Quartersawn Maple

[buckethead bungler]

What exactly is 'quartersawn' maple and how does it differ from 'flatsawn' maple? Plus if I were looking to lay down a new fretboard on a guitar are there any other properties I should be aware of when considering purchasing maple?

[levantin]

Quartersawn wood is supposedly stronger for necks. I don't think this applies for fretboards as the wood of the neck is supposed to be straight and provide a solid surface for the fretboard. Probably someone with more knowledge in guitar building will chime in.

[Rich#6]

The cut makes the neck stronger and more stable. Which is why you can get these oiled with no problems. You can tell a qtrsawn by the grain being straight and close together on the back of the neck. flat sawn you see the grain on the side of the neck.

[DocNrock]

The way the wood is cut determines the grain orientation. Grain orientation perpendicular to the surface is quartersawn. Roughly 45 deg to the surface is rift sawn, and roughly parallel to the surface is flat sawn.

There are a lot of references out there, but here is a short vid. http://woodtreks.com/why-sawyers-pla...aw-lumber/315/

If this is for a fretboard, then consider flame, birdseye, etc.

[dg]

[buckethead bungler]

Ahhh thanks guys, you are a wealth of knowledge. I think I shall decide between the flame and the birdseye and will have to start posting pics when I get around to starting this project.