Figured and non-figured maple

[soapycows]

Is there a difference in sound between figured maple and not-so-figured maple, or is it purely cosmetic?

[RichM]

While there is probably some difference in tone from any one piece of maple to another, figured maple does not sound inherently better or worse than plain maple. Sure does look pretty, though!

[Darryl Wolfe]

Hmmm...I may have to disagree...or at least offer this:

Every perfectly quartered, straight fiddle flame Loar I've heard is on the bright side

Knarly, wavy slab cut ones are usually darker sounding

Several of the best sounding mandolins (non-Loar) I've ever heard had almost no figure, or were sort of a birdseye...go figure..figuratively that is

[Charlie Derrington]

I think that's why we generally think of the early Loars as sounding brighter and the later ones as darker, (Broad generalities) because the early ones were mainly quarter cut. Although there is some debate on whether the early ones actually used European spruce instead of the specified Red Spruce for the tops. The marketing of the period would suggest this is the case, but who really trusts marketing information as always being correct?

Slab started being used more frequently around the July 9 batch (although quartered does show up occasionally). But anyway, more to your question:

The species, cut (grain orientation), and graduations, IMHO, make for more difference than figured or non-figured wood. The figured stuff sure does look purty, though.

Charlie