About Traditional and New Wood Species for String Instruments

Abstract

Traditional wood species used for violins and other instruments of this family are spruce resonance wood, also called Norway spruce, or spruce tonewood known under the scientific name of Picea abies that are used for the top, and curly maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) for the belly, ribs and neck. Macroscopically, resonance spruce for violins has a very regular structure without any defect (knots, resin pockets, stain). The width of the annual rings should have a low proportion of latewood. The raw wooden material for violins and other instruments, also called wedges should be naturally air dried for a long period of time (10 years). Resonance wood is very anisotropic. Other species, such as Sitka spruce, white spruce or red cedar are used for high quality instruments such as pianos, harps or guitars. Curly maple is characterised by flamed figures. Because of relative scarcity of these species there is a need to find replacement wood species with similar acoustical behaviour. Some Australian native species,such as King William pine and Huon pine were identified as substitutes for spruce. Blackwood, myrtle and sassafras as substitutes for curly maple. These new species should satisfy the acoustical requirements and aesthetical exigencies of luthiers and musicians. The tonal balance on violins made from Australian species is different from that obtained with European species because the high frequency damping is different. Building guitars with Australian species has been very successful and acoustical and aesthetical exigencies have been perfectly satisfied.