I'm currently weighing and testing various samples of a slough of different materials. Although red cedar seems very popular [light-weightness allows stressed faces to be further apart, increasing strength] this piece of yellow cedar [cypress] I have is very convincing. At over 100 grains per inch it is very strong and very flexible. [and it smells and looks nice too]. hold on.........red cedar comes in at 22# +- yellow at 40+- ? pcf. air dry. hmm heavy stuff... maybe better for instruments.