If only by its smell, any discerning guitar maker should have at least one cypress back in his workshop. Ubiquitous in our Mediterranean culture, cypress wood was soon recognized as an excellent material for the construction of Spanish guitars. While it may not be as striking in looks as Rosewoods or other tropical woods, it possesses a very distinctive charm with its consistent golden color and slender, subtle grain.
Of course, you can use cypress backs for your classical guitar with excellent results. But cypress has traditionally been reserved, partly for its sound and partly out of tradition, for flamenco guitars. If you have ever wondered what the nickname "Blanca" means, it is because some flamenco guitars are built - back and sides - with this wood.
In the B grade you will find pieces with counter-grained patterns, with color changes on the surface and wide grain spacing. Regardless of their appearance, they are perfectly valid pieces and a skilled craftsman will know how to make the most out of their potential when it comes to building a classical or flamenco guitar.
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