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Thread: Spalted Mandolins?

  1. #1
    Registered User Miltown's Avatar
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    Default Spalted Mandolins?

    In looking through inventory at Elderly Instruments, I came across this spalted mango ukulele:

    https://www.elderly.com/romero-creat...-soft-case.htm

    That caused me to wonder what the heck "spalted" means, and lo behold, here is the definition: "(of wood) containing blackish irregular lines as a result of fungal decay, and sometimes used to produce a decorative surface."

    So it turns out all kinds of woods can become spalted, and I personally think it looks pretty cool. Has anyone ever seen other spalted instruments, especially mandolins and guitars?

  2. #2
    Registered User Miltown's Avatar
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    Well, to answer my own question, here's a mandolin I found:

    https://www.folkmusician.com/product...maple-mandolin

    Hmm, maybe that's a bit much -- not sure I like that as much as the Romero uke.

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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    That looks crazy.

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    Registered User Matt Harris's Avatar
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    Spalted wood is not uncommon in electric instruments, where it is typically laminated with other, more structurally sound, woods. It's all for aesthetics.

    Spalted wood is often very soft, or 'punky', in the spalted areas, which makes it less than ideal for acoustic instruments, certainly in un-laminated situations. That's why you won't see them very regularly.
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  6. #5

    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    There's a harp maker in Colorado - Blevins, who use lots of spalts. Very pretty stuff.

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    Registered User Drew Streip's Avatar
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    There's an old stump in my yard that I recently tried to salvage in order to make a pickguard or armrest. A piece of bark fell off, revealing a wonderful spalt pattern. It's a large stump, so I thought I'd be able to get several chunks/slices.

    Unfortunately, it was too far gone. When I tried to saw or split the wood, most of it just crumbled. I think if I had gotten to it five years ago, it would have worked.

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    Article on spalted wood on Wikipedia.

    Spalting is any form of wood coloration caused by fungi. Although primarily found in dead trees, spalting can also occur in living trees under stress. Although spalting can cause weight loss and strength loss in the wood, the unique coloration and patterns of spalted wood are sought after by woodworkers.
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    I frequently use spalted wood in wood turning. It makes beautiful patterned bowls but you frequently have to stabilize the wood before or during turning using CA glue or polyester resin. You also have to wear a good dust mask because you don't want to inhale any fungal spores.
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    Registered User Randi Gormley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    We own a couple of spalted pieces -- a bowl and vase come to mind -- and they're very pretty, but I would worry about an instrument with too much spalting.
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    but that's just me Bertram Henze's Avatar
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    The German word "spalten" means "to split". Just saying
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    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    Here's a nice piece of ''Spalted Maple'' used for an elec.guitar body. I'm not sure what effect 'spalting' would have on say,top wood for instance - is there even any 'spalted' Spruce of 'whatever' species ??,
    Ivan
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    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    You can bet that the Morgan Monroe spalted maple mandolin has a pressed laminate (aka plywood) and not carved solid top.

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    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    They state that the salted maple top is laminated. It looks lik it has a moustache. Well, sort of. I don’t mind the figure on the top but the overcooked sausage scroll leaves me cold.
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  17. #14
    Registered User Miltown's Avatar
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bertram Henze View Post
    The German word "spalten" means "to split". Just saying
    D'oh! Not a good sign.

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    Mediocre but OK with that Paul Busman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    I've made some penny whistles from spalted Tamarind and they came out really gorgeous. As others have noted, spalted wood can be softer than the original wood,punky, may have voids etc. It definitely requires special care.I'm turning it down to a tube with 5/32"walls so stability on the lathe is critical. What I've taken to doing with spalted or other unstable woods is to bore the .500 inside, then turn the outside down to walls about .25". I soak these in Minwax High Performance Wood Hardener for a day. Once the tubes have cured, I re-bore them and they're ready for finish turning.
    I'm thinking that in an instrument with as much stress as a mandolin with it's high string tension, it might not be a great choice except maybe as a veneer.
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  19. #16

    Default Re: Spalted Mandolins?

    i have a Spalted ukulele that i play regularly. It is my favorite instrument out of all the ukuleles i own. LOVE IT!!!

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