Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi all.

On the LMII web site, they claim that Engleman spruce has basically all the qualities of European spruce while being cheaper.

I was wondering people that have experience with both think of that.

And by the way, for what it's worth, the project is for a Classical.

Thanks!

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

I haven't built with Engelman yet but I have a few select sets that have truly excellent stiffness to weight, and a nice taptone. It is remarkably similar to Euro. I think I can tell them apart in some cases, but not all the time. It is something about the medullary rays, a finer difference than I could explain with words. It is generally said Engelmann it is whiter than Euro, but fact is a lot of Euro can be just as white, so this falls. Perhaps the sapwood can have a more repulsive smell than Euro, imo. It is also said Engelman has finer and more uniform grain than Euro, again utter BS if one has a good Euro source. They also say Engelman is lighter, and perhaps it is true in general, but Euro just as light is not exactly a big rarity.
Anyway, it is certainly a great tonewood and I will use when its time comes. As they say, if the tree/set is good, species doesn't matter.

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Build log

Thanks Alexandru,

I guess I'll give it a try then.

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

It depends on the piece ,not the species.
I've used it along side of Euro. for classicals for 30 years and
It's worked out fine.
I go for lite in weight and med.-stiff for flexing.
Mike

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Mike Collins