In general, the growth rate of a spruce tree is determined primarily by the availability of light. Second growth trees grow faster because they have less competition for light. In my experience, there is no correlation between grain width and stiffness or density. Those are the qualities that affect the performance.
Tight grain is associated with vintage guitars, when old growth spruce was the norm. IMHO, that is the only valid reason for favoring it over wide grain. Looks, basically.
Spruce darkens on exposure to UV light.
|