ESP MII: Rosewood or Maple?

[TheDarkOne]

Ok. So after all the hardwork, the new forthcoming axe that I shall soon own will be the ESP MII. Now I ask of you, fellow ESP community lovers, which fretboard truly fulfills your needs of a badass axe? The maple or rosewood? Of course, this is 100% your opinion, but I would love to hear which one you all find most appealing and flattering on this guitar. Spanks again! ;)

[D-EJ915]

Maple ftw, it just feels better, plus it looks awesome and doesn't crack like ebony does.

[ice6]

Looking for an M-II as well. I have the most experience with rosewood (and a little with ebony and maple). You should try to at least play something decent with a maple neck to make your own determination and see which feels and sounds better to you. You can read all you want about how maple will provide more "spank" or "twang" or that maybe rosewood is a warmer tone (but I was also reading something recently about bolt-ons versus set necks - which also talks about twang versus warmer fuller sound), but with all the amps and effects out there you can mold your sound using alot of other things besides the wood in the neck.
So really at the end of the day, it comes down to your own feel and preference. Alot of the greats have fluctuated between maple and rosewood throughout their careers or even use both types at the same time (same record / same tour). I'd like to have some of each but at the end of the day if I had to go with one, I'd choose rosewood. Some would say go with maple because it's easier to clean (care for), but even assuming that were true, I'm not sure that's what should guide your choice.

[KH Guitar Freak]

Looking for an M-II as well. I have the most experience with rosewood (and a little with ebony and maple). You should try to at least play something decent with a maple neck to make your own determination and see which feels and sounds better to you. You can read all you want about how maple will provide more "spank" or "twang" or that maybe rosewood is a warmer tone (but I was also reading something recently about bolt-ons versus set necks - which also talks about twang versus warmer fuller sound), but with all the amps and effects out there you can mold your sound using alot of other things besides the wood in the neck.
So really at the end of the day, it comes down to your own feel and preference. Alot of the greats have fluctuated between maple and rosewood throughout their careers or even use both types at the same time (same record / same tour). I'd like to have some of each but at the end of the day if I had to go with one, I'd choose rosewood. Some would say go with maple because it's easier to clean (care for), but even assuming that were true, I'm not sure that's what should guide your choice.

+1...

[BrazilianBootyLover]

Well theres 2 M II's with rosewood. Ones bolt-on and the other is neck thru. The one with the maple fretboad is bolt-on and only comes in bolt-on in America.

[tmoori]

maple! thats my next guitar! i have owned loads of neck thru guitars and loads of bolt on so i have come to the conclusion that my personal prefrence is bolt on! just sounds soo much better! but yeah maple!!

[Armitage]

I'm simply not a fan of maple fretboards, and only because I like the look of rosewood and ebony better...

[TheDarkOne]

rosewood!! for teh win!!!

[Joe_Bradburry]

I've heard that maple builds up static, wich can cause some popping noises, but, i dont know how much trooth there is to that.

[BrazilianBootyLover]

I've heard that maple builds up static, wich can cause some popping noises, but, i dont know how much trooth there is to that.


Your name explains it all.

[WhiteNoise]

I own an Urban Camo M-II with an ebony fretboard, which is the shit. But I recently tried a bolt on maple fretboard M-II and loved it ! Would take it over the ebony.. just so smooth somehow. You should try both tho.. but my vote goes to maple

[flakelorenz]

Maple is harder to clean thats all i know. I only have rosewood and ebony boards. I might consider a maple board in the distant future though so well worth trying first if you can...

[Joe_Bradburry]

Your name explains it all. how so?

[rocknrolltakeover]

go maple. thats the next guitar on my list as well.

[Lord Raptor Jesus]

I prefer the tone of Rosewood and look of Maple.

That said I got the M-II w/ Maple because I already have Rosewood Guitar.

It doesn't get dirty unleash you shove your finger up your bum before play.

[_blackened_]

Could anyone show me some good pictures of the M-II with maple neck?

I'm looking to buy one too.

[ZephMan13]

It doesn't get dirty unleash you shove your finger up your bum before play.

:rollin:rollin:rollin:rollin:rollin:rollin:rollin: rollin:rollin:rollin:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:l ol:lol:lol

LOL! dude I was laughing for like ten minets. ANyways maple and ebony own:
http://www.guitarshop.net/esp/MII.jpg
couldn't find anypics of the neck sorry.

