Spruce V Cedar

Bob-Dubery

Hi all,

Anybody got any insights/opinions about the relative merits of Spruce and Cedar for steel string acoustics - especially as regards sound?

[deleted]

Which spruce specifically Bob? And I presume the common Red Cedar?

[deleted]

In general I think Cedar is more mellow than Spruce, not as mellow as a Koa top to me, but somewhere in between...

Spruce is definitly more crisp on the top end.

But a beautiful piece of Red Cedar is something else to behold... ?

Matter of preference I think...

Such a difficult comparison tho. interesting

Bob-Dubery

Brentcgp wrote: Which spruce specifically Bob? And I presume the common Red Cedar?

I'm thinking more about differences between Spruce and Cedar IN GENERAL. The differences between A Spruce and A Cedar will, I think, be greater than those between two different Spruces.

But for argument's sake Sitka Spruce and Western Red Cedar.

malcolm

I bought a classical guitar a while ago and played a lot of different instruments with both spruce and cedar tops and found that in most instances the cedar was, for want of a better word, more articulate than the spruce. It seemed to bring out individual notes a little more clearly. From that experience I'd say that cedar might be better for finger picked stuff and the spruce better for more percussive / strummed styles. Not too sure how well that will translate to a steel string though!

AlanRatcliffe

Generally spruce is a lot more focussed, is crisper sounding and has a faster attack while cedar is smoother, warmer and more complex. Usually cedar will sound better from the get go, but after a few years the spruce catches up as it ages and mellows a little.

aja

Is there any correlation to which is more suited to finger picking or rhythm or slide etc?

Gearhead

Same question, base or guitar?