Bird's Eye Maple (back plate wood) from Great Lakes Region of USA...
...I recently made a violin of Bird's Eye Maple and it turned out so well that I was looking for a supply of this fine (but rare) graining. While on vacation in Michigan this year (2005) our hotel manager put me in touch with a local hardwood flooring manufacturer (Steve Bratu of Hardwood Interiors) who saved this beautiful wood out of a truck load shipment of hardwood for his own special woodworking projects. He even cut the two seven foot long boards into violin sized blanks so we could take it home with us. He tested the moisture content with his test equipment (3% end grain and 6% end surface) and it is now ready for use....
...I estimate it will make about 10 violins with matching neck and rib wood.
As you will notice, this wood is both highly figured and flamed as well.... very rare wood!
Two other pieces from the same batch of wood...
The wood is now properly stored, stickered (seperated by wood strips for air circulation), with waxed ends to prevent cracks, and waiting for your custome vilin order...
Below are photos of my Opus #20 (bird's eye maple) violin which I completed earlier in 2005 (with Thia, it's proud new owner) . Please see news report links to this story from the Salem Statesman Journal newpaper:
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050709/NEWS/507090333/1001
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050726/NEWS/507260348/1001
