Why doesn't the FMT's match either side?

[Robert Burns]

Mainly because it's too frikkin expensive top have a single piece of flamed wood as the complete carved top. In the case of a "seemless" flamed top its usualy the case of a veneer overlay on top of a maple cap. Altho the whole top will be maple only the top 1/8in or so will be flamed. If ya pull the pups out and look at the cavity edge you can see the differance in the grain or even the edge of the flamed veneer. ( if its not painted over that is) Sometimes you still can. I've never seen a single piece flamed maple cap on a PRS. Im not saying they dont exsist. Just i've never seen one and i work at a dealer for over 6 years. If there is such a beast its probably a Private Stock and those are upwards of 10-20k and higher.
Gil

One at Bizarre Guitar in Phx, AZ $3200 natural blond with birds
and 10 top, artist electronics. One complete piece, no "line'!
Quilt And so my Brother in Laws Private Stock Tigers eye for
$6300.00 was a deal ? Booya!

[Chrisb]

It is highly unlikey that you can cut and thickness sand a top like that and have the rays match because of this. The only time you see a "perfect" match normally, is when the manufacturer cheats and uses a thin bookmatched veneer top. Modern "true" veneers are not cut on a saw at all. There is no wood wasted in the cutting process. They use a specialized machine that swings the log over a large "razor blade" that has no kerf.

The bookmatch on my custom is about as near perfect as I ever saw and not only is it a 3/4" slab top. Its a carved top to boot. You can clearly see a seam but its lined up to perfection.

What you said about color stains is so true. Every other guitar I've had a carved top has been with a painted burst top. This guitar was stained (the hang tag says TGS) and it doesn't "move" at all. Its sorta disappointing because my other quilt top guitars really move like crazy in direct light. However the depth of the figure on my custom is so much more visible because of the staining process.

The other unique thing about my custom is that most figured headstocks that match the body are thin veneers. My custom the headcap is at least 1/8". I know because it has the natural binding effect that the body does (as I requested).

[Postal]

That's not exactly true. Think of the grain as the refracting portion of a bike reflector and the stain and finish like the coloring of the clear plastic over it. Sure you can change the color but the variance in wood density and reflectivity are pretty much pre-determined before the wood receives it's first coat of color.

The coatings only enhance what the wood is already doing.

If you take any figured wood, apply a coat of water or oil to it, you will see this come out temporarily.

Depends on a lot of things, but how it is finished can make it's appearence more or less significant. Although the grain orientation between the 2 halves is the common culprit of the light and dark mirrored sides, it's appearance can be changed simply by the angle of light when viewed as well.

Not arguing with ya at all about that stuff!

However, Naptha or mineral spirits are far safer to wipe on a wood to view the figure, as it will not raise the grain in the process. It shows for a much smaller amount of time though because they evaporate so quickly.

[mattsmusiccenter]

Interesting thread... great descriptions of bookmatched tops!

[xenophobe]

It may not be a book match, but it is two pieces.
Nice seem in the middle there.

Actually that is bookmatched... And a very sweet bass!

[toejam]

Yeah, you can definitely see the seam in the middle. And I believe it is also bookmatched.

[rjohnstone]

Here is some Carvin Koa for you... Carvin dont need no stinkin' bookmatch!

It may not be a book match, but it is two pieces.
Nice seem in the middle there.

[xenophobe]

Correct- but it can also be affected (usually for the better) with the specific finishing technique used. Some finishes even out the variation, others enhance it.

Think of the difference applying a color stain directly to the wood vs a colored finish on top of a sealed guitar.

Direct stain on wood will help even the difference between both halves, but wil also lock in the refractive traits of the flame grain- the lines will not appear to "move" when shifted in the light.

That's not exactly true. Think of the grain as the refracting portion of a bike reflector and the stain and finish like the coloring of the clear plastic over it. Sure you can change the color but the variance in wood density and reflectivity are pretty much pre-determined before the wood receives it's first coat of color.

The coatings only enhance what the wood is already doing.

If you take any figured wood, apply a coat of water or oil to it, you will see this come out temporarily.

