The spruce (Picea Abies, Picea Excelsa) is a coniferous tree with a light coloured wood. The structure is mainly determined by the darker annual rings. Although Spruce is lightwheight, it is still very firm. For instrument making, only medium or finely grown qualities are acceptable. Especially for the tops, only faultless and perfectly cut pieces should come into use. A special variation is the so-called “bearclaw spruce”, which shows some very attractive attractive textures (see bottom picture).
Origin:
all over North-, Central- and Eastern Europe
Used For:
top, bars, linings, blocks
Tonal Properties:
usually somewhat clearer and more transparent than cedar. Although spruce instruments bear a wider range of tonal possibilities, they are more difficult to handle for some players.