[Chonny]

To prevent any rosewood or ebony fretboard from cracking rub a little fretboard oil on it from time to time. If it cracks its not the woods fault its the owners fault.

Maple is slightly brighter with a slightly tigher bass response. People tend to exaggerate this because the differences in most tone wood originally comes from the differences in acoustic guitar making. Most people feel Brazilian rosewood is the best fretboard material and the best species of rosewood, unfortunately it is endangered and costs a hell of a lot to get now. Ebony is considered very similar tonally to Brazilian rosewood. Most rosewood now is from India and other places and is a slightly smoother and warmer sound.

Again I stress most of these tonewood characteristics are more prominent in acoustic guitar making. In electrics the fretboard itself is more about looks and feel than sound. A/B a maple neck Strat with a rosewood neck Strat, the differences are minimal. Play an acoustic with a lot of maple like some Taylors compared to a Martin made with a lot of rosewood and you can hear the big difference most people are talking about.

Personally I would get an ebony board. Thanks for reading.

[takesnogutz666]

Originally Posted by Killswitch_Kid View Post
I've heard that maple builds up static, wich can cause some popping noises, but, i dont know how much trooth there is to that.

Your name explains it all.
Reply With Quote

+1000000000000000

[takesnogutz666]

if i were the one making this decision i would go with rosewood. maple looks better, but rosewood has a better sound that compliments my tone. it really all depends on what your set up is like, telling you what is better between these two is like comparing active pickups to passive pickups... its all just opinion. neither are "better".

[zerosk8r900]

I dont know why, but I love the look, feel, and sound of a maple fretboard more than rosewood. And it looks great on the M-II.

[Tone Deaf Guru]

I dont know why, but I love the look, feel, and sound of a maple fretboard more than rosewood. And it looks great on the M-II. I agree, and it seems easier to see the side dots when needed.

[gainiac]

Isn't the bigger difference the EMGs with the RW vs. the Duncans with the maple? I think the pickups make a bigger difference than the fretboard choice - I've got all three types of fretboards in several guitars. I like the feel and tone and on some guitars the look of maple. Especially if the neck has an unfinished feel. But on this guitar, I'd go EMGs and RW, from a looks standpoint and a pickups standpoint. 18V it and you've got one sweet guitar. Honestly though, you probably can't miss either way.

[murtis]

bony fretbards are easier to read for me

its the same diff as having white text ona black background ot having black text on a white background

[KH Guitar Freak]

Isn't the bigger difference the EMGs with the RW vs. the Duncans with the maple? I think the pickups make a bigger difference than the fretboard choice - I've got all three types of fretboards in several guitars. I like the feel and tone and on some guitars the look of maple. Especially if the neck has an unfinished feel. But on this guitar, I'd go EMGs and RW, from a looks standpoint and a pickups standpoint. 18V it and you've got one sweet guitar. Honestly though, you probably can't miss either way.

I think you could always opt to order either EMGs or Duncans in whichever MII you want in the US, at least in Australia, that's what is offered...

[jet66]

I like maple on the MII.

http://home.cfl.rr.com/jet66/maplemii.jpg

[D-EJ915]

Fuck me, I want that thing so bad.

[bigote]

I would go with the M-II bolt-on w/ rosewood fingerboard then swap out the EMGs w/ Seymour Duncans. I'd like to have rosewood and SD pickups together in a guitar. Although I woudn't mind having the maple one cause it's already loaded w/ Duncans.

[fuzzymuffler]

Maple MII + EMGzorz FTW

[Metalmilitia306]

i played the rosewood mII bolt on at sam ash the other day and i seriously could not put it down. now i just need to play the neck through so i can settle on which one i want.

[5150-Viper]

hey JET66, is that a custom paint job or did it come that way? that is one of the sickest guitars i have ever seen..

[sp1keNARF]

maples!

[shivering_shade]

maple and rosewood.... :) ive ordered 2 of them... and ill tell u as soon as they arrive... (mid january)

[Bridge The Void]

Haven't tried ebony, but at heart I'm a rosewood man. I've played maple fretboards, and I prefer maple on strats, simply because I grew up playing maple board strats so rosewood on a strat is out of place for me. On anything else though...has to be rosewood.