Spruce species used for the Asian imports????

[bbaker2050]

If they're not using Adirondack or Engelmann spruce on the lower model Asian imports like Eastman or Kentucky then what type of Spruce is it????

[FLATROCK HILL]

Don't know that a 'blanket' statement is possible regarding all of them, but some of them use Sitka.

[OldGus]

If they're not using Adirondack or Engelmann spruce on the lower model Asian imports like Eastman or Kentucky then what type of Spruce is it????

They do use those types, especially Englemann. They use Sitka on some also, as stated, and some European which is also pretty much an Englemann.

[Pittsburgh Bill]

Don't know that a 'blanket' statement is possible regarding all of them, but some of them use Sitka.

In my uneducated and novice experience, I find it difficult to determine voicing as much from the type of wood as I do from an individual instrument. I'm only commenting on this as I have often posed that same question to myself and would like to hear a more expert opinion.
Along this same vane of question I also question the negatives associated with a laminated top vs a solid wood top. I have a Kentucky KM-620 with a laminate top that sounds quite good. In fact it sounds much better than my first mandolin, a Rover RM-50. (of course it does not match my Collings, but it came in at a much lower price point)The Rover's are often mentioned as being a great sounding beginners mandolin due to it's solid wood, yet mine didn't hold a candle to my Kentucky KM-620 in tone or volume. At one point someone on this site had mentioned that laminate tops are often more desirable for amplification.
Me, I have no idea, but will be watching for more knowledgeable and logical responses to the questions posed here.

[bbaker2050]

I'm mainly talking about the ones that just say "solid spruce top" and don't specify like most of the lower end imports. So some of those are Engelmann and they just don't tell you?

[Eddie Sheehy]

Blue Spruce... also known as Spluce...

[Relio]

The cheapest source of spruce they can find at the moment, would be my guess.

[JeffD]

At one point someone on this site had mentioned that laminate tops are often more desirable for amplification.
.

I have heard that. Or actually for electric/acoustic mandolins. And I just assumed the reason is that if you plan on playing mostly electric the tone is for the most part in the hands of the electrics and there is no point in spending a lot on solid tone woods.

I could be way off base, but that is what I assumed.

[Spruce]

They do use those types, especially Englemann (sic).

They do??
Is this their literature, speculation, or ?...
Would love to know if Engelmann is indeed making it's way over there....
Customs and red tape is pretty difficult, both importing and exporting...

The cheapest source of spruce they can find at the moment, would be my guess.

Yep, which would be their own species of spruce...
Lovely stuff.
Very much like European, and it probably could be a similar species...
I believe it's Picea obovata, and it hybridizes with Euro....

There's a huge tonewood biz in China which has remained under the radar on the 'net and elsewhere, and I'd love to know more about it...
I've threatened to go over there and do a little research, but it's down to #7 on my bucket list...

[Stephen Perry]

Yup. Some mystery "maple" with a regular pattern of dark short lines that always makes good instruments. I've heard tales of wandering through stacks and stacks of superlative wood!

[Spruce]

I've heard tales of wandering through stacks and stacks of superlative wood!

Yeah, me too...
I've also heard tales of incredible grief trying to get it home...
Or shipping it...
Sets off customs bells and whistles for some reason...

[Stephen Perry]

Well, I didn't suggest trying to get it home! I sadly suspect that shipping junk in crates of the desired wood is easier than shipping the wood as cargo!

[foldedpath]

Well, I didn't suggest trying to get it home! I sadly suspect that shipping junk in crates of the desired wood is easier than shipping the wood as cargo!

Disguise it as a shipping pallet and you're golden. (Note to NSA and Customs, I didn't say that).

[Spruce]

Well, I just had an interesting conversation with a friend who cuts Engelmann, and who has been approached to send an entire shipping container of Engelmann logs to China....

[oldwave maker]

Last time I stopped at Old Standard, John showed me racks of cosmetically impaired red spruce that was going to Saga, mostly red streaked uneven grain mando wood.

[Teak]

Well, I just had an interesting conversation with a friend who cuts Engelmann, and who has been approached to send an entire shipping container of Engelmann logs to China....

Which is part of the problem. This is akin to "mercantilism" that European powers used in relation to their colonies. Japan and China buy low-value raw materials from the USA and sends back finished products with higher value added. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercantilism

I would rather see our luthiers exporting finished instruments to China. And our furniture builders export finished chairs and tables. And etc. But China keeps their currency artificially low so that they can undercut American labor wages.

[Spruce]

I would rather see our luthiers exporting finished instruments to China.