Flame maple (tiger maple), also known as flamed maple, curly maple, ripple maple, fiddleback or tiger stripe, is a feature of maple in which the growth of the wood fibers is distorted in an undulating chatoyant pattern, producing wavy lines known as "flames". This effect is often mistakenly said to be part of the grain of the wood; it is more accurately called "figure", as the distortion is perpendicular to the grain direction. Prized for its beautiful appearance, it is used frequently in the manufacturing of fine furniture and musical instruments, such as violins, guitars, and bassoons.
Backside view of a violin
During the westward expansion of early settlers and explorers into the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains, curly maple was often used for making the stocks used on Kentucky rifles.
Flame maple is especially popular in guitars, and has been for decades. Generally, the process includes cutting the maple to shape, forming it if necessary through mold-warping and applying a clear coat or lacquer to protect the finish, and ensure the wood holds its shape.
Controversyedit
Among guitar communities, one debate always present is that of tonality. This is the debate on how much or how little the instrument's material affects its sound. While this is a massive debate in itself, flame maple is a hardwood which is generally regarded to produce a bright, shimmering sound, due to its rigidity and reflection against sound waves. This effect is generally noticeable in acoustic flame-maple guitars, but arguably insignificant in electric guitars. Additionally, the effects of clear-coating or applying nitro to a flame maple finish are also up for debate.
Variationsedit
Figures on Gibson Les Paul Standard (1958-1960)edit
According to the Beauty Of The Burst by Yasuhiko Watanabe, the figures seen on the sunburst Les Paul are categorized into 8 types: 6 types of flame maple (Curly, Ribbon curly, Flame, Tiger stripe, Fiddleback, Pin stripe), and 2 other types (Blister and Bird's eye).[1] Note that usually the last two types are not considered as the flame maple variations, along with the quilt maple.
^ Iwanabe, Yasuhiko (2012) [1996/1997, 1998/1999]. The Beauty Of The 'Burst: Gibson Sunburst Les Pauls from '58 to '60. Rittor Music / Hal Leonard Corp. p. . ISBN978-4-84560222-3. (Japanese paperback ed.) / ISBN978-0-7935-7374-5 (English ed.). {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help) "STORY OF FIGURE - The Types of Figures Seen on the Sunburst Les Pauls: , , , , , , , , ." (For details, see excerpted images on , [2])
^"Flame Maple - inSync". inSync. 2007-04-11. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
December 12, 2023
flame, maple, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, c. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Flame maple news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article s lead section contains information that is not included elsewhere in the article Please help improve the lead August 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Flame maple tiger maple also known as flamed maple curly maple ripple maple fiddleback or tiger stripe is a feature of maple in which the growth of the wood fibers is distorted in an undulating chatoyant pattern producing wavy lines known as flames This effect is often mistakenly said to be part of the grain of the wood it is more accurately called figure as the distortion is perpendicular to the grain direction Prized for its beautiful appearance it is used frequently in the manufacturing of fine furniture and musical instruments such as violins guitars and bassoons Backside view of a violinDuring the westward expansion of early settlers and explorers into the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains curly maple was often used for making the stocks used on Kentucky rifles Contents 1 Usage in guitars 1 1 Popularization 1 2 Controversy 2 Variations 2 1 Figures on Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 1960 2 2 Figures on modern maple top guitars 3 See also 4 NotesUsage in guitars editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed August 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Popularization edit Flame maple is especially popular in guitars and has been for decades Generally the process includes cutting the maple to shape forming it if necessary through mold warping and applying a clear coat or lacquer to protect the finish and ensure the wood holds its shape Controversy edit Among guitar communities one debate always present is that of tonality This is the debate on how much or how little the instrument s material affects its sound While this is a massive debate in itself flame maple is a hardwood which is generally regarded to produce a bright shimmering sound due to its rigidity and reflection against sound waves This effect is generally noticeable in acoustic flame maple guitars but arguably insignificant in electric guitars Additionally the effects of clear coating or applying nitro to a flame maple finish are also up for debate Variations editFigures on Gibson Les Paul Standard 1958 1960 edit nbsp 1958 Gibson Les Paul with light flame patternMain article Gibson Les Paul Standard According to the Beauty Of The Burst by Yasuhiko Watanabe the figures seen on the sunburst Les Paul are categorized into 8 types 6 types of flame maple Curly Ribbon curly Flame Tiger stripe Fiddleback Pin stripe and 2 other types Blister and Bird s eye 1 Note that usually the last two types are not considered as the flame maple variations along with the quilt maple Figures on modern maple top guitars edit 6 types of flame maple wood nbsp Curly nbsp Ribbon curl nbsp Flame nbsp Tiger stripe nbsp Fiddleback nbsp Pin stripeOther types of figure maple wood for comparison nbsp Blister nbsp Bird s eye nbsp Quilt mapleSee also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flamed maple wood Quilt maple Birdseye mapleNotes edit Iwanabe Yasuhiko 2012 1996 1997 1998 1999 The Beauty Of The Burst Gibson Sunburst Les Pauls from 58 to 60 Rittor Music Hal Leonard Corp p 182 ISBN 978 4 84560222 3 Japanese paperback ed ISBN 978 0 7935 7374 5 English ed a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help STORY OF FIGURE The Types of Figures Seen on the Sunburst Les Pauls Flame Tiger stripe Tiger stripe Curly Fiddleback Pin stripe Ribbon curl Blister Bird s eye For details see excerpted images on 1 2 1 nbsp This article about joinery woodworking joints carpentry or woodworking is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This material related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Flame Maple inSync inSync 2007 04 11 Retrieved 2018 11 27 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Flame maple amp oldid 1172403453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
