Are mahogany guitars similar to Spanish cedar guitars?
Damian Probett and Juha Ruokangas have made really good viedos comparing mahogany guitars to spanish cedar. There are a few more by TGP members comparing real bursts to Spanish Cedar guitars. To me, the old and new mahogany guitars have more in common with each other than either do with the Spanish Cedar guitars.
What is the texture of Spanish cedar?
"Straight-grained, wavy, curly and mottled grain. Soft with a moderately coarse texture. Easy on tools and cutters, but the low density and softness make it prone to splintering. Resembles mahogany at first glance. Milled Spanish cedar also contains an uncontrollable resin that seeps onto the surface."
What can you do with milled Spanish cedar?
Milled Spanish cedar also contains an uncontrollable resin that seeps onto the surface." Cigar box lining, lead pencils, boat building, pattern work, furniture, doors. What's the Tree Like?
What is the best mahogany top to match a cedar back?
6) The final matching takes place. Top "A" can match with a whopping 3 of the backs (two of which are mahogany, one is S.Cedar). Top "B" is an excellent match for 2 mahogany backs. Top "C" will excell when mated with 2 of the S. Cedar backs. Top "D" is not a good match with any of the backs, nor is Top "E".
Does Spanish Cedar look like mahogany?
Spanish cedar (Cedrela odorata) is harvested from Central and South America. While it may look like mahogany, it's not as hard.
Is cedar and mahogany the same?
Cedar can be found from light to dark tones but will usually be a light, reddish colour. Mahogany lumber on the other hand, is a pink/reddish brown to an orangered-brown colour. While you can find various tones of colour for both these woods, they both take on stains and paints well.
What kind of wood is Spanish Cedar?
Despite its name, Spanish Cedar is not only a hardwood (and therefore not a Cedar at all), but it is also not Spanish. Spanish Cedar actually comes from the Meliaceae family, along with Mahogany; Spanish Cedar is similar to Genuine Mahogany in its beautiful coloration, attractive grain pattern, and great workability.
What is Spanish mahogany?
Definition of Spanish mahogany : a mahogany obtained only from the West Indies and especially from Santo Domingo and sometimes considered a distinct species (Swietenia macrophylla)
Which is better mahogany or cedar?
Mahogany products are about 28% higher in cost on average than the same cedar products....Cedar Vs Mahogany Decking.ProductCedarGenuine MahoganyDurabilityJanka hardness: 350lbsJanka hardness: 800lbs (56% stronger than cedar)warrantyNo warranty20-year limited warranty4 more rows•Apr 12, 2017
Is Spanish Cedar a good wood?
Spanish Cedar is a great choice for many uses. It has been used in furniture products, window blinds, doors, boat building, pattern work, and even garage doors due to its pleasing appearance and lightweight. Compared to other tropical hardwoods, Spanish Cedar is comparatively lighter.
What wood is mahogany?
There are many species of mahogany, mainly grown in North and Central America. Known for its straight grain and characteristic red brown colour, it polishes and oils very well and can be buffed to a very high shine. An exceptionally durable hardwood, it is the ideal choice for furniture and fittings around the home.
What is Spanish Cedar good for?
Uses: Spanish cedar is favored for the making of the hulls of light racing boats, furniture, cabinetwork, doors and windows, interior trim and clothing chests. In the past it was exported to Europe and the U.S. for cigar boxes. The Indians used to make dugout canoes with the trunks.
How can you tell Spanish Cedar wood?
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a relatively uniform light pinkish to reddish brown; colors tend to darken with age. Random pockets of gum and natural oils are commonly present. Grain patterning and figure tends to be somewhat bland.
How do you know if wood is mahogany?
Check the corners of wood to spot a veneer. Genuine mahogany end grain will have marginal parenchyma, or rows of light brown cells at the border of every growth ring you can see in the end grain. The presence of these is a strong suggestion of Swietenia species, which is the species of tree mahogany comes from.
Why is mahogany wood illegal?
