Is Sapele better than Rosewood?

Is Sapele better than Rosewood?

Although, Rosewood is a very hard wood (harder than Maple) it’s porous and “greasy” nature gives it a warmer tone in general. Sapele is a highly sustainable, relatively fast-growing wood. Tonally, it does everything that mahogany does, with a little extra treble zing.

Is Sapele a good wood for guitars?

Sapele. With sapele, you’ll notice a strong low-end and midrange bark, very similar to mahogany, but it delivers more top-end definition than its African counterpart. That makes it a highly versatile wood for an acoustic guitar, ideal for a number of styles.

What kind of wood does Martin guitars use?

Martin Guitar Tonewoods Spruce is the most common wood used for Martin soundboards, due to its loud, clear response. However, other tonewoods are available including cedar, which delivers a light and airy sound, and mahogany, which is tonally deep and robust.

What wood is similar to Sapele?

There are five woods from African considered as ‘Redwoods’ (Mahoganies or Mahogany looking and substitutes). Theses woods are in order of cost from least to most: Okoume, Tiama (also known as Edinam), Sapele, African Mahogany (has several names), and Utile (Sipo).

What’s the difference between mahogany and Sapele Martin Guitars?

Martin still makes the 000-15S out of Sapele OR Mahogany (depending on what is available). There’s effectively no difference in sound at all. Some people prefer the look of Sapele, and others prefer Mahogany.

How is Sapele wood similar to real mahogany?

Similar in appearance and tone to Genuine Mahogany, Sapele exhibits a powerful midrange, great punch and bright and airy trebles. Sterile – softer and quieter than real wood. As a species Siris is related to and shares many tonal characteristics with Koa.

Which is a sustainable tone wood similar to Rosewood?

A sustainable tone wood similar to Rosewood both in tone and in looks. Ovangkol has the same developed bass and treble as Rosewood while also offering a slightly fuller mid-range. Aesthetically Ovangkol can range from a crisp straight grain to a beautiful silk texture.

Where does the name sapele come from on a guitar?

Sapele comes from West Africa and its scientific name is Entandrophragma cylindricum. Sound Characteristics of Sapele Again, like with Mahogany, the sound that you can expect from a guitar with Sapele will greatly differ depending on other materials used, the builder, and whether or not it?s used as a top, back and sides or both.

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