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Has anyone used saple for neck wood construction? Is it stable enough for a classical guitar I want to build?

Thanks

bBake.

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Blake Dixon
Kelowna B.C.

Hi Blake,

I've used it on a number of steel strings, I have not had any issues with stability (all my necks are reinforced with carbon fiber). In general I have found that it can be heavier than Honduran. It is fairly easy to shape, but not as nice as Honduran. Also a lot of people prefer the look of Honduran which tends to be a nice golden brown under finish, over the Sapele which does not have the same richness in colour. Is there a reason you are considering Sapele as opposed to Honduran?

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
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House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Sapele will do just fine with regards to stability, although it will definitely be neck heavy. I found some low density africain mahogany (Khaya) is pretty good weight wise, and the best being spanish cedar. Plus it carves like a charme!

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

For my classicals I like Sp cedar that's med density for the species (it can vary a lot and some of the really light stuff makes me a little nervous for necks so I'll usually use it for linings, etc. and some of the heavy stuff is just as heavy as med density H mahogany.) or H. mahogany that's medium-lower density for the species (although, I do have one rather large Honduran board in the shop right now that is extremely light that I won't use for necks).
All of the sapele I've handled is a little too heavy for my taste in classical necks. Don't get me wrong-it'll work, just not my preference.

I agree ... the weight may very well be a problem with a nylon string.

I've done a Classical with Sapele. It is heavier but not to the point that it causes a problem. If a player is holding the Guitar in the normal playing position then I don't see it as a problem at all. If you are really worried then simply counteract the weight with something heavy at the tail block. There's enough players using a Smallman and their type, which are seriously heavy Guitars.

The sapele I have is darker and heavier than mahogany, not to be confused with khaya which is usually light, stringy, and often with much tension within. I am using khaya for solid linings and after cutting the strips almost always bend one way or the other, and often in different directions.

On the sapele a rosewood fingerboard or matching it with a high density body wood should erase any neck weight issues.

My favorite cedar is the heavy, mahogany like one, even if it is scarce. It carves better and I feel more confident about making a slim neck with it. On medium density cedar i will insert a rosewood or ebony spine and the extra light one is turned into linings and braces.

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