Show me some bear claws

[louisjames]

A short scale H&D OM I once owned. Amazing "book matched" bear claw top and one of the best sounding OM's I ever played. Some folks think bear claw looks like flaws and they would never buy a guitar with it. Fine with me as most of the guitars that have this type of top have been really good and many have been better than that. Is it the bear claw? The guys at H&D seemed to think so.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Jschlueter

Here is a good example of bearclaw in spruce. The technical term is hazelfichte.

I wouldn't call that bear claw. It is highly figured, but its more quilted than bearclaw. The pattern goes in two directions, like a quilt. True bear claw looks like a bear clawed the tree with parallel "scratch" lines all in one direction

[bwstl01]

Here's one in sitka:



Her big sister, also in sitka:



And finally another, again in sitka:

[sevenpalms]

Originally Posted by mc1

Dang....now I'm craving pastry....

[Oldguy64]

Originally Posted by EllaMom

bizango, thanks for the macro look. NOW I get it for sure. That DOES look like a claw raked across some straight grain, "pulling" it to the right.

And I do like the look! Wonder if my HV GS Mini (on order) will be "clawed"?

I've only seen a few GS Minis. However, I've not seen one that didn't have at least a little bear claw.
Mine has a tiny bit. The others I've played, have had quite a bit more....
It is pretty. Don't know to what extent it affects tone.

[ocmcook]

kinda look like stretch marks to me.

[Martz911]

A Goodall Cocobolo Dreadnought Cutaway with Bear Claw Sitka:



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And a Goodall Indian Rosewood Concert Jumbo Cutaway, also with Bear Claw Sitka:

[dneal]

Originally Posted by fazool

I wouldn't call that bear claw. It is highly figured, but its more quilted than bearclaw. The patern goes in two directions, like a quilt. True bear claw looks like a bear clawed the tree with parallel "scratch" lines all in one direction

I agree, although I would call his top haselfichte (a German term rather than a technical one).

[Jschlueter]

No comment

[Matt McGriff]

Not as beautiful as some of these in this thread, but a ton of bear claw for a rather low end Martin.

[Guitar1083]

Originally Posted by scottishrogue

This is my Martin D-35. I got a special "discount" from the dealer to take it off his hands! Best sounding guitar I own!

Glen

beautiful simple bear-claw perfect
just how i love it

[MHC]

I used to be totally indifferent to bear claw - didn't really think anything about it. Then I ordered an Eastman E8 OM and it came with tons of bear claw and silking. Wow. I love it. Very unique and customized. It looks like it's got gold cirrus clouds across the Sitka top. And the guitar sounds fantastic.

It's hard to photograph the 3D/holographic effect of the top but here's my best try.

[bandit59]

Originally Posted by harvl

Here is one in Sitka

Clawed the strings clean off that one

[Raebrek]

Originally Posted by mc1

and that was exactly why I was thinking.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Jschlueter

...any quilt figure that I have ever seen.

Google "quilted mahogany" images - a lot more examples of the pattern there.