Swiss Spruce (multiple categories)

Swiss Spruce wood is considered one of the finest types of white spruce used in making the soundboard of the oud, characterized by its narrow grain, light weight, and pure balanced sound. It comes from the forests of the Swiss Alps and is naturally dried for years to ensure high stability and refined sound performance. - Regular version: Warm and balanced sound, excellent response to hand playing, suitable for high-quality classical oud making. - Moon Spruce version: Cut at a special lunar timing to ensure the best acoustic properties, transparent tone with high purity, long sustain, and very sensitive response. It is used in luxurious professional (Master Grade) oud. Both types come from the same pure mountain environment, but “Moon Spruce” is carefully selected for industry professionals and musicians seeking the highest sound quality. Swiss Moon Spruce wood is a rare legendary wood carefully cut from the Swiss Alps forests during a specific phase of the lunar cycle — hence the name Moon Spruce. This type is known for its precise sound, long resonance, and high stability. What does “Moon Spruce” mean? It is wood cut during the lunar winter (usually a few days before or after the “new moon”), when the moisture and sap levels inside the tree are at their lowest. This traditional technique has been practiced by Swiss woodcutters for hundreds of years. Source: Eastern Switzerland — areas like Valais and Graubünden. It is harvested from very high altitudes, giving it a cohesive texture and precise growth. Sound performance on the oud: - Sound: Very transparent tone, balanced between warmth and clarity - Resonance: Very long sustain with detailed nuances even in soft playing - Dynamics: Excellent sensitivity, responds to slight changes in playing, ideal for emotional and expressive pieces - Preferred by: The elite of luxury oud makers such as Farouk Tournaz in Turkey and others, especially those using high-tech techniques in making the soundboards. Technical specifications: - Color: Bright white with a golden hue, very narrow and uniform lines - Weight: Light - Density: Low but with very high internal stability - Drying: Naturally air-dried, often for over 5 years - Grade: From 1A to 4A, but lower grades are comparable to 2A or 3A when compared to other types of Spruce. It is considered a premium choice for making high-specification oud soundboards, often used in professional musical projects and high-precision recordings. Order of Spruce and Sedir types by performance preference for oud: 1. Moon Spruce — 🔹 highest purity and resonance, transparent tone, and remarkable response to playing. 2. Alpine / Swiss Spruce — 🔹 elegant and balanced wood, gives the oud a pure and balanced tone with detailed nuances. 3. European Spruce — 🔹 classic and authentic, with a pure and balanced sound. 4. Adirondack Spruce — 🔹 powerful and resonant, ideal for live playing and recording with a bright, wide sound. 5. Engelmann Spruce — 🔹 soft and sensitive, provides a warm tone perfect for quiet and detailed pieces.