Wood Varieties for Gamut Instruments
In the galleries below you will find pictures and descriptions of the different types of wood that we use for lute and guitar fronts.
Sitka Spruce (Picea Sitchensis)
The Sitka Spruce used on Gamut instruments comes from the North Western states and British Columbia. The wood is stiff and a little heavier than Engelmann Spruce. Grain quality varies quite a bit with this wood, but we select wood that has a tight, straight grain with a very good stiffness. Wood color tends a little toward pink tones.
Figured Sitka Spruce (Picea Sitchensis)
The Figured Sitka Spruce is a special wood that we have in very limited supply. The figure in this wood results from swirls in the grain and is sometimes called "bearclaw" or "flowers." This figuring in the wood has a curious stiffening effect and wood with this feature tends to be very resonate. Certainly it creates a unique look to the instrument. The wood is stiff and a little heavier than Engelmann Spruce.
Engelmann Spruce (Picea Engelmanni), “A” Quality
The Engelmann spruce that we use comes from the high elevations of British Columbia. The “A” quality is light and stiff, but may have some discoloration and irregular grain. This is the wood that is used on all basic model lutes and guitars. The tone is full and bright.
Italian Alpine Spruce (Picea Excelsa)
This Italian Alpine Spruce is also said to have been used by Stradivari and grown in the Northeastern section of the Italian Alps. It is a very stiff, straight‑grained wood with even texture throughout the width. We purchase this wood from the Rivolta company, and only buy the first grade of wood.
Figured Fiemme Valley Spruce (Picea Abies)
This Fiemme Valley Spruce has all of the characteristics mentioned above plus the nice “bearclaw” or “flower” grain patterns. The figure in the grain gives a little extra stiffness and resonance to the wood.
Engelmann Spruce (Picea Engelmanni), “AAA” Quality
The Engelmann spruce that we use comes from the high elevations of British Columbia. The “AAA” quality is the very best Engelmann spruce available. The grain is very tight and straight and the color of the wood is very even. This quality of grain makes the wood stiffer, which means that the front can be made thinner and therefore more responsive. This is the wood that is available as an option for all lute models and guitars. The tone is full and bright.
Oriental Spruce (Picea Orientalis)
This Oriental Spruce is a very interesting and rare wood that is cut in mountainous areas of Turkey. The primary use for the wood is for the fronts of ‛ouds. One interesting difference between ‛oud makers and lute makers is that the ‛oud craftsmen prefer a softer wood for their instruments and we lute makers prefer a stiffer wood for fronts. This creates a nice harmony between the two markets and the wood supplier is happy to sort out the stiffer pieces of spruce and send it to the West for use in lutes. Even though the grain is a little wild on this wood and the color tends to be a little uneven, this is a very stiff and resonant wood. It is, without a doubt, the most rare and unusual wood we offer for fronts.
Fiemme Valley Spruce (Picea Abies)
The spruce wood that comes from the Fiemme Valley in Italy is famous among instrument makers and players. Tradition has it that this is the wood that Stradivari used for his instruments. There is little doubt that this wood has been used for centuries by the instrument makers of Italy. We purchase the wood from the E. Ciresa Company because of the remarkable care they take with the processing of the trees. As with most woods, the Fiemme spruce is available in various grades and it is only the first quality “I” grade that we purchase for our instruments. The grain is very close and even and due to the unique growing conditions in the Fiemme Valley the difference between the winter and summer rings is minimal, making the texture of the wood even throughout the width.
Engelmann Spruce (Picea Engelmanni), “AA” Quality
The Engelmann spruce that we use comes from the high elevations of British Columbia. The “AA” quality is light and stiff, with straight and tighter grain lines. This is the wood that is available as an option for all lute models and guitars. The tone is full and bright.
Western Red Cedar (Thuja Plicata)
The Western Red Cedar that we use comes from lower elevations in the wet, coastal regions of the North Western states. This wood is very stiff with extremely straight and tight grain, and a dark red color. Red Cedar is probably the stiffest and brightest wood that can be used for an instrument front, resulting in a bright, bell‑like tonal quality. This is the wood that is available as an option for all lute models and guitars.