Grading figuring?

[BloodRose]

I know that grading figuring of tops on guitars is based on the detail of the figuring, but can someone tell me what to actually look for?
The reason I ask is that Ive seen some really bland figuring that is rated as four or five A and some great stuff not so high.

What REALLY cracks me up is seeing ebay listings where some yahoo has a photo flame guitar and lists it as AAAAAAAA Flame!! Like with 7 or 8 As.

Thanks

 

[Curly]

Re: Grading figuring?

here is an article about this from Luthiers' Mercantile ... it's likely a bit different from the way electric makers grade tops, but it might be of interest nonetheless:

Grading

 

[RealtyViking]

Re: Grading figuring?

I always thought AAA was the highest rating.

 

[Fikealox]

Re: Grading figuring?

As far as I know, there's no standard at all. It varies from luthier to luthier and company to company, and probably varies according to how good the wood they can get is.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Grading figuring?

It's all a marketing ploy by the Illuminati designed to suck the marrow out of middle class lives. There is in fact no figured maple left in the world.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Grading figuring?

So, we've been duped into believing that there is some kinda pretty grain pattern in our guitars. It's a trick. Tampering with the mind. Mass hysteria. Mob rule. Soon we'll be eating each others flesh and burning our guitars.

Help. Get me outa here.