Guitar Fretboard Construction and Alternatives
As noted in previous articles, the guitar is an amalgam of many individual parts working harmonious and congruently to produce sweet sounds. Along with the choices, styles, and different wood components of a guitar’s neck and body, it is important to note the differences of the fingering or playing surface of the neck: the fretboard.
The fretboard, or fingerboard is the piece of wood or other material that provides the surface of the guitar’s neck upon which fingering is done. As fingers press the string to the surface of the fretboard, the length of the string is shortened, resulting in a higher acoustical pitch being produced. Unlike string instruments such as the double bass, violin, or cello, most guitars, fretless ones being the exception of course, have their necks embedded with nickel or stainless steel strips called frets which have been placed at proper intervals to provide a change of an upward half step movement as one fingers towards the body on the instrument. The mathematical ratio used for this placement results in equal temperment, allowing for a correct and even division of the octave into 12 half step intervals. Cheaply made guitars such as those made for children as toys do not possess this equal temperment and are not suitable for true playing since the rules of a tunable neck will not apply. The woods used for fingerboards on guitars and string instruments vary, and each possesses its own distinct sound and feel. Many guitars possess a maple neck and a maple fingerboard existing as one piece of wood. This construction is well known in Fender guitars, and many players swear that the sound of the maple fretboard in conjunction with the maple neck possesses a brighter, more cohesive sound and sustain than models that have a maple neck and a fretboard made of a different wood, namely rosewood. Rosewood is a very popular wood because of its brighter, more pronounced attack when compared to maple fretboards. Rosewood is often paired with necks made of maple or mahogany. Gibson is well known for its ebony fretboards that are paired with the mahogany-necked SG or Les Paul signature guitars. Ebony is the wood used for fingerboards of violins and other string instruments. As ebony is the densest of the three woods most often used (rosewood, maple, and ebony), it stands out as having the brightest sound and most articulated attack. Other materials used in fretboard construction are graphite and carbon fiber composite. Listeners and players might note their precisely articulated sound, if a tad more “manufactured”.
As well as the material used for the fretboard, detailing inlays and position markers differ from one guitar manufacturer to the next. These can be as simple as painted plastic to extremely ornate mother of pearl designs. Inlays should be chosen according to aesthetic taste for they have no affect upon guitar tone. To get the feel for each fretboard material and find your druthers, it is best to visit your favorite local guitar shop like Austin’s Strait Music Company, pick up every neck you can get your hands around, and get to fingering. You’ll be able to notice the differences described straightway and make a well-informed decision when purchasing.
About the Author: Clint Strait is a third generation owner and assistant manager of the Strait Music, Austin Music Stores, providing the best selection of electric guitars and guitar accessories to Austin and the surrounding area for over forty years. For more information please visit www.straitmusic.com.
The fretboard, or fingerboard is the piece of wood or other material that provides the surface of the guitar’s neck upon which fingering is done. As fingers press the string to the surface of the fretboard, the length of the string is shortened, resulting in a higher acoustical pitch being produced. Unlike string instruments such as the double bass, violin, or cello, most guitars, fretless ones being the exception of course, have their necks embedded with nickel or stainless steel strips called frets which have been placed at proper intervals to provide a change of an upward half step movement as one fingers towards the body on the instrument. The mathematical ratio used for this placement results in equal temperment, allowing for a correct and even division of the octave into 12 half step intervals. Cheaply made guitars such as those made for children as toys do not possess this equal temperment and are not suitable for true playing since the rules of a tunable neck will not apply. The woods used for fingerboards on guitars and string instruments vary, and each possesses its own distinct sound and feel. Many guitars possess a maple neck and a maple fingerboard existing as one piece of wood. This construction is well known in Fender guitars, and many players swear that the sound of the maple fretboard in conjunction with the maple neck possesses a brighter, more cohesive sound and sustain than models that have a maple neck and a fretboard made of a different wood, namely rosewood. Rosewood is a very popular wood because of its brighter, more pronounced attack when compared to maple fretboards. Rosewood is often paired with necks made of maple or mahogany. Gibson is well known for its ebony fretboards that are paired with the mahogany-necked SG or Les Paul signature guitars. Ebony is the wood used for fingerboards of violins and other string instruments. As ebony is the densest of the three woods most often used (rosewood, maple, and ebony), it stands out as having the brightest sound and most articulated attack. Other materials used in fretboard construction are graphite and carbon fiber composite. Listeners and players might note their precisely articulated sound, if a tad more “manufactured”.
As well as the material used for the fretboard, detailing inlays and position markers differ from one guitar manufacturer to the next. These can be as simple as painted plastic to extremely ornate mother of pearl designs. Inlays should be chosen according to aesthetic taste for they have no affect upon guitar tone. To get the feel for each fretboard material and find your druthers, it is best to visit your favorite local guitar shop like Austin’s Strait Music Company, pick up every neck you can get your hands around, and get to fingering. You’ll be able to notice the differences described straightway and make a well-informed decision when purchasing.
About the Author: Clint Strait is a third generation owner and assistant manager of the Strait Music, Austin Music Stores, providing the best selection of electric guitars and guitar accessories to Austin and the surrounding area for over forty years. For more information please visit www.straitmusic.com.
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