Official Luthiers Forum!

What is your opinion of Sapelle for back and sides on a guitar? Is it like mahogany?......or is it a little denser than mahogany and sound more in-between mahogany and rosewood? If so, is the sound similar to black walnut?......cuban mahogany?.....something else?

Thanks!

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Sapele is heavier and finer textured than Honduran mahogany. So should be alittle glassier sounding.

Not sure about the tonal qualities...as this in my 5th build..and my first cutaway, but it bends like butter and is easy to work with..!
side thicknesed t0 .075 to .085 bent at 300 degrees , sprayed water on both sides..

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MK5acoustics.com

from my limited experience with it, it seems to sound the same as mahogany. I've found it to be much easier to bend though (no springback on the 3 sets I've used)... - Justin

I'm a big fan of sapele. Good workability. In contrast to the other posts, this is the only wood where I've broken a side bending, but the next set seemed to bend ok. I thought it was not terribly visually interesting until finishing, then it warmed up considerably. Sounds like a mahogany guitar to me.

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Evan McCartney

Is there much variation in the density of Sapelle? Differences between plain and figured Sapelle?

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

I got a couples sets a few years ago. And I have built with one of them. They are the striped Sapelle. It was when I was still bending by hand and I found them a bit spring and lots of springback.

I like the look of it. Has a lot of nice subtle things going on when the finish is put on.

Soundwise, mahogany-like. Maybe a little brighter.

At least the set I worked with.

Neil

I have always assumed, perhaps naively, since sapele is a bit denser that mahogany, that its tone might be just a tad bit closer to that of rosewood. Is that not the case with sapele?

We should ask people that build regularly with Cuban mahogany. Similar density.

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Build log

But not the same sound - Cuban has that reverby edge to the sound and a totally different feel in the hand (if you'll pardon the expression). As others have said Sapele is a really good tonewood and sounds pretty much like (non Cuban) mahogany to my ears.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Hehe I should have expected you when Cuban is mentioned! Off topic but I did get some of those antique Cuban squares from Robert Smith. Cool stuff! I will make the first neck out of them next year.

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Build log

It sounds like Sapelle differs little soundwise from Honduran mahogany. I assume this would include figured Sapelle. If true, the availability of figured Sapelle makes it an attractive alternative to Honduran.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

I've built with both striped as well as highly figured (the stuff that looks like the surface of brain tissue) Sapele. Both are completely different tonally. As others have stated, the striped stuff is somewhat similar to Hondo Mahogany. The figured stuff seems to be of lower density and highly porous...it sucks up Z-Poxy like crazy when pore filling. It taps like wet cardboard but looks amazing under finish. The guitar I made (000-12 fret) with the "Brainwood" (Adi top) just happens to be my personal favorite go to guitar. Go figure!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Dang JJ, that's gorgeous!

I've only used the striped sapele, and like it for mahogany type guitars.

Joe

Mmmmmmmmm...that does look very nice, JJ! Looks reminiscent of examples I've seen of "The Tree".

I will tell you how it sounds once I finish this one...


This stuff was sold as African Mahogany... but it's the hardest African Mahogany I have ever seen.... More likely Sapele.... but it's even quite hard for that stuff..... Tap tone was very pingy... though it didn't have a long, glassy resonance like Rosewood....

Wood working wise - great stuff...

I had to take the sides to 0.065" before they would bend... and it was still a fight.

Thanks

The "figured" sapele ( properly called "sapele pommele") will indeed suck up any finish thirstily, as most of the figure is in fact end grain.

I have sold many sets of sapele pommele, including one beautiful set to Paul Fischer, UK's premier classical builder, and still have some left.

I always thought I might use one myself some day for a build, but I would sooner botch up a set of black walnut.

And y'all are right about the tap tone, it sounds like cardboard in the white, but when it is all built up, it sounds like the heavenly choir ...

Wow. .065 wold make me nervous. I didn't know you could take it down that much. Interesting.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.