African Mahogany Vs Sapele. Sapele is valued because of it's figuring and stripes that really stand out when finished. Khaya doesn't smell nice like sapele when cut. This african hardwood is highly sought afterr for its similarity to mahogany for guitar making, furnitue making and now for flooring, decking and paneling applications.
Sapele lumber is often marketed as a type of african mahogany.
Honduran mahogany is generally considered to be a better quality tonewood. This is the latests in our series of videos on our blog and youtube channel for your enjoyment. Sapele has a nice aroma, so smell the inside of the guitar at various times of the day depending on hot/cold/dry/humid. African mahogany (aka 'khaya') is perhaps the most common substitute, and unlike some of the other pretenders, it is in the same botanical family as american mahogany. Khaya mahogany is what is typically sold as african mahogany. How do i love thee, mahogany? It covers quality, color, grain, weight, drying, workability, durability, and usage. Mahogany is the cornerstone tonewood of the fretted instrument world.
