#1
|
|||
|
|||
Wood experts: Opinions requested please
I just picked up this Taylor Custom GA in Cocobolo and Torrefied Sitka (NGD to follow). Anyway, it has unusual coloration inside the sound hole compared to the back. I’m familiar with sapwood but that is the same color on both sides. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say it’s spalted and pale grey inside? The color on the back matches throughout as do the ink lines inside and out. Any opinions are welcome as I don’t think I’ve seen this before?
IMG_0144.jpg IMG_0146.jpg |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Look's like they sprayed the entire back a singular color with a dark burst out the sides, covering up the sapwood.
|
#3
|
|||
|
|||
^^^^
I agree
__________________
Avian Skylark Pono 0000-30 Gardiner Parlor Kremona Kiano Ramsay Hauser Cordoba C10 Chris Walsh Archtop Gardiner Concert Taylor Leo Kottke Gretsch 6120 Pavan TP30 Aria A19c Hsienmo MJ Ukuleles: Cocobolo 5 string Tenor Kanilea K3 Koa Kanilea K1 Walnut Tenor Kala Super Tenor Rebel Super Concert Nehemiah Covey Tenor Mainland Mahogany Tenor Mainland Cedar/Rosewood Tenor |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
They took an ugly piece of wood and made it beautiful.
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Interesting to think they matched the back tint. The ink lines in the center section threw me as I don't recall seeing them in sapwood, that is why I thought it might be spalted?
|
#6
|
|||
|
|||
In my past profession I worked a lot with Spalted woods.
Spalting usually occurs in trees that are fallen and resting on the ground. If the surrounding considitions are just right between moisture, soil content, and possibly tanic acids of leaves--- a Fungi will start inside the rotting wood. This Fungi causes the beautiful black ink lines and other discolorations of the wood. Spalting most commonly occurs in wood with a low or medium density. While Cocobolo is a high density-specific gravity wood...the sapwood is almost always quite a bit less. It is very hard to see from the photograph of inside the guitar. But if that wood is a Cream-greyish color then I would most definitely agree with your suspicions. However, this does not mean that for sure they used a colorant to darken the back. Spalted woods almost always become less dense and are much, much more porus. If the spalt was of greyish to dark cream nature...then it is also possible that the sap wood will turn to a darkish brown when the finish was added. As the finish might seep into the spalted area more. I have seen this with Some Walnuts. The Sapwood was not even spalted and yet it turned to nearly the same shade as the Walnut when finished.But yes, it is possible that with your spalted sapwood on this cocobolo that that it just naturally turned to near same color with the addition of the finish. in my past profession we would stabilize the spalted woods by putting them inside a drum with 3000 lbs of foot pressure and injecting monomers and polymers into the wood cells. Basically, plasticizing the wood for added strength. All I would be concerned about is the Tone. Actually the combination of the less dense wood with the higher density of the heartwood might give you an added benefit tonewise. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Wow, awesome information! I’ve most often seen spalted wood in maple, used as a rosette or decorative feature. I’m very pleased with the tone of the guitar as I’ve liked all the Cocobolo Taylor’s I’ve run across. Yes, it is a grayish cream color defined by the ink lines that pinch in. The rest of inside is dark.
|