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Spruce grain discoloration?
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=14295		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  zara1900 [ Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Hello:

To begin, thank you all for taking time to assist me with this.

I would like some opinions.

I ama classical/Flamenco player having received a newly made instrument. Spruce top/Cypress back&sides.

About 1" in following the bridge from the low "E" side a discoloration/line following the grain is visible and runs about 3/16" in length.

It follows a grain line precisely.

A flashlight within reflects no light escaping and therefore of some reassurance that it was handled beforehand and not something that occured after it left the luthier.

So, I contacted the luthier with my enquiry. Here is his reply:

" The color line is part of the wood. Some of the good wood comes with those lines. Some are just different coloration, others are mineral contents. In any case, they are part of the wood and do not change the sound. If any, they could improve it. I do the best to make the color line to match the top (behind the fretboard), or behind the bridge. This one could not be covered completely. "


I am attempting to attach an image.
I am not certain if the spruce is Adirondack or not. I intend to ask.

He is a rather well known luthier...online at least. And as a restorer of instruments and having related my bad past expereinces to him regarding another luthier instrument, I asked him specifically if there were any flaws to mention ....

At any rate, any thoughts from the experienced greatly appreciated.

Thank you all once again very much for your time.
Paul


Author:  DP LaPlante [ Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:01 am ]
Post subject: 

In no context whatsoever would those slight color variations be considered "flaws".


The pertinent questions are:


-Are you satisfied with the sound of the guitar?


-Is the playability good?


-Did the Luthier deliver what was agreed upon.


By choosing a Luthier you trust his or her judgement about the wood and other components that will go into the instrument and that they will add up to what has been agreed upon. 


This wood was, in the judgement of your luthier, the best and most appropriate for this particular guitar.


 
Author:  jfrench [ Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:01 am ]
Post subject: 
I wouldn't be worried about that. A slight grain discoloration is basically the last thing I would reject a soundboard for. It has nothing to do with its potential to make a fine guitar.

Looks like Engelmann spruce to me.

Author:  Don Williams [ Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:11 am ]
Post subject: 
You're playing with us, right?

No offense if you're a serious poster here, but something like that is hardly worth concerning one's self over, unless it were a pitch pocket, which it does not appear to be.
That's not a flaw....it's just a sap line that's a tad wide at one point. Nothing to be concerned with, and I'm sure the luthier in question wouldn't stake his good reputation on a piece of flawed wood. It's purely cosmetic, and what you have to be more concerned about is how well it plays and sounds.
In twenty years, we'll be fortunate to still be working with wood as *good* as that.
Author:  Dave Bamber [ Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:24 am ]
Post subject: 
Wow, took me about 5 minutes of looking to understand what you were talking about. I see it now, and I have to say, from a purely consumer perspective, if that was the only discoloration I saw in a guitar I had built I'd be pretty pleased.

What was more immediately obvious to me was that those strings really need changing

Love the look of that bridge btw
Author:  zara1900 [ Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:38 am ]
Post subject: 
Hello all:

Thanks for the welcome and directness in the replies. Means a lot.

I have ahad another recent bad expereince with a luthier regarding a lengthy crack (check) in the back.

Due to the location of this, and my lack of experience regarding coloration issues of Spruce, I had to ask.

I have doen what I can to reserach the issue without much luck and thought it best to contact professionals.

A "blemish" in no way is a concern to me. I simply understand the difficulties of wood and their imperfections and luthiers many times handle issues during construction of course that we are not supposed to be aware of, etc.

I simply wanted to ask due to its location and if it were indeed a hairline crack repair during construction or something to this effect, located at the bridge as it is, well, this would concern me. If it were located elsewhere, I would not be concerned at all.

The playability and sound is all I could ask for, and once again, a wood discoloration does not in the slightest concern me.

Yet however, once again, due to a rather recent past experience with my prior luthier made instrument, I had to inquire as I have become a bit paranoid.


Thank you all for your time and experience. BIG RELIEF!
Look forward to being part of the forum.

Kind regards.
Author:  Mike Collins [ Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:06 am ]
Post subject: 
Dave & Josh & everyone else is right!
Do not be alarmed by the looks of wood.
Unless there is a serious defect that would cause a crack or weakness !

It's not endgrain or crotchwood!

I've seen many of the old European guitars with a perfect 1/4 top with a sap line !
Looks have nothing to do with tone!!!
mike



Mike
www.collinsguitars.com
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