Keystone
Guitar Tonewoods for Luthiers

Alpine spruce.

This is the preferred material for most classical guitar makers, and can also make a superb steel string guitar. old growth trees from high altitude are perfect for soundboards, but are scarce, making high grade tops very hard to come by.

Alpine spruce soundboards

Classical AAA grade £64.50 Classical AA grade £52.85 Classical A grade £41.00 Western AAA grade £70.50 Western AA grade £58.75 Western A grade £47.00

Sitka spruce.

Sitka spruce is a very strong, stiff material and is well established as the first choice in American guitar manufacturing, and although it is not a traditional material for classical guitars there are some makers that use it to very good effect.

Sitka spruce soundboards

Classical AAA grade £64.50 Classical AA grade £52.75 Classical A grade £41.00 Western AAA grade £64.50 Western AA grade £52.75 Western A grade £41.00

Western red cedar

Western red cedar, a good value soundboard, which can produce a good quality loud instrument although it is not as robust a wood as spruce and therefore prone to damage.

Western Red Cedar soundboards

classical AAA grade £41.00 classical AA grade £31.50 classical A grade £22.00 western AAA grade £47.00 western AA grade £37.50 western A grade £23.50

Sitka Spruce.

Jumbo & Acoustic Bass Sitka Spruce.

Jumbo & Acoustic Bass Sitka Spruce

Jumbo & Bass Sitka Spruce AAA grade £76.50 Jumbo & Bass Sitka Spruce AA grade £64.50 Jumbo & Bass Sitka Spruce AAA grade £52.75

A Grade Quarter sawn 70-100%

For mid-priced instruments.
Availability medium.
Same as AA grade, but with slight irregularity in spacing, white colour or with some brown lines on the lower bout, run out possible.
Bear claw markings possible.