Following the path of ivory, in 2003, mahogany was listed on the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as a species in need of strict regulation to prevent its extinction. Because Peruvian mahogany is traded in violation of CITES, it is illegal to trade or possess it under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
What color is close to mahogany?
reddish-brown colorMahogany is a reddish-brown color. It is approximately the color of the wood mahogany. However, the wood itself, like most woods, is not uniformly the same color and is not recognized as a color by most....Mahogany (color)MahoganySourceMaerz and PaulISCC–NBS descriptorStrong yellowish brownB: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)6 more rows
What color is close to mahogany?
reddish-brown colorMahogany is a reddish-brown color. It is approximately the color of the wood mahogany. However, the wood itself, like most woods, is not uniformly the same color and is not recognized as a color by most....Mahogany (color)MahoganySourceMaerz and PaulISCC–NBS descriptorStrong yellowish brownB: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)6 more rows
What wood is mahogany?
There are many species of mahogany, mainly grown in North and Central America. Known for its straight grain and characteristic red brown colour, it polishes and oils very well and can be buffed to a very high shine. An exceptionally durable hardwood, it is the ideal choice for furniture and fittings around the home.
Does cedar make good guitars?
Cedar is the most popular top tonewood for classical guitars and is an excellent choice for steel-string acoustics as well. A variety of cedars can be seen in acoustic guitar tops and necks, though it's uncommon to see it used as a back and sides material and certainly as a fretboard material.
Are cedar top guitars good?
Cedar tops sound full and voluminous Cedar's tone responds quickly and percussively to the player as well, making the sound quite different than the spruce top. This makes cedar-topped guitars especially popular with guitar students and beginners.
treeslayer
I acquired some cut-offs from a cabinet shop, mixed lot of wood. i grabbed what i thought was Mahogany today and made a recipe box for a friend. i gave it the sniff test and thought well thats what Mahogany smells like then i thought it smells like Spanish Cedar !.
treeslayer
Apparently everything else grows there, I've been drooling over your wood porn since you signed on
curlyoak
I'd bet mahogany. Just a guess. But it really is a cousin. Currently a lot of sapale is being used. From Africa. Used some and liked it. Could you show us a picture please?
treeslayer
My bad, i forgot to take some pictures, i'll post some asap. thanks folks
wdwerker
Smell is the easiest way to tell Spanish cedar. It can look and feel like mahogany. It can be lighter in weight and have resin pockets but not always. But the smell is sweet and lingers a very long time. Moisture rejuvenates the smell if the board is old and bone dry.
wdwerker
I have used oil based stains and waterbourne finishes on Spanish Cedar with few problems. Pitch pockets and excessive moisture can cause finish issues.
Spanky
Treeslayer, if you have anybody coming south sometime. I will send a little lumber back to Iowa. Maybe trade on a small box, but I don’t need a humidor box. I have put lumber in cars, minivans hanging out the windows. One end on the dash and one end out the back.
What wood do Les Paul guitars come out of?
I had an interesting conversation with @DamianP (actually I think all conversations with Damian are intreresting) about wood and he has made a couple of Les Paul type guitars out of cedar and mahogany. With any luck he'll be along soon and can tell you more, but paraphrasing they are quite similar with the cedar being a little brighter and the mahogany being a little fuller. If you play them side by side you'd notice the difference but blindfolded if you were to just hear one you'd have a hard time picking which one it was. If you search his YouTube channel there's a comparison video so you can hear for yourself.
Is Spanish cedar a mahogany?
Spanish cedar is a mahogany cousin to Honduran. Sonically very, very similar. Because of confusion we stopped calling it Spanish Cedar a couple years ago and call it Spanish Mahogany now. Mahogany can be many things with the most common being African mahogany these days.
Where is Spanish cedar grown?
Spanish Cedar is still trickling out of South America but it is also now being grown on plantations in Africa. While still technically the same genus and couple of species, Cedrela odorata, fissilis, huberi, the quality and properties are not quite the same. This time I’ll provide some tips to help you buy Spanish Cedar today to ensure you get what you actually need, and I’ll discuss some better alternative species that you should consider instead.
