Mahogany

[loudandproud]

I have not had much experiance with different types of mahogany.

What tone differences would there be between Hondurun, African and Phillipean...ianish mahogany.

Im sure the grain and color is different but what about its tone?

[westhemann]

generally speaking...denser mahogany is snappier than that light stuff.

i like honduran...i believe african is even more dense?

[Lietuvis]

Basically, the heavier the Mahogany, the more attack and brightness the sound will have...

[balooka]

How can you tell what kind of mahogany it is? The guy that sold me some didnt know (he was only the salesdude, boss wasnt there). Besides the weight (which I obviously cannot compare), is it also shown by the grain?

TIA

jP

[Southpa]

http://www.westwindhardwood.com/hard_m.html

[balooka]

Thanks Southpa

Its Honduran

jP

[Mattia]

I wouldn't feel comfortable identifying based on a picture alone, or even weight. Mahogany, like any wood, is variable. I will say that African (by which I mean Khaya) has a slightly reddish/pinkish hue under just the right angle. Otherwise, when finished, depending on the piece, it's not necessarily quickly identified.

Also, it's been covered before, but 'Phillipine Mahogany' ain't even related/in the same family as the real mahoganies (three of 'em; Swetinia Mahagonii, Microphylla and Macrophylla, the last of which is good 'ol Honduran), the Melicea. Nowhere near the workability, although the density's similar.

I agree with the others, the denser, the more snap, although I won't say one species has more snap than another. The african 'mahoganies' (Khaya, Sipo, Sapele) are generally denser, slightly coarser grained (particularly Khaya), but weights can vary from piece to piece, as can colour. Tone-wise, I feel they're more or less interchangable. All of 'em are perfectly lovely woods to build with. Not the Philipine (Luan). Wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole.