Spruce Vs Cedar Top Comparison. The INCREDIBLE Eastman AC122-1CE Vs AC122-2CE

To see the Spruce model AC1222-1CE rguitars.co.uk/products/eastm...
To see the cedar model AC122-2CE-CD rguitars.co.uk/products/eastm...
Two incredible and almost identical electro acoustics by Eastman - both retailing at £599 with ALL SOLID wood construction. The fullness of tone found on these guitars surpasses acoustics I have heard at twice the price - let alone in the same price bracket.
However - there is ONE difference (barring a tiny cosmetic difference around the sound hole). One has a solid spruce top and the other has a solid cedar top.
I do hope this video helps you A) learn a little more about just how good an electro acoustic guitar you can buy for £600 but at the same time understand a little more about the "voice" of spruce vs cedar.
Watch this video if want to learn more about super high quality yet affordable all solid wood electros - or if you have never quite understood the difference between spruce and cedar as tonewoods.
Hope it helps!

[@sebastianhaas5863]

Thanks for the really well done direct comparrision :)

[@Ones_Complement]

Easily the most illuminating video I've found on spruce vs cedar. Cedar definitely has a softer, less shimmery character. Very helpful, thanks!

[@jaxplanner7282]

I usually prefer the warm sound of cedar; however, this particular one has the warmer, mid-range but seems muddy and the notes are not as well defined. I love Eastman guitars and cedar, but not this particular example. It shows how guitars, even within the same models, can differ in tone. Thank you for all you do!

[@jed1166]

Best comparison to be found... thanks!

[@madgeniusmusic]

Very informative, also very pretty sounding.

[@geofkane2365]

Great, enjoyable demo. I like both guitars!

[@ronvonryan]

Great and informative video as usual. Having owned both spruce top and cedar topped guitar in the past I always liked the 'warmer' sound of the ceder top, but you only have to look at it to get a dent in it. I suppose it depends on the finish how bad that can get.

[@Spacedraptor]

I wish I had heard of your shop a year ago I would have bought from you amazing service you have there 👍

[@baeghursty]

I think you are spot on as far as geometry goes. Alot of people don't realize if there's minimal saddle height. and a straight neck, and still high or close to high action, well you have exhausted all your room for adjustments down the road. Trouble trouble trouble! This guy knows what he's talking about 👍

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

DUB BLE DIPPED or a neck reset 😣

[@renmad0078]

Brillant demo yes we can ear very well the softer sound of the cedar 👍😉

[@JoshuaKrell]

Wow! Love the cedar! Sounds a whole lot better for what I like to play than the spruce!

[@Pharesm]

I vote Mahogany ;-D Thanks for the video! Its always hard to know what you're really hearing over KZbin, but the brightness and openess did come through quite clearly for me, in spite of hearing it over the speakers of my TV... I'm gonna have a look at some Eastman guitars...

[@jaylakhani5568]

Thank you so much for this video! Do you still recommend them or any newer models?

[@RichardCavalier-ys8wi]

The spruce sounds bright and jangly, While each note on the cedar really resonates and sounds soft and fades away sweetly 😋 "nice"

[@allanmacbadger5692]

I'm only a 60 year old novice but I found it quite easy to hear the difference, I guess I preferred the cedar version because I have a Seagull S6 cedar and it sounds quite similar, but they are both really nice guitars and I would be happy to own either.

