Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sherb on October 30, 2010 at 11:16am

Its basicly a cheap (very) substitute for Mahogany. Weaker and a much more open grain.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Lawton on October 30, 2010 at 1:10pm

Yeah, its pretty good. Similar in hardness to walnut but with a more open grain like teak. Its not as strong or resonant os maple or mahogany so if you are using steel strings at a fair old tension you'll need to either make a laminated neck or fit a truss rod. I've known it used more for instrument bodies rather than necks - either acoustic ukeleles or solid electric bodies. Sapele polishes up nice and, like teak and walnut, takes an oil finish nicely.

Permalink Reply by Mark on October 30, 2010 at 11:34pm

I've made four necks with sapele and found it to be very nice - easy to work, finishes well and seems very strong. I disagree that you'll need a laminated neck or truss rod - one of my guitars (made over a year ago) has very heavy strings on a 25.5 inch scale length and there's no sign of bowing or warping.

Permalink Reply by Little Soul Eric on October 31, 2010 at 4:31am

Cheers for the help on this one :)

Permalink Reply by Sherb on October 31, 2010 at 8:16pm

When I said weak I wasn't inferring that it wasn't up to the job of a neck. I only make 3 strings and it will easily cope with that strain. One of mine uses it with out problem. It is the stuff regularly used on "Hard wood" window frames that's where my source came from another similar material is Maranti again I would also use this.

Permalink Reply by Little Soul Eric on October 31, 2010 at 9:47pm

I must admit i was worried when Kevin said i`ll need to either make a laminated neck or fit a truss rod.
Thought i may have wasted my money, Im only making a 3 string cbg with a 25.5 scale, Its for my Dad
Im making it for Christmas so i want to make a really good job, so i dont want to make something
thats going to warp.
So Thanks guys for putting my mind at rest.......
Soul


Soulcatcher & His DooFa Diddley said:

Cheers for the help on this one :)

Permalink Reply by Mama Mojo on November 2, 2010 at 5:33pm

I love working with it and seeing the results that I get. I find that it takes 10 gauge steel strings (flat wound) just fine, and the feel of the neck is smooth and has good resonance. I have made several guitars with Sapele for the necks and won't hesitate to use it again and again. The addition of a fingerboard benefits any cbg neck, inho, but it hasn't suffered without one on the instruments that I've finished. Just my .02 cents....

Permalink Reply by Little Soul Eric on November 2, 2010 at 10:13pm

Thank you Mama Mojo for the Boost you have given me (smiles)
could you post a a photo of one of your CBG wich you have used Sapele
so i can see what kind of finish i could get on mine ?
Many Thanks
Soul


Mama Mojo said:

I love working with it and seeing the results that I get. I find that it takes 10 gauge steel strings (flat wound) just fine, and the feel of the neck is smooth and has good resonance. I have made several guitars with Sapele for the necks and won't hesitate to use it again and again. The addition of a fingerboard benefits any cbg neck, inho, but it hasn't suffered without one on the instruments that I've finished. Just my .02 cents....

Permalink Reply by Mama Mojo on November 4, 2010 at 3:54am

Here's one that I did:

Permalink Reply by Mama Mojo on November 4, 2010 at 4:05am

I'll try to add two more examples here: