Acoustic guitars made with mahogany have grown in popularity over the years. Mahogany can be used in guitars for many reasons. It provides a unique sound and feel, and is a medium-lightweight wood. Learn more about the benefits of mahogany tonewood guitars.
Where it’s found
The exotic tonewood of mahogany can be found in southern Mexico and throughout parts of Central America. It’s also found south through Brazil and Bolivia. Belize has actually listed Mahogany as it’s national tree. The national coat of arms in Belize features a mahogany tree, two wood cutters with axes and paddle. The national motto “Sub umbra florero” meaning “Under the shade I flourish”, is featured underneath.
Mahogany comes in many colors, ranging from a lighter brown to a dark brown, sometimes featuring a slight red timber. Because the overall tone of mahogany as a tonewood can be a deeper, warmer tone, it balances the sound of the acoustic guitar out, giving it the more balanced sound and tone.
Tonewood
Mahogany seems to provide a more resonant tone, that is able to sustain longer. Players most often find that the tone also remains more balanced than most other guitar tonewoods. Sounds produced from a mahogany guitar tend to be on the warmer side of tone, and more controlled. Most acoustic guitars feature mahogany in the guitar neck, because it provides a more stable feel. The tonewood may be used in the body of some guitars to produce a deeper, warmer tone.
Mahogany Guitars
Breedlove Guitars makes many different acoustic guitars (such as the Frontier Series) featuring mahogany tonewood, but recently has released a USA series featuring lots of beautiful mahogany. Most of the guitars in this series have the thinnest finishes ever on a Breedlove acoustic guitar. Featuring measurements of 5 mils on the top of the guitar, and 2 mils on the back and sides, this USA series comes in at one of the thinnest. It also weighs in as one of the lightest guitars, coming in at 3.5 lbs. Most of the guitars in this series feature Honduran mahogany, that was harvested in Guatemala.
Take Away
There’s a reason that mahogany has been used as a tonewood in guitars for years. It’s a versatile tonewood, providing the perfect mix of balanced sound. Mahogany has a thick bottom end, a controlled high end, and a perfect midrange. It’s a tonewood that perfectly balances all ranges of sound, which is why it’s so commonly used in custom acoustic guitars. It suits most players and guitar body shapes, and provides the best sound.
