Cedar vs Spruce Top Acoustic Guitar Tonewood Comparison : Dreadnought Edition

Comparing Cedar and Spruce Topped Dreads. Both with walnut back and sides.
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[@finishim100]

Hi, it's amazing that you are making this video because I was looking for exactly this comparison last night !! thank you.

[@ianmeadows6351]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thecanadianflatpicker]

would love to see an in depth review of the e10d with some flatpicking! :) thanks for the videos

[@maxwellfan55]

Surprisingly I preferred the clearer punch of spruce in this demo, particularly strumming, and I'm a cedar fan. That said, Eastman spruce/mahogany dread's are staggeringly good. Maybe a slightly smaller body shape would suit cedar more? Cedar most impressive with the flat picking/single notes, so a hybrid picker would benefit well from this combo. Great demo Ian, thanks.

[@stevewhiteley9249]

Definitely prefer the cedar. I’m not totally surprised as I often prefer it when I try out guitars. It sounds more played in and resonant from the off. Also, works really nicely with mahogany which sounds similar to sapele. Thanks, I was interested to see if this was also the case with a dreadnought (to my ears, anyway). Oh yes, cedar tops are often a good option on lower to mid price guitars in my experience, where factory built rosewood/spruce under a hard polyester finish can be a bit tight. Anyway, thanks - food for thought as always.

[@scottperry8162]

This is awesome I loved them both but if I had to choose I'd go with spruce it seems to be a little more open with a little stronger projection the ceder seems a little more compressed not in a bad way at all it sounds awesome fingerpicked

[@kristiangurholt59]

I have the E2D and the E1OM. Both great guitars, but that E2 is truly something special.

[@tontrenner]

Ordered both, kept the E2D. That guitar replaces 3-4 of my others. This dynamic range ist spectacular and she's beautiful...❤

[@garylewis9748]

Great comparison vid. These two dreads have been on my shortlist. On looks alone the cedar has it, with that darker wood and the lovely rosette. However, while the sound is good, I prefer the sound of the sitka on the E1. I've always owned spruce topped acoustics, so I guess my ears are just used to that sound. That's not to say the cedar isn't a lovely guitar, it clearly is. I think if you bought either of these if you were after a dreadnought you'd be a happy camper. I just prefer the brighter sound of the spruce, I can hear the notes more clearly or something, idk, it just sounds better.

[@IanBroon1]

Both sound good, really hard to pick one over the other. Great video👏🏻👍🏻

[@ianmeadows6351]

Agreed!

[@christopherwatkins9729]

G'Day... Both lovely guitars !! (Thanks... Nice Demo)...

[@attechoutdoors5893]

Having all spruce top guitars I like the cedar top because of the warm sound. Might be my next buy...just to change up to a different sound.

[@karffiol]

I find cedar warmer, fuller with more overtones. Spruce sounds a bit tinny compared to the cedar. I'd prefer cedar in most of the applications, it just stands out.

[@KP-by4eu]

cedar good for solo guitar with its warmer tones, especially for lead lines with guitar picks up the higher frets the spruce highs can be pretty harsh. Strumming seems like a tie. However, spruce wins when you strum hard and play high volume. Cedar becomes quite muddy strumming at high volume (the strumming here is quite soft so it hides that drawback for cedar). Also in a multi instrument/band setting, the spruce clarity can cut through the mix better, whereas the cedar will disappear into the background. For fingerstyle, I find spruce to be better since the flesh can warm up some of its highs, and provides higher clarity than cedar. Spruce is also more durable than cedar and will scratch less.

[@user-ek2mr7vd4k]

All you said is very true, I have E2D and Taylor 114e for different scenarios 😊

[@faltsetas]

Finally! You are the king :)I own both... but wanted to hear thru good microphones

[@51Dss]

As I expected I very much prefer the cedar. I own a Seagull S6 with cedar top and wild cherry laminated body...sounds great and projects beautifully so I had a bias or preference before watching this vid.

[@jessegreer8242]

Seagulls are awesome 👌

[@sunnyray7819]

Any issues with Seagull?

[@9087125498172345]

I purchased an s6 spruce brand new in 1999 and still have it. Sounds great.

[@robrobster9148]

​@@9087125498172345 In 1998 i purchased a Seagull S6 Spruce. In 2020 i bought an Eastman E1D Classic. The Seagull is a great sounding guitar but the Eastman sounds way better, its projecting, you feel the case resonating when you strumm it. It is just a REAL guitar for a very affordable price.

[@multipipi1234]

The Seagull I had was fantastic but couldn't take a knock if you know what I mean.

[@keyofb9513]

Fingerstyle goes to the Cedar, flat picking to the spruce to my ears

[@RADThird1]

Both sound really good...I guess it's one of each!

[@jed1166]

Yes, I have played spruce for 50+ years, and find myself wanting a cedar guitar... this or the Godin Metropolis Cedar...

[@upcycleelectra8311]

Great choice ya know it makes sense.. buying both..two hand made all solid wood, award winning guitar for less than £1000 Its a no Brainer 😉

[@jasonodeorain366]

@@jed1166 takamine gs330s Elixir nanoweb Light/Medium strings

[@bosse641]

Sure like that warm cedar. 😍

[@scottf2199]

Definitely preferred the warmth of the cedar

[@jed1166]

Have a Japanese built Takamine P4DC, and was considering a Tak P3D cedar top. BUT, the Eastman has solid Sapele back and sides, while the Takamine is solid Sapele back with laminated sides... AND the Eastman is $950 cheaper... after adding an LR Baggs Anthem to the Eastman, would still be $600 less! Buy an E1D with the left over $$$$?

[@jimmycool9265]

I believe Eastman E1D (spruce top) & E1D-CD (cedar top) have solid sapele back and sides and not walnut. Correct me if I were wrong!

[@Rory99M]

IMO Cedar= warmer, more mellow, alot of nice overtones, works best with fingerstyle. Has a classical guitar sound characteristic Spruce= not necessarily clearer but has a more bell like quality, more suited to playing with plectrum I'm torn because I'm so used to everyone playing spruce and liking that sound. Thanks a mil for video

[@kristiangurholt59]

Did you get one? My advice would be to try out both, maybe even try to do a blind test. I have an E2D and it’s got a warm and thick sound, it kinda looks like chocolate and sounds like it too. I also have an E1OM. I have tried an E1D and thought it was too sparkly, but this preference may change the next day. For example I have a Yamaha LL16 that’s very sparkly and bell-like, and I wouldn’t say the sound is better nor worse than the E2D, they just wow me in different ways. Don’t forget that strings, picks, and picking style affects the tone just as much!

[@RRStout]

The cedar sounds a bit warmer than the spruce. So the cedar would be my pick. But I think all those Eastman guitars sound a bit bright. They would sound better tuned a half step or full step down.

[@soofitnsexy]

yessss

[@RRStout]

@@soofitnsexy 👍🏻

[@soofitnsexy]

@@RRStout im a big Martin guy owned 7 premium martins whenever I tried an Eastman they were tight and bright! excellent guitars but Im just being honest

[@michaelc7207]

Cedar for me. Seems warmer and more defined with nice overtones.

[@blackberryblossom]

Wow! To me, the spruce top sounds like classic country / bluegrass. The cedar sounds very much like my own guitar (an A&L dreadnought).

[@bobaldo2339]

I was expecting to prefer the cedar, but actually prefer the spruce.

[@xkukubax]

Same here.

[@etiquettemona]

Strange/good thing with Eastmans, the ”cheap” ones sounds (more or less) as good as the ”expensive” ones. Being a singer-songwriter I prefer the E2D.

[@fishersrow]

Both have Mahogany, well Sapele and not Walnut like you say in your description.

[@AcousticJamDad]

So I’ve owned what is my pride and joy, a Taylor western red cedar top guitar with rosewood back and sides. I absolutely LOVE my guitar, don’t get me wrong, but I’m always asking the question of how it would sound with a spruce top instead. Personally, and maybe this is just my guitar, but I find the cedar is wonderful for playing light. What I lack is the string projection/volume/boom, which has me exploring different top woods. To my ear, so far Koa sounds the best but I hear it takes time to break in. Any ideas from anyone out there as to how to raise the volume on a cedar topped guitar without going up drastically in string gauges???

[@racl1954]

They both sound good, but I prefer the sparkle of the spruce from the E1D. Just had one delivered from Richard Guitars in the UK. I love it. Very responsive and inspiring guitar. Can't put it down.

[@kristiangurholt59]

That’s when you know you’ve found the one! I have two cousins, the E1OM and an E2D. They’re great!

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Is the rosette on the E2D made of real wood?

[@DiNGaLs]

I like cedar

[@billhdowne2382]

wonder what strings he's using

[@StephenDTrain]

Good demo. A close microphone tends to equalize the projection. After about fifteen minutes on that cedar, you'll be reaching for the spruce. :)

[@sunnyray7819]

Does it get louder after it warms up or something?

[@StephenDTrain]

@@sunnyray7819 thanks for the reply. to be more clear... My experience with cedar, is that while the tone is wonderful in all the ways expressed here, i have found after playing on it for some length of time, like during a session, the difference in feel becomes more noticeable. When I start digging in, pushing the guitar expecting the bite and attack that i am used to, the cedar is lacking. What i meant about the microphone, is that if you are listening in a studio, through headphones and a preamp, those differences in dynamics might be less apparent. I love to record with my cedar top guitar. But i always end up reaching back for the spruce.

