ph
Sore Fingers
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Post by ph on Sept 12, 2017 20:35:12 GMT
Hi, I'm a newbie here, and looking to replace my old Fender F210 with a new mid range acoustic (up to £600). After some reading of reviews and trials of guitars, I was finally tossing up between a Taylor Academy 10e/12e or a Faith Naked Venus. I had a go on a 10e and the Faith at my local guitar shop, and was settled on the Faith Venus, which is the standard spruce top @ £475. I've since had the offer of a Naked Venus, 'as new' Sunburst cedar top (whic I like the look of) at a considerable discount, but the trouble is, I can't get to play it as it's too far away. Now I know asking a forum "which is best - spruce or cedar?" involves me lighting a touchpaper and standing back, but has anyone had the opportunity of comparing this particular model in spruce and cedar, who would like to comment on how they sounded in comparison? Many thanks, be kind  |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Sept 12, 2017 20:54:15 GMT
Love Faith guitars, and the naked series are very nice.
They do tend to become available at good discounts used as you've found, so I'd grab one if it was a really good deal, regardless if it was spruce or cedar.
You can read a lot on the net about the pros and cons of top woods, but a good well built guitar is just that regardless of materials.
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Post by littlemart on Sept 12, 2017 21:26:16 GMT
Just a word of advice - if you're googling this subject make sure you put Faith in front of Naked Venus, otherwise the whole cedar/spruce thing becomes irrelevant!!  |
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ph
Sore Fingers
Posts: 13
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Post by ph on Sept 12, 2017 22:14:09 GMT
Love Faith guitars, and the naked series are very nice. They do tend to become available at good discounts used as you've found, so I'd grab one if it was a really good deal, regardless if it was spruce or cedar. You can read a lot on the net about the pros and cons of top woods, but a good well built guitar is just that regardless of materials. Thanks, I certainly liked the feel of the Faith that I tried, which was so much easier on my fingers for barre chords in particular, than my current acoustic. |
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ph
Sore Fingers
Posts: 13
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Post by ph on Sept 12, 2017 22:20:16 GMT
Just a word of advice - if you're googling this subject make sure you put Faith in front of Naked Venus, otherwise the whole cedar/spruce thing becomes irrelevant!! Advise taken on board That reminds me of the time my daughter wanted to campaign at school for the right to be able to wear trousers like the boys, instead of skirts. I Googled the subject to see if I could help her |
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Post by earthbalm on Sept 13, 2017 9:56:54 GMT
I have yet to demo a bad Faith and whilst I'm not in a position to buy any guitar at the moment, wouldn't say no to a Faith as a present. Used one (my choice) to try out an AER compact 60 last Saturday even though there were many Martins and Taylors available in PMT, Cardiff. It were one of these: here |
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Post by littlemart on Sept 13, 2017 12:27:21 GMT
I have yet to demo a bad Faith and whilst I'm not in a position to buy any guitar at the moment, wouldn't say no to a Faith as a present. Used one (my choice) to try out an AER compact 60 last Saturday even though there were many Martins and Taylors available in PMT, Cardiff. It were one of these: hereThanks for the link. Really interesting looking guitars. I hadn't realised they were all under the auspices of Patrick James Eggle. That can't be a bad thing and is probably a recommendation in itself. I've never played one but if I find myself at a loose end in a music shop I think I'm going to try one out. |
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 14, 2017 7:16:45 GMT
Spruce or cedar? I tend to think this comes down to the music you play. Cedar can be great for the blues and ragtime. It seems very warm and even sounding to me.
Spruce has more attack and a greater dynamic. But, of course, these are not rules that always hold fast.
I always choose spruce over cedar for an all purpose guitar but that's just me. I'd nip down to a local guitar shop and just demo some cedar guitars and see what you think. Not foolproof but it might give you some more confidence.
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Post by vikingblues on Sept 14, 2017 12:11:22 GMT
Following Andy's post and to be a contrary bugger  I have not yet found a spruce top guitar that I've been able to live with for long, even a Lowden failed! I've ended up with two cedar top and two all mahogany acoustics. Though I have tried lots of these types that were also no good for me. I did try a Faith Naked Mercury with a spruce top on a try and return basis. I was hoping for good things as I'd heard them and been impressed. But it got sent back the next day and wasn't out of its box for even an hour before it got packaged up again. Maybe I just got as bad one but it sounded very thin, shrill, and cheap. Spruce v Cedar is all down to personal taste, and the way your ears hear things. Given that I often like hearing others play spruce top guitars I am convinced it's also down to my own lack of playing style. So until you try any particular guitar you can't really tell. Mark |
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ph
Sore Fingers
Posts: 13
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Post by ph on Sept 14, 2017 17:47:04 GMT
Thanks all. I've tried some spruce vs cedar, the problem is I couldn't try that one in cedar. I've tried the spruce model though, so I've bitten the bullet and bought the cedar, as I was on a very good discount. Worst case is that it will be on ebay later |
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Post by andyhowell on Sept 15, 2017 6:33:44 GMT
The top wood does very much react to your playing style. An nice gentler country blues style always sounds good on cedar. Aggressive blues picking and some Celtic stuff always sounds better to me with spruce.
Well, that's what I think at the moment.
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ph
Sore Fingers
Posts: 13
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Post by ph on Sept 18, 2017 19:48:37 GMT
Well it's here, and it sounds great  My concern was that the cedar might be a little too mellow for my liking, but the tone on this is very nice, and the high notes still ring out well. Thanks for all the comments people. |
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Sept 18, 2017 21:10:24 GMT
Excellent! So....let's see it (and hear it!). |
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by colins on Sept 19, 2017 15:13:36 GMT
Spruce V Cedar, mmm now there's a question. Can I just say the word Redwood!
Colin
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
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Post by colins on Sept 19, 2017 15:54:51 GMT
Oh and of course for the blues nothing beats the growl of an all mahogany guitar.
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I have not yet found a spruce top guitar that I've been able to live with for long, even a Lowden failed!
My concern was that the cedar might be a little too mellow for my liking, but the tone on this is very nice, and the high notes still ring out well.
Jo whoever he is.
