Guitarbench Magazine Issue 4. Cuban Mahogany Tonewood & Lichty guitar feature.

TONEWOOD

Cuban Mahogany Swietenia Mahogani

Quick Facts Scientific name: Swietenia Mahogani Trade names: Cuban Mahogany Janka: 740 Uses: Back & sides, drop tops, necks Bling factor: Curl is uncommon.

Availability: Very limited usually from storm downed stock.

CITES status: listed in appendix II

Natural History Cuban Mahogany is a very close relative of Honduran Mahogany but has a native range from Florida to Cuba and Jamaica. The semi-evergreen tree is slightly smaller than its mainland brother [S.Macrophyllia] growing to 35 metres tall.

Status Due to intensive logging, Cuban mahogany has no longer been commercially available since the 1950s.

However, a few small, well established plantations exist in its natural range and abroad.

This issue’s model for Cuban Mahogany is a Devine Ukulele and a Lichty OM. Both are featured later in this issue, please read on! Photos courtesy of Eric Devine and Jay Lichty.

GUITARBENCH P LAY E R S | LU T H I E R S | C O LLE C T O R S

ACOUSTIC&CLASSICAL

Issue 4 2012

GUITARBENCH EDITOR: Terence Tan CO-EDITOR: Jessica Pau SALES/MARKETING: Jessica Pau PROOFREADER: Doug Shaker Contributing Writers: El McMeen, Ken Bonfield, Jose Bernardo WEBSITES: guitarbench.com Our Online Magazine: www.guitarbench. com

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Our magazine focuses on acoustic & classical guitars with the odd ukulele and lap slide.

Issue 5 Published by: T.TAN

We have an emphasis on gear features, and in depth interviews with luthiers and players.

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Physical properties Cuban Mahogany is a light pink when fresh, oxidising to deep rich red. It is easy to work with hand or machine tools and takes a excellent polish. Compared to Honduran Mahogany, Cuban is easier to work with. It has a closer, finer grain and carves beautifully. It is seen in various figures, with curl, quilt and wavy grain, although these are now rare.

Basic specific gravity (oven dry weight/green volume) 0.40 to 0.68; air- dry density 30 to 52 pcf.

Janka side hardness 740 lb for green material and 800 lb for dry.

As a tonewood‌ Cuban mahogany has a long history as a tonewood for necks as well as tops, back and sides. With easy workability and ability to take a beautiful finish, it is a popular tonewood for small and major manufacturers.

Subjective tone‌ Cuban Mahogany tends to be denser than Honduran and hence has more rosewood-like qualities, with a better developed midrange and low end.

Availability Plantations occasionally yield logs wide enough for guitar sets, although old growth timber is now on the CITES appendix II. Although raw timber trade is regulated, finished articles can be traded freely.

SPONSOR FEATURE

Luthier: Jay Lichty OM

This guitar was custom built for Shohei Toyoda. He was the 2012 winner of Japan’s National Fingerstyle Guitar Competition for best player and best arrangement, all the while playing his Cuban mahogany Lichty guitar in the competition. Shohei had a very specific sound he was going for and Jay felt that the combination of Cuban mahogany and a Lutz top would be the right combo, along with an LR Baggs pick-up. Shohei was completely thrilled with his guitar so it all worked out great.

SPONSORS

We wouldn’t be able to produce this magazine without their Handmade American Guitars generous help. Please take a moment to view their services! theacousticmusicco.co.uk 39 St James’s St Brighton 01273 671841

Handmade American Guitars Over 50 in stock from £1595 The Acoustic Music Co has been offering hand made guitars and mandolins from North America since 2001.

I represent over fifty luthiers, over 150 instruments in stock, a dedicated playing room and free advice. All instruments are on my website.

These instruments are hand crafted by the finest luthiers working today. My shop, by the sea in Brighton, is open tues - sat 11 - 6. Prices from £1295.

Specs Back and Sides: Cuban mahogany Top: Lutz spruce Neck: Mahogany Binding: Curly maple binding Rosette: Redwood burl Headplate: Redwood burl Tuners: Gotoh 510 Options: side sound port, LR Baggs Anthem pick-up

SPONSORS

We wouldn’t be able to produce this magazine without their generous help. Please take a moment to view their services!

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE! Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Just $8 for all 4 full Issues in 2013 EDITORSNOTE Thank you for viewing our free article from Issue 5 of Guitarbench!

Our magazine focuses on acoustic & classical guitars with the odd ukulele and lap slide.

We have an emphasis on gear features, and in depth interviews with luthiers and players.

Our lessons section is maturing with many professionals contributing tab and articles.

We’d love to keep producing content like this, and would like to appeal for your help.

By subscribing, we can keep these articles coming! Just click on this link.

Warmest Regards and happy reading, Terence Tan, Editor.

Photos courtesy of C.Woods

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