Steven Walter Guitars – Spruce or Cedar? Two guitars compared.
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Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
2:58 Mallorca – Cedar
3:13 Mallorca – Spruce
3:28 Mallorca 2 – Cedar
3:46 Mallorca 2 – Spruce
5:29 Preludio no.2 – Cedar
5:49 Preludio no.2 – Spruce
6:08 Spanish Romance – Spruce
6:40 Spanish Romance – Cedar
7:17 Fugue from BWV998 – Spruce
7:43 Fugue from BWV998 – Cedar
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#Steven #Walter #Guitars #Spruce #Cedar #guitars #compared
Originally posted by UCb3uWjAkbBy_n4KS5DcQang at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr2Bn6BElkQ
Terrific video, Evan. I did the same experiment with two of Steve's Spruce & Cedar guitars, about 15 years ago. He sent them both to me new, and I settled on the Spruce.
Malaguena on spruce romance on cedar please do the secret second part or romance
Well from a frequenc<y spectrum point of view there is or can be a huge difference between the two. Spruce wins that comparison by a big margin. However, cedar can be a good choice for certain music, especially bossa nova and latin music.
Cedar is the Gibson to Spruce's Fender
Spruce = bridge pickup, Cedar = neck pickup.
The Cedar one sounds more "Classical" me, but I think to really differentiate them we need to know
1) Which one has the best neck?
2) Which has the best action?
3) Which one is easier to play overall?
The Spanish Romance on Cedar was beautiful. I don't care if this piece has been played to death; I'll never get tired of it, just like Moonlight Sonata.
Cedar kind of melts your heart… ????????
I prefer the sound and color of the cedar
Prefer the sound of the cedar. More character.
They both sound very different and unique. In conclusion, one must buy both.
The frequencies meld together much more nicely on the cedar. The spruce is brighter, but the cedar has clearer overtones which is maybe due to it being more broken in. I don’t feel like the cedar was lacking in harmonic fullness, even if it was more mellow, I definitely prefer it.
I listened several times, I think the cedar top wins. You play wonderfully.
Play steel string fingerstyle [for the most part] , some nylon guitar but not necessarily "classical" music ; have tried All the wood combinations on steel and nylon stringed ; far as tops are concerned I've tried every species of spruce , cedar , redwood and mahogany ; experientially i consider alpine or european spruce the top tier selection , followed by redwood then cedar , and the "other spruces" are essentially tied ; alternatively i find no fondness for Adirondack as it seems usually overtly stiff for fingerstyle ; that said , the guitar builder and overall tone are very pleasing in tone whilst in one personal mood ; while another builder and wood combination will be very pleasing in tone for another mood ; summarily hands down it can be said that "variety is the spice" ; and the wood combination choice selected may suit the mood best whilst in that moment ; so there is far too much variableness and pleasures experiencing the variety of wood combinations , to say one wood combination appeals better than the other ; no , All are equally appreciated , however , not all at the same moments in time ????
The spruce guitar is bigger.
Great job, thanks for making this video. As you know, so many elements go into the performance, recording and listening process. Both guitars sound great – however, cedar is more mellow and romantic (Tarrega), spruce for clarity and technical (Bach-like) passages. It seems that spruce is also louder. Also, skilled and experienced guitarists can make almost any guitar sound great, adjusting the mood for example with right hand (or shall I say the picking hand) positioning, nail length and picking technique. In jazz, Joe Pass was a great example of this. The choice and age of the strings and the type of wood for the body of course also matters. I once owned and played a Brazilian rosewood body guitar and cedar top made by Aranjuez and it was extremely rich, deep and mellow. I regret having sold it, (as I used the proceeds to buy a really nice jazz guitar) and haven't quite found as good a classical guitar to replace it. Having said that, it's amazing what can be done in a digital home studio to make an average classical guitar sound great. Still find it difficult, though, to somewhat emulate Earl Klugh's sound, e.g. Choosing between the two guitars in the video however, must be tough, and many would envy those who have the luxury of being able to choose between such beautifully made guitars. Sounds great. Enjoy!
The Spruce is brighter and has more seperation as many have already said. Yet I find I am more drawn to the Ceder.
Cedar = Tarrega
Spruce = Segovia
To me spruce sounds brighter. I'm currently shopping for an old guitar and I pass over the cedar tops.
I have two Shelton-Farretta flamenco guitars, one spruce the other cedar. The cedar has more "sparkle" where the spruce is darker sounding. The builder John Shelton prefers cedar over spruce. He says spruce sounds more "nasal" and I would agree.
Cedar
You'd be remiss to see me drool over a guitar, but after seeing and hearing hundreds of guitars, Steven Walter's guitars bring me closest to guitar nirvana! Guess I will need to save up my pennies and look into purchasing one (640mm model) after tax time. Never have I been more in love with an instrument!
The cedar is softer, smoother, and warmer. I prefer it.
I preferred the cedar demos the best. Curious from your perspective which had the best volume or projection, and sustain unplugged? Thanks
Very impressed with the spruce. Sure the cedar is warmer –and that's a plus, at least for me– but the spruce sounds really balanced, defined, very musical. Ah, in the end it's going to be a matter of the player, mostly… Great video.
between spruce and cedar is skills..I choose skills ????
Cedar is warmer and richer., Spruce is more sterile.
Thanks very much for this video. I prefer spruce top. The sound is brighter and deeper sustained.
I play a spruce top and really love the cedar in this comparison. I'm torn! I guess I'll have to own both.
The spruce top is more accented, and the cedar top is more mellow. The cedar top has a more even and profuse sound.
Excellent thank you
these two sounded very different! i must say the cedar speaks to me. i like when a guitar has a sweetness to it, and i feel that comes easier on cedar
Cedar has a nice dark mellow tone very nice.
+++++
Cedar all the way has better basses
At the 5:30 comparison you can clearly hear how the lower register is more balanced on the cedar guitar, making each low note stand out where as they get a little confused or subdued with the spruce, but really, it's just nothing to be picking at.
Man you have a beautiful touch
His website is down and has issues