[ken]

Here's a photo of your guitar's quilt cousin, my CSB slatqh. The photo was taken with a flash to highlight the book matching. The slab 3/4" thick on slatqhs.



Here's a photo in more normal light.

I thought that it was called a Quilt top when its cut to a larger piece. But when I googled up some pics, there seems to be some "book-matching" in a quilt top too. that brings up another question. What's the difference b/n a quilt top and a flamed top? why is there a difference in appearance of the grains?

If you use google to look for "tonewood quilt maple", you'll find all you want to know. For example:

http://www.bothner.co.za/articles/bodywoods.shtml

[emperor_black]

But why not just cut a larger piece? Ive seen a few PRS that are tiger
striped in one full piece...no "bookmatching". Why cut them in half in
the first place? I know its rare...as only about 1 in 30 PRS's have no
middle line in the top. Maybe its a necessary evil ?

I thought that it was called a Quilt top when its cut to a larger piece. But when I googled up some pics, there seems to be some "book-matching" in a quilt top too. that brings up another question. What's the difference b/n a quilt top and a flamed top? why is there a difference in appearance of the grains?

[JACKSONFREAK]

But why not just cut a larger piece? Ive seen a few PRS that are tiger
striped in one full piece...no "bookmatching". Why cut them in half in
the first place? I know its rare...as only about 1 in 30 PRS's have no
middle line in the top. Maybe its a necessary evil ?

Mainly because it's too frikkin expensive top have a single piece of flamed wood as the complete carved top. In the case of a "seemless" flamed top its usualy the case of a veneer overlay on top of a maple cap. Altho the whole top will be maple only the top 1/8in or so will be flamed. If ya pull the pups out and look at the cavity edge you can see the differance in the grain or even the edge of the flamed veneer. ( if its not painted over that is) Sometimes you still can. I've never seen a single piece flamed maple cap on a PRS. Im not saying they dont exsist. Just i've never seen one and i work at a dealer for over 6 years. If there is such a beast its probably a Private Stock and those are upwards of 10-20k and higher.
Gil

[Robert Burns]

Here is some Carvin Koa for you... Carvin dont need no stinkin' bookmatch!

[Robert Burns]

I did wonder if the Carvin DC400 was a Veneer top, heavy black edging like that is a technique used to hide Veneer edges sometimes, I'm not a big Carvin guy though so I'm not sure about it!

Carvins are... usually an 1/8" cap over the body wood. My Claro Walnut
is...the body is walnut..but the top is a figured select piece put on
over the bland small grain body wood.

[Robert Burns]

Simply pput. When the flame top is cut it's cut half the size of the guitar. Then it's sliced in half and what results is the posative of the grain on one side and the negative on the other side. The lines do line up but your seeing two views of the same section of grain.
Gil

But why not just cut a larger piece? Ive seen a few PRS that are tiger
striped in one full piece...no "bookmatching". Why cut them in half in
the first place? I know its rare...as only about 1 in 30 PRS's have no
middle line in the top. Maybe its a necessary evil ?

[Postal]

Those lines do match up.... The reflectivity of the grain is that when one side is reflecting the other doesn't and it's exactly the opposite on the bookmatched half...

So each "light" stripe will match up with the exact corresponding "dark" stripe on the other half of the bookmatch.

The "light" and "dark" stripes are subjective to what direction the lighting is coming from and what direction you are looking at it.

Correct- but it can also be affected (usually for the better) with the specific finishing technique used. Some finishes even out the variation, others enhance it.

Think of the difference applying a color stain directly to the wood vs a colored finish on top of a sealed guitar.

Direct stain on wood will help even the difference between both halves, but wil also lock in the refractive traits of the flame grain- the lines will not appear to "move" when shifted in the light.

Sprayed color finish on top of a sealed wood will also help tone down the differences in the halves but will not lock the grain, and it still has refractive properties, but will not pop the grain like oil or direct stain...

Oils will enhance the grain far more than the sprayed finish but will also enhance any difference in brightness or color between the two halves.

In the end, just remember that we're talking about wood. A naturally occurring organic substance with near endless variety. You cant expect each piece to look identical to the last.