I have 2 Sobell instruments - a ten string mandolin and an octave mandolin, from the 1980s which are cedar/rosewood and that seems to suit me fine.
I also got a cedar/rosewood Lowden guitar about four years ago. Very responsive and easy to play, but actually I almost find it TOO loud.
There seems to be a school of thought which suggests that cedar is good for fingerstyle guitar playing but spruce is better for strumming. I don't know what you would think of that, Andy.
Having said that, I think some of my favourite Celtic rhythm guitar playing is by Donogh Hennessey on early Lunasa albums and Ross Martin from Scottish band Diamh. As far as know they are both cedar topped Lowdens, and judging from the amount of wear on their guitars they were definitely being used pretty hard!
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