Learn about our tops.
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All of our tops are cut from sinker Sitka spruce cut originally cut in the 1940s.
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All styles of tops are available in the following grades:
#1 Grade: Sometimes called Master grade, these tops are flawless.
#2 Grade: Not quite flawless, but pretty close.
Teredo Grade: Riddled with Teredo worm holes, these tops are visually striking.
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Available as bookmatched guitar, ukulele, and archtop tops.
Our Grading Specifications
Our tops all adhere to the following grading specifications (in order of importance):
Structurally Sound Wood: No lifts, wind breaks, cracks, wormholes, unsound wood or discoloration (stain) caused by mold or fungus.
Vertical Grain and Stiffness: Our emphasis is on quartersawn wood, which ensures good tone. Perfectly quartered is always the goal but it varies with grade.
#1 Grade: Maximum allowable deviation from perfect quarter is 20°.
#2 Grade: Maximum allowable deviation from perfect quarter is 30°.
Ring Count: 8 annual growth rings per inch minimum, with no adjacent rings more than 1/8” apart.
Cosmetic and Aesthetic Appearance: We prioritize the best looking wood for both good, uniform color and lack of visual defects. Color, visual defects, bearclaw, uneven grain/growth rings, etc. are all evaluated in determining whether
The primary means of classifying a top as a #1 or #2 grade is by evaluating the cosmetic and aesthetic appearance along with the deviation from perfect quarter.
All tops are resawn from stock with a maximum of 12% moisture content in order to avoid stain and grain tear.
All bookmatched pairs have the edges marked with a (V) prior to resawing to indicate the proper bookmatch.
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#1 Grade
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#2 Grade
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Teredo Grade
Styles & Dimensions
Guitar Tops:
Normal: 8-1/4" x 22-1/2” x 3/16” (210 mm x 572 mm x 5 mm)
Oversized: 9" x 23” x 3/16” (229 mm x 584 mm x 5 mm)
Ukulele Tops:
Normal: 6-1/2" x 15-1/2” x 3/16” (165 mm x 394mm x 5mm)
Arch Tops:
Normal: 8-1/2" x 22-1/2” x 1” to 3/8” (216 mm x 572mm x 25mm to 10mm)