Mahogany Top

[Tj Turner]

Hey guys...

I've been toying with the idea of making an all mahogany guitar, for a nice woody bluesy sound. Anyone have any experience about top thicknesses? I totally understand it probably depends a ton on the stiffness of the mahogany I'm going to use, and how I will brace, etc... But in general, anyone have any advice about thickness relative to spruce? I can see going thinner to get it into the ballpark for the same weight as a spruce soundboard, and then I can also see going thicker to keep the stiffness as high as the spruce...

Any suggestions?

Thanks guys!!!

Tj

[ken cierp]

What style guitar?

Looking at the thickness of the top at the sound-hole it appears that the major manufacturers thin the hardwood tops the same as the conifer sound-boards. And interestingly that varies a little from brand to brand.

Seems you are going for a look (appearance) rather then trying to capture a certain tonal quality? If it is the later however, the best thing to do is to copy the specs of the guitar you find to be pleasing.

[Bob Dill]

I've built three all Mahogany guitars, two Hondurian and one African and each top was a little different. I tapped and flex the tops like I would a spruce or cedar top, it won't sound the same but you'll be able to hear the changes as you thin the plate down. All three tops came in about .105 before the box went together, I then thinned the perimeter after the box was together. I braced them the same using Red Spruce on all three. Filling the top is more work and you want to make sure you do a good job before applying any finish, too much finish to fill the pores is not a good thing. I really like the sound of these guitars, the African went home with the first person who played it, the other two are mine, they are second to my Walnut and Sinker Redwood SJ. Go for it,they make cool guitars.

[Tim Benware]

I've built three all Mahogany guitars, two Hondurian and one African and each top was a little different. I tapped and flex the tops like I would a spruce or cedar top, it won't sound the same but you'll be able to hear the changes as you thin the plate down. All three tops came in about .105 before the box went together, I then thinned the perimeter after the box was together. I braced them the same using Red Spruce on all three. Filling the top is more work and you want to make sure you do a good job before applying any finish, too much finish to fill the pores is not a good thing. I really like the sound of these guitars, the African went home with the first person who played it, the other two are mine, they are second to my Walnut and Sinker Redwood SJ. Go for it,they make cool guitars.

+1 There is no "magic number" to get to. Each top will be different. Learning to flex/tap the top (or back) should be something you seek to acquire. That goes hand-in-hand with learning to "voice" them as well by shaping the braces. Having said that I built 3 guitars before I started down the "voicing" path and I think all of them sounded great. So if someone had success at a certain thickness with a certain type wood it would be my opinion that if you got close to that you would end up with a fine sounding guitar (all else considered).

[Tj Turner]

Tanks Ken...

Actually, I am trying for a certain tonal characteristic over looks. The all mahogany guitars I've played have a real woody and warm tone, where you really have to dig in to get the volume out. But I don't have any to measure. Maybe I need to start trying the deflection testing on my other tops to make them comparable.

Do you guys think it would be like Koa? I'm not certain of the relative densities of those two woods though.

Thanks!

Tj

[Tj Turner]

Thanks everyone...I'll try that out. I'm definitely thinking of setting up a deflection testing rig, more to get some experience with voicing now. I know that will take a long time and many guitars!

When I get started I'll start posting the progress!

Tj

[Tj Turner]

Hey, for those of you guys (fishboy?) who have built an all mahogany guitar...is a small body or a large body guitar better sounding for the tonewood...with the usual caveats that it changes with everything (i.e. bracing, top, sides...)!

I've got a Taylor Grand Concert style mold, and a dreadnought style mold...

Thanks!

Tj