Harmut, my comment on water damage wasn't based on the color, but rather on the open condition of the grain - when oak gets wet, the grain spreads. As to use of oak in guitars, I've never heard of it for a neck - I can't give you a reason (Mica?), but that just doesn't feel like it would work. I've seen at least 1 or 2 Alembics on here with oak cores - would an owner like to give us a report on that? And a few years back Washburn brought out a limited edition of accoustic guitars made from the oak pews they took out when they remodeled the Ryman Auditorium - haven't come across one in person, so I don't know how successful they are as instruments, but I figure they've got to have some serious mojo.
Peter
