We've all heard differences between different guitars, but in

my experience, which includes building many necks and fretboards from

a variety of woods, and trying them on the same guitars, I think Maple

is widely overstated in the 'bright dept'.

It sounds 'good', but in a neck, fretboard or center-section of a

body, it has a pretty neutral tone, much softer/warmer than other woods

that are that dense and heavy...try your Brazilian Ironwood,etc.

Those woods are BRIGHT sounding.

I like to use heavier center-sections in my Tele bodies to add more

Mass in that part of the guitar, and I use Maple precisely because it

doesn't make the body much brighter.And while I have Teles with solid

rosewood necks, and/or Ebony fretboards, I think that most guys are

hearing small differences in individual guitar's tones that are only partly due to the fretboard

material. You can change to a rosewood fretboard on most 'bright'

guitars without much change in the tone,if everything else is

identical, fret size, set-up, etc....

You can find more confirmation of the lack-o-brightness of hard maple

from Ralph Novak/Novax Guitar-Guru, and other makers.