Am I the only one that hates that this Poplar Burl Burst trend is getting more prevalent?

[wheresthefbomb]

That tortilla strandy someone posted in the "too funny not to post" thread is fucking mint.

 

[RG570EX]

The year is 2056, some 23 year old dickweed is posting a "restoration" of a vintage iron label rgd. They are ecstatic as they sand through a beautifully done metallic silver refin from 2029 to find the original poplar burl veneer still intact underneath!

 

[AkiraSpectrum]

Most trends get annoying because the market gets saturated with that option (in this case poplar burl) and we lose diversity in aesthetics, so I think its understandable to get fed up with the trend.

That said, I really like poplar burl. At the same time, sometimes it looks good on a guitar and sometimes it doesn't, just like a quilt or a flame or a solid color, etc.

I have one guitar with a poplar burl top (veneer--as most are) and I like it. Personally my favorite poplar burls are the ones with lots of flamey figuring and fewer 'brown' spots; but again, it depends on the overall aesthetics of the guitar.

 

[jephjacques]

For me it's like any other figured wood- a nice poplar burl looks nice, the bad-to-mediocre veneers on most budget guitars look bad.

Whoever first called it 'poop in the pool' definitely ruined blue poplar burl finishes for me though

 

[Crungy]

I've not heard that and that is great lmao

 

[zw470]

This LTD would be almost perfect if it weren't for the heinous top

 

[Blytheryn]

My favorite poplar burl finish is when it’s covered in 2mm of gloss black poly.

 

[Siggevaio]

Yeah, they never appealed to me. For me it's for guitar players that want to express "look at my guitar" rather than "look/listen to what I play". That's not exclusive to burl guitars though. Most over the top-guitars make me feel that way.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

it has been hated on SSO for like 5 years now

you have come to the right place

Yeah you're a few years too late OP lol
If anything I noticed the trend is dying and we've gone full circle back to solid finishes or figured maple.

 

[beerandbeards]

It’s just the curl of the burl…

 

[Blytheryn]

It’s just the curl of the burl…

You win.

 

[Emperoff]

Kill it with fire.

 

[jrn1308]

This LTD would be almost perfect if it weren't for the heinous top

View attachment 114048

I got that guitar last year because I liked the look when I saw it. After about 3 months I totally had enough of the look of it. Luckily I sold it earlier this year. Definitely my first and last burl.

 

[rowsi]

Poplar burl is the 2010s equivalent to flame&quilted maple (plus abalone) of the 2000s. The next thing for the 2020s will be whatever is cool now with modern custom guitars (fanned frets are gaining traction). And whatever will become cool with custom guitars in the near future will be the trend of the 2030s.

Actually nicely figured poplar burl with a tasty finish looks good. Same with pretty much any kind of figured wood. But the mass of low quality/less figured cheap veneers with low quality finishes ruins pretty much everything.

 

[cindarkness]

The only burst I'm willing to put my money on..

 

[aWoodenShip]

I for one like that painted ash finishes seem to be getting more popular

 

[gunshow86de]

I think it's the combo of the poorly faded/blending multicolor finished. This looks at least not horrible in a single color finish.

 

[eaeolian]

Especially when the whole line just has the printed-on burl, so every top is exactly the same.

 

[eaeolian]

I think it's the combo of the poorly faded/blending multicolor finished. This looks at least not horrible in a single color finish.

That's a real piece of wood. That's different.

 

[mastapimp]

The majority of the poplar burls and buckeye burls are underwhelming, but if you're willing to spend the money on a custom shop instrument, they can be mesmerizing with choice tops. The top on the wasabi regius in my avatar is eye poplar and looks incredible in person and photos. I'll agree with the others that say solid colors and more "activity" keep things aesthetically pleasing. The tortilla-berg posted in the funny guitar threads is an example of what gives this option a bad name.