Best Classical Guitars With Sapele Back in 2024

Here are the top Classical style guitars with Sapele back. It's similar to Mahogany in both color and tone. It can produce warm tones, and it's known for its beautiful figured grain patterns.

After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.

There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.

1. Takamine P3FCN

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Takamine P3FCN
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Playability 73
Sound 85
Build quality 84
Value for money 76
Overall Score 81

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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  • 2 Prices - New from $1,799 >
  • From Takamine's 2013 Pro Series 3 series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Cedar top
  • Solid Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: CT4B II (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Takamine Gold tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 2 Prices - New from $1,799 >
  • From Takamine's 2013 Pro Series 3 series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Cedar top
  • Solid Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: CT4B II (Preamp/Active)
  • Fixed bridge
  • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Takamine Gold tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Takamine P3FCN
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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2. Ibanez GA35TCE

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Ibanez GA35TCE
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability 70
Sound 81
Build quality 64
Value for money 82
Overall Score 72
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Sweetwater logo
  • From Ibanez's 2019 CLASSICAL series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Spruce top
  • Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Ibanez Undersaddle (Preamp/Active)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic GA Set neck
  • 21 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • From Ibanez's 2019 CLASSICAL series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • Flat Fretboard Radius
  • Spruce top
  • Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Ibanez Undersaddle (Preamp/Active)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic GA Set neck
  • 21 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez GA35TCE
  • Electronics
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Top Wood
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

All Prices

    3. Harley Benton GL-2NT GuitarLele

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    Harley Benton GL-2NT GuitarLele
    FIND IT ON:
    Thomann logo
    Playability 78
    Sound 74
    Build quality 57
    Value for money 90
    Overall Score 70
    FIND IT ON:
    Thomann logo
    • 1 Prices - New from €59 >
    • From Harley Benton's 2022 Standard series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 17.047"'' scale
    • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Okoume neck
    • Walnut fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Armaranth bridge
    • Acoustic C Shape Set neck
    • 17 Medium frets
    • Concert machine heads tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 1 Prices - New from €59 >
    • From Harley Benton's 2022 Standard series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 17.047"'' scale
    • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Okoume neck
    • Walnut fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Armaranth bridge
    • Acoustic C Shape Set neck
    • 17 Medium frets
    • Concert machine heads tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Harley Benton GL-2NT GuitarLele
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No Expensive Woods
    • No High-Quality Nut
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • No Electronics
    • Low-Quality Material Saddle
    • Laminated Top Wood
    • Laminated Side Wood
    • Laminated Back Wood
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

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    4. Takamine GC1CE

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    Takamine GC1CE
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logoAmazon logo
    Playability 70
    Sound 79
    Build quality 67
    Value for money 82
    Overall Score 72

    What our users think

    • Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logoAmazon logo
    • 2 Prices - New from $419.99 >
    • From Takamine's 2014 G series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: TP-4T (Preamp/Active)
    • Fixed bridge
    • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Takamine Chrome tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 2 Prices - New from $419.99 >
    • From Takamine's 2014 G series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: TP-4T (Preamp/Active)
    • Fixed bridge
    • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Takamine Chrome tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Takamine GC1CE
    • Expensive Wood
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Electronics
    • Synthetic Bone Saddle
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • Laminated Top Wood
    • Laminated Side Wood
    • Laminated Back Wood
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    5. Takamine GC2CE

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    Takamine GC2CE
    FIND IT ON:
    Amazon logoSweetwater logo
    Playability 70
    Sound 79
    Build quality 67
    Value for money 82
    Overall Score 72

    What our users think

    • Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Amazon logoSweetwater logo
    • 1 Prices - New from $439.99 >
    • From Takamine's 2022 G series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: TP-4T (Preamp/Active)
    • Fixed bridge
    • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Takamine Chrome tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 1 Prices - New from $439.99 >
    • From Takamine's 2022 G series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: TP-4T (Preamp/Active)
    • Fixed bridge
    • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Takamine Chrome tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Takamine GC2CE
    • Expensive Wood
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Electronics
    • Synthetic Bone Saddle
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • Laminated Top Wood
    • Laminated Side Wood
    • Laminated Back Wood
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    6. Ibanez GA6CE

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    Ibanez GA6CE
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoSweetwater logo
    Playability 70
    Sound 76
    Build quality 60
    Value for money 79
    Overall Score 69
    FIND IT ON:
    Reverb logoSweetwater logo
    • 2 Prices - New from $249 >
    • From Ibanez's 2018 CLASSICAL series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Okoume neck
    • Purpleheart fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Ibanez Undersaddle pickup (Preamp/Active)
    • Purpleheart bridge
    • Acoustic GA6CE Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Ibanez tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 2 Prices - New from $249 >
    • From Ibanez's 2018 CLASSICAL series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Okoume neck
    • Purpleheart fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Ibanez Undersaddle pickup (Preamp/Active)
    • Purpleheart bridge
    • Acoustic GA6CE Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Ibanez tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Ibanez GA6CE
    • Electronics
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No Expensive Woods
    • No High-Quality Nut
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • Low-Quality Material Saddle
    • Laminated Top Wood
    • Laminated Side Wood
    • Laminated Back Wood
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    7. Takamine GC1

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    Takamine GC1
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logoAmazon logo
    Playability 70
    Sound 76
    Build quality 60
    Value for money 79
    Overall Score 69

    What our users think

    • Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logoAmazon logo
    • 3 Prices - New from $299.99 >
    • From Takamine's 2014 G series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Fixed bridge
    • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Takamine Chrome tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 3 Prices - New from $299.99 >
    • From Takamine's 2014 G series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Fixed bridge
    • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Takamine Chrome tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Takamine GC1
    • Expensive Wood
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Synthetic Bone Saddle
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • No Electronics
    • Laminated Top Wood
    • Laminated Side Wood
    • Laminated Back Wood
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    8. Takamine GC2

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    Takamine GC2
    FIND IT ON:
    Amazon logoSweetwater logo
    Playability 70
    Sound 76
    Build quality 60
    Value for money 79
    Overall Score 69

    What our users think

    • Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Amazon logoSweetwater logo
    • 1 Prices - New from $329.99 >
    • From Takamine's 2022 G series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Fixed bridge
    • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Takamine Chrome tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 1 Prices - New from $329.99 >
    • From Takamine's 2022 G series
    • Made in China
    • 6 strings
    • 25.6"'' scale
    • Flat Fretboard Radius
    • Spruce top
    • Sapele back
    • Sapele sides
    • Mahogany neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: (/)
    • Fixed bridge
    • Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
    • 19 Medium frets
    • Takamine Chrome tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Takamine GC2
    • Expensive Wood
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Synthetic Bone Saddle
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • No Electronics
    • Laminated Top Wood
    • Laminated Side Wood
    • Laminated Back Wood
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

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