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Grading of tone wood is very subjective to the eye and experience of the grader. The grade description below attempts to capture the major characteristics involved in assessing the soundboards and will be used as a guide.
Master grade is a traditionally beautiful top without any defects, narrow even grain across the top and cross grain is very stiff.
AAA grade is a near perfect top, narrow even grain, and cross grain is very stiff.
AA grade have even or graduated grain, and cross grain is stiff. Can have only one minor defect. Possible defects can include faint colour, slight winter growth, light run out, localized deviation in grain, progression grain up to 10gpi at lower bout only (symmetrical), light knot shadow, very slight curve in grain.
A grade tops might contain contrasting colours, light compression, or wider grain (8gpi). Defects can include faint colour, slight winter growth, light run out, localized deviation in grain, progression grain up to 10gpi at lower bout only (symmetrical), light knot shadow. Grain may be uneven and cross grain stiffness will be acceptable.
| Instrument | Length | Width | Spine | Length | Width | Spine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | 406 mm | 114 mm | 25 mm | 16" | 4.5" | 1" | |
| Viola | 482 mm | 139 mm | 31 mm | 19" | 5.5" | 1.25" | |
| Cello | 812 mm | 228 mm | 38 mm | 32" | 9" | 1.5" | |
| Double Bass 4/4 | 1220 mm | 355 mm | 64 mm | 48" | 14" | 2.5" | |
| Double Bass 3/4 | 1220 mm | 342 mm | 64 mm | 48" | 13.5" | 2.5" | |
| Double Bass 5/8 | 1168 mm | 304 mm | 50 mm | 46" | 12" | 2" | |
| Archtop Guitar | 558 mm | 228 mm | 31 mm | 22" | 9" | 1.25" | |
| Dreadnought Guitar | 558 mm | 228 mm | 5 mm | 22" | 9" | 0.2" | |
| OM/000 Guitar | 482 mm | 203 mm | 5 mm | 19" | 8" | 0.2" | |
| Parlor/0 Guitar | 482 mm | 177 mm | 4 mm | 19" | 7" | 0.2" | |
| Baritone Ukulele | 355 mm | 127 mm | 4 mm | 14" | 5" | 0.2" | |
| Tenor Ukulele | 304 mm | 114 mm | 4 mm | 12" | 4.5" | 0.2" | |
| Concert Ukulele | 279 mm | 101 mm | 4 mm | 11" | 4" | 0.2" | |
| Arched Mandolin | 406 mm | 203 mm | 25 mm | 16" | 8" | 1" | |
| Flat Mandolin | 355 mm | 127 mm | 4 mm | 14" | 5" | 0.2" |
