Is Sapele inferior to Mahogany?

[stephenT]

I have a LA Guitar Sales custom Martin 00-15 from 6-7 yrs ago, all Honduran Mahogany that most folks who play it say, it's magical.

One of those friends wanted me to order him the same model from LA Guitar Sales. He's had it for a month now, it's the same model but all Sapele,... out of the case it blew mine away in volume and clarity.

So in my experience, Sapele is not inferior to Mahogany.

[The Bard Rocks]

Inferior? Not at all. Cheaper? Yes. Cheaper woods tend to be used more on cheaper instruments (duh).

It's like saying apples are inferior to oranges (they grow them here in the NE, so they are cheaper.

[frankmcr]

LOL. How to start a three-page* thread with a three-sentence OP.

* And counting.

[AZLiberty]

Originally Posted by stephenT

One of those friends wanted me to order him the same model from LA Guitar Sales. He's had it for a month now, it's the same model but all Sapele,...

This strikes me as unlikely. The -15 series is made in the US, and Martin is using Sipo on their US instruments (below standard series), or Khaya.

[flaggerphil]

I don't consider it inferior at all and often the wood grain looks far nicer.

[Gary in MO]

Originally Posted by D-utim

Sapele = sustainable. Not inferior.

...........and this is Spot On

[RP]

Clearly Sapelle can look and sound amazing, but I just don't like the striped appearance that one often sees. It's likely that the OP got the idea that it's inferior because it is often (but not always) used on less expensive guitars; but more cost effective does not equate to inferior...

[Ludere]

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

Hmmmmm.... I'll take that bet.......... not cheaper either........my most expensive guitar.

Attachment 32308 Attachment 32309

Beautiful guitar, DenverSteve!

I have been an admirer of that beauty since first seeing it on Bill's site ... so you're the guy that stole her away ...

BTW and more on topic, I have the plain old "striped" variety of Sapele on my 314, and even that displays some beautiful chatoyance when turned in the light ... but more importantly, the guitar sounds very nice. Doesn't look or sound 'low end' to me at all ...

~ Paul

[Pickcity]

My 2010 Taylor 114e has Sapele back and sides. I've compared it to the newer 114's with Walnut B/S and like the Sapele sound much better. I have no bias either, just because mine is Sapele. If I liked the walnut better, I would gladly admit it.

Granted, it is not a direct comparison to a hog guitar, but I believe it would depend on the individual guitars, themselves. The same is probably true of my comparison to the walnut 114's stated above, but I have A/B'd several examples and the Sapele won every time...At least that's what my ears told me. YMMV.

[stephenT]

have it you way.

Originally Posted by AZLiberty

This strikes me as unlikely. The -15 series is made in the US, and Martin is using Sipo on their US instruments (below standard series), or Khaya.

[DenverSteve]

Originally Posted by Ludere

Beautiful guitar, DenverSteve! I have been an admirer of that beauty since first seeing it on Bill's site ... so you're the guy that stole her away ...

Yes. He forced me.

[wooglins]

When discussing the factory builders they need to create product segmentation (marketing). Price is not necessarily the driving factor. Personally I prefer figured sapele to figured mahogany. My preference is asthetic and not tonal. They are so close tonally in my experience.

https://sixstringacoustic.com/sapele...hich-is-better

[Don Lampson]

Originally Posted by jim1960

It is characterized that way by whom?

Martin, Taylor, and Eastman, just for openers.....

Don

[fregly]

Originally Posted by Don Lampson

Martin, Taylor, and Eastman, just for openers.....

Don

Also Dowina from Slovakia (which is a maker I had not heard of until recently and seems of interest for me from word of mouth, and Furch being from same region) Sapele their lowest priced all solid model. And others as you say.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by Don Lampson

Martin, Taylor, and Eastman, just for openers.....

Don

Originally Posted by fregly

Also Dowina from Slovakia (which is a maker I had not heard of until recently and seems of interest for me from word of mouth, and Furch being from same region) Sapele their lowest priced all solid model. And others as you say.

The supply of Sapele hasn't been exhausted to the same degree as other woods. That's why it's inexpensive and is found on some less expensive models. But Sapele is not limited to inexpensive models. There are plenty of boutique builders who have built Sapele guitars that have sold for thousands of dollars. And as someone pointed out in this thread, Taylor used Sapele on one of their 25th Anniversary models which probably sold for near $3k when it was new.

There was a time, by both of your standards, when Mahogany was the "starter tonewood." For decades, Martin's less expensive guitars were mahogany. Then the supply of Mahogany began to dwindle, the cost increased, and Martin had to seek alternatives that they had never used before. That doesn't mean that those alternatives were inferior. It was simply a direction in which necessity forced them. At some point in the future, if the supply of Sapele starts running out, it will be spoken of in the same way as Mahogany is today.