I got sent two blocks of wood that i would normally throw on the fire , i paid £20 for them , what's that $40? and one of them had woodworm flight holes . As they where blocks i could quater saw them myself for the bracing . They wouldn't plane to a nice finish ( they furred up and had to be sanded smooth ) I don't think it was Spruce but thats what i ordered .
I do have some western red cedar that is very light , i was suprised when i picked it up . Maybe that will be better for the bracing as the Wenge is very heavy .
It's not a case of looking around the workshop for anything i can use to save a few quid it's more that i have so much left over stock from my carpentry and joinery business that it kills me to pay £20 for 4p worth of timber .
Spruce maybe easy to find in the states but over here in the UK it's like rocking horse dodo . At least it is to my suppliers .