Official Luthiers Forum!

I just finished my first Koa ( sides and back) acoustic. What a job bending the cut-a-way. I love the look and sound of the Koa. I noticed that Sapele is less expensive than Koa and has a similiar look. How difficult is it to bend the Sapele and how does the sound compared to Koa?
John

How does Sapele look anything like Koa?

Looks and sounds like mahogany, basically, works similarly, is (usually) a little denser, a little stiffer, bends about the same.

I viewd Bob Longs Sapele 12 string picks in the main forum and the wood looks similiar to curly koa. The wood looks very aesthetic, however the sound is more important.
John

Must have been a lighting issue or somthing thing because I assure you they look nothing alike. As others said Sapele looks much more like a darker red Mahogany than the redest koa I have ever seen

Sapele bend fine unless it is quilted of wild figured curl, then it is like any figured wood and nned care taken during bending to prevent faceting or cracking.

I just finished a flamed koa and a sapele guitar, so I had them to compare to each other. As far as sound is concerned, the koa guitar was more mellow, less volume and punch than the sapele (both were the same, except the b/s woods). What surprised me was that the koa sounded more like a honduran mahog guit than the sapele, which leaned more towards my rosewood ones with a little less bass, but very even toned.

As far as bending, sapele needs to be bent rather slowly or it will split, at least in my experience. It is a little denser than honduran or the koa I have dealt with. I personally liked the sound of the sapele over the koa, but that is the bluegrass in me...great volume, punch. Not that I didn't like the koa one...nice and mellow sounding, even with an adirondack top.

_________________
Brad Tucker

Thanks Brad
I am definitely looking for the more mellow sound for this guitar, so I am making the next one from Koa. Actually already purchased the koa from the zootman.
John