Yes, it's sitka spruce. As mentioned, it'll darken with age. However, that is one nice piece of sitka you have there.

How do you darken Sitka spruce top?

Even indirect sunlight (like a guitar gets next to a window when the sunlight isn't directly falling on it) will do a good job of darkening a top. Keeping a guitar in a bright room but not in direct sunlight is pretty efficient for darkening the top (although we're talking months, not hours or days).

Does spruce guitars darken with age?

Over time, a good cut of spruce will mature and darken, giving it a golden (almost glowing) look. ... When paired with a contrasted set of hardwoods for the back and sides, a good cut of spruce is simply delightful to the eyes of both the performer and the audience.

Do guitars get darker over time?

They'll darken by themselves with time, but exposure to sunlight seems to accelerate it.

Does Sitka spruce darken with age?

Yes, it's sitka spruce. As mentioned, it'll darken with age.

What no one will tell you about acoustic guitar soundboards!

Is Adirondack spruce better than Sitka spruce?

Adirondack Spruce

It is the king of spruces. Prior to World War II, it was the soundboard tonewood of choice for Martin and other makers. ... It's a relatively heavy and stiff wood, having strong fundamentals, but a greater overtone content than Sitka, and it tends to be the loudest and liveliest of spruces as well.

Which is better mahogany or spruce?

Mahogany's stronger than spruce. Side/back woods are usually more dense than the topwood. However, Mahogany is light enough and strong enough to be used as a topwood.

Which is better spruce or cedar?

Cedar tends to be a less hard wood than spruce and gives, generally speaking, a quieter projection but more character, losing clarity when strummed hard; consequently, it tends to be favoured by finger pickers (hence its use in classical guitars!).

Is spruce a good tone wood?

Spruce. This evergreen, found in northern temperate regions of the globe, is literally top choice: the ideal wood for the soundboard, or top, of an acoustic guitar. Its look — light in color, even in grain — is appealing though somewhat plain; what sets it apart is its beautiful tonal properties.

Is cedar or spruce better for guitar?

Spruce guitars typically have a quite direct sound with a bell-like tone. They seem to be more clear, balanced and sometimes have more sustain. Cedar however, makes the guitar sound darker, warmer and generally fuller. ... Cedar always matures sooner than Spruce.

How can you tell the age of a spruce top?

UV light is the best way to darken a top.

What is a Torrefied top?

Torrefied Tops

It's the result of a natural molecular change in the cell structure of the wood. Torrefaction is a roasting technique that greatly accelerates this process, enabling a new guitar to sound much older. Andy Powers developed his own recipe for torrefying spruce tops on the 600 Series.

What does laminated spruce top mean?

Usually the term "spruce top" means that the top of the guitar is constructed of laminated plies of wood. Often, only the top layer is spruce, with less costly woods making up the layers underneath. Advantages of laminated top guitars include their lower cost and relative durability.

What kind of wood is best for ukuleles?

The most frequently used woods for the tops are: mahogany, koa, spruce, cedar. For the bottom and sides: hard and dense woods are preferred, in order to reflect and contain the sound in the soundbox without dispersions. The most frequently used woods are: mahogany, koa, maple and rosewood.

Is spruce good wood for guitars?

Spruce is the most popular wood used for guitar tops, and recognisable by its pale colour and (usually) understated figuring. The reason for its popularity is because it has a tone that makes it a very good 'all-rounder'. ... Spruce is a common species of wood, adding to its guitar material credentials.

What is the best tonewood?

Top Woods. Arguably the most common tonewood, Sitka Spruce is a well-rounded tonewood, one suited for many styles of playing. It's known for its tight grain pattern and its high stiffness and relative lightness, translating to a broad dynamic range that stands up well when strummed heartily.

How much does Sitka spruce cost?

A top-grade soundboard will cost from $35 to $50. But the price of construction grade Sitka spruce approaches that of pine. Specially sawn, vertical grain lumber may cost $3 a board foot.

What is solid Sitka spruce top?

Sitka Spruce. Origin: Northwestern North America (Coastal Rainforests of Alaska and Canada) As a guitar soundboard, or top, Sitka spruce is the tonewood standard of the modern era. It's used on 85-90 percent of the guitars that Taylor makes.

Can I make my fretboard darker?

Oiling the board with conditioners will help, but you can also stain it to make it darker. I had Ron Thorn do that on a pau ferro neck for me (on a alread finished guitar) and it came out beautifully.