Double Bass Luthiers, your opinion please...? (Wood streaking/possible defect?)

[csrund]

May I please solicit the opinions of our experienced luthiers? Please see the attached photo (which is low-rez; sorry). There is some noticeable discoloration/aberrations in the grain within the circled area. My question is, "Is this a cause for concern re. structural integrity, or is this likely a natural phenomenon, such as mineral streaking, etc.?"

Neck detail

• csrund
• Oct 28, 2014
• 1

I'll provide more detailed images, if I can procure them. Thanks for your help!

Chris

 

[arnoldschnitzer]

May I please solicit the opinions of our experienced luthiers? Please see the attached photo (which is low-rez; sorry). There is some noticeable discoloration/aberrations in the grain within the circled area. My question is, "Is this a cause for concern re. structural integrity, or is this likely a natural phenomenon, such as mineral streaking, etc.?"

Neck detail

• csrund
• Oct 28, 2014
• 1

I'll provide more detailed images, if I can procure them. Thanks for your help!

Chris

It's probably going to be okay, but that neck should have gone into the woodstove.

 

[csrund]

It's probably going to be okay, but that neck should have gone into the woodstove.

Arnold,

Is this some sort of resin or mineral deposit? Or a 'cancer'? Is it something you encounter fairly commonly? Thanks for taking the time to have a look and share your thoughts.

 

[arnoldschnitzer]

It looks like a bark inclusion. Sometimes those types of areas are actually stronger than the surrounding wood. That is not always a good thing, as consistency in the wood makes it more resilient and solid. And it's ugly.