On balance, the Taylor Academy 12e-N (opens in new tab) is hard to beat in the field of classical guitars. Best classical guitars: Guitar World's choice In this guide, we’ll discuss what distinguishes the different types of classical guitar from one another, as well as offering some recommendations of some of the best classical guitars you can buy today. These are just a few points to help better understand some of the more “generalized” characteristics of spruce tops.Admittedly, high-end nylon-string guitars tend to serve a couple of specific niches of music, namely classical and flamenco, but their overall appeal does crossover in some areas. Ultimately, it all comes down to the preference of the performer. There is so much variation in the world of classical guitar, and eventually, the onus falls on the player to decide what he or she likes or dislikes about a particular tonewood. Additionally, the sound produced by a cut of European spruce will sound different from a comparable cut of Sitka spruce. A lattice braced spruce top will sound quite different from a fan braced spruce top, and both of these will sound distinctly different from a double-top cedar guitar. Obviously, there are a plethora of exceptions to consider. Spruce also tends to project sound in a way that is more linear, as opposed to cedar which has a tendency to “radiate” sound. A player with a good touch will get an incredible variety of tones and timbres from a spruce top guitar. Spruce top guitars also have a tone palette that is sensitive and highly nuanced.
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Spruce top guitars have a wonderful blooming tone, with bell-like trebles and basses that are low and full but tend more toward the mid-range.
Discounting the different techniques luthiers use in bracing the top, or the thickness of the soundboard, it is generally agreed that a spruce top guitar will sound brighter than a cedar top guitar. This is perhaps the stickiest subject in this age old debate, and its no surprise considering the vast number of variables that determine the sound a good guitar will produce. It is believed that the sonic changes that will occur over time with a spruce top are more dramatic than those with a cedar top, so this is an attractive feature for any guitarist who wants a guitar whose sound will essentially “grow and mature” with them. While the same can be said of cedar top guitars, there is something especially charming about the way in which a spruce top changes color over time, and how the sound produced by the instrument can be a reflection of its age. As the top stiffens and dries with age, the sound of a spruce top guitar will slowly evolve and mature. Spruce is a highly flexible, yet stiff material, and it is for this reason that it has become such a prized and essential component in the building of classical guitars.
Considering this, it is no surprise that hardwoods tend to make poor tops for guitars. When a player plucks a string on a guitar, the top actually “pumps” in relation to the frequency of the string, amplifying the sound produced by the natural vibration of the string and creating the characteristic sound of the guitar. The main function of a guitar top (regardless of material) is to vibrate. Actually the widespread use of cedar tonewood for classical guitar tops began fairly recently, having its major “boom” in the mid 1960’s. Torres, Esteso, Bouchet, Hauser, Fleta, Friederich, and virtually every other luthier of historical significance from the 19th and 20th centuries built guitars using spruce for the tops.
Historically speaking, classical guitars have been built using spruce tops for centuries. When paired with a contrasting set of hardwoods for the back and sides, a good cut of spruce is simply delightful to the eyes of both the performer and the audience. The photo featured above is a fine example of this an 1862 Antonio De Torres with a wonderfully aged spruce top (taken from our Museum Archive). Over time, a good cut of spruce will mature and darken, giving it a golden (almost glowing) look. Spruce is typically lighter and blonde in color, sometimes even having a honey or amber tint. This is probably the most obvious difference between the two, but it is certainly not something to be discounted. We decided to create a list of 5 distinct features that distinguishes spruce from cedar. However, there seems to be a lot of myth surrounding this age old question.
We can all agree that both materials have their respective advantages, and furthermore, that some players simply prefer the sound and look of one tonewood over the other. It seems as if every time the topic of classical guitar comes up in conversation, this question seems to spring up as well. An 1862 Antonio De Torres featuring a gorgeous, aged spruce top
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