Spalted Maple

Spalted Maple (Western Big Leaf)

Spalt is term that refers to deteriorating or molding wood. But mold and deterioration are only part of what creates the beautiful colors of spalted wood. This wood has to be found at just the proper time in an initial decomposing state to be usable in guitar

manufacturing. If it is too old it becomes too spongy, balsa like. While if it is too young it will not be fully colored and the inking will be light or non existent. The black inking lines are the result of a special mushroom seen here, which starts its growth inside the tree, usually in the stump area, and spreads its black inking throughout the tree separating one color from the next. (see photos) Properly processed spalted maple can be used without any Quilt or Fiddle Back designs but is far more sought after when it is highly figured. This wood has exotic colored islands of beige, grey, white, brown and red, with dancing black lines of inking that separate the islands of color. The greatest artist on earth couldn’t duplicate the intricate designs found in spalted maple. Most builders won't even build using spalted wood as it is very difficult to work with. Some of the grain will be soft as balsa wood and other islands will be hard as ebony, Sanding it is a bear! But buyers and admirers of great designs love these works of art.

When building spalted guitars and basses other tone woods must be sandwiched into the building process for full tonal range. bookmatch-top-2