[@BluesChoker01]

Some thoughts. Have a 1987 Santa Cruz OM (OM-57) with Brazilian Rosewood and Sitka Spruce and a 90s OM with Indian Rosewood and old growth Cedar that was culled after a blight sadly killed thousands of Georgia trees. Great builds by amazing company. Over the years, these two similar models have truly evolved far more distinct tones and projection than when first built. The cedar top responds to fingerstyle with nail attacks and there's your treble for bluegrass, country, rock, flamenco or bass lines for blues. And surprise, it also works with altered tunings and a glass or metal slide! Tip, wrap cotton around your slide finger and no sweat or blisters--really helps control and increases practice time. From Joe Walsh after buying him a pint in a London bar. Nice dude. The Spruce is a rhythm dream and the right chord inversions and jazz fingering can sound like more than six strings. This rascal is great for the unique California Laurel Canyon fusion of folk rock and blues created by the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Beach Boys, Hollies, CSNY, Joni Mitchell, etc. With these two guitars, and a LOT of hard work, you could cover every song in Eric Clapton's 1992 MTV Unplugged session. Even the 12-string cuts would sound OK on the Spruce. BTW, if you want some awesome sauce, check out Stevie Ray Vaughn on one of the first Unplugged in 1990. Only three songs, including Pride and Joy, solo on a 12-string acoustic. :-) KZbin Music.

[@terrychalmers8929]

Thanks for the video comparison, I prefer the cedar sound, seems to be more mellow and has a deeper base

[@frankyule4592]

Philip Deppen well how long do you wait for a guitar to open up, if it takes years I may have sold it on so I would never know how sweet it is , I want my guitars to sound as sweet as they can, as soon as now , just a thought ..........😀

[@tomeisenmenger7048]

Cedar opens up much more quickly than spruce - took only about a year for my Seagull S6 to blossom! You get a bit more growl with the cedar as well, which you can hear when Richard plays those blues licks at the end.

[@fourocker]

I played an Alvarez dred today in my local shop, Mahogany back and sides with a Cedar top and I was captivated immediately, it's a baller combo, complex and warm, my god I wanted to take it home with me then and there. If anyone reading my comment gets the chance to try it or listen to it in person do it, doesn't really matter what brand as long as it's decent, you'll hear what I'm talking about pretty quickly.

[@tonybrooks476]

The Eastman logo looks very nice too.

[@billyweeksrealsmallclosetm8484]

Cedar does have a warmer tone...Cedar, also, does not need the "break in" period of natural spruce. Spruce opens up more with active playing time, so its tonal potential happens at a slower rate than the "right out of the box" cedar.

[@brucemarrs2596]

Looks like I'm in an opinion changing process regarding cedar. In this vid the cedar sounded darker, and I just plain like that sound. Thank you

[@pictishblood5688]

Spruce 4:40 Cedar 6:00

[@davidfreire4478]

Thank you! What a mess this guy did!

[@simonroome5858]

Thanks, I wish these guys would just get to the point straight away lol..

[@mr.phamhai]

Ty

[@BreadLightPray_EWFMgtr]

⚠️ would like to hear some decent fingerstyle for definition and separation of the notes ⁉️🤔

[@ParaBellum2024]

Better (or maybe just different) note definition with the spruce top, I'd say. How does each respond to dynamic changes from soft fingerpicking to heavy strumming? Some wood combinations are great for picking, but don't sound good when strummed hard, and vice versa.

[@mikegi7son]

Hi Richard, I found your KZbin world last night starting with your intro to pentatonic blues soloing. Very informative and as other have said in the comments, this sort of stuff is brushed aside or ignored by so many vlogers. Anyway we’ll done. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a spruce v cedar shoot out, again a very welcome first. For me it’s the cedar, I may be biased as I have a 1990 Lowden S23 cedar and walnut which just sings. A bit tatty now but all the wear is mine. Thank you for sharing interesting and informative vids. When all this tosh is done I’ll be heading your way. All the best, Mike

[@winterpatriot4574]

You could definitely hear it on the high, it would have been cool to see what you thought about the impact on the low end. Nice video.

[@jonjepson3650]

I've got the cedar one. It's exactly the sound that I was looking for. But don't forget the neck profile, a chunky even C, with no taper. Perfect guitar for me.

[@mikequilici9298]

I have a Spruce version and love it🤔, now I want a Cedar one as well.

