All mahogany guitars- Input/advice needed

[Dan Bombliss]

Hey there,

I just purchased a beautiful set of mildly flamed mahogany, top,back,sides set. I personally have never built an all mahogany instrument before, and I've only played 1 before, and it was a '53 Martin 0-15.

Anyhow, the question is, kind of taking a poll here of input to sway what I do with it. I'm completely indecisive what body style/scale length would be most complimenting on this wood choice. I was thinking possibly a short scale 12th fret instrument might compliment the all mahogany factor very well, but I could be wrong.

Please, if anyone has any experience or preference to all mahogany body styles, give me your thoughts. Feel free to go indepth with your thoughts as well. I'm trying to feel out what kind of sound each combination will give me, and trying to figure out what I'd like to do. I don't know what to expect with this, so like I said, this thread will most likely make up my mind.

Thanks,
Dan

[turnertj]

Hey Dan...

I'm building an all mahogany guitar now. Never did one before though...but I chose a Martin dreadnought 14 fret to try out. It'll be a few weeks before I get it fully together...

Good luck, tell us what you decide.

Tj

[tippie53]

I built a number of them , I like the all hogs. It depends on what you wish to play. A small body can take a long scale pretty well. that makes them more of a bluesy guitar. short scale for a finger picker

[Dan Bombliss]

Sorry, I kind of fell off there for a while. I'm not quite finished with this thread yet, as I'm still trying to understand, via forum, what an all mahogany instrument might sound like, or at least which options to go with to get a nice sound.

I've got the set of wood, I haven't done much flexing or tapping to feel out how which plate would be better for the top, but it is a gorgeous set. Very profound ribbon figure along with lots of flame. It's a very obscure unusually look for mahogany. I've seen ribboned everywhere, and I've seen some flame. But I've never seen small tight flames like this on mahogany consistently all over the plates, along with great ribbon.

Anyhow... I was somewhat thinking I'd go with a short scale, as I've never built a short scale yet. Was almost thinking something along the lines of a short scale parlor, but I'm not sure how that would sound.

John, would you possibly have some kind of input as far as how the mahogany top with the rest of the rest reacts to different sized bodys, or what other woods it'd might compare to?

At some point I'll sand this mahogany out to show the figure, and post some pictures. I'm not a fan of mahogany at all, but I really love this stuff and I'd really like to find a neat guitar to put it to use with.

-Dan

[tippie53]

I have made many sized all Mahogany. They work well. A little more woody in tone but can be used all across the gamit. I will say that I like the smaller 00 sized the best for blues. a 000 for fingerpicking.

[Go4aRyd]

I have heard similar info regarding body size. I have also been told by separate builders that "it is pretty tough to build a lousy hog."