Acoustic Guitar Construction

A month or so ago I saw a plank on eBay that the seller said was African Mahogany. It had a buy it now price and was of sufficient size to make a few things. So I bought it. It came very rough looking. This weekend I had a friend over helping me with stuff that I used to be able to do myself. Anyway,I had him help me run the plank through my thickness planer. Then my jointer so it looked a lot better.
Well with the discussion on Tru-Oil I moistened a cottonball with some and rubbed it into a small area on the plank. After two coats I am beginning to like what I see. It's just a little darker then Maple. Has a beautiful Golden Hue. So it will definately make me a blonde guitar. Now personally I have nothing against Blondes but have been known to laugh at Bolnde jokes. However, I did not find a lot of I go on the wood as being a tonewood. It is almost exactly like Sapele. Has anyone ever heard of it being a tonewood? My search turned up only that Mahogany is used for making instruments. I know there are many species of Mahogany. It seems to have all the properties of a nice Tonewood. Any info?

Lonnie, maybe this is in the wrong topicdirectory. But what I know about African mahogany that is a collective term for different Mahogany lookalikes. The most common nin instruments are Sapele, Khaya and Sipo. They are in genaral heavier than American mahoganies, but have a similar appearance and workability. Most of the time they are used on cheaper guitars.
I used Sipo for a Les Paul body that is heavier and less resonant than Honduran. Sapele I used for back/sides on a Jumbo that turned out great IMO.

Maybe other have more info for you.
Say hi to your wife.
Herman

Thanks Herman I believe this to be Khaya. But who really knows? My wife appreciates the shout out. The wood is a very nice color. I'll try it on the J45 I really don't have anything to lose. Maybe after it's sized more closer to instrument wood. I'll try a tap tone but I really am not much of an expert. I can thump a melon pretty good maybe it'll carry over. Lol

African Mahogany, or Khaya is commonly sold and used for tonewood. I have used it for two necks and it was very similar to work as honduras mahogany. I think it is lighter in weight than true mahogany, certainly lighter in weight then Sapele, which is heavier then hondruas. Quarter sawn African usually shows the ribbon figure and nice silking. I finished the necks with clear pore filler and clear lacquer and the look was very nice with walnut bodies.
That is my experience. I have not used it for the body of a guitar as of yet.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin I'm going to post a picture here pretty soon. I've put four coats of Tru-Oil on it. I like it. It's enough wood for a full sized guitar plus a Uke or two. Maybe a small very small guitar.

Some suppliers sell Sapele as African Mahogany, they get it from their distrubutors labeled as such -- Sapele in my opinion is truly an under rated tonewood both in appearance and acoustic properties ---- its was Doc Watson favorite! Perhaps when they (exporting countires) figure a way to restrict movemnt and the price triples we'll have an appriciation for it. $.02

My third kit was a 000 KMG w/African mahogany b/s. It turned out very well.