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> Is there a quality difference between spruce and cedar top
> acoustic guitars. I'm refering to solid-top guitars, the only
> difference being the type of wood. Are there tonal differences?
There are differences. The sound of a spruce top will continue to evolve
as it ages for at least a year or two. Cedar seems to stabilize it's sound
within a short time - a few months, maybe.
I made some tonal comparisons several years ago (10-12) and I remember
concluding that cedar tended to have a darker tone. However, my sample
was too small to be scientific (statistically significant) and I had no
way to hold everything else constant.
I think the luthier community has reached some conclusions about this,
but I haven't kept up with that world for years.
Bob
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| I tend to agree the with the conclusion that cedar will stabilize
quicker then spruce. I have used both for guitar tops. I have not
been able to tell much difference in sound quality. Either will
make suitable soundboards. In my experience, grain of the material
make all the difference. That is, select material with a grain
that is perpendicular to the ends ( end grain that is ) and runs
straight. I'm not a luthuer, but have built quit a few string
instruments, and have leaned from my mistakes.
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| Also the mdial grains play a most important part in tone production.
These grains are the lines that run across the grain.
Although I have a cedar top classic, I generally prefer the sound of
spruce. I can hear the difference. Cedar has whatI call an accent -
it just has a little characteristic tone.
It is very important to remember it is the seperate instrument you
have to listen to - I bought this cedar guitar because it sounded
better than other I compared it to at that time and place, spruce
and cedar.
What I can say is listen to the newer Segovia records - after about
'63, and then older things he recorded in the 40's.
The older records are done with a spruce top giutar made by Herman
Hauser, Sr. - the sound of that particular instrument is
thick and heavy, each note like a damn bomb going off - incredible.
The cedar tops tends to have a little less distinction of each note,
and emphisize the harmonics rather than the base .
My teacher at New England Conservatory had a Parpasian ( sic ) with a
spruce top, immense action and was pretty incredible. But I've seen
others that were so - so. It depends on the instrument, but if you find
a spruce top that does the job - you 'll know why spruce is considered
the Elvis of guitar tops.
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