The Man Cave Lives On
Pitch Perfect
"Yes," writes Tschorn. "The man cave has gone from sacred space to flower-show bait."
Michigan's Lake Superior State University included 'man cave' in the 2012 edition of its annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness.
But Mike Yost, a retired U.S. military intelligence officer, co-author of 'The Man Cave Book', and founder of mancavesite.org, thinks the rumors of the man cave's demise are premature.
The site features hundreds of photos of man caves ranging from the incredibly creative to the bizarre and ridiculous. Yost admits the passion displayed by the site's man cave aficionados surprised even him.
"A lot of people do a lot of the work themselves," Yost says. "They bust out their power tools and their wood tools. It's great to see the craftsmanship." Asked about the most amazing man cave he's ever seen, Yost says it's a bit of a blur: "I've seen so many, some that are way off the beaten path. Some rooms look like they're made out of rock, that they are a real cave. Most are pretty traditional though."
One thing for sure, what self-respecting man cave would be complete without the natural richness of fine, durable wood? And a huge TV.
Pitch Perfect
The resonance of these magnificent guitars "opens up" as they age and are played. Most stringed-instruments feature multiple exotic species to give them perfect tonal (acoustic) properties.
Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is used in the tops of guitars as well as the back, sides and necks, or in the solid bodies of electric guitars. The back and/or sides of guitars are often created from rosewood (Dalbergia spp.), and ebony (Diospyros spp.) is designed in the fretboards, fingerboards and tailpieces. You'll find softwoods too. Spruces (Picea spp.) are favored for the tops of stringed instruments because of the high stiffness-to-weight ratio. Guitars improve with use and play; hopefully so do the man cave guitar players. This beauty uses Madagascar rosewood (Dalbergia baroni) for the back, sides, headplate and heelcap. The guitar top and internal braces are crafted from Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).
Frequently asked questions
Why did Lake Superior State University banish the term 'man cave'?+
Lake Superior State University included 'man cave' in the 2012 edition of its annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness.
Is the man cave trend going away?+
According to Mike Yost, retired U.S. military intelligence officer, co-author of 'The Man Cave Book', and founder of mancavesite.org, rumors of the man cave's demise are premature. His site features hundreds of photos of man caves, and enthusiasts continue to display strong passion for building them.
What kind of craftsmanship goes into building a man cave?+
Many man cave owners do the work themselves, using power tools and wood tools to create the spaces. Designs range from traditional rooms to elaborate builds that look as if they are made out of rock, resembling a real cave.
What wood species are used in guitar construction?+
Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is used in tops, backs, sides, necks, and solid bodies of electric guitars. Rosewood (Dalbergia spp.) is often used for backs and sides, ebony (Diospyros spp.) for fretboards, fingerboards and tailpieces, and spruces (Picea spp.) for tops due to their high stiffness-to-weight ratio.
Why is spruce used for the tops of stringed instruments?+
Spruces (Picea spp.) are favored for the tops of stringed instruments because of their high stiffness-to-weight ratio, which gives them desirable acoustic properties.
What woods are used in a Madagascar rosewood guitar?+
The featured guitar uses Madagascar rosewood (Dalbergia baroni) for the back, sides, headplate and heelcap, while the guitar top and internal braces are crafted from Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).