[@sabyx5]

Thank you so much!! Never knew the diff til now . spruce for me! Cedar sounds warmer …like a Martin 😊

[@fractalnomics]

Love my deep sounding Furch D 40 cedar top.

[@jamesdonalfaulkner]

Me too

[@allendesomer]

Personally, I prefer so much sparkle in a steel string I go to great lengths before a gig to restring with bright 80/20s (not phosphor bronze), so a spruce top is for me. But with my nylon string classical I love the warmth of cedar with a touch of brightness from hard tension strings. Maybe I like brighter tone because I'm losing my hearing on the top end of the spectrum. lol!

[@ParaBellum2024]

I used 80/20 for a long time, but found that I prefer phosphor bronze now, despite my hearing going!

[@codking82]

how is the E2om model cedar sapele ??? i hear mixed reviews on it i only play cedar mahogany

[@hollywoodactress]

Would I be right to say the spruce has a hifi esk top end

[@IndigoJo]

Spruce tops often darken as they age -- I tried out a Larrivee OM-02 a few months ago and the top looked so dark, I was certain it had to be cedar, but they always used sitka spruce for that model (assuming they ever used cedar; it's not an option with them right now). The new ones are really pale; that one was kind of light brown rather than the beige of a new spruce top.

[@gregstacey8215]

I just want both! :)

[@richardabbuhl]

I have a Taylor 214ce with a spruce top and find it be a bright guitar. I tried an AC122-1CE recently and it was also really bright. I will check out the AC122-2CE-CD and hope it is a bit mellower on the highs. Thanks for the tip!!

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Richard Abbuhl hi. Your 214ce is laminated I think? You should find the Eastman fuller toned?

[@richardabbuhl]

@@RichardsGuitarshop Yes, the 214ce is laminated. I tried a few Eastman grand auditorium models (AC122-1CE and AC222CE OV Classic) and found them all to be bright. Maybe a bit of a fuller tone but the brightness put me off. It's the reason I've never bonded with the 214ce. It could be the answer for me is a cedar top.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Richard Abbuhl no question spruce does have a more brilliant tone and Eastman are very alive. Cedar is certainly one way but a full mahogany guitar would remedy your issue

[@richardabbuhl]

@@RichardsGuitarshop sounds good. Which full mohogany guitar would you recommend?

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

@@richardabbuhl This would be the one at your budget rguitars.co.uk/products/faith-faith-fncemg-faith-neptune-cutaway-electro

[@pigsyj5008]

Does anyone know anything about the Eastman AC308? I can't find much on it but I've heard it has all solid woods? I have an opportunity to buy one but can't play it! I need to know how much I should pay.

[@johnward307]

I have a Faith Saturn Natural series dreadnought how do you think they compare. My Faith is just wonderful.

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Does the AC122 shape in cedar have just as much bass as the E2D cedar/sapele in your opinion?

[@lizenwen]

I owned an Eastman AC 20 OM. It was all solid mahogany. I sold it but regret it very much now. Is it possible to do à comparaison between CEDAR vs MAHOGANY solid tops ? Thanks in advance.

[@pablo9588]

I love Cedar sound. It's warmer. But Cedar have less volume?

[@lightfoot413]

Well a slight difference I heard,but the Cedar is for me...Thanks for comparison....

[@vkavcic6]

cedar for me is super.... hoot sound .Thank you for all you do!

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Spruce sounds more jangly. Ceder us mellower and kinda fuller ☺

[@ryleuty]

Dude, thank you for just plucking the same thing over and over again so we could really tune in to the difference! I dig the mellow cedar.

[@justray510]

the difference between the ac122-2ce and a ac322 is basically mahogany costs more than Sapele and the ac122 has a gig bag vs the 322 HSC? Personally I like the cedar top because it cuts some of the highs and mids but not much, and the gig bag is fine. How well does the cedar top handle strumming? I'm NOT a heavy strummer and don't play anything that requires it.

