Acoustic Guitar Construction

All generalizations have exceptions, (except the oh so general generalization) so they are untrustworthy as authoritative to this particular instrument. Which is actually what you said, isn't it?
Brian is super picky - I mean, SUPER PICKY - about his wood. So is Ken Cierp. I tested some fine looking, old, european spruce at Brian's - of the 20 or 30 year's data he has amassed, this spruce tested the LOWEST of all time. And it looked great. I won't be using it. But in general, fine looking, old European spruce is good stuff.

I think newbies are best served by wood that has been thoroughly tested, or checked out by someone with extensive and critical experience. Ken does a fine job of it. I myself not so much, is why I went through the trouble of learning how to do it and building the fixtures.

It's a heartbreaker to go all the way through a build and then string it up to find - you'd been working uphill against a bad top without knowing it.

Actually, reading through it, I just said the same thing you did but in a more bloviated way...:-)

Dave, are we talkin' about two different things? Because I believe we are.

Probably, you're correct.
Let's just move on. :-)

I think I am right and I wanted you all to know.

But you GENERALIZED!!!!!!! - 'You can't go wrong with Cedar" WTH??
I'm so shocked I'm almost ......like a very shocked thing. :-)

Seriously, Rob's lengthy post was a great source of info, and though I tried my hardest to obfuscate the issue, of course generalizations have their purpose. As long as we understand that purpose, we'll probably be fine. I totally get the point and agree.
Rob is 'the money'!

Dave, please don't use big words like obfuscate. It only confuses me and makes what you're trying to say unclear.

Me bad, Tim, do more good soon. :-)