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| What does ’euro’ top mean http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=10046 |
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| Author: | bob J [ Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:54 am ] |
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I asked, in a previous question what recomendations you had for fingerpicking guitar, like 000. Lutz, Euro, Cedar seemed to be the winners. Question: What is EURO? To what spruce are you referring? Do we get the same quality 'euro' as the euros? Or is this the new specie of spruce discovered near Palermo? 
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| Author: | Don Williams [ Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:56 am ] |
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Picea Abies...the primary spruce found in Europe. |
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| Author: | bob J [ Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:59 am ] |
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Duh!, Thanks Don, I stupidly thought it was a genric term, ie. German, Carpathian, Italian etc. Where is the finest 'euro harvested? |
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| Author: | jfrench [ Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:21 am ] |
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The finest European spruce.... thats a tough question. Switzerland and Austria are where some of the most coveted soundboards come from. I am quickly developing a love for Italian spruce. Spruce from the Val de Fiemme in Italy is highly sought after as well. Luigi Delazzer posted some great pictures in this thread Jose Romanillos harvested some spruce from Yugoslavia for his guitars early in his career. Many choices. One of the finest soundboards I've ever laid my hands on is a Picea Orientalis that Colin sent me. That one is as special as it gets. |
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| Author: | bob J [ Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:31 am ] |
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Great info. Thanks all BUT, Does everyone still have Christmas hanover-Com'on, Not even a rise or chuckle for "spruce near Palermo"? 
Or is it just me??? |
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| Author: | Bobc [ Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:13 am ] |
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Bob the closest your going to get to Palermo and Spruce is from the Zootman. 
Hey "Don" your supposed to be policing this kinda' talk. 
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| Author: | Colin S [ Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:52 am ] |
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[QUOTE=jfrench] Many choices. One of the finest soundboards I've ever laid my hands on is a Picea Orientalis that Colin sent me. That one is as special as it gets.[/QUOTE] SSHHH Joshua, they'll all want one! I'm just glad you like it, it is great wood, but unfortunately now as rare as rocking horse....Though I'm working on a new source, but don't tell anyone! When we talk about Euro now though we mean Picea abies, the Norway Spruce, grows throughout Europe in mountain areas. Sold though under the name of it's place of origin, German, Italian, Swiss, Carpathian etc. Wood from different countries may show variation, but generally good samples from any of the main areas are about as good a top wood as it gets. I have some very old Swiss (pre-war)that is superb and some true German and Austrian which are equally good. I'm currently building with some Italian from Luigi and I have great hopes for it. Until relatively recently in Europe Spruce was just 'pine' and instrument builders selected boards for their individual characteristics. I would expect that many fine instruments were built using the supply of P. orientalis from the Caucasus, which would have been shipped by sea along to Spain and Italy, but are today assumed to have been built using P.abies. As to whether better Euro is available in Europe than in the US, I don't know. I do know that many of the tonewood companies in Europe visit the sawmills and select their wood first from each batch, my own supplier goes twice a year to select the very best wood (7&8 grade on the European scale) Beautifully even grained and very stiff. Where does the rest go? If I want a spruce top now I never consider anything else, (I do have one of Shane's Lutz and it's the best US sourced spruce I've ever seen by a very long way). Oh, I have got some more P.orientalis but that is being saved for some very special projects! Colin |
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