"Bear Claw Spruce" (Haselfichte) picea abies

This is the name given to the figuring sometimes found in spruce, as it look like a bear "clawed" it.
Usually fully quartered tonewood and therefore a sign of high quality.

Strong fundamentals and complex overtones makes this a great timber for soundboards.

What is moon wood?

The encyclopaedia defines moon wood, as wood that, according to tradition, exhibits outstanding and unique characteristics when felled during certain phases of the moon.

For centuries lumber was cut exclusively in the winter and then only at certain times in accordance with the phases of the moon. Specific, moon-related felling guidelines passed down through generations have apparently proved useful for other professions in the timber industry.

General features and characteristics of Tonewood

Trunk wood free of any knots
Straight grain (free of twists)
Homogeneous wood (no tension wood)
A uniform structure with tight annual rings ranging from 1-2 (3) mm
Low ratio of latewood (less than 20-30% of the total growth ring.) This assures a light coloration of the wood.
Light in weight (a low or middle specific weight under 0.450g/cm3) without being soft
Stiffness: a high deformation resistance (elasticity model) very high in relation to weight
Sound velocity in high relation to weight and at the same time a high degree of damping.
Low resin content, no pitch pockets

Tone woods

I store all my tonewood in a humidity controlled room for at least 5 years before use. All woods used in my guitars are air-dryed and have a humidity level of less than 4%Rh .

Most of my Spruce Soundboard Tonewood comes from Switzerland and was grown at high altitude (1000 to 1500 Meters above Sea level).
 
Wood Grade: AAA or better only if wood is graded.
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