Question about lines on a 2 piece maple back

[derekinla]

(See attached picture) I recently purchased a Ming Jiang Zhu 909. The 2 piece maple back looks to me and my untrained eye to be quarter sawn. I noticed there are fine lines that go up and dawn which I presume are the radial growth rings. I have not noticed these very much on other quarter sawn backs. What's the significance of seeing these lines / rings? How come these are not as pronounced on other backs? What does it say about how the wood was cut, prepared? Is it a good thing? does it affect structural integrity or sound? 

Edited May 20 by derekinla

[derekinla]

Wanted to check in to see if anyone had any insight to the question re: lines on violin back?

[Don Noon]

Yes, those are the annual growth rings.  The only thing you can say about the cut is that it isn't flatsawn.  The rings show up as lines when quartered and even with a high degree of off-quarter, but flatsawn they wander all over the place.  The photo looks to me like a quartersawn set, or very close to it.

The lines are always there in maple, although usually far less obvious than in spruce.  It also varies between species of maple, and from tree to tree.  It says nothing whatsoever about preparation, sound, or integrity.  If the growth lines are extremely wavy, curved, or otherwise irregular, that could be different.

[JacksonMaberry]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:15 AM, Don Noon said:

If the growth lines are extremely wavy, curved, or otherwise irregular, that could be different.

Yes. It could be. 

Otherwise nothing of value can be determined about the acoustical properties of any piece of wood just by looking at it.