NGD: very old Sweet 16

[Keith7940236]

Really cool piece of Heritage history, congratulations!

[MartyGrass]

Here are some pix after cleaning it up. Notice the aging changes on the finish with the bridge removed.

 

 

 

[Vanschoyck]

Cleans up real nice. I wish I could hear it. (I wish I could play it!)

[hinesarchtop]

According to Jim Deurloo, the figuring you see in sections of the spruce will have a similar effect on the tone as hazelficht. It'll be brighter than most spruce. Jim says it's a result of the age of the tree . . with figured spruce being older and containing a higher concentration of a more dense cellulose.

 

 

All spruce will have this figure if the vertical grain is revealed in the carve on an archtop. They are Medullary rays which are vessels in the cellular structure. The older pieces usually have a higher concentration since they are bigger and require more action from these vessels. The reason Spruce with Bear claw or high Ray content is brighter is because it's naturally stiffer. The brightness can be altered if the builder realizes the stiffness and carves and braces accordingly. Your top exhibits beautiful silky rays. The reason it's more pronounced on certain areas of your top are because when carved, the arching followed the vertical grain and these rays reveal them selves in a more pronounced fashion when they are perpendicular to the vertical, or quartered grain. Your recurve area must be very vertical. It's just gorgeous.

 

 

[hinesarchtop]

Here is a pic showing how the carved arching can follow the vertical grain. I drew a simulated profile of an arch on the end grain of this piece to demonstrate. As the grain goes from vertical(quartered) to slightly skewed (rift) it naturally lends itself to reveal rays. This would be a view of half of a carved top.

[MartyGrass]

Makes sense.

[2bornot2bop]

U do a nice clean up Mark. Did you use Virtuoso Premium cleaner?

 

U've been on a 16 tear of late...along with ev'thing else

[DC Ron]

Just keeps getting better. That's really REALLY nice!

[MartyGrass]

U do a nice clean up Mark. Did you use Virtuoso Premium cleaner?

 

U've been on a 16 tear of late...along with ev'thing else

I did use Virtuoso.

[2bornot2bop]

I did use Virtuoso.

smart man...I swear by the stuff. the cleaner's so good, and leaves such a shine that I rarely even follow up with their premium polish

[schundog]

You have been a busy man, Mark! Man, that thing is gorgeous. I'm glad so many of these time pieces are making their way back "home" to Kalamazoo.