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The images show unprocessed back/side sets. This means the back joint location is not yet optimized for symmetry and grain. You may also see sets with tooling and burn marks from the milling process. Additionally, many Rosewood species have pores with white mineral deposits and this gets removed during the build process.

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Wood oxidizes over time and vibrant colors become more subdued — the end result is that most guitar backs end up becoming some variation of brown after several decades. Without a finish to greatly slow the oxidation process, most wood species will completely oxidized within a year. I recently labeled and photographed most of my back/side inventory and many of these sets are over 10 years old and fully oxidized. Additionally, my shop lighting is a mix of LED and fluorescent and doesn't give off a full spectrum light … so woods tend to look a bit browner in my shop than they do in sunlight. When I start building with a set, the oxidized surface gets sanded away, revealing wood that looks very similar to the day it was first milled. Most modern finishes contain UV inhibitors and this along with the wood being sealed, greatly slows oxidation. It typically takes several decades for finished woods to fully oxidize. So when looking at these sets … bear in mind that the vast majority of them will look far more vibrant and colorful when used in a guitar. If you have a question about a particular set, just ask and I will let you know what to expect in terms of actual coloration.

I've selected 6 sets from my inventory to demonstrate the effects of oxidation.