Is Khaya real mahogany?

Khaya is a genus of five tree species in the mahogany family Meliaceae. The timber of Khaya is called African mahogany, and is valued as a substitute to American mahogany (of the genus Swietenia).

Is mahogany a good tonewood?

Having long been used in the manufacture of both acoustic and electric guitars, mahogany is a staple tonewood with many applications. Highly resilient, and with an excellent resistance to wood rot, it is very stable and less likely to warp than many other species of wood. As such, it’s a dependable source for luthiers.

What does Sapele mahogany mean?

1 : mahogany sense 1b(2) 2 : a tree (especially Entandrophragma cylindricum) that produces sapele mahogany.

Are solid mahogany guitars good?

The all solid mahogany Martin D-15M. The all solid mahogany Martin D-15 is as good as it gets. Because of the deep overtones an all mahogany guitar provides, the guitar gives a great counterpoint to a spruce guitar. So if you play with someone, the contrast can make the music more whole in a tonal manner.

What kind of wood is a Khaya mahogany?

Khaya Mahogany is a hard, bright sounding wood with focused mids. With its wide dynamic range, it responds very well to both sensitive playing and louder, percussive styles. Koa is a beautiful figured wood, dark brown in appearance with blonde streaks.

Which is harder African mahogany or Sapele wood?

It isn’t as hard as African Mahogany or Sapele. Honduran Mahogany is preferred as a top wood over African Mahogany. African Mahogany (scientific names – Khaya anthotheca, Khaya grandifoliola, Khaya ivorensis, Khaya senegalensis) is harder than Honduran Mahogany and is considered to be the lesser version of Honduran Mahogany.

What kind of tone does mahogany wood have?

Mahogany has a warm, mellow tone with good presence in the lower mids. The mahogany/rosewood pairing contributes to complex highs, thick and creamy lows, and an appealing midrange that isn’t honky or excessively punchy.

What can be used as a substitute for mahogany?

The next most common mahogany substitute is another African wood called sapele. It is related to khaya and is a great tonewood, giving the benefits of traditional mahogany warmth and midrange with a bit of additional snap in the high registers due to its denser makeup.