A few years ago, I had to remove a fallen tulip tree from a garden. As always I gave my mate a ring to see if any of the wood would be of use to him. He calls himself a luther and mends and builds violins. So all sorts of stange timbers are laid down to season and he uses them in his work.
He has now presented me with a hand made mandolin built with the tulip wood. The only one he has ever made and he will not make another as they are too difficult to shape. According to him it is not perfect and he would not sell it, but it stays in tune and is beautiful with all the inlaid coloured timbers, so I now have a 'family heirloom' which will be cherished by me. Knowing it from the very start makes it very personal.
