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What exactly is a flame top?

Skel

Skel

Jun 19, 2005
3,237
45
Boulder, Colorado
#1
These days it seems like every bass or guitar that is sunburst or some kind of "burst" has a flame top, or at least the flame tops cost more. I gather this means the piece of wood has very defined grain markings? Is this "flame top" something relatively new, as in bass/guitar makers use woods with more "flame" now than they did before?
 
#2
Flame is indeed a figure of wood. Generally takes the form of horizontal lines. Commonest flamed wood is maple. Is available in different grades from unclassified to 5A (I think). Higher grades have more defined figure. Here's an example of flame maple:

image81.jpg


Is it new? Yes and no. For sure the whole figured and exotic wood thing is being taken to new levels lately but there's nothing new about figured woods in instrument making.
 
#5
Flamed maple was actually used in the necks (and sometimes backs) of many orchestral instruments made centuries ago, so it's actually one of the oldest "exotic" woods used in instrument making, although it's hardly exotic. It's been used as bass and guitar tops for several decades now...it's pretty much the most common of the "fancy" tops. It's been used so much that it's not considered that much of an upgrade by some.
 
#8
mark beem said:
w00t!! Show your flame tops!!!

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

I challenge you to a 6 string Cirrus duel!

redc6_1.jpg


I'm not convinced that mine counts as a proper flame top but there sure is some flame going on in there. Btw, just got this bass off Vic a couple of days ago, will be posting a review with my own pics after I've gigged it, that's one of his pics from the ad.
 
#11
Aj* said:
I challenge you to a 6 string Cirrus duel!

redc6_1.jpg


I'm not convinced that mine counts as a proper flame top but there sure is some flame going on in there. Btw, just got this bass off Vic a couple of days ago, will be posting a review with my own pics after I've gigged it, that's one of his pics from the ad.
Click to expand...
Mine wins...

;)
 
#16
I don't know exactly what you're asking, specifically the flame part of the question or the top part or both. The flame part has been fully answered, but the top part is just that. It's a thin slab of figured wood that's laminated or glued onto the top of the main wood of the body as opposed to the whole body being made of one particular type of wood. That Cirrus is a perfect example.
 
#17
mark beem said:
Yeah.. Go ahead... Tell yourself whatever you need to hear to make yourself feel better...


;) :D
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Haha :D


I belive the flaming develops due to conditions when the tree is growing. Layers of alternating hard and soft rippling, I think it has something to do with growing in swamps? I remember reading something about it somewhere but google isn't being helpful.
 

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