Our Story
Read about how we became Alaska Specialty Woods.
Annette and Brent: circa 1988
Brent Sr. and the primary stage of ripping a log for double bass material.
1967 Peterbuilt Self-loader with a load of the Black Bear Creek bridge stringers.
Brent sizing the job 63 inches, at the Black Bear Creek Bridge stringer Purchase.
ASW Self-loader log truck on Zarembo Is. loaded with Salvage Sitka Spruce bridge stringers at the Banding Station.
Brent Sr. at the ASIA (Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans) Convention.
Brent Sr. Dissecting block in the old ASW Wood shop.
ASW log sort yard and primary breakdown pad development.
18' of a wind-fell tree pulled to the road by the skidder
ASW Crew Blocking out the Yatuk Tree where it was fell.
Brent Jr (VP/Aquisitions Director)- 088 and 72 Inch bar Polk 400 Tree.
ASW Factory building at Soda Bay, AK before deconstruction.
Ryan Cole (VP/Sawyer)- Secondary breakdown- cutting guitars tops and counting the book sets.
Ryan, Brent Jr. and Brent Sr. at Hollis Breakdown Pad.
Brent and Annette Cole
Ryan loads a dump truck with fill to develop the factory footprint.
Brent Sr. stands next to a windfall prospect on Shelikof Island.
Dismantling a Gildersleeve Log Float in Klawock, AK, mid winter.
Taking a well deserved nap.
Factory construction of the wood wing- Filing and grading rooms.
Ancient Sitka log on the pad.
ASW Drying facility loaded with archtop guitar sets.
ASW Drying facility loaded with Guitar top sets.
Brent Sr. sets up for his next cut during the Secondary Breakdown stage.
Brent Sr. sharing his breakdown process and the outcome with longtime customer, Tom Bedell.
Sunset in Port Saint Nicholas Bay, AK from the ASW Factory.
What sets us apart?
Alaska Specialty Woods is proud to offer a varied line of ecologically sound wood products.
Our products are processed from woods of reclaimed or salvaged sources. Our main objective of our production is high quality tonewood.
When you buy products from Alaska Specialty Woods, you're not just sourcing the finest woods available. You're casting a dollar vote for sustainable forestry, and are making use of wood that would otherwise be wasted.
You're helping conserve forests through responsible wood use.
Our back yard is our only source of supply. Southeast Alaska includes the 16,000,000 acres of the Tongass National Forest.
Spread the Word!!
If you know others who need Sitka Spruce Tonewood share our site with them and help spread the word about Alaska Specialty Woods.