Color is not the best indicator for this specie comparison. Plus, it is much lighter than the African exterior wood options like Sapele, Utile, and African Mahogany. Thus the product is different but not worse, in my opinion. The result is low weight uniform color guitar bodies. Is Honduran mahogany higher quality than other mahogany? Species: Genuine Mahogany Common Names/Species: Honduras mahogany, Brazilian mahogany, big leaf mahogany, true mahogany Scientific Name: Swietenia macrophylla Description: Ranks among the finest cabinet woods. Whether you are a manufacturer of high quality products, importer distributor or wholesaler, future proof your business with Ligner Mahogany. quality Genuine Mahogany no longer exists, the driving force behind many plantation operations are bean counters rather than lumber people, United States Department of Agriculture PPQ form 505, The Accountant's Blind Spot - Commercial Forest Products, Import Wood End Checking: How to Prevent - Commercial Forest Products, Pau Ferro: Indian Rosewood Alternative - Commercial Forest Products, Swamp Ash Wood - Definitive Guide - Commercial Forest Products, Spanish Cedar for Humidors & Guitars - Commercial Forest Products, White Limba/Korina: Lumber & Guitars - Commercial Forest Products, Paulownia - Lumber -Wood - Commercial Forest Products - 2019, Quartersawn Maple: A Helpful Illustrated Guide to Hardwood - 2019, Wood Shop - Spring View - Commercial Forest Products- 2019, Chatoyancy - What is Chatoyance in Figured Wood? https://commercialforestproducts.com/what-happened-to-the-good-mahogany African Mahog is prone to fuzzing and grain tear-out. Swietenia macrophylla, commonly known as mahogany, Honduran mahogany, Honduras mahogany, big-leaf mahogany, or West Indian mahogany, is a species of plant in the Meliaceae family. Why Teak Wood Has Been a Favorite Wood for Centuries, Plantation-Grown Fijian Mahogany: A Surprisingly Ideal Alternative to Genuine Mahogany. They are thin vertical lines in the board with accumulations of either dark mineral or dirt. As well as being easy to stain and finish, it’s also simple to sand, stain, and turn. Like cherry, oxidation will cause the color to darken over time. African slaves likely coined the term mahogany. When it does, it’s typically tight flame or subtle curl. One of the first places Mahogany wood was discovered was in Belize, however it soon became known that the Mahogany tree was indigenous to the Americas. It features rich dark brown/red color tones, somewhat similar to walnut. Genuine mahogany wood is notoriously easy to work with, both with hand and machine tools. CITES’ listing Genuine Mahogany in a list. These are important considerations but all Genuine is not good Genuine. Exceptionally stable and clear with a natural luster. Easy to finish, and takes an excellent polish. Mahogany is the benchmark for stability, contains a good level of chatoyancy, has a rich consistent color, and … Greg asks what is Genuine Mahogany; Mike wants more info on coppicing; RJ needs help selecting a lightweight but durable species. Genuine Mahog is the premium mahog option. Genuine Mahogany If you are searching for the most environmentally sound option in high quality hardwood then sustainably, plantation grown, Genuine Mahogany from Ligner should be your first choice. There are several ways to acquire high quality Honduran Mahog lumber: My theory is that the driving force behind many plantation operations are bean counters rather than lumber people. Requires filling to achieve a class smooth surface but accepts virtually all … African mahogany (Khaya ivorensis) is a closely related species. Genuine Mahogany, which is sourced from Central and South America, was a staple lumber in the Colonial Era, and this type of wood has a rich, reddish brown coloration and an attractive grain pattern. Though lucrative to a small number of individuals, mahogany failed to generatesignificant returns to the state, and the region remained as isolated from state influence asit had before the trade began. Thanks to Kip Elder for letting us know that the teaser link to this Mahog post was not working. Real Mahogany is a Central and South American wood that is prized for a number of reasons. MAH necks are different than Maple necks in several significant ways: millwork, wood furniture, ship interiors and musical instrument, t mills, shapes, glues and finishes with remarkable ease. Wikipedia. When you suddenly find a rare exotic wood  after years of fruitless searching it’s easy to over buy. Fijian Mahogany Alternate to Genuine Mahogany Published: October 14, 2011 | Author: Shannon Rogers 5 Comments OK I admit maybe the title of this post is a bit much but there has been a lot written on this blog in the past about finding good alternatives for difficult to obtain and expensive species. More minerals in the soil = more mineral streaks/color variations. It is considered a vulnerable species. are listed on the CITES Appendix II and IUCN Red List. As a result there is a wealth of scientific data available on its characteristics and performance. The mahogany is a large, semi-evergreen tree with a canopy that casts dappled shade. Thus the guitar wood is light weight and consistent color. How much did you pay for it? Here, the wood growth is slow and wood tone is dark. Thus, a stash is born. It can have ribbon luster, undulating roped or chatoyant grain. African Mahog grain is usually more open, erratic, and inconsistent. Genuine Mahogany Stairs. LATIN: SWIETENIA MACROPHYLLA ORIGIN: CENTRAL AMERICA. However, when you see them consistently you are looking at Khaya. Most of the Genuine Mahogany Timber (Swietenia macrophylla) now grown comes from plantations where the timber is managed  under controlled conditions. Customers who know their woods and know what kind of project they want often request mahogany lumber, so contractors are wise to keep a diverse selection of mahogany … In American pieces of the late 1800’s, flat boards are typically warped in a U-shape. In my experience, one specie is not significantly lighter than the other. Not all suppliers will either have or provide this information but it’s worth a shot if all else fails. By whatever name Mahogany is known by, whether it is Genuine Mahogany, Honduras Mahogany, South American Mahogany, Peruvian Mahogany, etc, this species is probably the single most respected, all time favorite, furniture wood. . 18/09/2006 4:01 am If you have a piece of mahogany furniture made prior to 1969, it probably has a Mahogany Association sticker on it certifying that it's genuine mahogany and not a lesser wood dyed to resemble mahogany. It has more to do with soil composition and tree growth rates than the wood specie. That is when the lines begin to blur. Current production methods and locations are different than they were 200 years ago. Mahogany (MAH) is one of the most common electric guitar and acoustic guitar neck woods. Unlike African, Honduras Mahogany lumber has a consistent texture and low silca content. Whereas, African exhibits color variations and has a slightly reddish hue. Mahogany is typically very smooth in texture, with few knots or voids, making it a desirable type of wood aesthetically, and easy to work with when building furniture or musical instruments.