Which do you prefer: Solid Spruce or Solid Cedar top on your acoustic guitar?

Question:Which do you prefer: Solid Spruce or Solid Cedar top on your acoustic guitar? Why? I don't know the difference between the two. When I play them, I sound exactly the same to me probably because I'm not that experienced.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Which do you prefer: Solid Spruce or Solid Cedar top on your acoustic guitar? Why? I don't know the difference between the two. When I play them, I sound exactly the same to me probably because I'm not that experienced.

Go find an old guitar with each type of wood. The difference may not be readily apparent with a new guitar, but older guitars lose moisture in the most interesting ways and settle in to reveal their character. The type of wood is also not as important as the quality of that wood. If you get a soundboard with a lot of irregularities or knots, it isn't going to sound as rich as a soundboard with a tight, straight, close grain. Some less expensive guitars actually photo finish that grain onto the surface to give the guitar an appearance of quality. Not only does every type of wood sound different, every guitar sounds a little bit different. Don't take my word for it, but remember, on the day that you first hear the guitar that you absolutely love and can't leave without, that I told you to listen for it. Then, go tell somebody else and join in the fun!

I can't tell them apart too much either. Although I can tell the extra punch of a solid top vs. a split top. My guitar is entirely mahogany and it sounds and looks awesome. (Takamine Santa Fe)

Guitars with cedar soundboards tend to have a very open sound and play in quickly.

Spruce top guitars tend to be more transparent, have more clarity, and yield a broader range of tonal variation.

I imagine the back and sides are Maple or Mahogany. Consider that when the gitar has beenplayed a couple of years, it will keep sounding better and better especially if you purchase a Gibson or CF Martin.