Get daily tips & tricks to help make your best home. The Norway spruce hails from Europe. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. This means the soil should have an adequate amount of organic matter which helps to retain moisture but also include plenty of inorganic matter (such as perlite) which helps with drainage. The botanical name is Picea abies (formerly classified as Picea excelsa). The crown is cone- or column-shaped. Norway spruce tree tops provide protection for many birds, such as hawks, owls, and other birds of prey. Most wood will have been planed before going on sale. Bend, Oregon 97702 They clung to the southern facing ranges of the Alps as the ice sheets receded, and were reintroduced to southern Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia after being plundered in the 18th and 19th centuries as the industrial revolution ramped up. This conifer is a large tree, which can grow up to 50-60 m in height and develop a trunk of 150 cm in diameter over a 200- to 300-year life span. Partly for the same reason the Wright Brothers chose it. Norway spruce trees support a wide variety of wildlife. In his spare time, Sebastian enjoys analogue photography, gaming, collecting vinyl, and listening to a frankly ridiculous range of music genres, including prog, black metal, hyperpop, and Deutschrap. Figuring known as Bear Claw is available though not as common as say figured maple. Color/Appearance: Norway Spruce is typically a creamy white, with a hint of yellow and/or red. How should string teachers approach an advanced adult pupil? Discover what happens when the original wood of lutherie blends with contemporary design and our cutting edge Sound Optimization technology on this Premier Concert CE. However, Quartersawn billets of instrument-grade Norway Spruce, (frequently sold under more sophisticated names such as German Spruce, Yugoslavian Spruce, etc.) Other than that, any fertilization should be done based on soil conditions. Taking a cutting from a young and pliable branch is the best way to propagate Norway spruce. Norway Spruce, 06452, 064520001LG000, 06452004L00000, 06452000500000, 06452S30000000, Fast growing; reaches 70 to 80 ft. tall, 35 to 45 ft. wide or larger with age., This classic tall timber tree has dark green evergreen needles on dense branches. Today, mature specimens of all the most popular spruce varieties are scarce. The tree, nicknamed Old Tjikko, must have re-sprouted many times from its roots over the course of millennia. It is because of this, the tree is not invasive. Although Norway Spruce is native to Europe, it has also been planted in the northeast, Rocky Mountains, and Pacific coast areas of the United States. Available in many different cultivars, finding a Norway Spruce to fit the landscape is easy! It is also planted extensively for forest restoration and windbreaks. (This is one reason why wholesalers normally choose trees that grow at high altitudes.) For most gardeners, it is best to contact a landscaper that specializes in palm tree pruning and have the tree professionally pruned. They are important as winter cover for deer and small game including grouse, hare and woodcock. View full details Original price $39.99 - Original price $39. It amplifies whatever resonance you transfer into it which is EXACTLY THE POINT of an instrument top. Beyond Bach: 12 tips for better Baroque playing, Products June 2023: Gewa Bio A violin case, Products June 2023: Schilbach kneading silicone, Products June 2023: Thomastik Dynamo strings, Violin dealer and expert Norman Rosenberg has died, Violin engulfed by Reishi mushroom in one-year timelapse. It has been widely planted in cool and temperate regions of North American where it typically matures to a . When it comes to tapping the wood, I like to test it while holding it between my fingers. It also provides good clarity, meaning it serves adequately for both strumming and picking. Density and Hardness are good for certain things and detrimental to others! Although the tree stays shorter when cultivated, homeowners often underestimate the space the tree takes when mature. The remaining seeds can be planted in containers filled with moist but not soggy soil. For maple there is no relationship between grain distance and the woods acoustic qualities. It makes a great and fast-growing windbreak in your landscape. Put that container in the refrigerator for at least three weeks. Norway spruce also makes a good roosting tree for hawks and owls. The result is a guitar thats punchy but very clear, offering sweet overtones. Wikimedia, Gryffindor Public Domain 1.0, This site is managed by the Joint Research Centre, research the European Commission does on forests and forestry, Follow the European Commission on social media. Glad you asked! Prune out the affected branches. While several tonewoods are go-to choices for different sounds or functions, spruce can perhaps claim to be the most widely used guitar wood around. The tree roots are strong and the trees can withstand high winds, making them excellent windbreaks. They also have shallow roots which means the trees can become easily damaged in severe weather. The Norway spruce will thrive in rich and sandy soil. One thing to note is that the odor is for the wood when it is dry, not when it is green or wet. The seeds should germinate after three weeks or so. He is an arboretum curator with over 30 years of experience. Ok, thanks a lot. For the first year, you will want to make sure your tree is well-watered. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. This dwarf palm is not frost-tolerant and is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11. The needles of a fir are soft and almost feathery. Norway spruce wood sometimes shows a specific growth anomaly called 'hazel growth', 'bear-claw' or 'indented rings'. PRIVACY POLICY|TERMS & CONDITIONS|SITE MAP|DON'T SELL MY INFO. Besides being a popular option for Christmas trees worldwide, It produces a softwood that various industries, including construction, paper, and of course, musical instruments, have widely used. Avoid soil that is either extremely acidic or extremely alkaline. Spruce projects. Alright, see ya! Stradivarius and other eminent Italian violin makers of the 17th and early 18th centuries used Norway spruce wood from the forests of the southern parts of the Italian Alps for the tops of their violins, in particular from the Forest of the Violins in the Parco Naturale di Paneveggio (Trentino, N-E Italy). Les Engles achieved Master Gardener through theCamden County Extension of the Rutgers Master Gardeners Program. Select Shop Pay during Checkout to view options! Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. The Wright Brotherswere hip to the impressive strength to weight ratio ofspruce!Personal Experience: I recently cut an (Englemann) Spruce Soundboard with a Jeweler's Saw and it was as if I was playing the violin! Her expertise in these areas has led her to contribute to other major publications including Better Homes and Gardens and Apartment Therapy. As a tonewood, spruce is really versatile. The Norway spruce has many uses besides being good for Christmas trees. 