I unearthed this fantastic grafted Walnut piece from our wood pile:

  After bookmatching, mom, Mary, Kris and I conferred to pick the top:

  and the back:

  And the simple sandwich with Walnut top and back and Cherry core on the first shaping fixture:

  Sweet!

What a cool piece of wood!

Neck to body attachment:  

 

 

 

I like that Walnut.
 
Grafted Walnut?  Is that two species?

It's a common practice for orchards here in California. They use the native Walnut as the rootstock, since its adapted to live in the clay soils we have. Then a European Walnut is grafted on since they tend to make larger and tastier walnuts. At the grafting boundary, really interesting things happen.

looks fantastic!!  beautiful top wood.  shaping up nicely.  thanks for the updates!

Congratulations Tom.  
That walnut is just incredible! I see a Spade suite for cards ... or perhaps something more intimate. But what amazing figuring. Mica, did you use it all, or is there enough for another top?
 
Mike

that is a nice bass!! i really want to see it completed.
 
(Message edited by rushfan on October 14, 2008)

So, what I'm wondering is this: is there a tonal reason for using the Black Walnut side for the bass bouts & the European Walnut side for the treble?    (While I am being facetious, would any of us be surprised to find out that Alembic  did take like something into account?)
 
Peter
 
(Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on October 15, 2008)

With some finish:

It's so pretty.

WOW! That is stunning!
 
graeme

Stunning!!
Funny....I was just reading about grafted walnut yesterday, and fall upon this today.
Nature can be cruel, but so beautiful as well.
 
george

Wowsers!! absolutely gorgeous.

Beautiful

Most of the finish now:
 

 
Just getting preset, which means the stainless steel frets are now in place, and the hardware is going over to the chrome plater tomorrow.