Canadian Cypress/Yellow Cedar
(Chamaecyparis nootkatensis)
Alaskan Yellow Cedar, aka Canadian cypress, is so closely related to the true cypresses that it has been classified with them by botanists in the past. It is an excellent carving wood, with fine even texture, and very close-grained. It is one of the most stable woods in terms of dimensional change due to moisture content change. It works easily and finishes well. Though YC/CDN Cypress is not a traditional wood, it is gaining popularity. Many custom builders use YC/CDN cypress for guitar tops, including archtops (jazz guitars and mandolins). It is also used for backs and sides of Flamenco guitars. It is a denser wood than Red Cedar, with a specific gravity very close to Sitka Spruce. It has a nice light yellow color and a pleasant aroma.
| Size | Master | 3A | 2A | 1A | Dimension |
| Classical | $55.00 | $45.00 | $40.00 | $18.00 | 5mm x 8" x 22" |
| Dreadnought | $60.00 | $55.00 | $45.00 | $22.00 | 5mm x 8.5" x 22" |
| Jumbo | $75.00 | $65.00 | $40.00 | $22.00 | 5 mm x 9.25" x 22" |
| Archtop | $160.00 | $140.00 | $90.00 | $60.00 | 2.5" x 9" x 23" |
Engelmann Spruce
(Picea engelmanni)
Our Engelmann Spruce is Harvested from the interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is quite common to substitute Engelmann for “European or German” Spruce since the characteristics are so similar, however it is more consistant in color and grain. Engelmann has a more pale color than Sitka and although rare can have some pinkish striping in the lower grades.
| Size | Master | 3A | 2A | 1A | Dimension |
| Classical | $55.00 | $45.00 | $40.00 | $22.00 | 5mm x 8" x 22" |
| Dreadnought | $65.00 | $55.00 | $45.00 | $22.00 | 5mm x 8.5" x 22" |
| Jumbo | $75.00 | $65.00 | $50.00 | $25.00 | 5 mm x 9.25" x 22" |
| Archtop | $200.00 | $182.00 | $120.00 | $80.00 | 2.5" x 9" x 23" |
Sitka Spruce
(Picea sitchensis)
Sitka which is known for its strength and durability comes from the Northern coast of British Columbia up into Alaska. It tends to have a warm pinkish/tan hue to it and can have a “candy stripe” in the lower grades.
| Size | Master | 3A | 2A | 1A | Dimension |
| Classical | $50.00 | $45.00 | $40.00 | $22.00 | 5mm x 8" x 22" |
| Dreadnought | $60.00 | $55.00 | $45.00 | $22.00 | 5mm x 8.5" x 22" |
| Jumbo | $65.00 | $55.00 | $50.00 | $25.00 | 5 mm x 9.25" x 22" |
| Archtop | $200.00 | $160.00 | $100.00 | $75.00 | 2.5" x 9" x 23" |
Western Red Cedar
(Thuja plicata)
This is another case where our rearends have landed in the butter. Like our Maple, Western Red Cedar is all around us. Although not a traditional wood for guitar tops, it is used in huge volumes by factories in Spain. It requires a little more care than the spruces as it can dent or mar easier. Western Red cedar is light and stiff, the color ranges from a light tan to dark chocolate brown. Lower grades can have dramatic color variations.
| Size | Master | 3A | 2A | 1A | Dimension |
| Classical | $45.00 | $30.00 | $20.00 | $12.00 | 5mm x 8" x 22" |
| Dreadnought | $60.00 | $45.00 | $25.00 | $15.00 | 5mm x 8.5" x 22" |
| Jumbo | $68.00 | $50.00 | $30.00 | $17.00 | 5 mm x 9.25" x 22" |
| Archtop | $150.00 | $95.00 | $75.00 | 2.5" x 9" x 23" |
Wood for bracing
| Species | $CDN/BF |
| Engelmann Spruce | $4.00 |
| Sitka Spruce | $4.00 |
| Yellow Cedar/Cypress | $4.00 |
