Quartersawn

Wood cut radially from the log so the growth rings run at right angles to the face, producing straight, tight grain and a stable, stiff board.

A quartered neck resists twisting and movement with humidity far better than a flat sawn one, and quartered tops and backs are stiffer along the grain, which contributes to a fast, articulate response. The cost is yield: radial cutting wastes much more of the log and produces narrower boards, so quartered timber is more expensive. In a top, the even grain also gives the wood a consistent stiffness across its width, which makers value for brace design.

Example: a quartersawn neck blank is what a builder chooses for an instrument destined for a climate that swings through the year.

Quartersawn

See also