As with all of the various components of instrument building, fingerboard wood choice affects the look, feel and sound of the finished product. There are of course, many choices available but three wood types make up the largest portion of instrument fingerboards: rosewood, maple, and ebony.
Rosewood
The most commonly used wood for fingerboards, rosewood’s open pores and natural oils give it a smooth feel and warm tone. Its medium-density makeup is less reflective than harder woods with a tighter grain, giving rosewood a slightly softer attack and allowing your fingers to “dig in” and feel the fingerboard. Of the varieties of rosewood, Indian is the most used by instrument makers. Indian rosewood has a rich, dark brown color and even grain, giving a uniform appearance. That, coupled with the availability and relatively low cost of Indian rosewood, makes it a preferred choice for instrument manufacturers. Brazilian rosewood is another favored variety but limited availability renders it cost-prohibitive in many cases.
Maple
Maple has a light-colored appearance and a very tight grain pattern. Ultra stable and highly reflective, it imparts a bright sonic quality to the instrument. Maple requires a finish due to its lack of natural oil; gloss or satin are most common, tung oil being another option. Widespread availability and quick re-growth make maple the most sustainable wood choice and have prompted manufacturers to experiment with a curing process known as “baking” or “torrification.” This gives maple a softer feel and sound with a rosewood-like appearance. Moisture is also infused into the wood during torrification so a finish coat is not necessary.
Ebony
Combining some of the hardness and density of maple with the natural oils of rosewood, ebony serves as a mid-point between the two extremes. It has a consistent black color that is appealing and complementary to the aesthetics of instruments. The tight grain and natural oil give ebony a smooth, even feel and crisp, snappy tone.
Other types of wood are used for instrument fingerboards such as wenge, pau ferro, bubinga, padouk, and cocobolo. These woods are comparatively rare and therefore expensive, limiting their use to high-end or custom-made instruments. Fingerboard wood choice is one of many factors that contribute to the overall sound and feel of an instrument.