Generally speaking and I can only describe it comparing two together....and this only my opinion.....
For the tops I find....
- spruce is brighter sounding than cedar, it tends to be snappy, it is harder to overdrive a spruce top with strumming.
- cedar produces a more mellow sound, the notes seperate better and it responds well to finger picking styles. Cedar is softer and can be dented easier, it can be overdriven with aggressive strumming.
For the back and sides....talking solid woods not veneers...remember the back and sides don't affect the tone as much as the top and bracing do..
- Mahogany is smoother sounding, find it can reduce the overtones compared to rosewood. I would say it reduces some harshness from the sound.
- Rosewood adds some darkness to the tone, the notes articulate more, compared to mahogany the overtones are more present. The sound seems to carry a little more definition.
As far as combos go they are all made. You would have to test run them to see what you like. The style of the guitar will also affect the tone and volume of the guitar. Acoustics made of solid wood are great, they are not all built the same. Two identical guitars from the same manufacturer may sound different. In addition the aging of the glues and the wood will affect the tone.
Finding what appeals to you means trying 'em out.
Good luck with the search, let us know what you find.
Hope it helps.
