Sitka is grown on the west coast of Canada. The bearclaw figure, remarkable for its beauty, interupts the straightness of grain. The effect on sound is controversial. For good soundboard response, most important are vertical cut grain (quartersawn) and tightness of grain (lines per inch across the grain).


Some of the bearclaw is diagonal, short and wiggly, and some straight across the grain, wider and longer.  As most bearclaw figure is not deep or consistent across the depth of the board, it can change from side to side in the bookmatch.  Some bearclaw bookmatching does happen!   Mainly in AAA grade. It is quite stiff.

Bearclaw Sitka 358
AA top.  12 - 18 lines per inch.
very Prominent long bearclaw figure in a large circular pattern, like a head or a heart shape.  Well bookmatched.  Long, straight grain lines.  ENTER vertical cut.  Sitka white-yellow colour dominates this top.  
Each board: Length 23.5, 59.8 cm;  Width 8.75”, 22.3 cm; Thickness 0.170”
Weight 16.05 oz; Density 24.73 lb/cubic foot.
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Bearclaw Sitka 357

AA top with consistently dynamic bearclaw figure all over this board, and excellently bookmatched.  Colour typical of Sitka Spruce is uniform.

Each Length 23.375”, 59.3 cm; Width 8.625”,  22.2 cm; Thickness .193”, planed on both sides.

Weight 18 oz; Density 24.95 lb/cubic foot.
Lines per Inch 15 - 35.  Super tight grain through 4" from centre.  Straight longitudinal lines.  Excellent vertical cut.


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Bearclaw Sitka set 360
AA top.  12 - 20 lines per inch.
Prominent bearclaw figure in long horizontal and vertical lines.  Well bookmatched figure.  Long, straight grain lines.  Visible medullary rays.  ENTER vertical cut.  Sitka white-yellow colour dominates this top.  
Each board: Length 23.5, 59.8 cm;  Width 8.75”, 22.3 cm; Thickness 0.170”
Weight 16.05 oz; Density 24.73 lb/cubic foot.
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Bearclaw Sitka 2347
Each Length  24.75”, 63 cm;  Width 9”,   23 cm;  Thickness .200”
Weight 22 oz;  Density 29.15 lb/cubic foot.
Lines per Inch 16 - 33.  Straight longitudinal lines.  90 - 85 degree vertical cut.  Colour varies by section from sitka brown-red to sitka yellow.  Mild bearclaw figure.
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Bearclaw Sitka 359
YOU might call this a AAa , it has all good qualities, the lines are just more consistent on teh 19 r 20 side. better than a double a for sure.  Bearclaw Sitka with good longitudinal and horizontal figure

Each Length 22.75”, 58 cm;  Width 8.625”, 22 cm; Thickness .170”, planed on one side.
Weight 16 oz;  Density 28.32 lb/cubic foot
Lines per Inch 11 - 19.  Straight longitudinal lines.  Good vertical cut.
Predominantly white-yellow sitka colour with some red-brown sections.  
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Bearclaw Sitka 91P

AAA grade Bearclaw Sitka Spruce set 91P.  Bearclaw figure runs horizontally, is wide, constistent and well bookmatched.  White-yellow sitka colour with some red-brown sections.

Each Length 23.5”, 57 cm; Width 8.75”,  22.2 cm; Thickness .181”, planed on both sides.

Weight 17 oz; Density 24.62 lb/cubic foot.
Lines per Inch 14 - 26.  Straight longitudinal lines.  Good vertical cut.

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Bearclaw Sitka set 97
AAA top.  Tight and straight longitude grain at 16-32 lines per inch.  Very tight grain from 3.75 inch from centre.  
Good bearclaw figure resembling clouds, and well bookmatched.  Colour typical white-yellow-brown blush-of-red Sitka colour. 
Each board: Length 23”, 58.5 cm;  Width 8.75”, 22.2 cm; Thickness 0.180”
Weight 19 oz; Density 28.30 lb/cubic foot.  
Medullary rays, indicating very good vertical cut.
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Bearclaw Sitka 98

AAA Grade 
Sap pocket on one side cleared by dreadnought pattern.
Each Length  23.25”, 59 cm;  Width 8.5”,  21.7 cm; Thickness .190”, planed on both sides.
Weight 18.5 oz; Density 29.15 lb/cubic foot
Lines per Inch 15 - 30.  Straight longitudinal lines.  Good vertical cut.
White-yellow sitka colour with some red-brown sections.  
Excellent longitudinal and horizontal bearclaw figure.

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Bearclaw Sitka 93

AAA grade Bearclaw Sitka Spruce set 93.  This is a really nice board.  Long bearclaw figure features around the perimeter, as well as short lines and squiggles radiating from the bookmatched centre.  Figure is strong, consistent and well-bookmatched.   Red-brown sitka colour predominates, with white-yellow sitka longitudinal streak.

Each Length 23.5”, 59.7 cm; Width 8.5”,  21.8 cm; Thickness .190”, planed on both sides.

Weight 19 oz; Density 27.00 lb/cubic foot.
Lines per Inch 16 - 34.  Super tight grain through 3.25" from centre.  Straight longitudinal lines.  Excellent vertical cut, as indicated by prominent medullary rays.  Medullary rays are thin, ribbon-like structures that run perpendicular to the growth of the tree.  Their look in the figure of a finished guitar is refered to as "silkiness".

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Bearclaw Sitka 94

AAA grade Bearclaw Sitka Spruce set 94.  Bearclaw figure runs short, across the grain, consisten and well-bookmatched.  White-yellow sitka colour with red-brown colour longitudinally in the center of the bookmatch.

Each Length 23.375”, 59.3 cm; Width 8.75”,  22 cm; Thickness .183”, planed on both sides.

Weight 19 oz; Density 27.65 lb/cubic foot.
Lines per Inch 14 - 25.  Super tight grain through 4" from centre.  Straight longitudinal lines.  Excellent vertical cut.

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Bearclaw Sitka 92

AAA top.  Tight and straight longitude grain at 12-33 lines per inch.  Long vertical and short longitudinal bearclaw figure, very excellent bookmatch.  Colour fades across each board from typical white-yellow to brown-red at centre of bookmatch. 
Each board: Length 23”, 58.5 cm;  Width 8.5”, 21.5 cm; Thickness 0.156”
Weight 15 oz; Density 26.57 lb/cubic foot.  Very good vertical cut.

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Bearclaw Sitka 505BC OM SIZE

 an  OM guitar pattern at 7.75" width , this piece is graded AAA.  Bearclaw figure is very good, constistent and bookmatched.  White-yellow sitka colour with some red-brown sections.

Each Length 23.55”, 59.7 cm; Width 7.5”,  18.7 cm; Thickness .150”, planed on both sides.

Weight 14.4 oz; Density 25.81 lb/cubic foot.
Lines per Inch 14 - 26.  Straight longitudinal lines.  Good vertical cut.

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