Scarcity of high-grade woods?

[Dead-Eye]

Basswood isn't purdy either. Is that getting rare too? Could you make say, Petrucci's out of Poplar if you had to or would that require JP's OK as well?

If JP has to agree to a new color option I'm pretty sure he'd have to agree to changing the wood and therefore the entire sound of the guitar

 

[philiprst]

^ I second that

I know this is way out there and I don't know jack diddley about biology, but is there a way to replicate trees? Or do you just have to plant them and let them grow?

Edit: Ok so that was vague, let me explain myself better. What I mean by replicating trees, is kinda how dog breeders can breed dogs for temperment, health, etc. Is there a procedure that could achieve similar results in trees, where one could grow only trees that are fit for their craft? Might seem dumb but it's just a potshot idea

It's not a crazy idea at all, people have been "breeding" fruit trees for centuries. The problem with breeding trees for figured lumber is that the grain structure and density is the result of slow growth over many years. Fast growing species tend to produce lumber that is plain and light (like balsa wood for example).

As Colin pointed out the reason that birdseye is produced in sugar maple is not well understood, even the extent to which is is caused by genetics or enviroment. There are ways of looking at a maple tree and seeing from the bark and shape if it is likely to have birdseye. But this is not a practical method of harvesting in the commercial lumber market.

 

[brentrocks]

i like birdseye, especially on the AL's i have!

i can take credit for one of those....

 

[brentrocks]

new ebmm tee shirt ?
pic of a flamed headstock/
got wood ????

i would buy 2!!!!

 

[Sub1 Zero]

It's not a crazy idea at all, people have been "breeding" fruit trees for centuries. The problem with breeding trees for figured lumber is that the grain structure and density is the result of slow growth over many years. Fast growing species tend to produce lumber that is plain and light (like balsa wood for example).

As Colin pointed out the reason that birdseye is produced in sugar maple is not well understood, even the extent to which is is caused by genetics or enviroment. There are ways of looking at a maple tree and seeing from the bark and shape if it is likely to have birdseye. But this is not a practical method of harvesting in the commercial lumber market.

Could the trees in question be isolated, so that the genepool is less diverse?

 

[Lou]

That's some sick birdseye!