Hey guys. I've decided to treat myself to a late christmas present and am going to get myself a stratocaster. Been listening to a to a lot of blues lately and want a singlecoil guitar. All my guitars at the moment are humbucker with rosewood or ebony board.
I've tried both necks in store and have got to say I liked the feel and look of the maple neck but would like to know how they are playing live.
It felt slicker than rosewood so was wondering if maybe playing live with sweaty hands are they harder to handle.
What do you use and what are your thoughts on one or the other?

This post has been edited by llibach: Jan 2 2015, 11:44 PM

Both serve their purposes but my favorite would be maple for brightness and overtones!

I am not sure choice of wood affects playability, hopefully others will chime in.

Congrats for your decision, although i dont like to stick strictly to one type of guitar model - i cant deny strats are perfect in many ways. I guess it's no coincidence i end up using my strat most of the time..

Cool!

I actually find rosewood a bit more slippery but that might be personal thing as maybe how hand sweats etc. ...the polish (varnish?) of the neck is more important to me, the thick polished ones (usually vintage type) get sticky pretty quick on my hands.

I do specially like maple boards that are 1 piece with the neck. I played maple necks many times but the one piece necks just have something special to them or maybe since they tend to be thick the weight of the neck affected the tone.

Same thoughts as Kristofer posted. Maple necks are famous for a brighter tone. Since you don't have a maple fingerboard guitar, that sounds like a fun option for sure. Maybe try out some rosewood vs maple strats in the store to see how you like their tone as its a bit different. I have always played with rosewood fretboard and then made a switch to maple. I liked the brighter tone and just the way how instrument looks sleek with the maple fretboard

I haven't really noticed much change in playability live and I sweat like crazy. Rosewood does feel like it should provide more "traction" and maple feels "slippery" on touch but in combination of fretting strings and laying fingers against frets - I really don't feel much change or lack of control when playing. Wonder how others feel about this?

MAPLE!!!!!

I have a rosewood board Strat that's one of the brightest guitars I own. Go figure - ?
A guitar is the sum of all of it's parts.

Ken's punchline is the most valueable here (sorry guys ) Don't let yourself be fooled by the species of wood. Maple is just a family of woods. It contains warm sounding maple as well as the very bright "sugar maple". There are no hard rules on this. All Sapeli hufschmid is 100% mahogany guitar and guess what - it sound bright as hell!

I've made my choice, Maple it is Seeing as I don't have a guitar with a maple neck I'm going to choose that.
I've ordered it so should have it the start of the week so I guess I'll have to get off my ass and post an rec take with it when it gets here
I love the look of maple necks and I've got a 3 tone sunburst sunburst body so looks sweet, going to be like an expectant father till it arrives.
Thanks for the input guys.

Rec take with Your new "girl" is a great idea. Waiting for it then

I LOVE maple necks Also, I really dig MAPLE fret boars. Oddly, I don't have a maple fretboard guitar right now! I had one and sold it a bit back to get something else that I sold as well. Still want another maple fretboard though Maybe scallopped maple!!

Congrats on getting your first maple neck guitar!
Please let me know your impressions when it arrives.