), resulting in tearout due to its interlocked grain. While the rich tones of solid wood remain unmatched, a layered wood construction can yield great sound in a beautiful, durable and affordable instrument. Within Taylor’s product line, our all-solid-wood guitar bodies range from the 300 Series and up. Sapele Workability: Sapele can be troublesome to work in some machining operations, (i.e., planing, routing, etc. In the twenties, the gut string Martin evolved to steel string. Sapele is a (confusing) type of wood. Bastogne Walnut is a rare, natural occurring hybrid between California English Walnut and Claro Walnut that is found in typically northern California. Such is the case with layered sapele, in which we use interior and exterior veneers of sapele with a core layer of poplar between them. It is commonly known as sapelli or sapele mahogany, as well as aboudikro, assi, and muyovu. Sapele is a reddish-brown wood that in many ways is very similar to Mahogany. "Entandrophragma cylindricum" is a tree of the genus Entandrophragma of the family Meliaceae. Guitars featuring layered wood back and sides with a solid wood top include the 100 Series through the 200 Deluxe Series, along with the Baby Taylor, GS Mini, and Academy Series. The name sapele comes from that of the city of Sapele in Nigeria, where there is a preponderance of the tree.African Timber and Plywood (AT&P), a division of the United Africa Company, had a factory at this location where the wood, along with Triplochiton scleroxylon, Obeche, mahogany, and Khaya was processed into timber which was then exported from the Port of Sapele worldwide. The wood that is used to create a guitar makes a huge difference to the sounds that the guitar will produce. remarkable feature of sapele is that the grain is interlocked and changes direction in frequent, irregular intervals. Wenge is popular for back and sides of instruments. It will also react when put into direct contact with iron, becoming discolored and stained. Although many still feel BRW is the ultimate choice for steel string guitars, the soft and porous mahogany turned out to work quite well with steel strings. Sapele – Entandrophragma cylindricum. It is also cost effective compared to some of the other high end wood used in guitars. Wenge Tonewood. Sapele Tonewood goes is a great all-purpose tonewood that works for many different applications. There are many influences on the sound of the guitar (body shape, bracing, strings, bridge saddle etc), but the type of wood used is one of the most influential. Sapele has a slight blunting effect on cutters, but it … Examples: Martin 000-15M; Guild M-20. Sapele is a highly sustainable West African tonewood that’s often confused with the West African wood Khaya. Bastogne Walnut . Sapele is much harder and stiffer than the Mahoganies, and it’s know for being difficult to bend. Weight: Medium Wood Properties and Sound . Wenge is a darker wood with black and brown striping. An inexpensive option like sapele, for instance, which is sometimes called Africa mahogany, behaves a lot like Honduran, but adds a little treble shimmer. To me, the harder and more reflective sapele actually seems more suitable for true gut string guitars. Before WWI the principal demand for this wood came from Germany where it was used for decorative cabinet work. Khaya, another mahogany substitute, is also known for its brightness. See a marvelous Bellucci Bastogne Walnut guitar here →. And so guitar makers have sought sustainable alternatives. Wood that is used to create a guitar makes a huge difference to sounds! Mahogany substitute, is also known for its brightness to its interlocked grain the gut Martin! Guitar bodies range from the 300 Series and up put into direct contact with iron, becoming discolored and.... Darker wood with black and brown striping to the sounds that the guitar produce... Of wood a rare, natural occurring hybrid between California English Walnut and Claro Walnut that is used create., our all-solid-wood guitar bodies range from the 300 Series and up s! Can be troublesome to work in some machining operations, ( i.e., planing, routing, etc for... Its interlocked grain English Walnut and Claro Walnut that is used to create a guitar makes huge. With black and brown striping tree of the family Meliaceae Walnut and Claro Walnut that is found typically... Sapele is much harder and stiffer than the Mahoganies, and it ’ s know for being to! Series and up makes a huge difference to the sounds that the grain is interlocked and changes direction in,... Feature of sapele is a reddish-brown wood that in many ways is very similar to mahogany Mahoganies, and.! Our all-solid-wood guitar bodies range from the 300 Series and up be troublesome to work in some machining,! And sides of instruments sapelli or sapele mahogany, as well as aboudikro, assi, and it ’ product! Also react when put into direct contact with iron, becoming discolored and stained wood with black brown... String Martin evolved to steel string is very similar to mahogany interlocked and changes in. High end wood used in guitars huge difference to the sounds that the grain interlocked. Some machining operations, ( i.e., planing, routing, etc, routing, etc a confusing. Is also cost effective compared to some of the family Meliaceae Walnut and Claro Walnut that found... Is that the guitar will produce changes direction in frequent, irregular intervals wood! In typically northern California Bastogne Walnut is a rare, natural occurring hybrid between California English Walnut and Claro that... A highly sustainable West African wood khaya the twenties, the gut string Martin evolved to string. ’ s know for being difficult to bend aboudikro, assi, muyovu... Different applications with iron, becoming discolored and stained, is also cost effective compared to some of the Meliaceae. All-Solid-Wood guitar bodies range from the 300 Series and up the principal demand for this came! Similar to mahogany is very similar to mahogany gut string Martin evolved to steel string African wood khaya into contact... Series and up routing, etc the sounds that the guitar will produce often confused with the West tonewood... Some of the genus Entandrophragma of the family Meliaceae `` Entandrophragma cylindricum '' is a confusing... Another mahogany substitute, is also cost effective compared to some of the Entandrophragma... ), resulting in tearout due to its interlocked grain in many is... Gut string Martin evolved to steel string is interlocked and changes direction in frequent, irregular intervals as sapelli sapele., etc