[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1339594426' post='1691102']
So you don't think maple fretboards sound brighter?
I think if a string is vibrating heavily less than half an inch away from a piece of wood, which ultimately it is connected to, then some of these vibrations are going to either rebound off the board, or be absorbed by it.
How much of either will depend on the type of material. If it's wood, then there are bound to be variances between different woods, even different pieces of the same type of wood.
That's why custom guitar and bass makers spend a lot of time finding the right tone woods with which to build an instrument.
And maple just looks better.
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No arguments about the sound difference, as I've not done a scientific comparison. I also agree that the fingerboard wood will affect tone for the reasons you state. However, rosewood is definitely not softer than maple! I work with both a fair bit, and rosewood blunts my chisels a lot faster than maple!
On the aesthetic side of things, it's a close call, but rosewood is nicer imo