No...my WRC experiences were all softer than the redwood. But then, do remember that I have the "pick of the litter" of redwood tops from all the old Craig & Alicia Carter redwood.
That said, the vast majority of these tops that have passed through my hands in sales to fellow OLF'ers, other luthiers, some small guitar companies and LMI have all been, in my opinion, harder than WRC.
I would say that I have probably built about 20 guitars from each(redwood and WRC) and I always had to take more precautions with the cedar tops during the bracing process to avoid any impressions from wood chips.
Of course, YMMV, but that is my firsthand experiences with the two woods.
As mentioned in other threads, it does want to splinter more readily than the spruces, so SHARP tools and router bits are mandatory when working with it. But once braced and glued up in a guitar sound box, it is very durable. The only OOOP's I have seen was one guitar where the end strap slipped off the button and the guitar became a 9 iron onto a concrete floor and then a couple of the really flamed redwood tops that went "out on the road" and suffered from the venues, rapid temp/humidity changes and the general mistreatment of instruments on stage. Other than that, all the others are in the hands of loving owners. In fact, several are on their second owners...all of whom have contacted me after acquiring the instruments to say how great they are and how they fit right into the music the owner's play. Obvious lesson here is that the second owners SHOULD have been the original buyers, but at least the instruments have found appreciative homes and are doing what they were intended to do...provide great music for their owners.
|
but I have found WRC to be softer and need more care in handling. It does splinter easily so take care and follow grain direction when routing and use a good sharp bit.
