Norway Spruce
Picea abies
Hardness
Very soft, dents easily; great for carving, poor for floors.
Overview
The classic European tonewood spruce, used for guitar and piano soundboards for its stiffness-to-weight ratio.
Commonly built
- Guitar soundboards
- Piano soundboards
- Framing lumber
Appearance
Pale cream to yellowish-white, with straight, tight, even grain.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Splits and planes cleanly along the grain. Chosen for tonal qualities more than strength, handle quarter-sawn soundboard stock carefully to avoid splitting.
Common questions
How hard is Norway Spruce?
Norway Spruce has a Janka hardness of 380 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Norway Spruce suitable for outdoor use?
Norway Spruce is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Norway Spruce to work with?
Norway Spruce has Good workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used norway spruce, reviewed before they appear here.
Loading…
Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.