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Does anyone know if it would be better to install a skunk stripe with the face grain facing up, or the side grain facing up?
Thanks

It is best to use a piece of wood whose grain starts straight, runs sideways about halfway and then goes upwards at the end. Also it can only be made of brazillian rosewood. If you don't have any you can use ivory, but the tone will be 53% duller.




In other words, doesn't matter.

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Gianluca,
I know what you mean about the "skunk stripe", but I am not sure how you mean to use it on your instrument. I'm guessing you mean joining with the stripe on your guitar back. Is that correct? Also, please explain what type of wood you are using. This effect could be achieved with lots of wood species (Years ago, I made a black cherry cabinet with white wood stripes running through the door panels because I liked the look), but as Mark previously implied, it can look fabulous on a rosewood guitar. To answer more directly, I think I'd try to orient my stock on backs or sides so that I came as close to "vertical" grain as possible, through the greatest length of the board possible.
Patrick.

When someone says "skunk stripe", I think of the strip of wood used as a filler on the back of a fender type neck after installing a truss rod. Assuming that is what you are referring to, I would choose one whose grain runs the same way the neck grain does. MHO.

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Mike

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