[@larryalexander900]

Some woods lend themselves to higher frequencies more than others, and visa versa. It would be good to hear playing from low on the neck AND high on the neck. Where Cedar may sound better on one area of the neck, how does it compare higher up?

[@kristiangurholt59]

This is a good observation

[@Fret-knot]

Good comparison. They both have a nice sound. Which is best? 🤔

[@deborahschauder2831]

cedar

[@PeteAxeShields]

Firstly Eastman guitars are THE most amazing value for quality instruments out there Regardless of the fact that they are so much cheaper than other " big name brands ", they actually are every bit as well made ( better in many cases ) and the sound and playability are more than a match for any of them. I only have one Eastman, at present, an AR503CE arch top, which is an astounding guitar, but I plan on buying a T59/v as soon as my finances allow me :-) The acoustics look and sound wonderful Richard. Personally I would opt for the Spruce model, and yes there is a distinct, yet subtle, difference between that and the Cedar. Lastly, I am always hugely impressed by your obvious true love and enthusiasm for guitars and this is a reason why guitar players should use your services above a lot of your competitors. It's a wee bit premature, Richard, but have a wonderful Christmas and a joyous 2020 x

[@seurinfrancois2232]

orangewood hudson better fine

[@chrismccannIRL]

I got a Martin DJR10 for £580 new - all solid, handmade Martin. I also have a Couple of Faith all solid guitars. Ones a Hi Gloss Venus at £699, ones a Venus Nexus £450 and ones a Neptune Blood Moon £715. There are other guitars at that price point available. My DJR 10 sounds impressive, even compared to my custom Martin 000 bubinga guitar which is 10x it’s price. I’ve never tried an Eastman but these two don’t sound any better to the Faiths I have or the Martin JNR. I think there are actually quite a lot of well made solid guitar brands in and around £600

[@may4friends]

Great video. Hear the difference: Spruce 8:04 Cedar 8:14

[@lc11s]

One of these or Furch Blue G?

[@fung362]

Could you compare 122ce-cd with Faith fkvcd? Which one has a better sound?

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Fxxxlv to be honest? I wouldn’t want to embarrass Faith. Chalk and cheese

[@johntreadwell6009]

Hi Rich they are both sound great just different - Myself I prefer the classic Engelmann Spruce on my Eastman AC722-CE spruce that I bought from you.

[@charass1]

Spruce is winner for me :)

[@noelocs]

Crisp (spruce) vs mellow (cedar). My personal preference would be spruce in this case.

[@micpep]

I don't know how you recorded that but when you play full string we ear a compressor breathing (and even when not full but a little less). It's hard to evaluate sound quality...

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

Interesting although unsurprising as to the cedar difference. One comment on "adjustability": Sadly, here in a big U.S. city, there are lots of "luthiers" and "guitar techs." Nice guys, nobody is competent to do a basic setup.

[@luckyluke9160]

Cedar, slight faded low and highs. Natural guitar range ocus. Even and easy dynamics without problematic low end and high end. Dynamics that doesnt cause trouble and always sits right in a mix Spruce wider soundstage more low end punch in attack and more zing. A dynamic that might require more careful mixing to avoid thumpy low end or excessive high and string noise Cedar might lack some low end authority and high end zing Spruce might lack body and become unruly Both can sound absolutely fantastic! Thanks for the review! Excellent to hear you switch between them. Cheers!

[@Charlie-B365]

I'm having a Spruce v Cedar dilemma and this video really get the differences across. It's been the most helpful of all the comparisons I have checked out. For me it seems the Spruce is probably better for use in a band especially for strumming and the Cedar is much more sweet and mellow for finger style. Huge thanks for this. I've now made my choice.

[@robertwilson4798]

I'm really like the Spruce

[@Saxlicker]

I'm a complete novice....but then I wasn't playing so I guess that hardly maters. I preferred the Cedar though my quality Sony headphones.

