Why Cedar Wood not popular?

[Mbroady]

Originally Posted by jihyeu

Thanks.

Do you know any in $2,000 range you would recommend?

You might to look into FURCH or Stonebride guitars. The g22cr (cedar/Rosewood)
Or G22cm (cedar/mahogany)' are right in your price range. They are world class guitars with exceptional build.
U can find a Used one at a great price.

[davwir]

I think cedar is certainly popular.
Just maybe not "as popular" as spruce.
Perhaps it is like root beer, or strawberry. Maybe not the most popular flavors amongst the masses, but certainly popular nonetheless!
I'm a huge fan of redwood and cedar topped guitars myself. Yep, true they may have slightly less headroom and probably are susceptible to more dings due to being softer. But you gain warmth and responsiveness, you actually can get more from them with less effort. Seems a worthy trade off to me. It seems to generally work better for finger style players, probably not gonna be the choice of a hard strumming Bluegrass player.
Certainly you will see a good amount of cedar on guitars from very highly respected builders, like Olson, Ryan, Goodall, Lowden, etc.

[tseliot]

Walden makes quite a few cedar topped guitars. I love my G3030ce.

[MJRB]

I have one Cedar topped guitar and it seems just as rugged as my others. I'm pretty careful with them all.
I like the Cedar sound, mind you I like the sound of the other two as well (bear claw spruce and Bunya Pine).
MJRB

[Rjlipton]

I recently bought a 716ce cedar top from Tobias music. I went in looking for a maple guitar. Part of my motivation was to have a guitar different in sound and response than my Martin. Tobias has a great selection of Taylors. I played most of them and the cedar top just sounder better, with a warmer fuller tone. The maple guitars have a smooth sound but the cedar/rosewood guitar really stemmed to fit my style, especially when I fingerpicking. I brought my daughter with me and she agreed that the cedar had the best sound.

[ecguitar44]

Originally Posted by kydave

The top around the soundhole is already worn through the finish into the wood.

That has to do with the finish...not the wood. Right?

[Otis11]

I love cedar, my top guitar is a cedar top.

[kydave]

Originally Posted by ecguitar44

That has to do with the finish...not the wood. Right?

Both, IMO. The softer wood under a satin finish doesn't support what finish there is and then deteriorates faster as soon as the finish starts to go.

But I get your point.

Thanks

[ecguitar44]

Originally Posted by kydave

Both, IMO. The softer wood under a satin finish doesn't support what finish there is and then deteriorates faster as soon as the finish starts to go.

But I get your point.

Thanks

That makes sense about the wood "supporting" the finish.

[LouieAtienza]

Maybe not as much for flat-picking, but a lot of fingerstyle players like it. Also it requires more care in use since it is a bit softer and more prone to mark up or dent.

[Ghostpicker]

Originally Posted by ewalling

Because the much-adored Martin doesn't use it for steel string guitars?

Other makers use it a lot, and buyers of those makes like it. In fact, of all the guitars that have passed through my hands, I can't remember one with a cedar top that didn't sound really good.

I have a Martin HD28C (that's C for Cedar). When I bought it I played both the Spruce top and the Cedar. Liked the warm tone of Cedar better. Bought it and have not regretted the decision. Still love it 21 years later.

[Garrison314]

Tried some classical guitars with my son and we both agreed that a solid cedar top sounded far superior to the others. The cedar/rosewood combination sounded loud and clear up and down the board, it's no wonder it's a popular choice of classical finger-pickers.

[JoeTom5]

I own Seagulls and a Art & Lutherie. All have cedar tops. I like the warmth but due to the wood being soft I tend to play the gloss top Seagull more than the others. The Art and Lutherie and the Seagull folk have such a light finish that where my arm lays against it while playing has caused a low spot in their tops. I assume due to warmth, sweat and pressure. You can't see it very well but you can definitely feel it. I do not have this problem with the gloss top Seagull. I have guitars with other types of wood tops but the gloss top cedar is my go to guitar.

[bwstl01]

I very recently acquired a used R. Taylor Cedar topped Madi Rose guitar. Yesterday at my local guitar shop I played two Bourgeois cedar topped guitars; one Koa and the other Cocobolo. All three of these guitars have a tone that is spectacular! Cedar topped guitars are certainly availble.

I am finger picker, so I do not rip up my tops with flatpicks. However, even with a pick guard, flatpick strumming style tends to drive the top pretty hard and can "overdrive" a cedar top, whereas stiffer material like Adirondack spruce will sound better under hard strumming. Probably why traditional builders, like Martin, with a large bluegrass and stage band following, stuck with spruce tops.

[mercy]

It has a dull sound, dings so easily and is not what we are used to seeing.