Posted on November 30, 2024May 30, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Bird’s Eye Maple Questions: Bird's Eye Maple by Bruce Harvie Originally published in American Lutherie #60, 1999 Sheldon Urlik of Los Angeles, CA asks: In AL#58 Gary Southwell mentions that bird’s-eye maple always comes from America, even though one often sees it on very old European-made instruments. Torres used it in several extant guitars, including two in my collection (First Epoch, #24, 1867 and Second Epoch, #129, 1889). Could it be that there are other maples, perhaps ones grown in Europe, which exhibit the bird’s-eye figure when slab cut? Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of our premium web content offered to Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. Members also receive 4 annual issues of American Lutherie and get discounts on products. For details, visit the membership page. If you are already a member, login for access or contact us to setup your account.