#1
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Sipo vs Mahogany
How does Sipo sound verses mahogany? Really. Has anyone here A B'd them? I know all about how they are similar and how they are different but I'm curious about any sound differences.
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Waterloo WL-S, K & K mini Waterloo WL-S Deluxe, K & K mini Iris OG, 12 fret, slot head, K & K mini Follow The Yellow Brick Road |
#2
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sound wise no difference. some people say there is i really can't tell any.
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#3
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How about Sapele?
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Nothing bothers me unless I let it. Martin D18 Gibson J45 Gibson J15 Fender Copperburst Telecaster Squier CV 50 Stratocaster Squier CV 50 Telecaster |
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I've always been a bit confused by this. Aparently, my OMC-15me isn't genuine mohagany, but rather Sipo, Sepele, or both. Martin doesn't specify.
In any case, I think there are real differences, but I don't know if/how much they affect a guitar's sound. For reference: Mahogany Mixups: the Lowdown Update: after reading the section on "Utile" (Sipo) and Sepele, titled "The Periphery: Meliaceae", I'm pretty sure my guitar is all Sipo/Utile based on the striping pattern description. I've definitely seen "Mahogany" 15 series with clear uniform striping that fits the "Sepele" description better. I might be reading into this part, but I think Sepele may be slightly stiffer, while Sipo is slightly softer, and that could have an effect. The article does say that Sipo lacks the "dimensional stability of genuine mahogany".
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Alvarez ABT610E Ibanez AVC9CE Larrivee OM-03 Koa Spice Martin OMC-18E Taylor 512ce 12-fret Last edited by CT77; 09-27-2017 at 07:45 AM. |
#5
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#6
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I think Sipo is the perfect substitute for mahogany- very similar organic voice in my experience.
Sonically Sapele usually doesn't sound like mahogany to me- it seems to have its own thing going on. Have fun! madhat. |
#7
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Sipo/sapele/hog
There's a recent thread about Martin using "Genuine Mahogany" on some instruments and just "mahogany" on others, so I won't go into that......
BUT, my personal opinion is that with woods that closely related, tonally, the difference is negligible and there would be as much variation in tone from model to model in mass produced guitars. Again, just my opinion, but I'm sticking to it. |
#8
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#9
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Taylor is up front about it when they use mahogany VS sapele - their comment on sapele is that it's similar to hog but, well...here's what they say:
Sapele - An alternative tonewood that joined the Taylor fold over a decade ago. It’s sometimes mistakenly referred to as African mahogany because it closely resembles the West African wood khaya, which is commercially known as African mahogany. Sapele is a highly sustainable, relatively fast-growing wood. Tonally, it does everything that mahogany does, with a little extra treble zing. We’ll be able to offer it for a long, long time.
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Martin 000-17SM Supro 2030 Hampton Taylor 562ce 12 X 12 Taylor GS Mini-e Spruce/Rosewood Waterloo WL-S Wechter TO-8418 Cordoba 24T tenor ukulele Kanile'a Islander MST-4 tenor ukulele Kiwaya KTC-1 concert ukulele Kolohe concert ukulele Mainland Mahogany soprano ukulele Ohana SK-28 soprano ukulele Brüko No. 6 soprano ukulele |
#10
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madhat. |
#11
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I know there's quite a variation in the appearance of Martin "mahogany" -15 series guitars I see in stores and online - and quite a few look like sapele to me.
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Martin 000-17SM Supro 2030 Hampton Taylor 562ce 12 X 12 Taylor GS Mini-e Spruce/Rosewood Waterloo WL-S Wechter TO-8418 Cordoba 24T tenor ukulele Kanile'a Islander MST-4 tenor ukulele Kiwaya KTC-1 concert ukulele Kolohe concert ukulele Mainland Mahogany soprano ukulele Ohana SK-28 soprano ukulele Brüko No. 6 soprano ukulele |
#12
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I would have to compare two identical guitars with the two different woods and even then it wouldn't really prove anything.
__________________
Nothing bothers me unless I let it. Martin D18 Gibson J45 Gibson J15 Fender Copperburst Telecaster Squier CV 50 Stratocaster Squier CV 50 Telecaster |
#13
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Michael Dickinson, wood buyer for C.F. Martin:
"I don't want to take all the credit for introducing Sipo to Martin Guitar, just 97.5%. I was in the Republic of Congo, Africa when I saw these logs being milled. It looked, worked and had a tap tone like Mahogany. When I found out it was a relative of Sapele, I went WOW this is a wood we need to start using. I do think out of all the "cousins" of mahogany.. Cedar, Sapele, African Mahogany... Sipo has the most similar tonal qualities to genuine Mahogany." http://blog.martinguitar.com/blog/as...ood-purchasing |
#14
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Not to over simplify but that's like asking what blue looks like. Too many variables. Just find a great guitar and buy it.
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#15
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Quote:
If that description claimed "sapele's tone is identical to that of mahogany so just buy the guitar and play it" I'm sure there would be any number of people calling them out on it.
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Martin 000-17SM Supro 2030 Hampton Taylor 562ce 12 X 12 Taylor GS Mini-e Spruce/Rosewood Waterloo WL-S Wechter TO-8418 Cordoba 24T tenor ukulele Kanile'a Islander MST-4 tenor ukulele Kiwaya KTC-1 concert ukulele Kolohe concert ukulele Mainland Mahogany soprano ukulele Ohana SK-28 soprano ukulele Brüko No. 6 soprano ukulele |