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Honduran Mahogany vs Khaya tonally
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=51068
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Author:  Colin North [ Thu Oct 04, 2018 1:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Honduran Mahogany vs Khaya tonally

How do they compare tonally for acoustic necks?
Or how does the tap tones compare generally?

Author:  meddlingfool [ Thu Oct 04, 2018 4:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Honduran Mahogany vs Khaya tonally

I don't think you'll notice much if any difference tonally if using it for necks. Mahogany seems to be a bit more consistent in terms of grain and density, but a lot of khaya is pretty dang close to mahogany.

You might notice more difference if using it for back and sides, but it would depend on the piece, as some khaya is nearly indistinguishable from mahogany.

I've been mostly using khaya for quite some time now as it's pretty hard to find neck worthy mahogany in Canada...

Author:  Ken Lewis [ Thu Oct 04, 2018 4:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Honduran Mahogany vs Khaya tonally

+1 to what Ed said:)

Author:  Clay S. [ Thu Oct 04, 2018 5:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Honduran Mahogany vs Khaya tonally

The preference for mahoganies was based on milling and carvability (and somewhat weight) rather than acoustics. Cuban, Honduran and African khaya are all pretty close, but the Cuban and Honduran mill and carve a little nicer than African generally (but not always). As close as they are in - average - weight and hardness you may find some overlap in the real world.

Author:  fingerstyle1978 [ Fri Oct 05, 2018 1:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Honduran Mahogany vs Khaya tonally

meddlingfool wrote:
I don't think you'll notice much if any difference tonally if using it for necks. Mahogany seems to be a bit more consistent in terms of grain and density, but a lot of khaya is pretty dang close to mahogany.

You might notice more difference if using it for back and sides, but it would depend on the piece, as some khaya is nearly indistinguishable from mahogany.

I've been mostly using khaya for quite some time now as it's pretty hard to find neck worthy mahogany in Canada...



Where do you source Khaya neck blanks?

Author:  meddlingfool [ Fri Oct 05, 2018 4:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Honduran Mahogany vs Khaya tonally

LMI...

Author:  ernie [ Sat Oct 06, 2018 7:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Honduran Mahogany vs Khaya tonally

I/ve made a few uke necks from khaya . With the interlocked grain. and using edge tools . it tears. I wind up using , rasps , files . scrapers and sanders, I like the look of khaya over hog , as IMHO it has a more interesting grain patterns.

Author:  Alan Carruth [ Sat Oct 06, 2018 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Honduran Mahogany vs Khaya tonally

I don't have much experience building with Khaya. My understanding is that there's so much overlap in properties with Honduras as to be pretty much interchangeable. Under the circumstances I'd expect two Khaya guitars from of the same design and from the same maker to be as different from each other as would be a Khaya and and Honduras one. There's too much emphasis IMO on 'Magic Wood' on these groups.

Author:  Haans [ Sat Oct 06, 2018 9:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Honduran Mahogany vs Khaya tonally

I used Khaya pretty much interchangeably with Honduras for necks. At some point, Honduras became unavailable at Youngblood lumber in Minneapolis, so I switched to Khaya exclusively. Sonically, it made about as much difference as the difference between slothead and paddlehead necks (undetectable), and the major influence of tone on a neck (mahoganies) is the truss rod anyway.
Never used any mahogany except Honduras or Sapele for 12 string boxes and always preferred white oak instead for 6 strings. My guess might be that Khaya might sound like a softer Honduras.

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