Official Luthiers Forum!

I just bought some Engelmann for my first build. It seems like good stuff and it was relatively cheap comparing to it's European counterpart. That's not to say I wasn't tempted though. Maybe for my next build(assuming this one isn't a complete disaster)!! Anyway, I wanted to ask the archtop guys on here what they prefer to use and why? Is European Spruce that much better to command such a noticeable difference in price? Anyone here have a preference for it?

So, I guess no one here ever built an archtop with European Spruce?

Hi Jack,
I have only used Sitka spruce for all the archtops I have built.
I(and my clients) have always been very happy with the tone-and I am firmly in the camp of "If it aint broke,don't fix it".
I pay between $75-$100 for a nice grade of wood.
Of course any wood can be made to sound "good" when properly graduated and braced etc.
I hope this is helpfull.