Choosing the right red spruce guitar top can significantly influence tone, projection, and playability. This guide highlights five relevant options, spanning spruce and cedar tops, and blends technical details with practical considerations for American players. Explore each product’s strengths, origins, and sound attributes to match your guitar-building or upgrading goals.
Summary of selected products
| Product | Brand | Top Wood Type | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ToneWood Spruce Grade LA Guitar Soundboard | Maria Stores | ||
| Western Red Cedar Soundboard for Small Guitar Top | Maria Stores | ||
| European Spruce Classical/OM Guitar Tops AAA | Generic | ||
| Western Red Cedar AA/AAA Grade Guitar Tops | Exotic Wood Zone | ||
| Ashthorpe Full-Size Cutaway Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar Package | Ashthorpe |
ToneWood Spruce Grade LA Guitar Soundboard
The ToneWood Spruce Grade LA soundboard is described as a two-part spruce-top configuration measuring 21.85” x 8.9” x 0.16” per segment. Spruce-topped instruments are known for a crisp high end, strong bottom, and notable volume. Spruce tops typically project linearly, offering clear articulation across dynamics for players seeking a balanced, bright voice with strong projection.
Western Red Cedar Soundboard for Small Guitar Top
The Western Red Cedar top is a cedar-based soundboard often favored for classical guitars. Cedar delivers a warm, resonant, and darker tone with strong sustain. Compared to spruce, cedar tops tend to be softer and more porous, contributing to a softer attack and a more intimate dynamic range that players frequently associate with comfort and expressiveness.
European Spruce Classical/OM Guitar Tops AAA
European spruce, also referred to as Norway or German spruce, is a staple for many classical and OM guitars. This AAA-grade top measures 550 x 200 x 4.5 mm and offers precise tonal response with balanced upper frequencies and clear projection. The material’s tight grain and strength support stable intonation and reliable bending over longer sentences.
Western Red Cedar AA/AAA Grade Guitar Tops
These Western Red Cedar tops are AA/AAA graded and sized at 22-21/32″ x 7-7/8″ x 5/32″ (550 x 200 x 4 mm). Cedar tops provide warmth and rich resonance, often described as more powerful than spruce in some applications. The high-grade designation indicates tight, consistent grain and strong tonal potential for players seeking a rich, expressive voice.
Ashthorpe Full-Size Cutaway Thinline Acoustic-Electric Guitar Package
This Ashthorpe package features an X-braced, A-grade Spruce top paired with Basswood for warmth. The thinline cutaway design (3″ thick) enables easy access to upper frets while maintaining resonance. The combination supports a versatile, bright-to-balanced tonal palette suitable for stage and studio work, with comfortable playability for a full-sized 41″ guitar.
Buying Guide: Key Purchase Considerations
- Tonewood type and tonal goals: Spruce tops deliver brightness, clarity, and strong projection; cedar tops provide warmth and sustain. Choose based on whether you want crisp detail or a softer, more intimate sound.
- Top grade and grain: Higher-grade tops (AAA, AA) typically offer tighter grain, better stability, and more consistent response, affecting both tone and durability.
- Top size and thickness: Larger tops and thinner profiles can increase volume, while thicker or smaller tops may offer focused projection. Consider your playing style and body construction.
- Compatibility and purpose: For classical guitars, cedar often aligns with warmer, lyrical playing; for steel-string builds, spruce is a common default for clarity and dynamic range.
- Finish and construction: Bracing patterns, back and sides, and overall build quality influence how the top vibrates and translates string energy into audible sound.
- Versatility vs. specialization: If you need a top for a range of styles, look for balanced response across registers; for a dedicated tone, prioritize species and grade that emphasize your preferred sonic character.
- Maintenance and storage: Humidity control and proper storage protect the wood’s stability and prevent cracking or warping, especially for spruce and cedar top assemblies.