One of the most common choices when selecting a classical guitar concerns the wood of the top: spruce or cedar. The material of the top affects the instrument's tone, response and character more than any other single part. This LG Guitar Guide article compares these two most common soundboard woods, to make the choice for your own playing style easier.
The two most common soundboard woods
The great majority of classical guitars are built with either a spruce or a cedar top. Both are light, stiff softwoods well suited to vibrating and producing sound. The differences are not black and white, and there is variation between individual instruments, but certain general traits recur often enough to make the comparison a useful starting point.
The character of a cedar top
A cedar top, usually western red cedar, typically gives a warm, round and immediate sound. A new cedar-topped instrument often sounds ready and full right away, which makes it pleasing to many from the start. Cedar responds sensitively to even a light touch, which suits a player who values quick response and a soft voice. On the other hand, some players feel that cedar has a slightly lower dynamic ceiling, meaning that in the very loudest playing the sound does not grow as much as with spruce.
The character of a spruce top
A spruce top typically gives a brighter, clearer and more articulate sound in which individual notes stand out well. A spruce-topped instrument often offers a wider dynamic range: quiet playing stays controlled and loud playing grows large. Many feel that a spruce top also develops and opens up more noticeably over the playing years, during the so-called break-in period, when the sound matures and fills out.
Break-in and the effect of time
Both top woods change somewhat with time and playing, but with spruce the change is often felt more clearly. This means that judging a new spruce-topped instrument in the shop alone can give a more modest impression than what the instrument reaches after a few years of playing. Cedar, in turn, sounds closer to its final character from the start. Neither is better than the other; it is a matter of whether you want a finished sound immediately or are willing to wait for the tone to mature.
Which one suits you?
The choice should be made according to your own playing style and taste. If you like a warm, immediate and soft sound and often play with a light touch, cedar is a natural choice. If you value clarity, clear separation and a wide dynamic range, and are willing to give the instrument time to develop, spruce may serve you better. The best way to decide is to listen to and play both in the same room one after another, because the differences between individual instruments can be as large as those between the wood species.
Summary
Spruce and cedar are both excellent soundboard woods, and the choice is a matter of taste rather than quality. Cedar offers warmth and immediate response, spruce clarity and dynamics. Once you know which character you prefer, choosing an instrument becomes significantly easier.
