Is this spalting

[AniML]

Are the linear "imperfections" spalting, or something else? And are they desirable when grading a top?

thanks

 

[solspirit]

Are the linear "imperfections" spalting, or something else? And are they desirable when grading a top?

thanks

I really don't think so, it looks like the normal striations of the grain.
it looks good to me, but I'm not a guitar grader.

 

[larryguitar]

Not a great pic, but I'd say mineral streaks.

Larry

 

[solspirit]

Not a great pic, but I'd say mineral streaks.

Larry

As in, filler, leveler, sizer, whatever, or Calcium oxalate?

 

[Mincer]

I don't think that is necessarily a desired look. Actually, the flame matching is not very good either.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Definitely not spalting

 

[JMP/HBE]

Spalting means "rotten". Spalting is rotted wood.

 

[Chris Pile]

Spalting means "rotten". Spalting is rotted wood.

Actually, it's MILDEW. And yes, it can get rotten in certain cases.

Spalting - Wikipedia​

 

[GuitarDoc]

Initially, the fungi that causes spalting produces a "staining" affect, which eventually causes a rotting of the wood.
You can get spalted wood that looks beautiful and has only minimal degradation of its strength.

 

[Chris Pile]

Back in the 80's when builders started using it I was like, "What's the big deal?", but the appeal finally grew on me.

 

[Mincer]

The severely spalted woods I've seen (Kiesel, etc) looks like diseases under a microscope to me.

 

[larryguitar]

As in, filler, leveler, sizer, whatever, or Calcium oxalate?

It's from the tree absorbing and incorporating various minerals into its structure.

I personally love them when they're pronounced, especially in plain maple.

Larry

 

[beaubrummels]

I don't think that is necessarily a desired look. Actually, the flame matching is not very good either.

FWIW some of the most sought after Les Pauls in the world had poorly matched flame, and/or mismatched grain, and/or spots and streaks in the wood.

Bernie Marsden's "The Beast"

Mike Bloomfield's Les Paul

Jimmy Page's "Number One"

 

[solspirit]

.... . . Is this spalt that Im seeing?
is this the spalt that Ive been searching for?
Is this spalt, or am I dreaming?
this must be spalt
'cause it's really got a hold on me.

 

[Mincer]

FWIW some of the most sought after Les Pauls in the world had poorly matched flame, and/or mismatched grain, and/or spots and streaks in the wood.

Still not my thing, no matter what others value.

 

[solspirit]

Still not my thing, no matter what others value.

Stick in the mud,:28: spalt hater. . .

 

[Mincer]

Stick in the mud,:28: spalt hater. . .

Actually, I've seen it done well on some Brian Moores in the 2000s. But I was talking more about the mis-matched flamed tops.

 

[marcello252]

this is spalt

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Back in the 80's when builders started using it I was like, "What's the big deal?", but the appeal finally grew on me.

...like mold? :scratchch

I like the look of spalting but it isn't something I've sought out.
Mineral streaks in curly maple are something I love.
Some modern flame maple tops are so symmetrical and deep that they look almost unnatural.
Mineral streaks add a nice organic touch to the look - perfectly imperfect.
A reminder that the wood was alive once.

I used to have a cherryburst Les Paul Kalamazoo that looked a bit like the picture in the OP.
Slight flame, and a little mineral streaking.
I sold it to a former bandmate with the agreement that if he ever decided to sell it, I'd have first dibs.
When we got back in touch a few years later I asked him about it. "Oh, I sold that a while back. made a tidy profit on it." :angryfire