Cedar Vs. Spruce on Classical Guitars!

 

Tonewoods

On classical guitars, the most common used soundboard-woods are Cedar and Spruce and there is an everlasting debate on which seems to be better. 

 

Whilst Spruce is more traditional and has been used in the industry more, Cedar has gained popularity starting in the mid-1960's. Spruce guitars typically have a quite direct sound with a bell-like tone. They seem to be more clear, balanced and sometimes have more sustain. Cedar however, makes the guitar sound darker, warmer and generally fuller. 

 

We've had Levi Akkerman, guitar teacher and professional player, play on two near-exact Ramirez 1A's. One of the has a Cedar top (Ramirez 1A 1974) whilst the other has a Spruce top (Ramirez 1A 1988). 

 

The age difference is something to keep in mind whilst listening to the comparison, the slightly older Cedar top is brighter than she would be if she was the same age as the spruce top. However, this difference is small. Cedar always matures sooner than Spruce.

Which Is Better, Cedar or Spruce?

In my experience, most buyers prefer cedar tops over spruce tops, not because they have done A/B comparison tests, but mostly because of what they have been told by others. The conventional view is that cedar produces a warmer, fuller, mellower sound, and spruce produces a sharper, brighter sound with more clarity. Generally speaking, this is true, but with many individual exceptions. Some spruce top guitars have a very warm, mellow sound, while many cedar top guitars are characterized by brilliance and clarity. Often, when visiting my home to try the guitars in person, buyers who originally intended to buy a cedar top instrument will end up selecting the spruce top version, and vice-versa.

Generally speaking, the overall design of the guitar is equally important in determining whether a guitar has a fuller, richer, warmer sound vs. a brilliant, clear sound. The spruce top version of one guitar model might have a significantly warmer, mellower sound than the cedar top version of a different model. 

So, how does one go about deciding between cedar and spruce? The best way, in my view is to listen to the recordings. In most cases, there are videos of the cedar and spruce top versions of each model. Also keep in mind that the sound the player hears while playing is very different from the sound the audience hears. In my opinion, a guitar generally sounds much better from the vantage point of the audience. This is why my guitars come with a side port option. The side port directs some of the sound upwards towards the player and enhances the listening experience of the player. During recording sessions, when I listen to the videos, I am usually surprised at how much better the guitar sounds than when I play the instrument myself. Of course, some of the difference is due to the skill of the player. Fortunately, the sound I hear when listening to the guitar in person, from in front, is exactly the same as what I hear in the videos. This is partially due to the fact that the videos are entirely unedited in any way. So, if you are having trouble deciding between spruce and cedar, I would advise you to listen very carefully to the videos.

One final thought. It has been said that spruce top guitars generally require a period of “breaking in” in order for the sound to fully open up. While some of the spruce tops in my inventory may start out with a slightly “closed in” sound, generally I cannot detect the difference between the spruce and cedar top versions of each model. Again, I would say that this might be an issue for the well-trained, finely-tuned ear, but it would not be an issue for the rest of us.

An 1862 Antonio De Torres featuring a gorgeous, aged spruce top

Spruce or Cedar? Which is better?

It seems as if every time the topic of classical guitar comes up in conversation, this question seems to spring up as well. We can all agree that both materials have their respective advantages, and furthermore, that some players simply prefer the sound and look of one tonewood over the other. However, there seems to be a lot of myth surrounding this age old question. We decided to create a list of 5 distinct features that distinguishes spruce from cedar.

1. Appearance

This is probably the most obvious difference between the two, but it is certainly not something to be discounted. Spruce is typically lighter and blonde in color, sometimes even having a honey or amber tint. Over time, a good cut of spruce will mature and darken, giving it a golden (almost glowing) look. The photo featured above is a fine example of this; an 1862 Antonio De Torres with a wonderfully aged spruce top (taken from our Museum Archive). When paired with a contrasted set of hardwoods for the back and sides, a good cut of spruce is simply delightful to the eyes of both the performer and the audience.

2. Historical Usage

Historically speaking, classical guitars have been built using spruce tops for centuries. Torres, Esteso, Bouchet, Hauser, Fleta, Friederich, and virtually every other luthier of historical significance from the 19th and 20th centuries built guitars using spruce for the tops. Actually the widespread use of cedar tonewood for classical guitar tops began fairly recently, having its major “boom” in the mid 1960’s.

3. Physical Properties

The main function of a guitar top (regardless of material) is to vibrate. When a player plucks a string on a guitar, the top actually “pumps” in relationship to the frequency of the string, amplifying the sound produced by the natural vibration of the string and creating the characteristic sound of the guitar. Considering this, it is no surprise that hardwoods tend to make poor tops for guitars. Spruce is a highly flexible, yet stiff material, and it is for this reason that it has become such a prized and essential component in the building of classical guitars.

4. Maturation

Spruce ages beautifully, like fine wine. As the top stiffens and dries with age, the sound of a spruce top guitar will slowly evolve and mature. While the same can be said of cedar top guitars, there is something especially charming about the way in which a spruce top changes color over time, and how the sound produced by the instrument can be a reflection of its age. It is believed that the sonic changes that will occur over time with a spruce top are more dramatic than those with a cedar top, so this is an attractive feature for any guitarist who wants a guitar whose sound will essentially “grow and mature” with them.

5. Tone

This is perhaps the stickiest subject in this age old debate, and its no surprise considering the vast number of variables that determine the sound a good guitar will produce. Discounting the different techniques luthiers use in bracing the top, or the thickness of the soundboard, it is generally agreed that a spruce top guitar will sound brighter than a cedar top guitar. Spruce top guitars have a wonderful blooming tone, with bell-like trebles and basses that are low and full but tend more toward the mid range. Spruce top guitars also have a tone palette that is sensitive and highly nuanced. A player with a good touch will get an incredible variety of tones and timbres from a spruce top guitar. Spruce also tends to project sound in a way that is more linear, as opposed to cedar which has a tendency to “radiate” sound.

 

Obviously, there are a plethora of exceptions to consider. A lattice braced spruce top will sound quite different from a fan braced spruce top, and both of these will sound distinctly different from a double-top cedar guitar. Additionally, the sound produced by a cut of European spruce will sound different from a comparable cut of Sitka spruce. There so much variation in the world of classical guitar, and eventually, the onus falls on the player to decide what he or she likes or dislikes about a particular tonewood. Ultimately, it all comes down to the preference of the performer. These are just a few points to help better understand some of the more “generalized” characteristics of spruce tops.