Baren Digest Friday, 27 September 2002 Volume 20 : Number 1973 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Julio.Rodriguez#walgreens.com Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 13:20:18 -0500 Subject: [Baren 19337] Re: flitches, musical woods 09/26/2002 01:24:13 PM "... If you take a tree trunk and split it lengthwise you get two halves. Then if you split each half lengthwise again, you have flitches. " This is the way wood is cut for musical instrument parts such as guitar tops and violin tops. It is done this way not only to help with the drying process...but also for tonal qualities and strength. Spruce & cedar are the favorite woods for these parts. Speaking of "talking" wood..if you take a nice piece of solid maple (favorite for the back & sides of instruments in the violin family)..hold it up with your thumb and index finger and give it a tap with a wooden mallet or even your knuckle...you will get a very nice ringing or musical tone. It varies with each piece of wood. This is one of the selection criteria for master violin makers when choosing the "right" wood for their craft.... Try that with a piece of plywood ! {;-) thanks....Julio Rodriguez ------------------------------ From: FurryPressII#aol.com Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 18:52:32 EDT Subject: [Baren 19338] Re: flitches, musical woods half rounds of maple are cut to make wood type end grain john center ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V20 #1973 *****************************