So, a while ago I received in addition to my order a top that's unsellable by the standards of the tonewood dealer because of a knot (shadow) in the OM template area. I used it to practice jointing and found that after jointing it's perfectly usable as a smaller body top (L-00, parlor). If I turned the top around, it would appear defect free from the outside, and the know would sit on the kerfing of an OM guitar (if I moved the pattern a bit from the one drawn on the piece.
The tonewood dealer's specialty is Red Spruce, but he also sells Sitka and Engelmann. I measured the density of the piece and it comes in at 7.79 g/in3. The taptone is incredible. It rings much longer than any other Spruce top I've tapped (I have limited experience though...2 Sitka, 1 Lutz, and this one). It's nicely quartered and super stiff along and across the grain. And it has tight grain and even color.
From my description I would guess Red Spruce, but I somehow can't belive getting such a nice top for free if it's Red Spruce (even though it's only usable without "cheating" for smaller guitars).
Is there any way you could help identify the piece? Here's a pic.
The cross marks where the knot comes out on the other side and I can still move the pattern down 1 inch or so.
thanks a lot,
Christian
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