Best Grand Auditorium Guitars With Sapele Sides in 2024

Here are the top Grand Auditorium style guitars with Sapele sides. 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. Taylor 314ce-N

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Taylor 314ce-N
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Sweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 88
Build quality 84
Value for money 72
Overall Score 82

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: D (8 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (8 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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Sweetwater logo
  • From Taylor's 2012 300 series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce top
  • Solid Sapele back
  • Solid Sapele sides
  • Tropical Mahogany neck
  • West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: ES-N Electronics (Preamp/Active)
  • West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Classical Nickel tuners
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Show all Specs
  • From Taylor's 2012 300 series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce top
  • Solid Sapele back
  • Solid Sapele sides
  • Tropical Mahogany neck
  • West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: ES-N Electronics (Preamp/Active)
  • West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Classical Nickel tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Taylor 314ce-N
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Electronics
  • Synthetic Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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2. Martin GPC-11E

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Martin GPC-11E
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Sweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
Playability 73
Sound 86
Build quality 76
Value for money 78
Overall Score 78

What our users think

  • Neck access to high frets: Easy (2 votes)
  • Fret edges: Smooth (2 votes)
  • Tuning stability: Won't get out of tune (2 votes)
  • Weight: Lightweight (2 votes)
  • Neck profile shape: C (3 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (3 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
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Sweetwater logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
  • From Martin's 2019 Road series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.4"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Sapele back
  • Solid Sapele sides
  • Select Hardwood neck
  • FSC Certified Richlite fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman MX-T (Preamp/Active)
  • FSC Certified Richlite bridge
  • Acoustic Performing Artist Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Chrome Enclosed Gear tuners
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Show all Specs
  • From Martin's 2019 Road series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.4"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Solid Sapele back
  • Solid Sapele sides
  • Select Hardwood neck
  • FSC Certified Richlite fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman MX-T (Preamp/Active)
  • FSC Certified Richlite bridge
  • Acoustic Performing Artist Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Chrome Enclosed Gear tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Martin GPC-11E
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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3. Harley Benton EAX-500TL Black

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Harley Benton EAX-500TL Black
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Thomann logo
Playability 73
Sound 83
Build quality 67
Value for money 89
Overall Score 74
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Thomann logo
  • From Harley Benton's 2022 Standard series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.591"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Spruce top
  • Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Okoume neck
  • Purple Heart fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Presys II with built-in tuner (Preamp/Active)
  • Roseacer bridge
  • Acoustic C Shape Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Machine heads Die-cast tuners
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Show all Specs
  • From Harley Benton's 2022 Standard series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.591"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Spruce top
  • Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Okoume neck
  • Purple Heart fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Presys II with built-in tuner (Preamp/Active)
  • Roseacer bridge
  • Acoustic C Shape Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Machine heads Die-cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton EAX-500TL Black
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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. Ibanez AEG50

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Ibanez AEG50
FIND IT ON:
Amazon logoSweetwater logoReverb logo
Playability 77
Sound 80
Build quality 64
Value for money 84
Overall Score 74
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Amazon logoSweetwater logoReverb logo
  • From Ibanez's 2021 AEG series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Spruce top
  • Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Ibanez T-bar II Undersaddle (Preamp/Active)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic Comfort Grip Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Ibanez's 2021 AEG series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Spruce top
  • Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Ibanez T-bar II Undersaddle (Preamp/Active)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic Comfort Grip Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AEG50
  • 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

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5. Taylor 314ce

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Taylor 314ce
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoAmazon logoSweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 86
Build quality 80
Value for money 70
Overall Score 80

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: D (8 votes)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (8 votes)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (7 votes)
  • Pickups power: Clean (6 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoAmazon logoSweetwater logo
  • From Taylor's 2013 300 series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce top
  • Solid Sapele back
  • Solid Sapele sides
  • Tropical Mahogany neck
  • West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp/Active)
  • West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Taylor Nickel tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Taylor's 2013 300 series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce top
  • Solid Sapele back
  • Solid Sapele sides
  • Tropical Mahogany neck
  • West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp/Active)
  • West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Taylor Nickel tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Taylor 314ce
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

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6. Ibanez AEG62

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Ibanez AEG62
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability 77
Sound 80
Build quality 64
Value for money 84
Overall Score 74
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
  • From Ibanez's 2021 AEG series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Sapele top
  • Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Ibanez T-bar II Undersaddle (Preamp/Active)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic Comfort Grip Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Ibanez's 2021 AEG series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Sapele top
  • Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Ibanez T-bar II Undersaddle (Preamp/Active)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic Comfort Grip Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AEG62
  • 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

7. Ibanez AEG70

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Ibanez AEG70
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logo
Playability 77
Sound 80
Build quality 65
Value for money 84
Overall Score 74
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logo
  • From Ibanez's 2021 AEG series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Ibanez T-bar II Undersaddle (Preamp/Active)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic Comfort Grip Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Ibanez's 2021 AEG series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.748" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Sapele back
  • Sapele sides
  • Nyatoh neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Ibanez T-bar II Undersaddle (Preamp/Active)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic Comfort Grip Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AEG70
  • Expensive Wood
  • Electronics
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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

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