Excellent read!
Tnx
M
Thx!
When I started doing the look-ups there was only TX's first reply, LOL!.
And I'm actually going to clarify TX's explanation of "Bearclaw", it's actual distortion of the rays thought to be caused by twisting and/or compression off the wood during growth and showing as clear distortions in the linearity of the grain/medullary rays.
The term derives from the myth that it was caused by bears clawing the growing tree. (Bears do do this to sharpen their claws and/or mark territory)
This pic shows why it was easy to think that:
It used to be considered a cosmetic flaw but now is thought to be an indicator of denser wood (from the compression), and aesthetic sensibilities have changed in the meantime as well.
I like it, and there's a tiny bit of it visible on the lower bout of my D25 in just the right light.
Right about the actual clawed tree being pretty thrashed, but the term goes way back, before they understood what the probable real cause was, and the myth that it was caused by bears which were known to claw on trees was created in the absence of any other known causes.I cannot speak for specific spruce trees, but the pines and firs that I have seen clawed by bears do not really compare with the "bearclaw" titled guitar tops. The actual marked trees lose a lot of wood in that process and any compressed material would be minimal and in somewhat parallel patterns. I suspect that title started as just a visual comment and nothing more. It does make for some pretty wood attributes.
And this technique is employed by many, many performing musicians to this very day to make their own mark(s) on their guitars (and anyone else's guitar they borrow)...it was caused by bears which were known to claw on trees...
And thh distinction should be made that those guitars themselves (as opposed to the topwood) are known as "Willy"s or "Trigger"s :And this technique is employed by many, many performing musicians to this very day to make their own mark(s) on their guitars (and anyone else's guitar they borrow)