Quote:
Originally Posted by meridian
So far as I know it is an inexpensive tonewood from Asia.
That said, I once heard that Taylor pays about 25 cents per set of sapele.
Just because it isn't common for luthiers here to use it doesn't mean it isn't any good. Just different. Lots of companies are looking for whatever can replace mahogany the way EIR replaced Brazilian. Chris Martin thinks it might just be Lyptus in their case.
Martin already uses spanish cedar for solid necks on their 16 series (I have one it's just fine so far).
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Speaking of Nato and alternatives... I just received my issue of the Summer Wood & Steel. The main article is a discussion with Bob Taylor about the future of Mahogany and what's being done. Besides the usual trumpeting of the NT neck design, Taylor also mentions that the day may come when Nato or a similar wood replaces mahogany as the wood-choice for necks on Taylor's lower-end guitars.
All in all, the article on the harvesting and depletion on Mahogany was an interesting read.