Spalted Lipa?

[swartzfeger]

Hi all,

I'm buying a bass from a luthier in the EU, and the top wood is listed as 'Spalted Lipa' (actually, he lists it as lipa spalt master grade). It looks like some type of burl with light spalting.

I've never heard of 'Lipa', and all my searches return links on Dua Lipa lol.

It's a beautiful top... does anyone know if this is called something else in N America or EU and 'Lipa' might be local lingo?

Here's a pic if anyone can identify:

 

[RichterScale]

Maybe spalted Limba?
I don't think Lipa is a thing.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

It could be wrong but I found this. It seems to be saying that the Lipa is a Slovenian species of the Linden or Basswood tree.

Tilia - Wikipedia

Definitely a neat looking burl.

 

[swartzfeger]

It could be wrong but I found this. It seems to be saying that the Lipa is a Slovenian species of the Linden or Basswood tree.

Tilia - Wikipedia

Definitely a neat looking burl.

I saw the same thing... and I think he may source some of his tops from a wood freak (I mean that in a good way!) in Serbia.

 

[bholder]

I've never heard of 'Lipa', and all my searches return links on Dua Lipa lol.

It's a beautiful top...

Dua Lipa does have a beautiful top. Carry on.

 

[swartzfeger]

Dua Lipa does have a beautiful top. Carry on.

bah, I knew I had it coming!

 

[Beej]

Only mention I can find is this, but I agree it's probably a misnomer of some kind.
Dendrocnide meyeniana - Wikipedia

 

[Drzejzi]

In Polish basswood is called lipa.

Lipa – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia == Tilia - Wikipedia

 

[jj.833]

Lipa is a slavic word for linden (tilia), in most if not all Slavic languages (Polish, Czech, Slovak, Croatia, Ukrainian...). It's a symbolic national tree in some slavic countries. Traditionally it was used for wood carvings; I don't think many traditional instruments were done from lipa though, except for some decorative carvings and such. Perhaps it's the same as basswood, see the difference between linden and basswood.

 

[Durham52]

Gotta love Talkbass, OP's question answered at post #3, confirmed by about 4 other posters by post #9.

Traditional carved figure in Linden wood and a turned bowl.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

I'll see myself out...

 

[bholder]

bah, I knew I had it coming!

View attachment 4982607
I'll see myself out...

I laughed 'till I spalted myself!

 

[Alan Ace Cooper]

and all my searches return links on Dua Lipa lol.

Dua Lipa does have a beautiful top. Carry on.

 

[Ostie]

To avoid further confusion, linden and basswood are one and the same.

 

[klyph]

Kinda funny how we all are paying premiums for basses made from moldy @ss stumps! Just kidding, I own one myself…

 

[otp57]

Hi all,

I'm buying a bass from a luthier in the EU, and the top wood is listed as 'Spalted Lipa' (actually, he lists it as lipa spalt master grade). It looks like some type of burl with light spalting.

I've never heard of 'Lipa', and all my searches return links on Dua Lipa lol.

It's a beautiful top... does anyone know if this is called something else in N America or EU and 'Lipa' might be local lingo?

Here's a pic if anyone can identify:

View attachment 4982396

One hot looking bass.