NEED TO KNOW ____ MAHOGANY TONEWOOD vs. MAHOGANY CLONEWOOD

 

MAHOGANY TONEWOOD vs. CLONEWOOD

As Electric guitar players when we think of Mahogany we think of old Gibson guitars. The Les Paul comes to mine to most or perhaps a Gibson Jazz Guitar post War.

That wood is from Central America old growth Mahogany ...genus Swietenia. Trees hundreds of years old very beautiful and huge. So wide perfect boards can be sawn from it. It is an endangered species. The old pieces available are rare old stock or mostly recycled.

Gibson were afraid to switch from true mahogany so they buy from tree farms. The wood is not old, the boards are less wide so pieces are glued together and it much denser so it is heavy. Because it is real Mahogany it is very pricey.

Substitutes have been found. They all look the part and sonically some are very close.  Depending on the tree and on what part of the tree some planks are heavy and some much lighter. It means even on average that what is commonly called African Mahogany sounds closer to old growth Mahogany than new growth Mahogany.

KHAYA

KAHYA

This is what most builders imply is Mahogany when they say it is Mahogany. It come from Africa it is not related but it has near identical properties. It has about the same weight as old growth real mahogany and even looks the same. It is also very consistent. You tend to get a nice medium weight with good sustain and tone. PRS use this for all but the obscenely priced custom shop guitars. They also to tend to just call it Mahogany. It isn't. Even African Mahogany is just a slang. That said many "to die for guitars'' are made from it. So don't outsmart yourself. It is killer sh@t. 

Oddly enough some cheap Chinese guitars use it because the Chinese government's own many of the tree farms in Africa and so they do not tax it. It is cheaper in China than Ash or Alder since they both come from the U.S. & Canada so it is foreign wood. In short an advertised on Amazon $200 USD budget guitar can even have it. Yes some advertise Mahogany but use whatever is on sale that week. Bottom line its a crap shoot, but to the point you can score a $200.00 gem.

SAPELE

SAPELE

This one is also African and related to Khaya but it is darker, a bit denser and bit brighter sounding. It grows fast and is very hardy and renewable. Many builders prefer the look which can be a bit stripey. A lot of acoustic guitars are made from it.

OKOUME/GABON

OKOME/GABON

It comes from Gabon. it is a warmer tone and usually chosen for that warmth. Some old growth real Mahogany was warm so it is used where that is the objective. 

CONCLUSION ____

They are all good. If I had to choose I would pick Khaya as it is more consistently used by high end solid body makers. But in a finished guitar by any brand if the guitar sounds good it is!!!