Why is Spanish cedar so hard to dry?
Finally, Spanish Cedar is more difficult to dry than other species because of the highly resinous nature. When poorly dried, the Cedar will weep.
When buying plantation cedar, should caution be taken?
When buying plantation Cedar caution should be taken to ensure it is dried properly or it will be practically unusable. The issue arises when someone who has worked with good quality South American Spanish Cedar before, calls and orders it without stipulating origin.
Is mahogany a paint grade product?
The color and appearance are not of the same quality as South American Mahogany and this also is often viewed as a paint grade product.
Is Spanish cedar cheaper than Sapele?
As an exterior product, Spanish Cedar is great but so are Sapele and Utile. These species are cheaper but also heavier and denser.
Where is Spanish cedar grown?
Despite its name, Spanish cedar is not native to Spain. It's grown predominantly in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and the South American foothills. Varieties have also been exported to Africa, where they're grown on plantations established to help meet global demand. Spanish cedar is also not a cedar.
Why is Spanish cedar so popular?
Due to their humid environment, tropical trees, such as Spanish cedar, have evolved especially strong resistance against mold. It's one of the reasons why the demand for Spanish cedar has increased so much in recent years. Its natural resistance makes it a great choice for outdoor projects, as well as cigar humidors.
Why Are Cigar Humidors Made Out of Wood?
Cigar humidors are designed so fresh air can circulate in and out, which helps keep your cigars from becoming stale. Cigars are grown, fermented, and manufactured in humid climates where the average humidity hovers around 70 percent and they'll always taste best if they're stored in a similar environment. Anything over 70 percent humidity, they soak up too much moisture and become moldy. Anything under, they dry out and lose their flavor. In the tropics, humidity is generated by the interaction between the sun and ocean, but in your humidor, it's generated by your humidifier. It's a device designed to release moisture gradually over an extended period of time. There are several different types, but most are calibrated to release moisture only until the humidity level reaches 70 percent. Cigars require a stable environment, and the right wood helps ensure they get it. Whenever you open your cigar humidor, the sudden exposure to the outside siphons off the humidity, leaving your cigars exposed and vulnerable, but wooden humidors help reestablish the proper balance very quickly. Wood is hydrostatic, which means it absorbs and releases moisture from its environment. In a cigar humidor, the wood paneling absorbs the excess water from the humidifier and prevents your cigars from becoming too damp. Then, after the lid is opened, the wood releases the stored moisture back into the environment, bringing humidity levels back up to 70 percent very quickly. Wood acts as a stabilizing agent, preventing your cigars from becoming too damp or too dry.
What is a humidor made of?
Most are constructed from a different type of wood, such as cherry or rosewood, and lined with Spanish cedar, American cedar, or Honduran mahogany panels.
What wood is used in cigar humidors?
The best cigar humidors are made of wood, and though there's a wide of different woods to choose from, manufacturers generally focus on only three: Spanish cedar, American red cedar, and Honduran mahogany. These woods have several unique properties that make them especially well-suited to cigars and cigar storage.
What is a cigar humidor?
Cigar humidors may look simple, but they're actually highly specialized devices designed to create and maintain a controlled environment for your cigars. A crucial part of this is the material they're constructed from. The best cigar humidors are made of wood, and though there's a wide of different woods to choose from, manufacturers generally focus on only three: Spanish cedar, American red cedar, and Honduran mahogany. These woods have several unique properties that make them especially well-suited to cigars and cigar storage. Unlike most other woods, they retain moisture, enhance scents, and repel insects. Humidors made with these woods will keep your cigars fresh far longer than any other types and they should always be your first choice for a cigar humidor.
What is the humidity of a cigar?
Cigars are grown, fermented, and manufactured in humid climates where the average humidity hovers around 70 percent and they'll always taste best if they're stored in a similar environment. Anything over 70 percent humidity, they soak up too much moisture and become moldy.
