The Martin SC-10E Sapele is awesome

[rollypolly]

Ah man the gas is starting to bubble up. If these had real wood fingerboard I might already own one.

[gr81dorn]

Originally Posted by rollypolly

Ah man the gas is starting to bubble up. If these had real wood fingerboard I might already own one.

Just from a utility standpoint, I’m ok with the fretboard and bridge, etc. I have other precious guitars with all the good wood. I can get on board with some alternative materials if I keep in mind my context for having this guitar. Context for others can certainly be different.

[jricc]

Originally Posted by gr81dorn

I;ve never played a Baggs Element that I thought sounded good. Honky, brash, too shrill. I hate them always.

Yeah I'm in the minority re: the Element pickup. I have an Element Pro Barndoor in my Rainsong that sounds real good to my ears, so I replaced the Fishman MX-T (Sonitone) that came in my SC10e with the Baggs Element VTC and that works much better for me. So I guess different strokes...

[Zaxxon]

Well, I pulled the trigger on one today! Just played plugged in for a bit and not sure if I love the sound. I'll play it at a gig Thursday and see. It always sounds better playing out somewhere. Anyone else have any recommendations for a pickup to get if I still don't like the sound?

[jricc]

I was following this Facebook page of SC guitar owners, and one guy there contacted Martin to inquire if the SC10e-Sapele was a solid top or all solid. The Martin rep replied the top, back and sides are all solid. I was definitely surprised by the rep's answer. Here's a screen shot of the reply.

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by jricc

I was definitely surprised by the rep's answer. Here's a screen shot of the reply.

Maybe my observation that sapele veneer on an inner layer of sapele could formally be called solid sapele wasn't just tongue-in-cheek...

I'm also surprised to see cedar being called a member of the mahogany family, and the suggestion that a sapele guitar could in fact be built from another wood Martin considers part of that family...!

[jricc]

Originally Posted by RJVB

Maybe my observation that sapele veneer on an inner layer of sapele could formally be called solid sapele wasn't just tongue-in-cheek...

I'm also surprised to see cedar being called a member of the mahogany family, and the suggestion that a sapele guitar could in fact be built from another wood Martin considers part of that family...!

Maybe!

I was surprised because the more expensive 13 models in the SC Series are layered/lam back and sides. But then again, the Road Series D10 sapele is all solid sapele.

Of course the koa and ziricote are more expensive woods then sapele is...

[rollypolly]

Originally Posted by gr81dorn

Just from a utility standpoint, I’m ok with the fretboard and bridge, etc. I have other precious guitars with all the good wood. I can get on board with some alternative materials if I keep in mind my context for having this guitar. Context for others can certainly be different.

I get that. If I gigged a lot I'd probably wouldn't hesitate to own a guitar with richlite materials. But since I'm just a wannabe, I have my quirky preferences. For example, I'd trade the back and sides for laminate sapele if I could get a real wood fretboard and bridge. Also the black tuners, no no.

[gr81dorn]

Originally Posted by RJVB

I'm also surprised to see cedar being called a member of the mahogany family, and the suggestion that a sapele guitar could in fact be built from another wood Martin considers part of that family...!

They are referring pretty specifically to Spanish Cedar, which isn't very "Cedar-y" if you, like everyone else, thinks of the likes of fencing and decking using things like Western Red Cedar as Cedar. Spanish Cedar is an actual hardwood, not a softwood like those others. It's grown in and grown like plantation mahogany and some of the other mahogany variants. It passes. They've been using it for necks years.

Having spent some time there and with their plant manager, I understand why they mix and match and why they can't be specific, but I know everyone cares about all the fine details, even if they love the sound and feel, they think it's a downgrade.

[jricc]

Originally Posted by gr81dorn

They are referring pretty specifically to Spanish Cedar, which isn't very "Cedar-y" if you, like everyone else, thinks of the likes of fencing and decking using things like Western Red Cedar as Cedar. Spanish Cedar is an actual hardwood, not a softwood like those others. It's grown in and grown like plantation mahogany and some of the other mahogany variants. It passes. They've been using it for necks years.

Having spent some time there and with their plant manager, I understand why they mix and match and why they can't be specific, but I know everyone cares about all the fine details, even if they love the sound and feel, they think it's a downgrade.

Details are good, but my plain truth is, the darn thing sounds good!

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by gr81dorn

They are referring pretty specifically to Spanish Cedar, which isn't very "Cedar-y" if you, like everyone else, thinks of the likes of fencing and decking using things like Western Red Cedar as Cedar

Oh, that cedar, the stuff the neck of my Cabaret is made, which could be less confusingly referred to as cedro or cedrela?

I was thinking of cedar tops, and an SC10-Sapele that receives one of those will sound (and look) at bit too different to be explained away as "the woods are from the same family"

[SalFromChatham]

I’d proudly own one.

Maybe I’ll own Joe’s in a year!

[MaurysMusic]

Originally Posted by jricc

I was following this Facebook page of SC guitar owners, and one guy there contacted Martin to inquire if the SC10e-Sapele was a solid top or all solid. The Martin rep replied the top, back and sides are all solid. I was definitely surprised by the rep's answer. Here's a screen shot of the reply.

For what it's worth, I have it on good authority that Evan (the Martin CS rep) knows his stuff

[jricc]

Originally Posted by MaurysMusic

For what it's worth, I have it on good authority that Evan (the Martin CS rep) knows his stuff

Thanks Maury!

[MaurysMusic]

You’re welcome!