What Mahogany Is Used On Les Paul Historics?

[hardys]

I have a 2011 historic and am curious as to where the mahogany is from. Honduran maybe, or is that in too short of supply?

 

[Rock Johnson]

"Honduran mahogany" is the name of a species of wood, Swietenia macrophylla. It can be grown anywhere. You can grow swietenia macrophylla in your back yard, it'll still be "Honduran mahogany."

AFAIK, no swietenia macrophylla has actually come from Honduras in years due to the CITES treaty. Most of it is grown in Asia nowadays, specifically Fiji and India.

 

[gtraddict]

Thanks for info on that one, that is cool to know

 

[wreckmarkT]

Mine has "sweet" mahogany.....so sweet!!

 

[omfg51]

I like mahogany guitars

 

[omfg51]

What kind of historic by the way?

 

[Lance Romance]

The Hondouran Mahogany used on Gibson guitars comes from Central America.

 

[cherrick]

The Hondouran Mahogany used on Gibson guitars comes from Central America.

Nope.

India.

 

[Tim Plains]

Gibson used to specify Honduras Mahogany on their website but now it just lists mahogany. I think that means they're using other types as well.

 

[patentcad]

The also use mahogany on these:

 

[patentcad]

That being said, I want my casket to have a flame maple top.

 

[papersoul]

Who cares, play some LPs till one speaks to you.

 

[Kurt L]

I was in a little shop in Fredericksburg, Texas last weekend and saw a chair made from Honduras Mahogany.

They were asking about $4,000 for it.

It was beautiful but I nearly cried seeing such fine wood used as a butt rest.

Has nothing to do with the original post, of course... sorry!

 

[sondich]

"Honduran mahogany" is the name of a species of wood, Swietenia macrophylla. It can be grown anywhere. You can grow swietenia macrophylla in your back yard, it'll still be "Honduran mahogany."

Yes.

I've used and seen Genuine Mahogany from different regions (South America, Central America, Mexico, Fiji) and it's surprising how different the color and appearance can be. I think it's primarily due to differences in the soils. I've never been impressed by anything grown in Fiji. South American production has nice color but can be really dense and heavy.

Woodworkers know that red oak from Alabama looks way different than red oak grown in Wisconsin, yet they're both the same specie of red oak. Same deal with Honduras Mahogany.

 

[Rock Johnson]

Yes.

I've used and seen Genuine Mahogany from different regions (South America, Central America, Mexico, Fiji) and it's surprising how different the color and appearance can be. I think it's primarily due to differences in the soils. I've never been impressed by anything grown in Fiji. South American production has nice color but can be really dense and heavy.

Woodworkers know that red oak from Alabama looks way different than red oak grown in Wisconsin, yet they're both the same specie of red oak. Same deal with Honduras Mahogany.

Yup. See Vidalia onions.

 

[EADGBE]

AFAIK, no swietenia macrophylla has actually come from Honduras in years due to the CITES treaty. Most of it is grown in Asia nowadays, specifically Fiji and India.

I never heard that before. I heard the Philippines had their own species of mahogany. As does Africa.

 

[hardys]

What kind of historic by the way?

A limited edition 1960 VOS plaintop made especially for Musician's Friend. It's an exceptional guitar, BTW and the best sounding Les Paul I've ever owned. I was just curious as to where Gibson is sourcing its mahogany these days.