Official Luthiers Forum!

Has anyone ever used lutz spruce (sitka, englemann, white spruce hybrid)?  I was wondering what it sounded like.  Does the sitka/englemann combination give it strong fundamental as well as overtones? Does it sound anything like red spruce?

Thanks,

Nate

Lutz is or is rapidly becoming one of the favorite top woods around here. Search the archives and you'll find plenty of rave reviews.

Hesh's Tiger Myrtle guitar stands out in my mind for some reason — maybe because it's one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen. I nearly dampened me knickers when I saw it.

As I recall, Hesh ordered more Lutz right away.

(Hey Hesh, any sound files yet?)

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D..

I built with Lutz and i just love it, i even ordered 3 more sets for my next F5 mandos projects and i also have a top that will go on guitar no 4. Sweet stuff!

Indeed, that was one of the sweetest guitars i've seen on here too.

Lutz must be really good. I haven't used any yet but Ive got 30 of Shane's tops coming my way

Too many tops for one man at once, i'll try to catch that plane and get some off that nice pile!

Incase anyone was wondering who this 'Shane' guys is, he's a sponsor here.

This is his webpage.

http://highmountaintonewood.com

Shane = "Mister Lutz"

[QUOTE=Serge Poirier] Too many tops for one man at once, i'll try to catch that plane and get some off that nice pile! [/QUOTE]

Anytime Serge. The workshop is always open for fellow OLF'ers.

Cheers

That'd be so cool Martin, i wish i could afford the ticket though, well, who knows... maybe one day if i get successfull enough!

Cheers bro!

Graham
Shane is DEFINITELY one of the OLF sponsors. You can see his link on the list
of sponsors.   He is awesome to deal with!!!!
Most of us regulars hear use Lutz and love it. Bob sells it as well, but Shane
is the Lutz expert. I personally have used it on the last 4 guitars and love it.
I have somewhere around 15-20 tops in my woodshed.


Woops. Graham I misread your line. I thought you were questioning
whether Shane was a sponsor

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Thanks for the accalades y'all...shucks !!

Nate, I just wanted to explain a bit what Lutz really is. The literature basically calls it a Sitka Hybrid and it can be either a Sitka/White/Engelmann Hybrid or soley a Sitka/White hybrid. The hybridization occurs in the transition zone of the west coast along the coastal mountain range. The literature explains defines the range from central British Columbia through to souteast Alaska. I have read where it is believed this hybrid would occur as far south as Washington State, and probably has. Engelmann Spruce is a high elevation tree and in the area where I live (just below the Alsaka Panhandle in British Columbia) these trees start to show up at about 3500' elevation. At this elevation the trees are not really large enough for musical instruments and are often quite twisted. So, the Lutz you will typically see is a Sitka/White hybrid and in my area the best of these tress are harvested between 900' and 1400'. Lower than that and they typically grow too fast and the tops have wide grain and are a bit loose, higher than that and the trees are typically too small or "course" (Knotty, twisty) for quality instrument wood.

Hope that helps!

Shane

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Canada

Shane,

I've often wondered how you can tell the Lutz spruce from the others, being a hybrid of the three, what is it about the tree that declares it LUTZ?

Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

Greg,

You can use DNA but that can be expensive....So mostly it is just geography. Where I harvest DNA assessments have been made of the forest complex and they have determined that all of the spruce stands in this area are hybrid, then the elevation equation comes into play for the mix. I think that in the wood you can see it a bit as well. You can see sets that more closely resemble Sitka if you move west and sets that are more Engelmann (white spruce) in appearance as you move east. But it is indeed the hybridization that offers the unique qualities of Lutz, adding qualities of two other fine tonewoods to make this third!

Shane

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Canada

Lutz has all the qualities needed to make great instruments.
Stiffness,low weight, and strength!
I love it !

Mike Collins

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Mike Collins

[QUOTE=kiwigeo] Lutz must be really good. I haven't used any yet but Ive got 30 of Shane's tops coming my way [/QUOTE]


Martin,,, that's just not fair ! I can't wait to get some of Shane's Lutz. George Lowden has re ordered , which also says heaps .
I'll be placing an order very soon Shane. Hope you haven't run out of stock

Cheers Craig

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Let's not forget, Michael Greenfield, also loves and raves about Lutz...

It's one of my 'must try' woods for sure... I think I'm going to paint mine blue...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Good idea!!! I have always had difficulty telling the difference between black and........... MIDNIGHT BLUE

The first ten 3A Lutz tops arrived today....Shanes tops supplied via Tim Spittle at Aussie Tonewoods. Beautiful wood and a lovely tap tone.

Thanks Tim and thanks Shane.

BTW, how do you pronounce it? Does it rhyme with "butts" or "puts" (as in "he puts his hand in his pocket").

Then again, you Canadians pronounce everything funny anyway...

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

[QUOTE=Todd Rose] BTW, how do you pronounce it? Does it rhyme with "butts" or "puts" (as in "he puts his hand in his pocket").

Then again, you Canadians pronounce everything funny anyway... [/QUOTE]

Todd,

I think it rhymes with Klutz

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010