[@renmad0078]

But in fact the ac122-1ce is the one one in our right and the other in our left is ac122-2ce the difference is in the rosette design 👍

[@colintraveller]

Quality them both

[@wjdavey3]

The Spruce is a bit more airy, also a wee boost of the High Treble, almost Chimey and Ringing, very Nice though; Not Harsh. The Cedar is kind of boosted in the low Mid and Higher Mid, with very Wee Roll off in the Highs; which overall is a Sweet and Warmer Sound than the Spruce. BOTH have Full across Even Tones both Strumming and Picking: a Testament to Quality Woods I would Say!! In Final: Both are Excellent Guitars, so in Choosing which One: it Depends what You'll Be Using it for; RE: IN a Group or on Stage, the Spruce will Cut Better in the Mix with the Other Instruments!! Whereas the Cedar would more likely Warm up the Overall Sound and Tones with a Solo Singer Songwriter, with a Warm, Mellow, Wide Brush of Tones to Compliment and Surround the Singer's Voice without Overpowering it!! Of Course, Both 'could be' made to Sound 'almost' Identical if Put through a Good on Stage Mixer, then EQd slightly different from each other and with some slight added Compression on the Mixer Channels, and some very slight barely there added Reverb on each Guitar; to Warm and Fill the Tone and Sustain of each Guitar. 👍👍🎵🎶🍀

[@NatureAndTech]

Sounds amazing, but now I can't decide. I was so set on the Furch Blue Gc-SW, but now I don't know. Generally I love the spruce sound, but the high e has an annoying "plingy" sound, as pointed out by Richard here. On the other hand the cedar is too dark for my liking - specially if the strings are a bit old. Might have to try both.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

NatureAndTech trust me. Furch guitars are made for Cedar and not too dark. Trust me! Go with cedar on the furch

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

Are you kidding me? 600 "quid"? I have to look at some Eastmans, but in my U.S. Metro area of 2-plus million, no dealer carries them.

[@philbrown6601]

I own a number of solid top Spruce and solid top cedar guitars and can say that Solid Cedar hands down sound much better and fuller sound than solid spruce top.

[@dulla8469]

oh my god i hate buying acoustic guitar, ive been searching for the best one for the price that i can get i looked at a bunch, and i was gonna go with the yamaha LL16d, but now im thinking of getting the ac122-2CE, guess im gonna have to go and try both of them out

[@kingoimkenya]

The sitka is more transparent to my ears, a tad too bright. The ceder is more my guitar. I found them at a store today and am seriously thinking of trading in my old Takamine EG334C.

[@aussiecoastie72]

Interesting what you say about brand names . I have a Chinese made LAG auditorium style guitar with a cedar top . It’s a wonderful guitar, and if I’m just noodling and playing at home , it’s my guitar of choice . I have recorded with it also . It plays and sounds like a guitar costing hundreds more

[@artyompetrov208]

What model?

[@RjBenjamin353]

Spruce 👍 amazing sound.

[@Sirstarfish]

It’s a spruce for me 🙂

[@overseer_grimal]

Spruce for strumming, cedar for fingerpicking

[@jaylakhani5568]

Just played them both in person. I prefer the spruce over the cedar. Note, I am not advanced

[@tonybrooks476]

Softer yes, and less banjo-like I think.

[@glenxoseph]

5:31 seems like his mouth was interrupted by his hand haha

[@AC-he8ln]

Hand to mouth: Shut up I'm playing

[@tjatkinson88]

James Taylor uses Cedar. Just saying.

[@TempoDrift1480]

Damn Son, get after it already.

[@larrydunn4626]

prefer the cedar growl.

[@235buz]

I like my mahogany B&G.

[@xetexuk12]

For me, a spruce top will always sound nicer and more responsive and LOUDER than a cedar one, but that's just me.

[@martinrussell7408]

Usually prefer cedar, but spruce nails this example. Just.

[@sofirazilik]

Spruce sounds daring or bold..whereas cedar sounds modest..

