Brazilian board

[gush]

This isn't a thread to debate the topic.

I've heard folks talk about Brazilian fretboards sounding better and I have an 89cu24 with Brazilian fretboard but I could not tell when playing it.

I can tell when I listen to that guitar recorded though. I have a 2011 cu24 to compare but it has different pickups and switching so those things could make the difference.

There is one song that I used my 89 for lead work and those lead parts just jump out and have a better singing quality. I like it and will use it more.

 

[bodia]

It should smell like fish, too.

 

[Boogie]

It should smell like fish, too.

Actually...

...that’s accurate.

 

[11top]

This guy can hear the difference between Indian and Brazilian fret boards:



Me?



But I am old with crappy ears.

 

[Jazzedout]

They sure do feel nicer though...

 

[veinbuster]

I couldn’t tell you which type of rosewood a fingerboard was made from by playing it. I do like my Brazilian though.

 

[Fro]

It should smell like fish, too.

I would’ve thought it’d smell like snake with all that oil associated with it.

 

[Guitpicky]

Coastal or highland Brazilian? There’s a tone difference you know

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Yeah, I can’t hear it either...

But it’s still nice! Mine is so smooth and has pores the size of a baby. Compared to some of my IR fretboards it’s almost like a piece of ebony. I can’t hear the difference between my green ripple paua abalone inlays and my acrylic inlays either... but the sh!t is nice, and I’m fancy.

 

[RickP]

I have a couple of good Brazilian necks/fingerboards here. For my main guitars, I elected to use the Brazilian necked pair after A/B-ing them at home and onstage. That said, I don’t have a bit of problem saying my other guitars still sound great, and if one of them sounds better on a project, I use it.

Preferable that you revel in the options of multiple tones between the woods than think in terms of “better.” They’re all good.

 

[Tucson Thump]

It should smell like fish, too.

Being in the desert I find that it reminds me of water.

 

[11top]

Coastal or highland Brazilian? There’s a tone difference you know

Only matters with bikinis.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Only matters with bikinis.

 

[markd21]

Back on topic, lol....

I had a Brazilian board DGT and didn't like the sound compared to my friend's IRW board DGT. That's when I decided to sell it. IRW for me everyday.

 

[AP515]

I don't think it smells like fish. I think it smells a little like chocolate. At least we agree it has a smell.

 

[Fro]

The neck on my Semi Hollow Special 22 smells like chocolate. As does the IRW neck on my Axis SS.

 

[László]

I find the ones I've had and currently have with BRW sound just a tiny bit snappier than the many I've had with other types of RW.

It's subtle, but it's there.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

You dudes need to stop sniffing wood and get playing!

 

[TwelfthTangent]

My guess is small differences in the main tone woods of the guitar (body, neck, top), small variances in construction (less so with PRS), and small differences in the setup of the guitar (especially pickup height) from one guitar to the next can have such a significant impact on tone and feel that I’m not sure comparisons of one fretboard material to another can be made with completely different instruments. And that’s if they’re the same model. Different model or different specs? Fuhgettaboutit! Brazilian does look and feel great. Who’s to say that doesn’t make it “sound” better?

 

[FunkyFreeman]

I've some direct experience A/B two CU24s with exactly same specs excepting the fretboard woods; one with Indian RW and another with Brazilian RW. I must admit that I don't like the sound from BRW board because it has too mellow tone for my preference. Instead; sharper response, a bit brighter tone, better cut-through mix, non-CITES mess, and less expensive of Indian RW are all make up for better choice for me.