Classical Guitar Top - Master Grade
Engelmann Spruce, most well known for its excellent tone quality, is an amazingly strong, light and flexible wood and has exceptional stiffness-to-weight ratio. It also has beautiful uniform colour, usually a cream to almost white.
Master grade is a traditionally beautiful top without any defects, narrow even grain across the top and cross grain is very stiff.
Approximate measurements:
182mm wide
5mm thick
495mm long
Sold as a book-matched set. Request a specific log number or characteristic. You can use our log database to see what logs we offer.
Grading of tone wood is very subjective to the eye and experience of the grader. The grade description below attempts to capture the major characteristics involved in assessing the soundboards and will be used as a guide.
Master grade is a traditionally beautiful top without any defects, narrow even grain across the top and cross grain is very stiff.
AAA grade is a near perfect top, narrow even grain, and cross grain is very stiff.
AA grade have even or graduated grain, and cross grain is stiff. Can have only one minor defect. Possible defects can include faint colour, slight winter growth, light run out, localized deviation in grain, progression grain up to 10gpi at lower bout only (symmetrical), light knot shadow, very slight curve in grain.
A grade tops might contain contrasting colours, light compression, or wider grain (8gpi). Defects can include faint colour, slight winter growth, light run out, localized deviation in grain, progression grain up to 10gpi at lower bout only (symmetrical), light knot shadow. Grain may be uneven and cross grain stiffness will be acceptable.
