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I was cutting firewood today, and happened upon a local tree I wasn't familiar with. It turns out to be Bitter Cherry--very nice tap tone, but it never gets very big. I have it in mind for bridges. Identifying the wood led me to a site that suggested I could cultivate fiddleback, or quilted figure in my local Big Leaf Maples.http://westinstenv.org/itf/2009/03/13/chapter-4-the-best-hardwoods/ . This ran counter to everything I'd read before, so I searched some more. I couldn't find any confirmation, but I stumbled across this: http://www.aaes.auburn.edu/comm/pubs/bulletins/figureinwood/index.html very old, but very thorough, and I'm glad I found it. So...What does anyone here know about cultivating figure in Big Leaf Maple?

I know nothing about the subject in question, but I have to say that your
avatar pic is of the finest kind- did you see Fields in 'The Bank Dick'?
Priceless stuff, and thanks for the reminder.

Take off your hat in the presence of a gentleman. It ain't a fit night out for man nor beast.

This clip has useful instruction on tool sharpening, instrumental performance, and violin making:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CW1KBnVbYU

"Madam, I am drunk and you are ugly, but tomorrow I will be sober"

Jeff

If you want quilted figure in big leaf, you have to flatsaw it.

One of my mentors made Grandfather clocks, among other things. I remember him talking about this way back then, but I have never known anyone to actually do it. While it seems plausible at first, bending 40-60 foot tall maples that are 10-12inch in diameter back and forth would be a daunting task. And with no guarantee of the quality and consistency of the figure, could be a lot of labor and effort for nothing. Also they mention fast growth, which means wider grains, which to me means less suitable for musical instruments.

As a side note that same person I mentioned used to bend saplings around large coffee cans filled with cement in a complete loop, and cut them down in 10-15 years and make clock faces from the loops. Looked like a piece of wood grew in a circle when done, you could hardly spot the seam as the grains usually lined up that well. His backyard was a strange looking place. I've been thinking about doing one like that for rosettes.

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Very cool, Brian.