian rosewood and actually, it’s a great product for guitar fretboards.  It is slightly harder than Indian rosewood, and tends to have an attractive grain.

Then of course, there’s Fender Musical Instruments.  They pioneered using fretboards made of lacquered maple in the early 1950’s , and before long Fender was making the neck and the fretboard as one piece of wood. Unfortunately 1950’s lacquers showed play wear rather easily. Fender dropped maple fretboards throughout the 1960’s as a result of the inadequate lacquers available at the time. By 1970, new harder lacquers made the lacquered maple fretboard practical again, and Fender has been making them ever since. Maple has a very bright tone, and today’s lacquers do not show play wear at all.

My preference for a fretboard is ebony. Your mileage may vary.