We carefully source logs from their natural growing regions. Our Traditional Tonewood collection includes: 

• Sitka spruce from the Pacific Northwest and Southeast Alaska.
• Engelmann spruce from higher elevations of the inland Cascades.
• Lutz spruce from a small hybrid zone in Northern British Columbia.
• Big Leaf maple from within 500 miles of our Washington mill.
• Hawaiian koa through our long-term reforestation partnerships in Hawai'i.
• Redwood from salvaged sources in Northern California, often hundreds of years old.

Every log is hand-selected for musical quality, with sustainability and responsible forestry always guiding our sourcing.

We use traditional visual and structural grading methods based on over 35 years of experience. Grading considers grain uniformity, color, figure, consistency, and freedom from defects. Our grades range from AA to AAAA, with higher grades featuring tighter, more uniform grain, higher levels of figure, and exceptional visual character. Each set is hand-selected to meet our internal grading standards.

All of our spruce is carefully quarter-sawn to maintain strength, stability, and maximum tonal integrity. But there are some differences:

• Sitka spruce: This is strong, versatile, and slightly denser. They’re ideal for steel-string guitars and known for excellent projection and dynamic range.
• Engelmann spruce: They’re lower density, very light in color. Popular for classical guitars and fingerstyle instruments, seeking warmth and sensitivity.
• Lutz spruce: A stable hybrid between Sitka and White spruce. Prized for its consistency, balanced tone, and suitability across multiple guitar styles.

Both figured maple and koa are naturally limited resources, but not because they’re super rare, but because high-quality material requires care in sourcing.

At Pacific Rim Tonewoods, we’ve taken a proactive approach:

• In the Pacific Northwest, we’re investing in the Figured Maple Project, a long-term effort to propagate and cultivate Big Leaf maple in the Skagit Valley to ensure the future availability of figured stock through intentional forestry.
• In Hawai‘i, we source koa through long-standing relationships built on conservation-focused forestry. While not all koa is premium tonewood, our access to this material is always rooted in respect for the land and a commitment to sustainable practices.

This is all part of how we think about the future of instrument wood.

We only salvage redwood from previously logged areas. Much of our redwood comes from trees that were cut in the 1950s and 60s but left behind in remote areas. Some of the sets we offer today are from trees over 900 years old, carefully recovered from old logging sites or streambeds. No standing old-growth redwoods are harvested for our tonewood.

Our entire milling process is designed for tonewood, and not general lumber. Every log is carefully split and sawn with musical instrument building in mind. We focus on:

• Quarter-sawing for maximum stability and strength.
• Maintaining extremely sharp saws for clean cuts and consistent thickness.
• Maximizing yield while minimizing waste.
• Drying and seasoning the wood under controlled conditions to prepare it for the demands of instrument building.

Even within the same species and grade, no two tonewood sets are identical. Variations in grain spacing, figure, color shading, and growth ring width occur naturally and reflect each tree’s growing environment. That’s part of what makes custom instrument building so personal. If you have very specific aesthetic or dimensional requirements, we’re always happy to help you hand-select a set that fits your build vision.

Yes. While many sets are listed directly in our online shop, we understand that luthiers often want to see specific figures or grain patterns before making a commitment. If you're looking for something specific, especially for highly figured woods like koa, maple, or redwood, you’re welcome to contact us for photos, additional details, or to browse our Vault selections. 

In some cases, for extended selection time, large custom requests, or hand-picking multiple sets, a small fee may apply. We’re here to help you find the right match for your next build.