Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey guys,

For you who are expecting a delivery of Shanes' Lutz and have not used it before - check this out.
This is a shot of my current build - just for fun I thought I might give the top a little wash of Amber Aniline dye....
I could not believe my eyes when I saw this insane figure pop out:

Just curious. Did you R.O. sand that for final prep. What grit did you conclude with.

I sometimes see that figure and it seems to only happen when I random orbit sand in higher grits. If I hand sand it doesn't occur (that I have noticed)

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

What Brock said and I only see it when I use a ROS and 220 grit too. No worries it holds paint great....

Seriously it's pretty cool and yet another reason why Lutz is killer wood!

Wow, is blowing my mind clear over here in Idaho. That is some nice wood.

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Always remember you are unique......just like everyone else.

It normally appears on all perfectly quartered, sanded spruce. I get it when I hand sand with high grits such as 600. When planed, the wood is cut flat regardless of its density and you don't get the effect.

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Build log

Shane's Lutz rocks. I am always totally blown away by how pretty and stable it is. and it is SO easy towork with.

Mike

Hey Brock,

No, I do not use the RO for finish sanding the top, mostly scraper to remove glue from the binding install and final block sand with 600....

RM

I have a Sitka-topped guitar in progress which shows almost exactly the same thing - nice, but it's not peculiar to Lutz.

Cheers
Pete

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Cheers
Pete

Yeah, it tends to show up when you sand with 600+ paper.

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Gwaltney Guitars

Hi Robbie,

I have gotten this with Englemann Spruce. I have also seen it on some fine guitars made by Robert Ruck.

Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Alexandru is right, most spruces and cedars will show silk characteristics when perfectly quartered. The exception is red spruce which, while occasionally showing some will not display it as well as Engelmann or Italian, Sitka and German.
Frankly, I prefer the look of a lot of compression grain. It's so old timey...

I'm building one now with a Sitka top that has grain like that. Pretty cool top.

Aren't these the medullary rays in he top?

They have a different look than most tops I have. Looks heavier and "wilder" looking to me. When I first saw it on the top I'm working on, I wasn't sure I like it as much as the more even rays accross the board that I usually see. But it's grown on me and now I like it quite well.