Sapele

The timber of Entandrophragma cylindricum, a dense African hardwood used as a substitute for mahogany in bodies, necks and acoustics.

It has a tighter, more interlocked grain than mahogany and often shows a ribbon figure under a clear finish, and it is a little brighter and harder in the midrange. Being dense, it makes for a heavier instrument, which matters most on a solid body worn on a strap for a long set. It machines and glues cleanly, and its suitability for a whole instrument makes it a common choice on mid-priced acoustics where solid wood is wanted.

Example: an all-sapele acoustic records with a clear, punchy midrange even though it lacks the deep bass of a rosewood body.

typical use: Acoustic backs and sides, and solid bodies and necks as a mahogany substitute.

Sapele

See also