[@tonygward08]

That's settled it, my personal preference is cedar. And if I win the lottery I will be back to buy a Lowden F25C!

[@MegaPortenio]

The Spruce has more depth, more resonant like is a very expensive guitar. The Cedar sounds nice, warm but not exciting: that’s my take.

[@bunnatang2081]

put some fiber glass inside to make the bass tone richer

[@paddyc8200]

Can you elaborate please?

[@alesadventures1747]

Cedar is more Muted and Mid Range Spruce is brighter and cleaner

[@Gioelemusic]

Cedar for me , warmer sound , more dinamic

[@aneyesky]

Eastman guitars are well made. What I would like to hear is an Eastman Spruce vs a Simon Patrick cedar.

[@duaneholcomb8408]

Spruce usually gives a brighter tone. Than ceder. Or mahogany,,, spruce is great for country and blue grass. Ceder or mahogany is much more warm. Especially mahogany. Gives you a touch more bass. Not as bright on the high end. More balanced tone. I own a mahogany and spruce. But not a ceder. One day I may pick me up,one. Though,,,,

[@unlustig1]

07:00 direct comparison: cedar 07:24 direct comparison: spruce

[@1965Scotia]

Cedar for Me......

[@HotZTrain]

Red wine vs white wine

[@AndrewAHayes]

Why do guitar manufacturers use loads of letters numbers and symbols in the names, all that should just be a product order number and use as much skill as they do in building as in naming the product, I have no affinity in a serial number

[@DornAndGrant]

Andrew Hayes I used to teach on a production course, which was described as a sausagefest by a student once. One year we had three women in one class (a rarity) and they reckoned it was ‘boys’ that liked all the numbers. Tlm 193 akg414 etc. They came up,with much better names. M)

[@monkeysbum999]

way to sell a guitar ,play bars of 7/8 ,with the odd bar of 11/8 (7.50)

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Man that had me in stitches....

[@mjallenuk]

How funny that a few people thumb down guitar videos when it only points to them being either bloody miserable or completely tone deaf. Even more hilarious as it still counts as interaction in YT's eyes and it helps promote the video further. Personally I love these comparisons. I'm not in the market for another guitar (who am I kidding) as my wife will murder me (not kidding) ... probably with a solid body mahogany which I imagine isn't the worst way to go? You see the real question here is do you spend £1200 on one great guitar or £1200 on two really good but different sounding guitars giving you more sound scope?

[@micpep]

Sound recording quality could bring some thumbs down...

[@jed1166]

Hey Matt, my EX wife once said ,”you have too many guitars”. I answered sincerely, “what do you mean?”.

[@Chet22]

Its no more Spruce vs Mahogany..its now Spruce vs Cedar

[@santoshlimnuhanglimbu2206]

Ceder 🎸 guitar something block sound

[@thorsteinheinz4719]

spruce...

[@07LUTE70]

Excellent guitar AC 122 2CE but it's not solid top it's laminate . It's very good fake but it's not real sitka spruce. I am a luthier believe me that's why the price point. Don't get me wrong great guitar but not solid sitka spruce top. You should slightly see the grain of the spruce in good lighting ,but you don't the top is as flat as a formica top which indicates man made sorry .They are safer with laminate because they are more stable than solid wood and the rosette is a decal. There are literally 1000's of these made and they all look identical.I am not saying this to put down Eastman their guitars are awesome . I have the Eastman AC122 2 CE and love it. It is my goto axe but I know guitars and I know what I'm saying is true.

[@atideva3385]

from what i have researched about this guitar, it seems like the older models used to be laminate, however in the last few years Eastman have changed all the PCH ones to all solid wood. so maybe the one you have is the older model?

[@bobsmithers]

I'm drawn to the sounds of the Cedar....But I can see a fella having both guitars depending on what he/she is trying to achieve in performance sounds. Next time don't take so long in switching guitars..LoL.