Western Red Cedar
Models: 514ce, 516ce, 714ce,
716ce, Acoustic 7, NS72ce,
NS74ce
Less dense than spruce, cedar’s
relative softness brings additional
warmth to a guitar’s tone, especially
for players with a softer touch, like
fingerstylists or light to moder-
ate strummers and pickers. With
a lighter touch, cedar is actually
louder than spruce, but players
with a strong attack are often better
paired with spruce, as they might
run overdrive cedar, creating a more
distorted sound at higher volumes.
Engelmann Spruce
Models: 510ce, 512ce, 710ce,
712ce, NS62ce, NS64ce
Engelmann spruce tends to produce what’s perceived as a slightly
richer midrange than Sitka. It’s
often described as having a more
mature sound associated with an
older guitar that has been played in.
Its availability is limited.
Adirondack Spruce
Models: Build to Order
Once commonly used for guitar
tops but currently limited in avail-
ability, Adirondack spruce has a
“springy” quality. Acoustically, it
boasts a robust output and more
dynamic range than Sitka, which al-
lows it to be driven aggressively for
greater volume without distortion.
The midrange tones also tend to
have a richer, sweeter quality. Even
using it for the bracing on a Sitka
or Engelmann top will enhance the
overall tone.
Hardwood Tops
Models: Koa: K20ce, K22ce,
K24ce, K26ce, K64ce, K65ce,
K66ce, optional on Acoustic
Koa models
Harder, denser woods like koa that
are used on the back and sides of a
guitar are sometimes used as tops.
Their stiffness initially translates
into a bright tone, but the more
the guitar is played, the more the
overtones emerge, for a fuller, richer
sound. Other hardwoods that are
available as top options through
our Build to Order program include
walnut and mahogany.
Top down: Indian rosewood,
Macassar ebony (maple mini
wedge), mahogany/cedar
