New Korina tele top with 4 small filled holes..???

[Nightwulf1974]

Hey all,

Just got my Korina top for my new tele build and it's absolutely stunning.  Here's the thing, I just noticed these 4 small filled holes that look like they have been drilled and then plugged. 

I put pencils showing their locations just behind the bridge.  I'm puzzled as to why they are there and what would be the reasoning for it?  Am I missing something here or being an ignoramus?

I love this piece of wood and it's a keeper so it's no real big deal, I just want to know what they are for or why they are there. 

Thanks guys!

Edit:  I found a couple on the back in random spots too. 

 

[Cagey]

That's where they inject the tone worms.

 

[swarfrat]

Unacceptable! But I'd be happy to dispose of that body for you...

People joke about toneworms, but those lower holes do actually look like worm holes. Perhaps they filled a naturally occuring hole already present in the lumber? It's so pretty, I sure wouldn't throw it in the scrap pile because of it.

 

[Nightwulf1974]

Tone worms eh?  Sounds legit.  :laughing7:

I did email Spike just to get his take.  Again, not a chance in hell I'm parting with this piece of lovely lumber, I'm just curious to know the origin of why those holes are there. 

On a related note, my wife said it looks like the body has fangs, so I have decided to name her "Fang" in Fender script and what will be a custom label on my Korina neck I've got coming soon..

 

[Fat Pete]

The dark marks in BK appear to be caused by the tree's response to insect attack, so there often will be filled holes.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Uh, technically, they're CNC Cyberworms that have been tonally engineered. :glasses9:

Let's get our science right guys, sheeeessshhh!!!  :icon_scratch:

 

[swarfrat]

How low can you go??? It's tone worms doing the Limba. I mean Limbo.

 

[fdesalvo]

"Toneworms"  :toothy12:

Hey, OP - that's a gorgeous hunk-a-wood!

 

[aarontunes]

I am not the wood expert around here, and will gladly defer to Spike or anyone else who knows better, but my understanding is that the orange sections in BK are a response to insect activity. Thus, any time you see one o' them orange sections on a piece of BK, you will find a insect hole within it.


Nature!  :headbang:

 

[Cagey]

What I've been able to find sorta agrees, but the explanation reads like a chicken/egg thing...

Explaining the source of the references to white and black limba/korina, Rick Banas, vice president at Interwood Forest Products, said, “In some countries the trees develop a black heart which rarely exceeds 50 percent of a tree’s diameter. This heartwood is susceptible to beetles and is more often than not full of worm holes.”

It's not clear whether the beetles are causing the reaction or are attracted to the situation.

 

[Rick]

I like what the worms do, every piece of limba should have a little worm magic, it makes it special, congrats on a great body.

 

[Rick]

I saw on the Gibson website that the black blotches are due to bacteria and fungus that get into the wood, feeding on the sugars.  Once dried the stained blackness cannot be removed.  Gibson seems to think it's undesirable, but they lack sophistication, because to me, the black streaks, and the orange stains (caused by the bugs) elevate Korina to being more beautiful. 

Give me stains!

http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/korinawoodmakesgreatguitar.aspx