Cedar top durability

[canucks12]

I am struggling with my next purchase. I really would like a cedar top guitar to compliment my spruce top, but I've been reading on this forum and elswhere that they will not last more than 10 years possibly. Is this true? I will baby this thing and aside from the odd bump and scratch this guitar will be taken care of. I understand the softer wood will nick/scratch easier.

 

So even though I am going to take care of this guitar will it eventually wear out/break/warp/etc... because it is a cedar top?

 

Thanks,

 

Scott

[solitaire]

There are different ideas about Cedar tops, lots of them are cow dung. Some people will have it "Cedar doesn't age, it deteriorates", which isn't true.

My Seagull has lasted way over 10 years and has opened up really nice. Softer woods open up faster and get fatigued sooner - same thing goes for Engelmann and Mahogany tops.

Yes, it's more susceptible to scratches and dings, but like you're saying: it's an acoustic instrument, not a sledge hammer.