Our take on the StewMac Sitka Spruce Soundboard Dreadnought Guitar

This is a bookmatched pair of quartersawn Sitka spruce halves sized to join into a Dreadnought guitar top. Each half is about 8-1/2" x 21", sanded to 0.125"–0.130", with an unsanded option around 5/32" for builders who want to thickness to their own spec. Sitka is the standard steel-string top wood: stiff along the grain, light, and proven on dreadnoughts. It suits builders replacing a damaged top or starting a dreadnought build; compared with Engelmann or Adirondack spruce sets, Sitka is the stiffer, brighter, more predictable choice and generally the more affordable traditional top.

Best forLuthiers building or repairing a Dreadnought topBuilders who want a traditional steel-string top woodHobbyists who prefer to thickness-sand their own plates

Pros

Bookmatched quartersawn halves for stable, straight grain
Cut large enough to join into a Dreadnought top
Sanded to a consistent 0.125"–0.130" for less prep
Unsanded option leaves room for custom thicknessing
Sitka spruce is the proven traditional steel-string top

Cons

About the StewMac Sitka Spruce Soundboard Dreadnought Guitar

This is a Sitka spruce soundboard set for building a Dreadnought guitar. Sitka spruce is a traditional choice for steel-string guitar soundboards. The wood is quartersawn and kiln-dried.

The set is two bookmatched halves. Joined, they are large enough for a Dreadnought. Each half is approximately 8-1/2" x 21" (216mm x 533mm).

Unsanded tops are approximately 5/32" (4mm) thick, ready for thickness-sanding to your own specs.

Material

Sitka spruce, quartersawn, kiln-dried

Cut

Bookmatched set of two quartersawn halves

Size per half

Approximately 8-1/2" x 21" (216mm x 533mm)

Sanded thickness

0.125" - 0.130" (3.18mm - 3.30mm)

Unsanded thickness

Approximately 5/32" (4mm)

Body style

Dreadnought

In the box

Bookmatched set of two quartersawn halves

Questions and answers

Is this a joined and braced guitar top?

No. It is a bookmatched set of two quartersawn halves. You join, thickness to final spec and brace it yourself.

Will it fit a Dreadnought?

Yes. Joined, the two halves are large enough for a Dreadnought soundboard. Each half is about 8-1/2" x 21".

Should I get the sanded or unsanded top?

Sanded tops come at 0.125"–0.130", close to final thickness. Unsanded tops are about 5/32" (4mm) so you can thickness-sand to your own spec.

Why Sitka spruce instead of Engelmann or Adirondack?

Sitka is the traditional steel-string top wood: stiff, light and predictable. Engelmann is softer and warmer, Adirondack stiffer and louder; Sitka sits in the middle and is the safer standard choice.

What is quartersawn about these halves?

The halves are quartersawn, which gives straighter, more vertical grain. That grain orientation is what builders look for in a stable top.

Can I choose the grain pattern?

No. Each set is a natural bookmatched pair, so grain tightness and figure vary from set to set.

StewMac Sitka Spruce Soundboard Dreadnought Guitar

Last price we saw

$43.99at Stewmac, last seen Nov 14

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Price facts

Last seen at $43.99 at Stewmac on Nov 14.

Our take on the StewMac Sitka Spruce Soundboard Dreadnought Guitar

Best forLuthiers building or repairing a Dreadnought topBuilders who want a traditional steel-string top woodHobbyists who prefer to thickness-sand their own plates

Pros

Bookmatched quartersawn halves for stable, straight grain
Cut large enough to join into a Dreadnought top
Sanded to a consistent 0.125"–0.130" for less prep
Unsanded option leaves room for custom thicknessing
Sitka spruce is the proven traditional steel-string top

Cons