Woods

[Glynn]

Is there a difference between Spalted Maple and Spalted Beech?  I have seen a picture of a SC described as Spalted Maple but a photo of the certificate says Spalted Beech!  A lovely bass but is Beech as good as Maple? - Beech is not mentioned in "woods" section on Alembic website  but Maple is.
Glynn

[mica]

Lots of people assume that any light colored wood with spalting on guitars is Maple, and it's not too crazy to do so since most of it is - heck, I've done it before myself! We've used lots of woods that aren't specifically mentioned on our "regulars" list.  Beech is a different tree from Maple, but as a top wood, and a spalted on at that, I wouldn't think there would be much if any tone difference.

I know what bass you're looking at - it's one of my favorites! I think everything about that build looks just perfect to my taste.

[Glynn]

Thanks Mica, just what I needed to know.
Glynn

[cozmik_cowboy]

I know what bass you're looking at - it's one of my favorites! I think everything about that build looks just perfect to my taste.

C'mon, Mica, don't leave us hanging like that - throw us a link!  (Please?)

Peter

[jwright9]

I know what bass you're looking at - it's one of my favorites! I think everything about that build looks just perfect to my taste.

C'mon, Mica, don't leave us hanging like that - throw us a link!  (Please?)

Peter

I know, right!

[keith_h]

I expect spalted and other fungal woods would be very similar in regards to their effect on the tone. I would expect all of them to be somewhat  dead woods until they are hardened and after hardening about the same tonally. I'm a fan fungus effected woods as nature can make some great  patterns and colors with no two being alike.   

[mica]

C'mon, Mica, don't leave us hanging like that - throw us a link!  (Please?)

I thought you guys already saw this one before... didn't mean to be a tease!

[pauldo]

C'mon, Mica, don't leave us hanging like that - throw us a link!  (Please?)

I thought you guys already saw this one before... didn't mean to be a tease!

In all seriousness that is an excellent example of how appealing the backside of these instruments can be... just beauty, pure unadulterated beauty.

And tagging onto Keith’s statement, the connection of fungus and wood (trees) is immensely vast, deep and profound.  It should be recognized with reverence. 

[cozmik_cowboy]

C'mon, Mica, don't leave us hanging like that - throw us a link!  (Please?)

I thought you guys already saw this one before... didn't mean to be a tease!

Oh, my my!  That's just purdier'n a little black pig!

Peter

[edwardofhuncote]

*[from accidental post in Swap Shop thread]

This great beech tree is right outside my office. It's a couple feet through the trunk, and I've often imagined what the lumber yield would be when it finally has to come down. It's hung on for a very long time, but this tree is not well. Some larger branches have already had to be cut off where they broke and fell. Beech tends to grow near water... just to the left of the picture is a huge underground spring that flows around 5 million gallons a day.

[keith_h]

Beech trees are one of my favorites. The property behind us goes into bottom land and has a lot of beech trees of various age. My favorite part is they keep their leaves in the winter and on a cold cloudy day the dry leaves shine like gold chasing away grey.