Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
I've had this guitar for 3+ years and I still don't know what the wings of this guitar are made of. I've heard different things from different people.
Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
- Thread starter Agileguy_101
- Start date
youngthrasher9
New member
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
It looks kinda like sapelle mahogany to me, but I warn you that's not even close to definitive. How heavy is it?
It looks kinda like sapelle mahogany to me, but I warn you that's not even close to definitive. How heavy is it?
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
8 to 8.5 lbs
8 to 8.5 lbs
Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
That looks spot-on to a Honduran Mahogany body slab I've held onto for about 10 years. The color, the grain, the pores, everything. Same streaky highlights (that shift beautifully when you move it), as well.
That looks spot-on to a Honduran Mahogany body slab I've held onto for about 10 years. The color, the grain, the pores, everything. Same streaky highlights (that shift beautifully when you move it), as well.
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
At least, one could say definitively that it is some species of mahogany. Whether African or Honduran...? Some samples of one may look like samples of the other. There is variety in color and grain with all woods.
At least, one could say definitively that it is some species of mahogany. Whether African or Honduran...? Some samples of one may look like samples of the other. There is variety in color and grain with all woods.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
That kind of striping is common to African mahogony, but not exclusive to African mahogony. Every piece of bonafide African mahogony I have acquired in a body blank has had that kind of striping though.
That kind of striping is common to African mahogony, but not exclusive to African mahogony. Every piece of bonafide African mahogony I have acquired in a body blank has had that kind of striping though.
jmh151
Active member
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
It is definitely a mahogany.
As to what species, it depends what year the guitar was made. Up to the mid 70's, Honduran mahogany was heavily harvested and imported since it was used in the boating and furniture industry- most boats up until the mid 70's were made mostly of Mahogany until they switched to fiberglass hulls, so up till then the only mahogany available was Honduran mahogany. After that Phillipene Mahogany, African Mahogany and Asian Mahogany began to appear.
I've seen that graining and color on all species of Mahogany, including Honduran. Back when I worked on boats it was easy for a lumbar yard to pass off other species as Honduran Mahogany. Phillipene Mahogany was the cheapest, lightest and weakest
It is definitely a mahogany.
As to what species, it depends what year the guitar was made. Up to the mid 70's, Honduran mahogany was heavily harvested and imported since it was used in the boating and furniture industry- most boats up until the mid 70's were made mostly of Mahogany until they switched to fiberglass hulls, so up till then the only mahogany available was Honduran mahogany. After that Phillipene Mahogany, African Mahogany and Asian Mahogany began to appear.
I've seen that graining and color on all species of Mahogany, including Honduran. Back when I worked on boats it was easy for a lumbar yard to pass off other species as Honduran Mahogany. Phillipene Mahogany was the cheapest, lightest and weakest
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
Looks like junk plywood. You should just get rid of it. I'll bite the bullet and dispose of it for you. I'll email my address....
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
Looks like junk plywood. You should just get rid of it. I'll bite the bullet and dispose of it for you. I'll email my address....
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
It's Wingwood, from the Wingwood tree.
The Wingwood tree is curious and notable for the fact that it only has sides, but no middle.
It's Wingwood, from the Wingwood tree.
The Wingwood tree is curious and notable for the fact that it only has sides, but no middle.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
any relation to the skunk-stripe tree?
any relation to the skunk-stripe tree?
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
This makes sense.
Thanks guys, I appreciate the input.
This makes sense.
Thanks guys, I appreciate the input.
Chocklit_Thunda
New member
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
Just nitpicking here but Sapele isn't a mahogany or a variation of it. It's more like a wood that's used as a substitute for 'hog. Similar to Nato on Asian guitars.
It does have fantastic ribbon like figuring though
Just nitpicking here but Sapele isn't a mahogany or a variation of it. It's more like a wood that's used as a substitute for 'hog. Similar to Nato on Asian guitars.
It does have fantastic ribbon like figuring though
XSSIVE
OCDologist
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
They're from the same meliaceae (mahogany) family...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meliaceae
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapele
But you are correct it's a mahogany substitute and technically not genuine mahogany to continue nitpicking. Most just call it "African mahogany" though just like people call limba korina and often debate if it's correct or not or if korina is a finish and limba is the wood.
Nato however is not from the same species yet is also used as a mahogany substitute as you mentioned.
They're from the same meliaceae (mahogany) family...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meliaceae
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapele
But you are correct it's a mahogany substitute and technically not genuine mahogany to continue nitpicking. Most just call it "African mahogany" though just like people call limba korina and often debate if it's correct or not or if korina is a finish and limba is the wood.
Nato however is not from the same species yet is also used as a mahogany substitute as you mentioned.
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
It looks like Honduran Mahogany, but we can agree that it's mahogany.
It looks like Honduran Mahogany, but we can agree that it's mahogany.
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
Regardless of what wood that is, that's a really nice guitar.
Regardless of what wood that is, that's a really nice guitar.
Chocklit_Thunda
New member
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
Yeah sorry for singling out your post though. My little nitpick thing wasn't directed at you personally... It's actually because earier today I was looking at some custom guitars where the luthier was marketing sapele as a more exclusive wood than Khaya mahogany ("real" African mahogany)
maybe in his country it is (though I doubt it) but where I'm from Sapele has always been a "cheaper" alternative.
That being said, you can get superb results from most species marketed as mahogany.
Yeah sorry for singling out your post though. My little nitpick thing wasn't directed at you personally... It's actually because earier today I was looking at some custom guitars where the luthier was marketing sapele as a more exclusive wood than Khaya mahogany ("real" African mahogany)
maybe in his country it is (though I doubt it) but where I'm from Sapele has always been a "cheaper" alternative.
That being said, you can get superb results from most species marketed as mahogany.
youngthrasher9
New member
Re: Can Anyone Tell Me Definitively What Species of Wood This Is?
I was told that sapele is typically a tad lighter than Honduran mahogany, and that it's a smidge brighter. I don't know how accurate that it is.
I was told that sapele is typically a tad lighter than Honduran mahogany, and that it's a smidge brighter. I don't know how accurate that it is.
