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#1
03-04-2021, 06:15 AM
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What is the dark stripe where the top is bookmatched?
One of my guitars has a dark stripe where the top is joined. I was wondering if this is normal and if it is, do most think it is aesthetically desirable or undesirable?
I guess it’s called center seam? https://ibb.co/8K7ZwFY Last edited by imc2111; 03-07-2021 at 09:02 PM. 
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#2
03-04-2021, 06:25 AM
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I don’t see a problem with it, I regard the striping as part of my Brook Lamorna’s personality. The white streak at 90-deg to the seam is just a reflection in the gloss lacquer, it’s not in the wood itself.
D17B75D2-F83C-4684-A067-212DA1FD76AE.jpg
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John Brook ‘Lamorna’ OM (European Spruce/EIR) (2019) Lowden F-23 (Red Cedar/Claro Walnut) (2017) Martin D-18 (2012) Martin HD-28V (2010) Fender Standard Strat (2017-MIM)
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#3
03-04-2021, 07:04 AM
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It looks like that little darkness is where some of the glue from the joint has absorbed into the grain of the wood. I think that is not only desirable but necessary. 'Tis a wood guitar, thou knowest.
Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website)
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#4
03-04-2021, 07:18 AM
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I’m not saying it is, because it’s not clear enough to determine. However, it could be th beginning of a seam separation. That’s a common occupancy, so much so that a luthier I met in NC, who builds guitars told me he includes cleats in all his new builds.
It isn’t damage, it doesn’t affect the tone, and is only cosmetic. It can affect resale in instances where it occurs.
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#5
03-04-2021, 08:10 AM
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The subtle dark line in the center of your top is just the color of the grain lines in the Spruce. This is perfectly normal. Some tops have a lot more dark grain lines in the wood. This does not affect the quality or sound of the guitar. Grain lines vary in width and color due to growth and weather during the year that grain line was formed. Look on the web at lots of guitars for sale, you will see many variations in the grain. Nothing to worry about. It's the look of real wood, not a printed piece of wall paper. Play your guitar and stop starring at it.
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#6
03-04-2021, 08:23 AM
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Not unseamly
It is not the beginning of seam separation. The wood — unless it is perfectly parallel with the surface — has a slight grain direction. When the top is bookmatched, that grain is now going in different directions, and reflecting light a bit differently. Any dark streaks were there to begin with and just repeat themselves on the opposite piece.
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#7
03-04-2021, 08:43 AM
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What is that dark stripe?? It’s Awesome, that’s what it is!! Those dark lines add character to a top, in my opinion!!
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Education is important! Guitar is importanter!! 2019 Bourgeois “Banjo Killer” Aged Tone Vintage Deluxe D 2018 Martin D41 Ambertone (2018 Reimagined) 2016 Taylor GS Mini Koa ES2
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#8
03-04-2021, 09:25 AM
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Quote:
Wood has distinctive patterns or it would be formica.
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Do your best, fake the rest
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#10
03-04-2021, 09:47 AM
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There are a number of possibilities for the top's visual variations around the center seam.
Tops are usually joined at the edge where growth lines are closer, and this is the sap wood section of the top; often there are a few inches along the center seam that look different due to this. Sometimes there is runout in wood's grain. This can cause each half to reflect light differently and show a dark half and a light half. Sometimes a narrow dark grain line just happens to be at the center seam. Sometimes a narrow dark line at the center seam may be oxidation that couldn't be removed before joining the plates because the top was just barely wide enough for the guitar being built. In the UMGF someone asked "If a light stripe is sapwood, what's going on with the dark stripe at the centerline?" John Arnold responded "It could still be sapwood that has soured during seasoning, or simple oxidation. In certain storage conditions, the edges of a sawn top can oxidize due to the way it is stacked, coupled with exposure to heat and/or light." If there is a dark line at the center seam, if you try to sell the guitar potential buyers will often ask about it because they think it might be a seam separation.
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Chuck 2012 Carruth 12-fret 000 in Pernambuco and Adi 2010 Poling Sierra in Cuban Mahogany and Lutz 2015 Posch 13-fret 00 in Indian Rosewood and Adi Last edited by ChuckS; 03-04-2021 at 11:52 AM.
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#13
03-04-2021, 12:03 PM
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Just adds character IMO. Looks good.
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Taylor 322,512ce 12 fret cedar/hog & 362ce Martin 00015SM Guild 1966 F20 Larrivee P03 sitka/hog,simple 6 OM & OM 09 Eastman E100ss-sb Gibson J185 & 2016 J35 Fender player plus telecaster & Mustang P90 Gretsch MIK 5622T
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#14
03-04-2021, 12:14 PM
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I don't know if softwoods have what is technically called "heartwood", but if you think about how the tree was quarter-sawn, the middle of the bookmatch will come from the center of the log. When a tree is younger, the rings will have less distance between them and create a darker appearance in some specimens.
There are other variables, of course, but this is certainly one explanation.
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