Slab vs. Quarter, wide vs. fine

[Thomas Erickson]

Ah, I was neglecting that.

So how wide and/or angled the grain gets toward the edge helps determine how much recurve makes for a good balance of support and vibration, while moving toward the center of the plate the arching height and thickness, assuming the grain is more vertical there, help to determine the longitudinal stiffness and actual acoustic properties, right?

So it would seems to me like a top with even, vertical grain all the way across isn't, as a rule going to sound better, but that it is going to be simpler to interpret and make a good top from. Conversely, a top with other sorts of grain orientation has the potential to sound just as good, perhaps even better, but is going to take more consideration (and perhaps luck?) in order to get the best performance from it. And then there are the health issues to consider.