End Graft: Flowing lines or Bookmatched

[awchiu]

(updated with completed end graft, 2021-03-03)

With my current MadRose/German build with Bruce Sexauer, we ended up with an unconventional end graft such that the lines flow into each other.
It looks more like one continuous piece of wood, and I love it.

Of course, if the lines were horizontal and straight, then it doesn't matter.

For this particular piece of wood, would you prefer it with flowing lines (as in the photo), or the standard bookmatched end graft in which the lines would form a V-shape at the butt?

[colins]

Flowing lines for three reasons:

• It looks cool!
• For the simple action of being different, which characterises some of the fun of having a custom build.
• Because it makes you, Andrew, happy.

[Richard Mott]

Wonderful grain and color on that MadRose! Looks well-quartered. Can’t go wrong with the end-graft.

[ruby50]

If the joint were a little better I would say leave it without the decorative end graft. I think it's great

Ed M

[ChuckS]

I visually noticed it, before I read about it, when Bruce posted it in his build thread. I had assumed it was intentional, as it looked very nice with the grain in this set of sides. I’m glad you liked it and decided to keep it as originally built.

[awchiu]

Originally Posted by colins

Flowing lines for three reasons

• It looks cool!
• For the simple action of being different, which characterises some of the fun of having a custom build.
• Because it makes you, Andrew, happy.

It definitely gives it a unique character and makes the guitar's story more special!

[awchiu]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

I visually noticed it, before I read about it, when Bruce posted it his build thread. I had assumed it was intentional, as it looked very nice with the grain in this set of sides. I’m glad you liked it and decided to keep it as originally built.

It was cut this way accidentally. I was shown a demo of the graft below. At the time, the lines and colors didn't match up so well.



Bruce offered to abandon these sides and start anew with another set. But I really didn't want to waste a precious piece of MadRose and I do like flowing lines idea, so I insisted to continue. After the sides are installed and touched up, I was stunned by how well the lines and colors matched up! So at the end, I'm rewarded with a beautiful end graft and a nice story to tell =)

[Guitars44me]

I like it a lot, and said so in the build thread as well. Very interesting look, and certainly gives your Guitar a nice story...

Bruce sure matched it well!!!

Have fun!

Paul

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by awchiu

It was cut this way accidentally. I was shown a demo of the graft below. At the time, the lines and colors didn't match up so well.



Bruce offered to abandon these sides and start anew with another set. But I really didn't want to waste a precious piece of MadRose and I do like flowing lines idea, so I insisted to continue. After the sides are installed and touched up, I was stunned by how well the lines and colors matched up! So at the end, I'm rewarded with a beautiful end graft and a nice story to tell =)

I have to admit to a little confusion here. I too like the choice of leaving it and actually like it a lot this way, but when you say "I'm rewarded with a beautiful end graft" I get confused. There is no end graft as it is right now the way I understand it, the end graft would be another piece of wood inlayed over the joint where the sides meet there in any shape imaginable and usually bound with the same purfling as the center strip on the back.

So are you trying to say you are leaving it as is with no additional graft? Sorry for my confusion.

[awchiu]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

I have to admit to a little confusion here. I too like the choice of leaving it and actually like it a lot this way, but when you say "I'm rewarded with a beautiful end graft" I get confused. There is no end graft as it is right now the way I understand it, the end graft would be another piece of wood inlayed over the joint where the sides meet there in any shape imaginable and usually bound with the same purfling as the center strip on the back.

So are you trying to say you are leaving it as is with no additional graft? Sorry for my confusion.

Sorry about this, it is me who is confused. I'm new to custom guitars and haven't learned the proper terminology. I used "end graft" incorrectly to mean just the butt end of the guitar. Thanks for your clarification.

[SprintBob]

Originally Posted by awchiu

With my current MadRose/German build with Bruce Sexauer, we ended up with an unconventional end graft such that the lines flow into each other.
It looks more like one continuous piece of wood, and I love it.

Of course, if the lines were horizontal and straight, then it doesn't matter.

For this particular piece of wood, would you prefer it with flowing lines (as in the photo), or the standard bookmatched end graft in which the lines would form a V-shape at the butt?

I’ll be interested to see what Bruce does with the end seam as my guess is he is going to try to blend or minimize it to maintain the flowing aesthetic. Looking forward to seeing the final finish. I think bookmatched works better if you have a more distinctive end graft or larger end graft.

But of course...............YMMV

[Bruce Sexauer]

If I had known earlier that I was going to make this creative foray into the unexpected, I might have butted the sides perpendicular to the grain lines, moving he center seams of the plates over respectively to line up with the angled meeting, and put a relatively typical graft in at that angle. Fortunately, most likely, that didn't happen. Instead, I plan to treat the graft in my normal way and contain the creative foray as conservatively as possible.

[Bruce Sexauer]

For those of you who don't follow my nearby thread, here is Andrew's guitar with the end graft in:

.jpg

[Scallywag]

That looks awesome. A happy mistake IMO

[Godfather]

Very nice. I love the uniqueness of this.