Would you build with this?

[nnickusa]

Got this mahogany pretty cheap, but the sample pictures I saw had no knots. I'm wondering if this is suitable for using as back and sides...

My first thought is no, but I wanted to ask....If the consesus is "no," I'll seek to have it replaced..

mahogany 003 (Medium).JPG (94.73 KiB) Viewed 8649 times

mahogany 002 (Medium).JPG (98.04 KiB) Viewed 8649 times

Sorry for all the pix, but you can clearly see the knots in these boards, and I'd be worried that at 2-3mm, and with vibration, there may be a tendency for the knots to fall out????

[Nick]

You could always wick in a little thin CA glue Nick as added insurance on them knots but apart from that, it's amazing just what you can build with with modern glues/techniques. I'd say go for it, is it genuine mahogany (Swietenia Macrophylla) or Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum)? (Gawd you gotta love those Latin names They sound soooo much cooler than the 'english' name) If it's genuine mahogany and it's cheap, it's always worth having in your stash! Even if it turns out no good for a full sized guitar then a ukelele or two will always fit the bill.

[Lillian]

If the knots are tight, I'd build with it. But that's just me.

[peter.coombe]

I'm with Lillian, especially if it is the real stuff (Swietenia Macrophylla). If it is the real stuff, go for it, it is CITES listed so you can't legally import any more of it as raw guitar sets. Small knots are unlikely to cause any problems, and as already suggested, a bit of superglue can do wonders.

Peter

[nnickusa]

Thanks,

Sapele, I reckon. It's definitely not from the americas....

I might give it a go, but will see if the seller will refund me something, or send me a set without the knots, as that's what I saw advertised....

It's a bit disappointing to not get what you expect, but I'm happy enough at this stage of my building experience to use "lesser" timbers, as I was really happy with the el-cheapo kit that my wife got me for the OM....Looks plenty OK to me, and sounds sweet as....

Given this week's weather, I'll have the box closed on the dread soon.. All braced and sculpted. Tomorrow I'll fit the top and back, and glue up the top....with that done, I can progress again....

Thanks again for your help.....

[Bruce McC]

Hi Nick

Your timber looks similar to some I bought on ebay that was sold as Macasar mahogany.
It is allegedly plantation grown mahogany from Indonesia. The sets that I received were knot free.
I am currently in the process of using the sets to make an all mahogany OM style guitar.

[woodrat]

It looks to me like it could be genuine Mahogany and probably as Bruce said plantation grown. A lot of it is coming on line now....from Fiji as well as indonesia....but it could be African Khaya as well....it is a bit hard to tell....I would say khaya before I said Sapele....
....would I build with it....yes...the knots look tight and wicking CA into them can only help to consolidate them.....


John

[nnickusa]

Thanks for all the input...

I've reached a deal with the guy I bought it off, and he'll send me another set--knot free-- and I'll give him a few bucks.

Then, I'll have a nice set for what I wanted to do, and another set for something else...

FWIW, I wasn't too worried about the sides, but the top has two long knots that have a void on one side of the upper and lower bouts, even on an OM, and they'd protrude through the edges...

Ande, it is plantation stuff from SE Asia, but I guess we'd all better get used to that....

For the "real" stuff, this is going to become a really expensive hobby...

[Nick]

For the "real" stuff, this is going to become a really expensive hobby...

We did warn you!