[@danielrains2055]

Wat is the brand name of the guitars u were playing? I didnt see it written any where in description n couldn't read the headstock even tho u put it in the camera lol.

[@dagohoyting2417]

@Philip Deppen pls tell me where to buy the guitar you bought. I like the same one...

[@dagohoyting2417]

@Philip Deppen thanks man you are heaven sent. Now I'm watching all those e2d reviews and how they say its such a good sounding dreadnought for 500 dollars, even better than some 1000+usd range.

[@dagohoyting2417]

@Philip Deppen got a picture of this please??

[@LifeSavingDefense]

what strings on both?

[@codern]

Hello, I'm just wondering if you might have any solid body cedar top acoustic guitars, in good shape, that you'd mind selling to me for a reasonable price. I live in Canada. It seems hard to find a solid body cedar top acoustic. Thanks! A.j

[@samuelschlager9528]

A.J, I guess you' ve found a nice guitar by now, if not: both Seagull (S6?) and Art & Lutherie are made in Canada and make cedar solid top acoustics, but I think the rest of the body is laminated. I own a A&L Cedar and am very happy with the sound and looks. Good luck!

[@yeremychauvin7253]

Cedar top always !

[@esinsonat675]

the Cedar effect is obvious,it is fuller and emits great acoustics everywhere.. my choice is Cedar !..

[@giddyrightonup]

0:00 1:34

[@fengcarlos]

Cedar for me

[@jspendleton3898]

Walnut back & sides? I thought these were sapele.

[@frederikdegraaf9463]

Two great examples of top sound for the buck. A slight nod to the spruce..

[@mirllewist3086]

OK so either the cedar is slightly out of tune, or else cedar produces a very lovely natural chorus vibe. On his first chord I though it sounds in the spirit of a 12-string compared to the spruce. which was a lot more direct.

[@quigley4440]

Between the two - don't care. I'm hear to enjoy the sound and your playing when in the mood to relax.

[@TRIUMPHUS1]

Spruce will be my choice 👍

[@wacchannel6244]

Anyone know how much is the spruce guitar cost?

[@user-kr4ts2rw1s]

About 575€.

[@jed1166]

$500USD street price.

[@nautiquecowboynautiquecowb5317]

Cedar

[@mschafft1358]

That cedar top sounds a bit lacking in the bass register. Spruce projects well here.

[@dilan1992-bs9it]

definitely cedar more full and warmer

[@suwannachartzz9539]

I prefer spouce.

[@laisanzuilaisanzui5964]

damn both is eastman!

[@garpng]

I have the E1D, great guitar for the price, but Martin strings are better on it than d'addario EXP16 ...try them (bronze 80/20) ....;-)

[@nirwanaeathell]

try elixir polyweb 11 52, its going crazy on my drs 2 and d 18

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

Also, if you want to reduce the spruce zing you can use a heavier pick.

[@philipdeppen2890]

@@turrafirmaguitarchannel I always use thick Dunlop primetone picks. They bring out the best of any acoustic for sure

[@muhanmadnurhuda3805]

still spruce

[@robmccarthy1018]

Spruce is warmer. Spruce lighter and brighter. Spruce usually takes longer to 'open out' or play in. This is where it's worth comparing well played in guitars. Interesting how most classical guitars go for Cedar even tho' a very different type of guitar.

[@mschafft1358]

Spruce warmer?

[@robmccarthy1018]

@@mschafft1358 I think I meant cedar is warmer. 3 years ago 😁

[@prateekbhardwaj9943]

cedar 💌, spruce- headache

[@ubertwerpify]

Great video - there IS a noticeable difference - spruce has that extra chime and treble sparkle to round out the tone - cedar is duller “ warmer “ not as much clarity - not bad at all , but to me uninspiring which is why i got rid of my seagull cedar - i am much happier with solid spruce - Man -whomever the engineer was that came up with spruce topped dreadnought deserves a major award - that basic combo is HARD to beat

[@erikabbot1133]

Spruce

[@jackaro2]

3:27, 4:40

[@geoffreysaadi3004]

08:36 09:14

[@jjoltra]

I'm certainly indiferent. Strings and guitarist are way more important factors. Both woods work fine. Spruce is more vivid whereas Cedar is more intimate and dark.

[@mmk8283]

The cedar top guitar has whiskey on its breath, the spruce top is still drinking juice from a sippy cup.

[@istvantoth7431]

The rule is that cedar if want to include VOCALS , spruce if you work only with sound of the guitar.

[@Morten_Nielsen1979]

Why is cedar better than spruce if you want sing along?

[@sunnyray7819]

Between Sitka and Adi, people say Adi is better for singers... Sitka more midsy...

[@user-kk3cv7ss6l]

Oh my godddd...Ceder!!!! Spruce is very cheap sound..