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I have an unfigured spanish cedar top with the grain lines at about 70 degree angle. The stiffness along and across the grain feels pretty good and not too different from well-quartered softwood tops I have (I don't have hard numbers though). It's really light as well - 6.7 g/in3.

I have a curly spanish cedar back/side set and like the idea of making a classical or flamenco guitar using that wood combo. Any reason not to use the top? I think I might get away with it being quite off-quarter as the loss in cross grain stiffness is not as much as it would be for a softwood.

thanks, Christian

Thanks Chris,

I originally purchased the wood with an all-spanish cedar OM in mind. Since the top is so light (same density as a spruce top) I thought it might be a neat experiment on a nylon string guitar. Most hardwood tops have a higher density (like 8.5 g/in3 or more) which I thought is one reason for the longer break-in period.

Christian

I built a guitar for very light steel strings using all Spanish Cedar. Very successful, the top was easily driven, and had a good, fundamental tone.
My impression of SC is that it does not vary in strength a lot from flat to quartered, like mahogany.
I am very wary of figured SC. I have a lot of rough stock, and the figured pieces are weak, I broke a 2 x 2 piece with my bare hands, but then, I am "Superluthierman"

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Christian, How much is that in pounds per cubic foot? Did you mean grams per cubic centimeter?

Anything under 17lbs/cu.ft. I would consider light. Most master grade cedar is way too heavy. Usually in the 21-24+lbs/cu.ft.

Hi David,

in pounds per cubic foot, the density would be around 25.5 lbs/cu.ft, so it's more in spruce territory. But again - it's the hardwood spanish cedar, not western red cedar.

Christian

That's some heavy top wood for a classical guitar. I like to thin my tops until I get a 0.300" deflection with a 1kg weight. For me, even for spruce, 25.5lbs/cu.ft. is too heavy. I've never made a top out of Spanish cedar. Sounds interesting.