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 Post subject: All Mahogany soundboard
PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2011 10:18 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Sat Aug 14, 2010 10:50 am
Posts: 361
First name: herry
Last Name: trismono
City: malang
State: east java
Zip/Postal Code: 65142
Country: Indonesia
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Hello, please your suggestions:
I have a lot Mahogany (quarter sawn), whether the resulting sound will be good (best) if I use all mahogany for soundboard, (back; side and top)
thank's herry tze


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PostPosted: Wed May 11, 2011 10:35 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:35 pm
Posts: 2561
Country: USA
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
How popular are Martin's all mahogany dreadnaughts? Maybe a handmade lightly braced one would have more appeal, but them so do the spruces.
If you have a ton of it lying around and just want to do somethingwith it to use it up faster, I'm sure you can use it and make them sound just fine.
I'll stick to spruces.

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PostPosted: Thu May 12, 2011 12:45 pm 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2005 7:46 am
Posts: 1315
Location: Branson, MO
First name: stan
Last Name: thomison
City: branson
State: mo
Zip/Postal Code: 65616
Country: united states
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
I have an older 00015 I bought for $100 at a garage sell. One of the best guitars all around I ever had. Tone, sustain, etc. It recently had the top broken out after I gave it to a teen grandson and he and some friends horsing around.

I took the top off and made a new hog top for it. 1/4" braced it with Adi. with single tone bar and finger braces. Little bigger but thinner bridge plate I am going back to. Used some of Kevin Ryan's zipflex or whatever it is called for rosette. Since the fingerboard was getting worn, made an ebony board and ebony bridge.

Since basically not a true 00015 or worry about value, I went ahead and routed binding channels and used koa binding, and finished in a gloss lacquer. While at it did some repair inside on the back at the neck block where the guy before tried to glue in a battery holder for an under saddle pu and made a mess. also cleaned up some stuff and replaced cloth side support. Reset neck. Now new, but can't sell as a Martin 000-15 or a custom shop thing ethically or at least wouldn't think so. Will keep it as a great guitar.

It is even better. And no, the grandson doesn't get it back. You should not have any problems with a hog top. Just like any of them work and feel the wood as you build it. It will be fine.


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PostPosted: Thu May 12, 2011 12:57 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 10:44 am
Posts: 6262
Location: Virginia
I built two all mahogany guitars, one I kept. Puts a smile on my face every time I play it. In fact I think I'll pull her out of the case tonight and mess around. I love the tone of an all mahogany guitar. BTW I wouldn't brace it any lighter but maybe go a bit thinner on the top - I am no expert but that is what I did for mine and they came out well.


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PostPosted: Thu May 12, 2011 10:12 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:36 pm
Posts: 287
First name: Hugh
Last Name: Anderson
City: Lake Oswego
State: oregon
I made an all mahogany j45 style and I really like it. The top is .117. Bracing is light top and back. Next I'm going to make one with a spruce top and compare.
Hugh


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PostPosted: Thu May 12, 2011 11:35 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:35 pm
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Country: USA
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
herry tze wrote:
I have a lot Mahogany (quarter sawn), whether the resulting sound will be good (best) if I use all mahogany for soundboard, (back; side and top)


It seems to me he's wondering what is best for a soundboard.
Sure, the all mahogany guitars sound good, but what would be best?
Is it better to save the mahogany for backs and side, or would it be best to use it for soundboards?
So, to those of you who have made/owned both, which is best?

I traded my all mahogany dreadnaught in on a Taylor with an Engellman top.

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PostPosted: Fri May 13, 2011 6:46 am 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:58 pm
Posts: 316
The D-15 may not be so popular, but the 00-15, 000-15 and OM-15s are absolutely wonderful guitars! As are the older 1- and 2- series (??...I forget their designations). Great for fingerstyle blues, anything fingerstyle, actually.

Hogs aren't the most popular guitars out there, but there's a 15-series club throught the Martin Guitar Forum that has boatloads of faithful members.

I've had several, really like their sound, and I'd LOVE to build some all-hog guitars some day...

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Durham, NC


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PostPosted: Fri May 13, 2011 9:43 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 10:32 am
Posts: 2616
First name: alan
Last Name: stassforth
City: Santa Rosa
State: ca
Zip/Postal Code: 95404
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I made a Weissey with a mahog top.
It sounds focused, and balanced,
a bit lacking on volume.
I love that guitar.


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PostPosted: Fri May 13, 2011 2:18 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 10:44 am
Posts: 6262
Location: Virginia
theguitarwhisperer wrote:
herry tze wrote:
I have a lot Mahogany (quarter sawn), whether the resulting sound will be good (best) if I use all mahogany for soundboard, (back; side and top)


It seems to me he's wondering what is best for a soundboard.
Sure, the all mahogany guitars sound good, but what would be best?
Is it better to save the mahogany for backs and side, or would it be best to use it for soundboards?
So, to those of you who have made/owned both, which is best?

I traded my all mahogany dreadnaught in on a Taylor with an Engellman top.


Well they certainly are very different. If wanting to sound like a good traditional guitar then spruce would be best but it's all relative.


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