« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Sapele  (Read 2618 times)

fretted

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 168
Sapele
« on: May 08, 2013, 04:40:40 PM »
Just been going through the Mandolin Bros catalog. A lot of inexpensive solid wood guitars now in Sapele from Taylor, Martin and Breedlove as well. I have a Taylor DN3 and it sounds great, perhaps a bit more reflective than mahogany. Looks good too. So it's a great tone wood IMHO, but it must be very inexpensive. Martin has a solid wood  Sapele, performance model with pick-up system for $xxx street price. Sapele is taking on the aura of cheapness though.


Please refrain from posting prices (and percent off pricing) per forum rules. Thank you! ;)
« Last Edit: May 08, 2013, 05:22:52 PM by Cindy »
Logged
1993(?) 410 Special Edition (Rosewood/cut-away)
1995 412
1997 810
1998 Mahogany Baby
2000 714
2010 DN3
2013 Mini Mahogany
2014 522 12 fret
About two dozen other brands of guitars, mandolins, ukuleles, banjos and Venezuelan Cuatros, not to mention the flutes, pennywhistles and the piano.

Herb Hunter

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 545
Re: Sapele
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2013, 08:02:02 PM »
It wasn't long ago that mahogany was considered to have an "aura of cheapness". In the early nineties, Taylor's entry level guitars (400 series) were made out of mahogany. As mahogany became increasingly difficult to obtain, the attitude towards mahogany guitars began to change.
Logged

Edward

  • Global Moderator
  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3036
Re: Sapele
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2013, 10:41:18 PM »
Quote from: Herb Hunter on May 08, 2013, 08:02:02 PM
It wasn't long ago that mahogany was considered to have an "aura of cheapness"....

Herb beat me to it.  :)

I recall way back in the day when the Martin to have was a RW b/s (the venerable 28s) , and the mahog 18s  were the "ok" Marty, but one day you'll "trade up."  Yeah, funny ...but a notion I had bought into when just an impressionable lad.  Funny how perceptions, driven by popular "group think," somehow take hold and it is only experience, with healthy doses of mistakes and "learning opportunities," that begin to erode those perceptions.  FWIW, I also recall when that new upstart "Taylor" was trying to make headway ...but don't worry, that's just a starter guitar and you'd eventually get a better one.  :D

Edward
Logged

CodeBlueEMT

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1648
  • In Dog Beers, I've Only Had One
Re: Sapele
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2013, 12:58:31 AM »
 Sapele (quilted and the plain one) will just have to do until I can afford some real guitars  ::)
Logged
Shayne

2023 Gibson Custom '57 Les Paul Goldtop
2017 Taylor T5z Pro SE "Erwin"
2014 Taylor 524ce
2013 Martin 000-28EC Sunburst
2011 Taylor 314ce
2008 Taylor SB-1 Classic
1999 Taylor XXV-DR 25th Anniversary
Hard Knocks Custom Esquire "Miss Bettie"

Strumming Fool

  • Veteran Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12412
  • Christi simus non nostri
Re: Sapele
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2013, 08:26:19 AM »
For me, I'd choose sapele over rosewood in most instances, because I prefer its tone. It's an excellent tonewood as is mahogany. Here's a beautiful all-sapele BTO that I eventually gave up, because the GS shape did not work for me. Does this say "cheap" to you??

http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/acousticguitars/products.php?pcid=10064&cid=37393&pid=35312

While it is advertised as mahogany, I did choose sapele for this one....
Logged
My Taylor Grand Auditoriums:

1997 Cujo14 - old growth cedar/black walnut
2014 K24e - master grade koa
2018 Custom GA - bear claw sitka spruce/mahogany
2019 614 - torrified sitka spruce/flamed maple
2020 714 - lutz spruce/rosewood

InsideOut

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 60
Re: Sapele
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2013, 05:05:14 PM »
The harvest management of it is better, so it is a fairly sustainable resource.   :)
Logged
I have enough, but can always make room for more.

JB12

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 88
Re: Sapele
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2013, 06:53:14 PM »
Quote from: Strumming Fool on May 09, 2013, 08:26:19 AM
For me, I'd choose sapele over rosewood in most instances, because I prefer its tone. It's an excellent tonewood as is mahogany. Here's a beautiful all-sapele BTO that I eventually gave up, because the GS shape did not work for me. Does this say "cheap" to you??

http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/acousticguitars/products.php?pcid=10064&cid=37393&pid=35312

While it is advertised as mahogany, I did choose sapele for this one....

By far the most stunning pieces of sapele I've ever seen...  Gorgeous.
Logged
Pages: [1]
« previous next »