Does Fender use rosewood?

Fender is committed to the continued use of Rosewood in American-made solid body guitars, such as our American Professional Series.

Why did Fender stop using rosewood?

Fender Musical Instruments is officially moving away from using rosewood fingerboards in the manufacturing of its Mexican made instruments due to the recent CITES regulations (see our previous post on CITES here).

When did Fender stop using rosewood?

In 2017 when CITES imposed restrictions on instruments featuring rosewood, Fender made a few changes. Now that those restrictions have been lifted, Fender use a combination of rosewood, pau ferro and ebony. So how do these tonewoods compare? Let's take a look at the differences.

What type of rosewood does Fender use?

Indian rosewood was first introduced by Leo Fender in place of maple and from then on has become the standard, and is nowadays the most common wood used for fretboard construction. Indian rosewood tends to darken the tone a bit, adding warmth to the neck and generally to the whole instrument's tone.

Do guitars still use rosewood?

Manufacturers changed how they made and sold guitars that normally contain rosewood to evade the rule - mainly focusing on affordable guitar ranges. Popular alternatives still being manufactured today use ebony, maple and pau ferro.

Fender Stop Using Rosewood? Isn't Pau Ferro Rubbish? Guitar Player Logic

When did Fender start using rosewood necks?

In August 1962, Fender began using a curved-base veneer rosewood fretboard, which became thinner the following year.

What guitars are made with rosewood?

Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor, PRS and literally every builder who can afford to use Rosewood does. It's a fantastic tonewood with deep roots in both the acoustic and electric guitar worlds.

Is maple fretboard better than rosewood?

Compared to maple the difference is notable, as rosewood will soften the sound, even for guitars with maple necks. This is one of the reasons some guitar players prefer Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters with the option of a rosewood fretboard. The rosewood takes a bright guitar and mellows it out a bit.

Is Ebony fretboard better than rosewood?

In short, Ebony is a much harder wood compared to Rosewood and feels slicker to touch. It produces brighter and snappier tones, while Rosewood produces a more balanced overall tone.

Is rosewood harder than maple?

Although, Rosewood is a very hard wood (harder than Maple) it's porous and "greasy" nature gives it a warmer tone in general.

Are rosewood fretboards banned?

Guitar manufacturers (and anyone) were banned from using it, unless they could prove it had been exported prior to the 1992 CITES treaty decision. Since that time, manufacturers have searched for alternatives, not only to Brazilian rosewood, but to rosewood in general.

What is the best wood for a fretboard?

Does Fender still make rosewood necks?

It's official and all because of the new CITES regulations that came into force this year. As of June/July this summer all Fender Mexican and Fender American Elite will no longer use rosewood in their construction.

Which is better pau ferro or rosewood?

Pau Ferro has a tighter density than rosewood, meaning slightly less frequencies are absorbed into the fretboard. This results in a brighter, snappier tone, while still retaining the depth of rosewood designs. The feel of pau ferro is comparable to that of ebony, meaning an effortless, smooth playing experience.

When did Fender use Brazilian rosewood?

Almost all Fender and Gibson instruments until 1965 are equipped with Brazilian rosewood fretboards, unless they have one-piece maple necks (Fender until mid-1959 ) or were equipped with fingerboard and bridge of ebony , such as the Gibson Les Paul Custom or Super 400.

How do I know if I have a rosewood fretboard?

Rosewood fretboards have very distinguishable characteristics. It is easily identified by the reddish-brown colour and grainy texture. This makes the colour of Rosewood darker than Maple and lighter than Ebony. The Brazilian Rosewood is darker than Indian Rosewood but again not as dark as Ebony.

What wood is best for guitar necks?

Mahogany is the most common wood used for building necks for acoustic guitars. It is strong, dense but light and easy to carve.

Do aged guitars sound better?

Older guitars often sound better than newer ones as they dry out over time which causes them to become harder leading to a more resonant tone with better sustain. The increase in age affects the tone more in acoustic guitars than electric ones.

What is Gibson Richlite?

A new option called Richlite, which was based on wood products but much stronger and consistent, was developed and quickly became popular for demanding applications.

Why can't you use lemon oil on maple fretboards?

Despite being an oil, pure lemon oil can cause drying of your fretboard and, with excessive or long-term use, can break down any adhesives that might be holding your frets or fretboard binding (if yours has it).

Should you oil a rosewood fretboard?

Rosewood, unlike finished woods like maple, should be oiled every once in a while. This is because rosewood fretboard is unfinished, meaning the raw wood is left exposed to the elements. Over time, your sweat can dry out the natural moisture of the wood.

Is rosewood better than mahogany?

Rosewood is much denser/harder and stronger than mahogany. This is why it is also used a lot for bridges and fingerboards.

Is rosewood the best guitar?

Rosewood is a popular and sought-after tonewood for acoustic guitar fretboards. Its density, hardness and stability make it a durable material. It feels great to play, and its tone offers a superb balanced to brighter tonewoods while still being articulate in its own right.

Why is rosewood so popular?

The wood harvested from these types of trees is valued for its characteristics of being strong, heavy, and aesthetically pleasing, which has led to it being in high demand for creating furniture and musical instruments.

Is Indian rosewood hard?

Janka Hardness is 2,440 pounds of force. Drying and Shrinkage: Indian Rosewood dries well but it is recommended to dry the wood slowly to avoid checking and end splitting. Average reported shrinkage values are 2.7% radial, 5.9% tangential, 8.5% volumetric.