Guitarbench Magazine Issue 3. Tonewood article on Honduran Mahogany

TONEWOOD

Honduran Mahogany Swietenia Macrophyllia

Quick Facts Scientific name: Swietenia macrophyllia Trade names: Mahogany, Honduran Mahogany Janka: 800 approx.

Uses: Back and sides. Veneer Bling factor: Chatoyance and curl is uncommon Availability: Good CITES status: Listed in appendix II.

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A Mahogany guitar from Chris Oliver of Infinity Luthiers. This set displays a brilliant Chatoyance and curl figure. Chris has kindly made available us the photos in this article.

Natural History Honduran Mahogany has a native range from south Mexico to the upper Amazon in Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. The trunk grows to 45 metres tall, 2 metres in diameter.

Status Honduran mahogany is currently threatened due to habitat loss and over-logging. However, well established plantations exist in its natural range and abroad.

Physical properties Honduran Mahogany is pink to yellow when fresh, oxidising to deep rich red or brown with distinct yellowwhite sapwood. It is easy to work with hand or machine tools and takes a excellent polish. It is seen in various figures, with curl, quilt and wavy grain.

It has a basic specific gravity of 0.40 to 0.68. Janka side hardness of 740 lb for green material and 800 lb for dry.

As a tonewood Honduran mahogany has a long history as a tonewood for necks and, more recently tops, backs and sides.

With its easy workability and ability to take a beautiful finish, it is a popular tonewood for small and major manufacturers.

Dana Bourgeois puts it best: “Where rosewood guitars can be thought of as having a “metallic” sound, mahogany ….guitars are better described as sounding “woody, although the harder, more dense examples … can take on some of the characteristics of the rosewoods.”

Availability Plantations should ensure supply for the near future, although old growth timber is now on the CITES appendix 2 and trade is now limited.

You’re missing a lot of great content in Issue3 Click here for the full ISSUE! INTERVIEWS

David Wren 52-65 Kris Barnett 66-79 Megan Slankard 80-82

LESSONS Celtic Guitar Masterclass with Anton Emery: Celtic Backup 40-44

FEATURES Guitar Anatomy 6-7 Honduran Mahogany 9-10 The Tree Mahogany 12-13

SPECIAL FEATURE All instruments featured in this issue are feature highly figured Mahogany from “The Tree”

Kostal Modified Dreadnought 14-22 Ryan Dragonfly 24-29 Wells The Atlantic 34-37 Elliott Steel String Model 30-33 Breedlove OM Revival 38-39 Mauel McCloud 45-48 Miller Dreadnought 49-51 Kraut Modified Dreadnought 84-85 Saville Small Jumbo 86-90 McElroy Standard 94 Shimo Sugilite 95 True North Guitar Model 1 96-99 Fleishman 100-102 Woolson Ukulele 103-104

REVIEWS Little Man 91 Songs About Something 92 Acoustic Bossa Nova 93

Hand made American guitars

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Handmade American guitars Over 50 in stock from ÂŁ1595

Hamblin GC

Bashkin Placencia OM

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