Redwood vs. Cedar vs. Spruce

I recently saw a Breedlove redwood top guitar and was wondering, in general, how the sound would differ from cedar or spruce. Let's assume that they all have rosewood back and sides. Any thoghts?

-- Rob

Hello Rob and Welcome to TSS. Tone is so subjective upon your ears and what you like to hear. Pretty guarantee that what I like in a guitar's sound isn't what you look for. But I did find this page on Breedlove's website pertaining to top woods. Hope it helps at least a little bit.


Breedlove tone (top) wood link.

Tom - Thanks for the link. Interesting stuff.

Redwood is generally said to have the warmth of Cedar, with the punch of spruce, better with picks than cedar, but similar. Broken in sound when new, unlike spruce.

The only thing I can add is redwood is similar in sound to cedar but doesn't break up or aget muddy like cedar can when you really get into strumming it hard or fingerpicking it really heavy. Both have a much mellower and warmer sound to me than any of the spruces.
ragtime man

Thas wha Ise tryne tsae!

MandoSquirrel wrote:Thas wha Ise tryne tsae!

HA

What he said. Me likey redwood, cedar and spruce. Just have an aversion to plywood.

I would like to add my voice in support of redwood as a tonewood. My Breedlove SC25 has a redwood top over walnut back and sides. It has a unique sound that is warm with a deep bass. It's also gorgeous! Fortunately I also have guitars with cedar and spruce tops so I can rotate among them and enjoy the variety they provide.