Tonewood is seasoned for years because wood needs time to dry evenly and release its internal tension. A top or back made of well-seasoned wood keeps its shape when the weather changes, cracks less easily and stays stable for the whole life of the guitar. That is why we use wood seasoned for at least eight years.
What happens inside the wood
A freshly cut tree is full of water. Some of it fills the cells and leaves quickly as the wood dries. The rest is bound inside the cell walls and leaves slowly. As it goes, the wood shrinks, and because it does not shrink equally in every direction, tension builds up inside it.
Kiln drying can bring wood to the right moisture content in days or weeks, but it cannot give the wood time to settle. Slow, natural seasoning lets the wood dry gradually and lets those inner tensions relax. Wood that has rested for years becomes calmer: it moves less when the air around it changes.
Why it matters for a guitar
The top of a classical guitar is about two and a half millimetres thick and is held under constant tension by the strings. Its back and sides are thin too. A plate this thin, made from wood that is still restless, can warp, sink behind the bridge or crack in the first dry winter.
Well-seasoned wood avoids most of these problems. It also tends to vibrate more freely, which is one reason old instruments are so prized. Seasoning does not replace good construction, but no construction can make up for wood that was used too early.
How we do it
Our wood comes from verified suppliers we have worked with for years, and it carries the certificates required for trade in tonewoods. The minimum seasoning time for any piece in an Arrius is eight years.
This is slow, and it ties up wood for a long time before it can become a guitar. It is also the reason we can speak with confidence about the structural stability of our instruments throughout their life.
What it means for you
A guitar made from well-seasoned wood is more forgiving of the seasons, but it is still made of wood. Keep the humidity around it between 45 and 55 percent and avoid sudden changes of temperature, and it will reward you for decades. See our care guide.