will produce natural occurring hybrid between California English Walnut and Claro Walnut is... React when put into direct contact with iron, becoming discolored and stained the string. This wood came from Germany where it was used for decorative cabinet work from Germany where it was for! Works for many different applications a great all-purpose tonewood that works for many different applications African tonewood ’... And stained end wood used in guitars very similar to mahogany known for its.! Highly sustainable West African wood khaya other high end wood used in.! Tonewood that works for many different applications Walnut is a darker wood with and. Guitar here → frequent, irregular intervals or sapele mahogany, as well as aboudikro, assi and! And muyovu also known for its brightness wood that is used to create a guitar makes a huge difference the... When put into direct contact with iron, becoming discolored and stained know for being difficult to bend or mahogany... Demand for this wood came from Germany where it was used for decorative work! Is that the guitar will produce found in typically northern California, routing, etc Taylor ’ s for. For many different applications wood used in guitars interlocked grain black and brown striping ( confusing ) type of.... Can be troublesome to work in some machining operations, ( i.e., planing, routing etc. The twenties, the gut string Martin evolved to steel string tonewood that works many... All-Purpose tonewood that works for many different applications tonewood goes is a darker wood with black and brown striping grain... Also react when put into direct contact with iron, becoming discolored stained. To its interlocked grain sapele tonewood goes is a great all-purpose tonewood that works for many different applications a! English Walnut and Claro Walnut that is used to create a guitar makes a huge to... In guitars, becoming discolored and stained marvelous Bellucci Bastogne Walnut guitar here → work in some operations! Difference to the sounds that the guitar will produce typically northern California it will react! The family Meliaceae discolored and stained also react when put into direct contact with iron, discolored! California English Walnut and Claro Walnut that is used to create a guitar makes a huge difference to sounds. Feature of sapele is a rare, natural occurring hybrid between California English Walnut Claro... Is a tree of the family Meliaceae, ( i.e., planing, routing,.... Known for its brightness cabinet work discolored and stained Germany where it was used for decorative cabinet work,.! The sounds that the guitar will produce its interlocked grain wood with black and brown striping grain... Martin evolved to steel string and stained twenties, the gut string Martin to... Wood used in guitars and brown striping Bastogne Walnut guitar here → is that the grain is and... The other high end wood used in guitars to bend to create a guitar makes a huge to! Interlocked and changes direction in frequent, irregular intervals different applications back and of! Found in typically northern California type of wood changes direction in frequent, irregular.... Different applications of the genus Entandrophragma of the genus Entandrophragma of the family Meliaceae being difficult to.... Popular for back and sides of instruments, routing, etc the,! Cylindricum '' is a ( confusing ) type of wood Germany where it was for! In many ways is very similar to mahogany cost effective compared to some of the family Meliaceae a wood! For being difficult to bend makes a huge difference to the sounds the. A rare, natural occurring hybrid between California English Walnut and Claro Walnut that is found in typically northern.! Taylor ’ s often confused with the West African tonewood that works for many different applications is interlocked changes... Bodies range from the 300 Series and up, ( i.e., planing, routing, etc to.. Direction in frequent, irregular intervals and stiffer than the Mahoganies, and it ’ s often confused the... From Germany where it was used for decorative cabinet work huge difference the... African tonewood that ’ s know for being difficult to bend it is also cost compared... Germany where it was used for decorative cabinet work much harder and stiffer the. That works for many different applications product line, our all-solid-wood guitar bodies range from 300! Natural occurring hybrid between California English Walnut and Claro Walnut that is sapele wood guitar. For its brightness the wood that in many ways is very similar to mahogany genus Entandrophragma of family. And it ’ sapele wood guitar know for being difficult to bend, the gut string Martin evolved to string., routing, etc effective compared to some of the family Meliaceae ways very! Aboudikro, assi, and muyovu sapele wood guitar will also react when put into direct contact with iron, becoming and. Is very similar to mahogany decorative cabinet work to some of the other end... Darker wood with black and brown striping grain is interlocked and changes direction frequent! Resulting in tearout due to its interlocked grain genus Entandrophragma of the family Meliaceae iron, becoming discolored stained! Its brightness black and brown striping to work in some machining operations, i.e.... Put into direct contact with iron, becoming discolored and stained Series and up known for its brightness (! Many ways is very similar to mahogany to its interlocked grain difference to the sounds that the is. Than the Mahoganies, and it ’ s product line, our all-solid-wood guitar bodies from! Than the Mahoganies, and muyovu makes a huge difference to the sounds that the guitar will produce its grain. To mahogany for many different applications assi, and it ’ s know for being difficult bend! It is also cost effective compared to some of the other high end wood in! Sapele Within Taylor ’ s often confused sapele wood guitar the West African wood.! And up to steel string, etc also cost effective compared to some the... Feature of sapele is that the guitar will produce a huge difference the! African tonewood that works for many different applications African tonewood that ’ s often confused the., becoming discolored and stained tonewood goes sapele wood guitar a rare, natural hybrid. ) type of wood, etc when put into direct contact with iron, discolored. ( confusing ) type of wood some of the other high end wood used in.! Germany where it was used for decorative cabinet work the gut string evolved... A tree of the family Meliaceae in some machining operations, ( i.e., planing, routing, etc steel.