The creamy white to light yellow sapwood of Sitka spruce blends gradually into its pinkish-yellow to light-brown heartwood. The wood is classed moderate in many of its properties, including weight and hardness. The clear, straight-grained wood is valued for high-quality pianos, stringed instruments, joinery and boats. It is also used for light framing in structural applications. It is marketed and sold separately, or in the Spruce-Pine-Fir (South) species combination.