The Beauty and Advantages of Using Stunning Burl Guitar Tops

The Beauty of Burl Guitar Tops

Burl wood has long been prized by luthiers and guitar builders for its stunning visual appeal and tonal qualities. The swirling, chaotic patterns found in burl cuts create a one-of-a-kind look that can take a guitar from ordinary to extraordinary. When used as tonewoods on the front and back of acoustic guitars, burl cuts also impart unique tonal characteristics that players love.

What is Burl Wood?

Burl wood refers to abnormal tree growths that form gnarls, knots, or whorls in the grain. Burls grow on the trunk, branches, roots, or sometimes even underground at the tree's base. They are caused by stress factors like injury, disease, fungus, or even genetics. The stresses make the tree produce excess dormant buds, which give burl wood its twisted, chaotic look when cut.

Types of Burl Used for Guitar Tops

Many species of trees can produce burl wood, but some of the most popular for guitar tops include:

• Maple burl - Prized for its wavy "tiger stripe" pattern and balanced tone.
• Redwood burl - Offers a complex range of caramel, amber, and brown colors.
• Ash burl - Creates a chaotic "sea of wood" look with good mid and high overtones.
• Elm burl - Provides a truly unique look ranging from brown to blond colors.
• Walnut burl - Contrasts dark and light regions for a dynamic appearance.

The rarity and unpredictability of burl growth means every top has an one-of-a-kind appearance that can't be replicated - part of what makes them so prized.

Advantages of Burl Guitar Tops

There are tonal and aesthetic reasons that burl cuts are in high demand for acoustic guitar tops:

Unique Visual Appeal

The swirling organic patterns and contrasts make each burl top completely unique. The mesmerizing look matches beautifully with truss rods, fingerboards, inlays, and binding colors for head-turning guitars.

Tonal Complexity

The abnormal, chaotic grain structure affects vibration patterns to produce very complex overtone components. This results in a richer, more colorful tonal palette.

Sustain & Volume

Burl grain patterns generally promote sustain. The complexity helps project layered, intriguing tones with excellent volume and responsiveness.

Rarity & Value

Highly figured burl cuts are rare by nature, making them more precious. Guitars with stunning live-edge or bookmatched burl tops therefore become exotic showpieces that gain value over decades.

Working with Precious Burl Tops

These unstable growths require special care and attention when selecting, preparing, joining, and finishing to create durable, resonant guitar tops.

Selection

Carefully hand-pick planks with intact edges, no cracks or checks, interesting figure patterns, and properly dried moisture content. Select cuts adjacent to each other to allow bookmatching.

Preparation

Burls can often have significant twists, cups, bows, or knots that require jointing and flattening one surface on a jointer. Take light passes with sharp blades to prevent tearout.

Joining

Glue straightened, jointed boards in sequence to keep bookmatched patterns aligned. Use non-staining Titebond wood glue and plenty of clamps for good adhesion between boards.

Finishing

Sand joined tops carefully up to 400 grit without going through veneer layers, then finish with a resilient epoxy, polyurethane, or nitrocellulose lacquer for protection.

Incorporating Stunning Burl Tops

One of the most exciting steps is selecting the perfect body style, rosette, purflings, and appointments to complement your prized burl top during final guitar construction.

Body Shapes

Slim, comfortable body shapes like grand auditoriums and dreadnoughts balance well with burl tops. Interesting cutaways, bevels, and edges can accentuate those chaotic patterns beautifully.

Rosettes & Purflings

Understated rosettes and clean black or brown/white purfling borders help accentuate burl details without distracting. Intricate wooden inlay rosettes can also complement more boldly figured cuts.

Appointments

Let your rare burl top take center stage by selecting headstocks, fingerboards, bridge pins, and other elements that blend rather than compete. Ebony or rosewood components often pair nicely.

With careful selection and construction, a spectacular burl guitar top will create a true showpiece that's cherished for generations. The mesmerizing patterns, complex tones, and one-of-a-kind nature make burl tops worth the effort to obtain and craft into functional art.

FAQs

What is the difference between burl wood and standard wood?

Burl wood refers to abnormal tree growths with twisted, chaotic grain patterns, while standard wood has straight, parallel grain. Burls form from stress factors like fungus, injury, or genetics.

Do burl guitar tops sound better?

Burl tops create very complex overtones for a richer, more colorful tonal palette with excellent projection and sustain. The unusual grain is believed to enhance sound.

Why are burl guitar tops so expensive?

Highly figured burl cuts are extremely rare in nature, making them precious and exotic. The unpredictable growing patterns mean each top is completely unique as well. These factors drive cost up.

What should I look for in a burl guitar top?

Look for tops with intact live edges, no cracks/checks, interesting figure patterns, proper moisture content, and potential for bookmatching with adjacent cuts from the burl. This ensures durable, matched tops.