25 Types of Evergreen Tree to Add to Your Yard, How to Grow and Care for the Deodar Cedar, How to Grow and Care for Japanese Flowering Cherry. These dates are the seed pods of the robellini palm. 1 Estate collection Engelmann Spruce (Picea engelmannii ) bookmatched wedge-cut set of two pieces. Sign up for our newsletter. Acoustic characteristics. But it would be worth looking, always. What color is the top of that instrument? This would measure the speed of sound through the wood, from which I could work out its elasticity and sound quality. Strip the needles away from the bottom 1 inch of the cutting. The largest known specimen grows in Slovenia. For a similar sound but with more warmth, consider cedar, or for a solid mid-range performance, mahogany is the way to go. Three experts in wood selection offer some guidelines. Thicker wood requires more time. I hold the wood a third of the way down and a third across the width of the plate, and tap lightly. Picea abies, commonly called Norway spruce, is a large pyramidal evergreen conifer that is native to the mountains of northern and central Europe east to the Urals.In its native European habitat, it typically matures to 100-150' (occasionally to 200') tall. The needles of a spruce are pointy and sharp. . 1 Thank VasilisT_12 . It produces wood with a straight grain for lumber, and it makes a good tree in the landscape thanks to its consistent pyramidal shape, tall heights, and dense foliage. Excellent choice for a front-yard holiday tree or as a semi-formal accent in large yards. We cannot currently ship this product to your zip code. Bow Woods (from a mathematical perspective), Four Common Finishing Mistakes (and how to avoid them). When compared to Cedar (another commonly used soundboard timber), spruce is lighter and possesses greater flexible strength resulting in a wider dynamic range and bright, responsive tone. Weak tonewood will sound odd; good tonewood will produce a defined and lasting tone. A million members, donors, and partners support our programs to make our world greener and healthier. All our European spruce comes from our good friend Nicholas Weber, who lives in Europe and has dedicated his life to sourcing sustainable and exceptional wood for instrument builders. You should not need to fertilize your Norway spruce. Should I be looking at the width of the grain? Debra LaGattuta is a Master Gardener with 30+ years of experience in perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening. However, the top is what Spruce is most known for. Species of construction-grade spruce will vary by locale. Great tonewood. Soil. Tone-wise: Violin's, Cello's Upright Basse's, Ukulele's, Mandolins, Guitars, and just about every other stringed instrument you can name has SOME component made of Spruce on it. Norway spruce dominates Europe's Boreal and sub-Alpine coniferous forests, ranging from Central to Northern Europe and east to the Ural Mountains. Norway spruce can handle extremely cold temperatures, so mature trees have no particular overwintering needs. You can find Norway spruce in many cultivars from weeping to dwarf varieties that can be used in your landscape for different design needs from aesthetics to form. This results in beneficial oxidation and hardening of the wood structure. It is very similar to the red spruce, and the two species often end up hybridizing when they share a forest. They do not do well in warm weather. These can be used for the back, sides, neck, fingerboard, and bridge. SPRUCE! The seed cones are large and can grow 6 inches (15 cm.) Some woods swallow, others project. Norway spruce growth is exceptional. The amount of light robellini palms require differs if you are growing it indoors or outdoors. It's a wood that grows all over the world, though some species are more sought after for varying levels of stiffness. If the grain is irregularly spaced, youll find that the wood will be unusable. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Part of the Picea Genus, along with 35 other species that carry 59 accepted names. The purposes and goals of the Founding Fathers were to protect members of Sons of Norway and their families from the financial hardships experienced during times of sickness or death in the family. Immature trees can use a thick layer of mulch at the base to help keep the roots a bit insulated. Spruces tone can vary a little depending on the variety of spruce used, but they all tend to offer a good, dynamic range, pleasing warmth, and excellent projection. The bark is a red-brown and furrowed. European Spruce (Picea abies), aka Alpine or German Spruce, can be found with Bear Claw pattern, which indicates the grain is vertical grain. GoldenTonewood supplier of European spruce for violin, viola, cello, guitar and doublebass. I think the same is true for all instrument makers as they become more experienced and try out different kinds of wood for themselves, their most reliable resource is their own intuition. Noteworthy Characteristics. Telling the Norway spruce apart from the Douglas fir is sometimes a tricky task. Please note, comments must be approved before they are published, oldest discovered living specimen in Sweden. It helps me to understand that the wood I have its not actually genus mahogany, I have doubts, becuse it smells like cedrela odorata, but where I bought it, they told me it was swietenia macrophylla, then I replied them that it smells like Cedrela, but they insisted the wood was mahogany, and I always was unsure, thank you for your help and time. I just bought a new acoustic guitar with spruce top and it has wide grain ,it is a beautiful guitar. Specimens were incubated for 6, 9 and 12 months with Physisporinus (P.) vitreus. Date of experience: December 2015. Scale infestations can be identified by the sticky sap substance that they leave behind on the stems and backs of the leaves. Treat spider mite infestations with insecticidal soap until the pests are gone. The Norway spruce's lifespan can reach hundreds of years. Thats why quality spruce top guitars are in such high demand, the real ones, made from wood that grew in ancient forests, are hard to come by. For added protection, you can also consider applying wax to your guitar body, and be sure to change your strings every 2-4 months, depending on how much youve been playing. Its pyramidal form has a graceful appearance because of pendulous branchlets. Sustainability:This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern. Hard Maple comes in at 1450 with Rosewood at 2440. The robellini palm is dioecious, meaning that individual plants are either male or female; a dioecious plant has either male or female flowers, not both.