jalguitarman
Junior Member
I know there are African and Honduran varieties and maybe a few more. Question I am asking is: are there any real tonal differences between them that you can actually pin down the difference in species?
Different varietyies of mahogany.
- Thread starter jalguitarman
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Kam
Shaftologist
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Different varietyies of mahogany.
'Nato' is an Australian conifer, neat tree, but not so good for guitar-making. Is 'nato mahogany' a variety or grade of nato?
'Nato' is an Australian conifer, neat tree, but not so good for guitar-making. Is 'nato mahogany' a variety or grade of nato?
St_Genesius
New member
Re: Different varietyies of mahogany.
It's very difficult to get a straight answer out of manufacturers about this stuff and most of the info I've seen on the web is little more than old nerd's tales.
It's very difficult to get a straight answer out of manufacturers about this stuff and most of the info I've seen on the web is little more than old nerd's tales.
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Different varietyies of mahogany.
I don't think Gibson has used Honduran for years, and last time i looked at the Hamer site, they no longer use the word 'Honduran'. I do know from reading an old interview with Jol Dantzig that when Kaman bought Hamer, they (Kaman) pumped enough money into Hamer that they were able to get first choice on the good stuff, and they also purchased the very best drying system available. These ended up being two important reasons (although there were other reasons too) why i ended up opting for a Hamer instrument instead of a Gibson.
Which brings up another point .... it's probably not just about the quality of the wood, but how that wood has been dried and stored.
I don't think Gibson has used Honduran for years, and last time i looked at the Hamer site, they no longer use the word 'Honduran'. I do know from reading an old interview with Jol Dantzig that when Kaman bought Hamer, they (Kaman) pumped enough money into Hamer that they were able to get first choice on the good stuff, and they also purchased the very best drying system available. These ended up being two important reasons (although there were other reasons too) why i ended up opting for a Hamer instrument instead of a Gibson.
Which brings up another point .... it's probably not just about the quality of the wood, but how that wood has been dried and stored.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Different varietyies of mahogany.
+1. That can mess up any wood, regardless of what it is. There's a long chain of handling from forest to factory.
+1. That can mess up any wood, regardless of what it is. There's a long chain of handling from forest to factory.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: Different varietyies of mahogany.
While i understand this do you know what system Gibson uses to dry their wood? Not saying you don't but just saying that the logic in whats written is flawed. Without being able to compare just saying one has the best doesn't mean much maybe the other is just as good.
To the original question there are lots of species of wood that are sold as "mahogany" that arent really mahogany. In the original sense only Swietenia macrophylla known as Honduran mahogany and Swietenia mahagoni known as Indian mahogany should really be sold as mahogany. But with the restrictions on logging importation etc the definition of mahogany has been broadened from just 2 specific species of tree to include the whole family that are called Meliaceae that are vaguely mahogany colored and that they can make guitars out of. I know locally here in Beijing you can find a wood that they call mahogany that its local name is xiang chun that looks suspiciously like the wood that Epiphone uses. Much lighter in color and weight than Honduran mahogany tends to be really brittle and splinter easy. They sell it for cheesy furniture making all over. Wouldn't surprise me if this was the wood that Epi was using. I know this though most manufacturers get really dodgy when pressed for the actual type of mahogany they are selling.
While i understand this do you know what system Gibson uses to dry their wood? Not saying you don't but just saying that the logic in whats written is flawed. Without being able to compare just saying one has the best doesn't mean much maybe the other is just as good.
To the original question there are lots of species of wood that are sold as "mahogany" that arent really mahogany. In the original sense only Swietenia macrophylla known as Honduran mahogany and Swietenia mahagoni known as Indian mahogany should really be sold as mahogany. But with the restrictions on logging importation etc the definition of mahogany has been broadened from just 2 specific species of tree to include the whole family that are called Meliaceae that are vaguely mahogany colored and that they can make guitars out of. I know locally here in Beijing you can find a wood that they call mahogany that its local name is xiang chun that looks suspiciously like the wood that Epiphone uses. Much lighter in color and weight than Honduran mahogany tends to be really brittle and splinter easy. They sell it for cheesy furniture making all over. Wouldn't surprise me if this was the wood that Epi was using. I know this though most manufacturers get really dodgy when pressed for the actual type of mahogany they are selling.
elelpe
Well-known member
Re: Different varietyies of mahogany.
Nato is dark brownish/reddish hardwood from South East Asia. Usually used for high valued furniture because its durability (and some come with beautiful figured too). More durable and heavier than mahogany. A local guitar builder I know has changed wood material from nato to mahogany because it's becoming more expensive. The interesting thing is he uses 3ply mahogany neck for his guitar. When he used nato, he made one piece neck.
I don't know about 'nato mahogany'. AFAIK, they come from different family with nato being a Sapotaceae and mahogany being a Meliaceae. Maybe some of them has similar color and grain pattern. But this guitar builder claims that they have very similar tonal properties.
Nato is dark brownish/reddish hardwood from South East Asia. Usually used for high valued furniture because its durability (and some come with beautiful figured too). More durable and heavier than mahogany. A local guitar builder I know has changed wood material from nato to mahogany because it's becoming more expensive. The interesting thing is he uses 3ply mahogany neck for his guitar. When he used nato, he made one piece neck.
I don't know about 'nato mahogany'. AFAIK, they come from different family with nato being a Sapotaceae and mahogany being a Meliaceae. Maybe some of them has similar color and grain pattern. But this guitar builder claims that they have very similar tonal properties.
Re: Different varietyies of mahogany.
The plant family will matter much less for tonal qualities than will the environment the plant comes from (and is adapted to). Lets face it, Roseaceae covers anything from Blackberry canes to Almond trees so there's huge variety in growing structure even within a family. Also lets not forget that a 'plant family' is just a human catagorisation based on closer/further shared ancestry.
The plant family will matter much less for tonal qualities than will the environment the plant comes from (and is adapted to). Lets face it, Roseaceae covers anything from Blackberry canes to Almond trees so there's huge variety in growing structure even within a family. Also lets not forget that a 'plant family' is just a human catagorisation based on closer/further shared ancestry.
