Rosewood versus mahagony

[TexMexMike]

Ok....It always seems that rosewood is a premium and more sought after as a material for the sides and backs on acoustic guitars. Am I alone in that I prefer the sound of the mahagony backed and sided guitars? Especially vintage examples. I seem to prefer the mellow sonics and broader overtones. A bit darker and less sharp.

OK...Discuss....

[Old Mojo]

I think you covered it pretty well, Mike. LOL.

[WireNWood]

Hmmm... I've never had a Mahagony acoustic.

When I was younger the 'paper or plastic?' choice among acoustics, as far as I knew, was rosewood or maple. In recent years, of course, the tonewood market has blossomed partly due to discovery and partly through desperation.

I do know that rosewood is increasingly rare and endangered, and envorinmental legislation has made it unobtainable, or at the very least cost-prohibitive for musical instrument applications (which is a real problem for fans of the marimba). It had been my understading that this was the primary reason so many new woods have appeared in acoustic guitars in the last 15 years or so.

[Doctor Reggae]

Brazilian rosewood has been banned from mass consumption for instruments, I think...that's why more manufacturers use Indian rosewood nowadays. As for mahogany, I've never had a guitar with it, but I do enjoy the warmth of rosewood on my acoustic and my standard Strat.

[nothin but the blues]

Ok....It always seems that rosewood is a premium and more sought after as a material for the sides and backs on acoustic guitars. Am I alone in that I prefer the sound of the mahagony backed and sided guitars? Especially vintage examples. I seem to prefer the mellow sonics and broader overtones. A bit darker and less sharp.

OK...Discuss....
Yes your alone... your a crazy old man who is just so addicted to smelling the sound hole of that 00-15 Mahagony you have, that it has impaired your judgement. :lol:

I know that Martin had declared that it was running out of Brazilian Rosewood, so they were only going to use it on they're highest ended guitars (Limiteds, GE's, etc.) Of course when they said that, the price of Brazilian RW guitars went through the roof in price, and will more than likely continue to rise. It's certainly beautiful, strong, and helps produce some incredible tone. I'm not so gung hoe on it myself though, I'm pretty much stuck on East Indian Rosewood for the back/sides of my guitars. But, if I ran across the right guitar for the right price and it was Brazilian, I certainly wouldn't pass it up :smoke:

I do prefer the smell of the all Mahagony guitars though, too addicting! :bannana_g

[Charley Wild]

Warning! I'm going to name-drop! Back in my Bluegrass days I had three D28s and always thought the D18 was a "lesser" guitar until I met Norman Blake who used a D18. He told me that he liked mahogany better than rosewood for flat picking because the tone bass to treble was much more even. He remarked than D28s were made for Bluegrass, the first five frets only. And also according to him mahogany is less susceptable to humidity changes. Very important when you are doing festivals outdoors much of the time in all different areas of the country. I know a couple of flat pickers around these parts who wouldn't play anything but mahogany. I never flat picked as such so I stuck to my D28. :)