Sitka Spruce Acoustic Guitar Tops

Sitka grows in abundance in north USA, Alaska and Canada though only a small percentage of trees are suitable for guitar tops.

Quality - The higher grade tops are more even in colour and have close even grain spacing. Lower grades may display colour variations, and slightly wider grain lines, this timber is still appealing and produces an excellent sound.

The timber used for tops is usually split from logs into quartersawn billets which are then resawn. This ensures the unbroken grain runs the full length of the soundboard.

Look - Colour is generally a little darker than the other spruces ranging from off-white to pinkish light brown. The grain lines are fine and distinct, the quartersawn wood exhibits a silky appearance due to the strong medullary rays.

Sound - Acoustic guitars with Sitka Spruce soundboards are loud with good clarity and a bright tone.

Availability/Renewability - Tops are harvested from natural forests rather than plantations. Good quality Sitka is still easily available, however Sitka forests are still being cleared for paper pulp so the future of this timber is uncertain.