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Grade Standards

Every product listed on our website has been specifically manufactured for the construction of a soundboard, maximizing stiffness and visual appeal.

Wood within the template area is what we consider during the grading process. At times the final grade depends on the positioning of the template. We mark the template position whenever grade depends on it. Template will also be marked when rationale for our decision is helpful or to display clearance around a defect. We deem the soundhole to be a suitable area to avoid occasional defect. Beneath the neck is another area that may be used to avoid non-structural features. Finally, in some cases the board will claim a higher grade by reducing guitar size, these sets may allow for a dreadnought template but be graded as a Classical size.

Our goal is to capture similar value in each piece included in any grade. You will find some sets score high marks in certain criteria while low in others, these sets offer similar value to sets within the same grade that may score average across all criteria. The grade standard outlines common benchmarks for each attribute, while a standback overall judgement references the final decision. Most soundboards exceed the listed benchmarks and none will exhibit all minimum standards in one board.

Please bear in mind, there are near infinite variables. The grading process often reminds me of classifying snowflakes, every one is truly unique. We grade hundreds of thousands of sets per year and have become acutely familiar with the full spectrum of quality available in Engelmann Spruce. There are no literally "perfect" sets in existence, this is what creates the beauty and appeal of this amazing material called Engelmann Spruce.

Soundboards within these categories are assessed based on intensity of feature, uniqueness and base wood quality according to regular grade standards. The final valuation is set based on the total of these attributes. Each set is unique, the picture you see is the actual set you’ll receive.

Excellent quarter and no runout at glue-up, 200mm+ smooth riving at centerline, excellent grain progression, excellent grain consistency, very stiff, straight with no wavy grain, no color contrast, no compression or hard grain. 20GPI+ benchmark. As good as it gets.

Very good quarter and no runout at glue-up, 150mm+ minimum smooth riving, very even grain progression, high quality grain consistency, stiff to very stiff, straight with no wavy grain, negligible color contrast, no compression or hard grain. Often just 1 characteristic drops these sets from #1 grade. 16GPI+ benchmark.

Very good quarter and no runout at glue-up, 150mm+ smooth riving, aesthetic grain progression, aesthetic grain consistency, moderate to very stiff, straight with aesthetic occasional grain wave, perceptible color contrast, no compression grain, very faint evenly spaced hard grain at lower bout on occasion, occasional perceptible soft knot shadow outer edges of template. 12GPI+ minimum if other attributes score well.

Very good quarter and no runout at glue-up, 150mm+ smooth riving, Visible attributes are present on a perceptible or "second-look" basis. Aesthetic grain progression, aesthetic grain consistency, moderate to very stiff, straight with aesthetic occasional grain wave, minor visible color contrast, no compression grain, fine evenly spaced and appealing hard grain acceptable, occassional light soft knot shadow. 9GPI+ minimum if other qualities rate well.

7gpi+, very good quarter, occasional minimal runout at glue-up, nice grain progression, nice grain consistency, moderate to very stiff, slight curve allowable, occasional grain wave, visible color contrast, minor compression grain, visible striping, hard lines and/or soft color, minor knot shadow.

Good to excellent quarter, moderate to very stiff, curve allowable, strong striping and/or color contrast, inconsistent grain progression, moderate compression grain, minor knot shadow, occasional runout at outside edge. 6GPI minimum.

Suitable for instruments requiring opaque finish, possible filling of small pitch pockets, structurally sound, not aesthetically pleasing.

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