Mahogany is the most common wood used for building necks for acoustic guitars. It is strong, dense but light and easy to carve.
Keeping this in view, how can you tell genuine mahogany?
Check the corners of wood to spot a veneer. Genuine mahogany end grain will have marginal parenchyma, or rows of light brown cells at the border of every growth ring you can see in the end grain. The presence of these is a strong suggestion of Swietenia species, which is the species of tree mahogany comes from.
Hereof, is African mahogany good for guitars? African mahogany, sometimes called khaya, supports the Performer and Signature Series with warm, midrangy tone and the familiar dry fundamental that has made it a favorite of guitarists for over a century. And all African mahogany Wildwoods offer the classic blues combination at a revolutionary price.
People also ask, is African mahogany real mahogany?
African Mahogany, Khaya spp
Today this is the most widely used wood called “mahogany”. It is not related to South American Mahogany but has a similar look and even though it is more brittle it has acceptable working properties.
Is Basswood better than mahogany?
Plus, mahogany is usually more valuable than basswood. Thus, you’ll more likely find basswood on cheaper guitars. This is because mahogany is harder, more stable, and more durable. As far as necks go, there is little debate that mahogany is better.
Is mahogany a hardwood?
mahogany, any of several tropical hardwood timber trees, especially certain species in the family Meliaceae. One such is Swietenia mahagoni, from tropical America. It is a tall evergreen tree with hard wood that turns reddish brown at maturity.
Is mahogany stronger than maple?
Hardness. In the competition for density, maple wins out. Maple is a much more densely packed wood that is both heavier and harder than mahogany.
Is Okoume African mahogany?
The Origin of Okoume Plywood
The name Okoume Mahogany is a misnomer, because it’s not true mahogany. By law, no Okoume logs can leave the country of Gabon, where Joubert’s Okoume comes from. The veneer mill has to be in Gabon where it can benefit the local economy.
What is the best neck wood?
Maple is an extremely popular wood for necks and fretboards. Recognizable because of its bright tone, grain patterns and moderate weight. It’s tonal characteristics include good sustain with plenty of bite. It is about as dense as hard ash, but is much easier to finish.
What is the best wood for a fretboard?
The Big Three Fretboard Woods
- Ebony. Considered the supreme tonewood for fingerboards due to its solidity, resiliency, and firmness, ebony was the primary fretboard wood in use from the 15th century till very recently. …
- Rosewood. …
- Maple. …
- Indian Laurel. …
- Ovangkol. …
- Padauk. …
- Pau Ferro. …
- Walnut.
What kind of wood is used for guitar necks?
Guitar necks are traditionally made from the dense wood of maple, in part because of its strength, and in part, because the material can highlight and amplify the wood in the body.
Which is better on a guitar maple or mahogany?
The stiffness of this tonewood makes it an ideal choice for guitar necks as well, as it is very stable and will resist warping. Maple will also often produce richer overtones than mahogany, which tends to favor the fundamental pitch.