Monterey Cypress is a close cousin to Spanish Cypress. The hues have a pinkish tone, but the overall appearance is one of a creamy luster. We’ve offered this for years as a reasonably priced alternative to Spanish Cypress. It’s a little stronger than Spanish Cypress, works nicely, glues and finishes well, and from all reports is indistinguishable from Spanish Cypress in terms of sound production. First grade is as nice as the material gets, no knots, etc. Second grade may have a knot or two, perhaps a blemish, and so is more “flamenco” in character.
