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ADIRONDACK or RED SPRUCE versus SITKA SPRUCE
This article has been published on the following internet sites:
www.australianluthiers.com.au
Both of these timbers make great soundboards on flat top acoustic guitars.
They have had popularity at different times in history heres the story so far.
Adirondack or Red Spruce was very popular piror to WWII. It is found on a lot
vintage acoustic guitars. The high weight to strength ratio made it useful in
the construction of aeroplane wings during the war. The ratio is what makes it
so prized amongst guitar Luthiers. After the war most of the good trees were gone,
and what is still available, has cosmetic flaws. If you can put up with this it still
makes great sounding guitars especially if you want a new guitar with that vintage sound.
This scarcity led to the use of Sitka Spruce as the number one guitar top of the big
guitar Luthiers. It is found on most guitars. If you step into some guitar shops
like I have and ask to play an Adirondack you will often be greeted with a puzzled
look from the shop assistant. The easiest way to get you hands on one is to play a
vintage instrument or have a custom guitar built.
SITKA SPRUCE
Source:
Western North America
Colours:
Pinkish white to Light Brown, silky, even grain
Tonal:
Good balance, clarity and resonation, bright, crisp
Suitable:
Steel Strings sound boards, hard flat picking
ADIRONDACK (red) SPRUCE
Source:
North America
Colours:
Irregular grain, creamy white, little silking
Tonal:
Strong, clear. Brilliance of Sitka/warmth of Engelmann
Suitable:
Flat picking
www.artsandentertainment.info
www.guitarsite.com
www.guitaradoption.com
www.searchwarp.com
www.ricsvintageguitars.com
www.goghguitars.com
.....as a quality Australian luthier in Perth, Western Australia Andrew Ellis of Ellis Guitars
blends traditional old-fashioned handcraft with the latest technology to produce sweet sounding
custom hand made guitars. Steel string dreadnought, 000, jumbo, OM, small jumbo, L1, Jumbo,
Weissenborn, Left Hand Guitars and Lap Steel models, wood body and metal body resonators
and custom wood and timber stomp boxes are all hand crafted and handmade. A combination of
international solid timbers renowned for acoustic and sound-producing qualities, temperature
and humidity controlled environments, attention to colour matching and design, and patient
awareness of the delicate processes of manufacture including wood tuning, thicknesses, bracing
and finishing techniques guarantee beauty and quality......
