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While calling around to find some Honduran Mahogany neckstock(and finding none suitable), one of the representatives of a local hardwood dealership suggested I might wanna try sapele, and that they had a bountiful, wonderful high quality stock..
Has anyone here used sapele for necks and if so was it a good alternative for Hondo?
Cheers
Charliewood

Charlie,

The guitar-bouzouki I posted last week had a sapele neck. It works fine. Slightly heavier than mahogany bit not much. Quite a few modern builders rate it for necks (check out some of the MIMF threads).

As with all woods you have to select and judge each piece on it's own merits but I'd have no hesitation in building with a sapele neck.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

I think I saw this come up not too along ago, unless I was reading and archive somewhere and have my dates mixed up, but the general consensus was very positive as a mohagany substitute. 

In fact, I just ordered a Sapele neck blank from LMI yesterday, so I'll find out soon enough as well.  Nice prices too.

Laurie

 

 

 

 

 

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Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

Charlie, my most recent had a sapele neck. Excellent wood. I'm also using it for tail and neck blocks and for linings. FWIW, Makore is also a fine alternative to Mahogany, inexpensive too.

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Jim Womack

"Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for. "
Will Rogers

Sapele is my favourite neck wood after honduran (which is a bit nicer to carve). It's generally stronger and stiffer as well as being a mite heavier, and it looks lovely.

I have used it for 2 guitars. Great stuff, use it without worries!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com