heritagefan7 Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 The title covers it. Anyone know why ebony on 157 and rosewood on 150? I prefer ebony but like rosewood fine. Down the road the idea is to find/order a 150 ssb w/ an ebony board. I like the 157 but don't care for the gold hardware. I've had a g****y since 91...can't seen 2 find ebony on those except the alpine white and the customs. Likewise, G only seems to triburst the custom LP. At least tht's all I've seen.---G info is just a curiosity as I'm only really interested in the H. Just seems weird abt the triburst unless it's an upcharge finish for G---I think it's a standard finish for Heritage...??? (at least according to a dealer it is a standard finish on other models) BTW---any thoughts on price to custom order the ebony board on the 150?
TalismanRich Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 I think you hit the nail on the head... the LP Custom has the ebony board, block inlays and gold hardware multi-ply binding front and back, the Standards came with Rosewood, trap inlay and nickel or chrome hardware. Since the 157 = custom and 150 = Standard in terms of appointments, they were just continuing the "Heritage". That's not to say you can't order whatever you want. They'll put an ebony on a 150 if you order it that way, and nickel or chrome hardware on a 157. I like the feel of Ebony, but then my favorite 535 had rosewoood. What's that tell you? (that I should have a 555?)
heritagefan7 Posted March 27, 2012 Author Posted March 27, 2012 I think you hit the nail on the head... the LP Custom has the ebony board, block inlays and gold hardware multi-ply binding front and back, the Standards came with Rosewood, trap inlay and nickel or chrome hardware. Since the 157 = custom and 150 = Standard in terms of appointments, they were just continuing the "Heritage". That's not to say you can't order whatever you want. They'll put an ebony on a 150 if you order it that way, and nickel or chrome hardware on a 157. I like the feel of Ebony, but then my favorite 535 had rosewoood. What's that tell you? (that I should have a 555?) I love the gits you have Rich...but I'm sure adding a 555 would only enhance an alreay superb collection!
blueox Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 The H-157 is considered the top of the food chain for the H-150 series, so they throw all the bling on it, including the ebony fingerboard. As mentioned, you can custom order what you want on an H-150, considering the upcharge for the ebony wood.
mtpatty Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 My Black H150 has an ebony board! I bought it off the 'bay,so i just got lucky! My OLd style burst H150 has rosewood!
DetroitBlues Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 The title covers it. Anyone know why ebony on 157 and rosewood on 150? I prefer ebony but like rosewood fine. Down the road the idea is to find/order a 150 ssb w/ an ebony board. I like the 157 but don't care for the gold hardware. I've had a g****y since 91...can't seen 2 find ebony on those except the alpine white and the customs. Likewise, G only seems to triburst the custom LP. At least tht's all I've seen.---G info is just a curiosity as I'm only really interested in the H. Just seems weird abt the triburst unless it's an upcharge finish for G---I think it's a standard finish for Heritage...??? (at least according to a dealer it is a standard finish on other models) BTW---any thoughts on price to custom order the ebony board on the 150? There were a few LP studios back in the 90's that were Ebony fretboards. From what I was told, the demand for black and other finishes were out pacing the need for white LP's, so Gibson was repainting white LP Studios. As for why Ebony on higher end, its probably because ebony was or still is a more expensive cut of wood. As far as 140's go, I might have the only one with an Ebony fretboard (not to mention bound neck and body, with small block inlays, belly cut, mop "The Heritage" inlay... "
Blunote Posted March 27, 2012 Posted March 27, 2012 Nice pic DB. How do you get just the amp and guitar to be in color and the rest b&w? Sorry about the hijack
111518 Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 My 140 (147?) was ordered (not by me, got it used) with ebony and traps. Nice combination, IMHO: As to why Gibson and other manufacturers reserved ebony to the highest price models: I think tradition (ebony fingerboards on fine stringed instruments) and cost (ebony more expensive) were significant factors, but so was marketing and the desire to create a product line with offerings at different price points, and to find ways to distinguish those models. Interesting to think that Gibson grew up as a business during the same period as the Detroit auto industry ... it has always struck me that the model lines, gadgetry, ornamentation, and labels (Custom, Deluxe) of Gibson, at least from the 1930s on, share a lot of common ground with auto styling and marketing.
Guest HRB853370 Posted March 28, 2012 Posted March 28, 2012 I think you hit the nail on the head... the LP Custom has the ebony board, block inlays and gold hardware multi-ply binding front and back, the Standards came with Rosewood, trap inlay and nickel or chrome hardware. Since the 157 = custom and 150 = Standard in terms of appointments, they were just continuing the "Heritage". That's not to say you can't order whatever you want. They'll put an ebony on a 150 if you order it that way, and nickel or chrome hardware on a 157. I like the feel of Ebony, but then my favorite 535 had rosewoood. What's that tell you? (that I should have a 555?) At the end of the day, are you really feeling the board material? If you were a blind player, could you really tell the difference when somebody handed you a maple boarded guitar then a rosewood then an ebony? I seriously question that "perception" that a player can tell the "feel" of the board. Soundwise, is another story.
Blunote Posted March 29, 2012 Posted March 29, 2012 At the end of the day, are you really feeling the board material? If you were a blind player, could you really tell the difference when somebody handed you a maple boarded guitar then a rosewood then an ebony? I seriously question that "perception" that a player can tell the "feel" of the board. Soundwise, is another story. You bet you can feel the difference. My ebony board is smooth and glassy. The Rosewood has more texture due to variations in grain. The maple is very smooth, but strings don't slide as easy against it on bends as ebony. I like the ebony best.
Trouble Posted March 29, 2012 Posted March 29, 2012 You bet you can feel the difference. My ebony board is smooth and glassy. The Rosewood has more texture due to variations in grain. The maple is very smooth, but strings don't slide as easy against it on bends as ebony. I like the ebony best. I agree, ebony is super slick. I've always thought that rosewood had a warmer more forgiving sound though. I think Ebony might hold up better than rosewood too. I have 2 older acoustics with about the same play time on each, and the rosewood board is showing much more wear than the ebony.
golferwave Posted March 29, 2012 Posted March 29, 2012 I ordered a 150 with an ebony board - no problem. Don't like gold hardware? I ordered a burst 157 with nickel hardware. That's the beauty of Heritage.
bolero Posted March 29, 2012 Posted March 29, 2012 ebony is very hard wood, vs rosewood...a luthier friend told me an ebony fretboard will bend the whole neck if it decides to twist I wonder if wood density is where the tone starts? I'm also glad they mix it up a bit, to give the 157 a different flavour...although this one has a full mahogony body as well as the ebony fretboard
Teeky Posted March 29, 2012 Posted March 29, 2012 Interesting fact that the ebony board could bend the neck if it twisted. Do H normally install a 5 piece neck with ebony board to minimise any tendency to bend?
TalismanRich Posted March 29, 2012 Posted March 29, 2012 H157s have 1 piece mahogany necks with ebony boards. I think that the multipiece necks tend to be on the archtops like the Eagles.
Guest HRB853370 Posted March 29, 2012 Posted March 29, 2012 You bet you can feel the difference. My ebony board is smooth and glassy. The Rosewood has more texture due to variations in grain. The maple is very smooth, but strings don't slide as easy against it on bends as ebony. I like the ebony best. OK, you will be the first contestant for the blindfold test at PSPV! If you guess corrrectly, you can pick anything out of Brent's collection to take home!
heritagefan7 Posted March 29, 2012 Author Posted March 29, 2012 I don't know why---there's just something abt a black ebony board on a white or ssb git--or for that matter a vsb as well tht just seems to ring for me--totally personal preference...color, feel, durability---BUT, my strat has a rosewood board and I love it---again, it's awesome to have so many great choices!
Gitfiddler Posted March 29, 2012 Posted March 29, 2012 I like the suggestion of a blindfold test to determine one's favorite fretboard material. My personal favorite on jazz gits is ebony for its density, smooth texture and elegant looks. However, I cannot tell the difference between ebony and other fretboard woods like So. American pau ferro (Brazilian Ironwood), and most hardrock maple fretboards. They ALL feel the same to my hands. High grade Rosewood also feels slick, but has a subtle warmth to its tone...to me. And on another topic... This is my all time favorite 157 Black Beauty!!!!!!!!
DetroitBlues Posted March 29, 2012 Posted March 29, 2012 Nice pic DB. How do you get just the amp and guitar to be in color and the rest b&w? Sorry about the hijack Ask KBP. He's the photo wizard on my guitars...
michaeljames Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 for me ~ and i've done a few ~ ebony is my favorite. next in line is maple ~ and after that, rosewood. but thats just me. i like the slick non-stick fast feel of a nice ebony board ~ and they seem to me to be more 'slappy bright' than the others...
bolero Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 Thx gitfiddler! Unfortunately that's the only decent pic I have; when the GF gets back I plan on doing a proper introduction, my camera sucks
DetroitBlues Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 You bet you can feel the difference. My ebony board is smooth and glassy. The Rosewood has more texture due to variations in grain. The maple is very smooth, but strings don't slide as easy against it on bends as ebony. I like the ebony best. I'd have to agree with you. Ebony feels almost like maple, being really tight grained and smooth. But it has some of the "woody" tone I hear in Rosewood. However, it seems when I use a rosewood fretboard, it slows down my speed, almost like my fingers stick to it. Its hard to explain, but maple and ebony seem to be much faster for me...
Blunote Posted March 30, 2012 Posted March 30, 2012 OK, you will be the first contestant for the blindfold test at PSPV! If you guess corrrectly, you can pick anything out of Brent's collection to take home! I'll freely admit I couldn't tell whether or not they sound different. I just like the feel and playability. That said, I'd be happy to pick something out of Brent's collection to take home. Is Brent ok with this?
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