Thx for battling spruce vs ceder! I thought the ceder sounded warmer and more friendly than the spruce, but spruce has more clarity. Great playing and great guitars. I'll drop by soon to try them both myself!
I bought a Faith Mars recently which is a Cedar/Mahogany SS dreadnaught, and it is explicitly aimed at fingerstyle players. It is said that cedar tops tend to produce more volume with a light touch, and this is the case with my guitar. It is loud and mellow, which I like. On the other hand, the sound is a bit too warm, especially the lower strings have no punchiness at all. I can tweak the sound a bit with the right choice of strings (bronze or aluminium bronze). I suppose, one cannot have best of both worlds.
What I like to do is taking a ceder top (or redwood) and combine it with rosewood for more bass response. Thats my favorite combo :) But as most of you mentioned, its really good for fingerpicking.
I am used to spruce tops, but I have to admit that I really like the warmth and richer sound of the cedar top....surprisingly enough I prefer the cedar top....A real eyeopener....thnx for sharing, has been very educational.... Question: how does a mahogany top sound compared to a spruce top?
Another difficult one! During Coen's finger-picking, the Farmer comes across the best. Much sweeter in tone. During Maarten's strumming, the Atkin sounded better. Warmer. Another good Guitar Battles. Suggestion; you should compare an Atkin J 45 COPY against a Gibson J 45. Take care and see you next week. And since you asked, my gear is: 1971 Martin 000-18 Spruce / Mahogany 1994 Lowden F24 Spruce / Flame Maple 1979 Yamaha FG 335 Spruce / Mahogany with a JLD bridge truss system installed
Now tháts a nice collection, love seeing people own vintage Martins and Lowdens side-by-side! That Yamaha must be great too though ;) Thanks! Noted your idea.
Cedar is amazing. Unfortunately this comparison doesn’t help as a dreadnaught is the worst body style for cedar. It’s too base heavy and muddies up the sound. I’ll take the spruce any day over cedar on a dread. Cedar has limited headroom and it’s too easy to overdrive the dreadnaught with cedar
IMO cedars sound a little more like vintage guitars, because spruce gets sweeter/warmer with age. The big difference (I think) is they don't love it when you attack them with too much force while adironack/spruce seem at their best when you're really pushing the top. (I love 'em both. And mahogany.)
it depends on the guitar, it is not as cut and dry as it seems. You need to find guitars that you like, the spruce/cedar debate does not exsist in my world, if I like a guitar I play it, I don't really care what it is made of. you should not limit yourself to one tonewood, stop analysing and play your guitar
Thx for battling spruce vs ceder! I thought the ceder sounded warmer and more friendly than the spruce, but spruce has more clarity. Great playing and great guitars. I'll drop by soon to try them both myself!
Thanks Wouter! Look forward to seeing you here :)
I bought a Faith Mars recently which is a Cedar/Mahogany SS dreadnaught, and it is explicitly aimed at fingerstyle players. It is said that cedar tops tend to produce more volume with a light touch, and this is the case with my guitar. It is loud and mellow, which I like. On the other hand, the sound is a bit too warm, especially the lower strings have no punchiness at all. I can tweak the sound a bit with the right choice of strings (bronze or aluminium bronze). I suppose, one cannot have best of both worlds.
I agree Thomas, guitars are meant for specific means. Doens't mean we can't get creative!
What I like to do is taking a ceder top (or redwood) and combine it with rosewood for more bass response. Thats my favorite combo :) But as most of you mentioned, its really good for fingerpicking.
I am used to spruce tops, but I have to admit that I really like the warmth and richer sound of the cedar top....surprisingly enough I prefer the cedar top....A real eyeopener....thnx for sharing, has been very educational.... Question: how does a mahogany top sound compared to a spruce top?
Hey Anna, thanks! I've noted that one, let's see in a future episode! :)
Spruce baby!
Another difficult one! During Coen's finger-picking, the Farmer comes across the best. Much sweeter in tone. During Maarten's strumming, the Atkin sounded better. Warmer. Another good Guitar Battles. Suggestion; you should compare an Atkin J 45 COPY against a Gibson J 45. Take care and see you next week.
And since you asked, my gear is:
1971 Martin 000-18 Spruce / Mahogany
1994 Lowden F24 Spruce / Flame Maple
1979 Yamaha FG 335 Spruce / Mahogany with a JLD bridge truss system installed
Now tháts a nice collection, love seeing people own vintage Martins and Lowdens side-by-side! That Yamaha must be great too though ;) Thanks! Noted your idea.
Does Martin make a Cedar top?
Usually, no. But we could always inquire for a Cedar-topped custom... ;)
Cedar is amazing. Unfortunately this comparison doesn’t help as a dreadnaught is the worst body style for cedar. It’s too base heavy and muddies up the sound. I’ll take the spruce any day over cedar on a dread. Cedar has limited headroom and it’s too easy to overdrive the dreadnaught with cedar
Well, that sounds exactly like what we were trying to find out in this video ;)
IMO cedars sound a little more like vintage guitars, because spruce gets sweeter/warmer with age.
The big difference (I think) is they don't love it when you attack them with too much force while adironack/spruce seem at their best when you're really pushing the top. (I love 'em both. And mahogany.)
I think you're right on that one, that would explain why it's more suitable for fingerstyle in most scenario's!
For me it's the opposite. I'm a very heavy strummer and can really dig in and strum hard on my Takamine cedar top.
The Spruce top is more alive in both songs to my ears.
Cedar sounds new what bruce have to learn
it depends on the guitar, it is not as cut and dry as it seems. You need to find guitars that you like, the spruce/cedar debate does not exsist in my world, if I like a guitar I play it, I don't really care what it is made of. you should not limit yourself to one tonewood, stop analysing and play your guitar
Hey Billy, I like your approach! We have many customers that share your philosophy. For some people though, analysing is part of the fun ;)
I disagree I think cedar tops are warmer