Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi all,

It's been about 5 years since I was last on here. I have been thinking of building another guitar, but first want to recify a few issues with my first build: A Stahl Style 6 with Lutz Spruce top and Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. So, my pondering about this guitar, since the top is too thick and the braces too heavy, I will replace them. I was thinking about a Fiddleback Mahogany soundboard. I looked around the internets, and haven't seen any pairings of Mahogany top with Brazilian back and sides. Any of you folks try this combo or know of anyone who has?

Thanks,
Steve

I have not tried it nor do I know anyone who has. I am curious about what are you looking for with the combination? It is going to sound like a mahogany top guitar, which can be good. In my opinion if you like the idea go for it.

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I built a parlor guitar with BRW back and sides and a hardwood top. In my case I used sassafras that had some curl. I like the way it sounds and would recommend american sassafras to people who want a sound in between mahogany and spruce. It might also pair nice with oak and chestnut.

Thanks, John. I love the woodiness of a mahogany top, but wondered how the chimey-ness of the Brazilian back and sides would blend. I'm curious. Since it hasn't been explored much, I'm thinking... "why not?"

Thanks, Clay! Beautiful instrument. Very cool. I haven't seen Sassafras on a top before. Is Sassafras softer than Mahogany?

Hi Steven,
Yes, American sassafras (sassafras albidum) is a little more than half as hard as mahogany and weighs less. It is slightly harder and slightly heavier than Sitka spruce. It is available as a domestic lumber.
Blackheart sassafras is a different tree entirely and compares in weight and hardness to African mahogany. It is often used as back and side wood for guitars.

One thing to consider is that figured wood can be less stiff longitudinally than dull old straight grain. If so, you have to make the top a little thicker to compensate, and with hardwood tops that can make them sound dull and quiet because they're too heavy.

But it depends on your wood - if you've already used another piece of this fiddleback mahogany for something else, you'll know whether it's stiff or floppy.