Official Luthiers Forum!

Hellow I am a luthier in mo and I am building a custom guitar does anyone know where I can find some old honduran mahogany like gibson used in the 50's 60's.

Hi Angus and welcome. The best place to find many choices of mahogany is right here with the forum's sponsors. If you don't see what you are looking for just ask them and I'm sure they would put you onto just what you want. Once again, welcome!!!

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

The Zootman (RC Tonewoods) has a nice selection of Mahog, others as well, happy hunting! and Welcome to the OLF!

Mike
White Oak, Texas

Hi Angus, welcome to the OLF!

We have great sponsors here indeed and a great bunch of folks for cmaraderie!

Good luck on your search and have fun!

Serge

If your looking for actual wood that is 40-50 years old, you will most likly have to try some of the builders who have been at this since the 70's I'd say. I would think that most of the tonewood suppliers don't keep stuff around that long.

Everything has its price and I bet 40-50 year old hondo would be more expensive than something that is only a couple of years old.

Welcome here by the way.

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I've had old mahogany that wasn't all that great, and new mahogany that is killer...

Brad Goodman may still have some Cuban Mahogany that is very nice, as does Bob the Zootman. I have some Honduran that has that old mahogany look, but is uncut. And it's not in wider widths for a Jumbo or dread. OM's yes. Still uncut though.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

If you want the true Hondo mahogany of years past it'll need to come from an old stash. Mahogany hasn't been exported from Honduras for many years. Hondo mahogany is species Swietenia humiilis and should not be confused with Swietenia macrophylla or big leaf we use today from Peru and Brazil.

if i remember correctly, and my sweetie says that's not too often these days, steve at colonial tonewoods, another one of our group of outstanding member/sponsors, did have some very old mahogony. i would be certain to give him a call if i were looking.

good hunting!!!

You will be surprised where you find stuff. I came across some quarter sawn honduran from a guy who was closing up his custom cabinet maker. He had scored it from a high end boat maker. I was there to check out some tools when he asked if I would be interested in some exotic wood. Right place at the right time.

_________________
Aoibeann

I seem to remember, too, that Colonial Tonewoods had some old-stash Hondo. E-mail or PM Steve and tell him you're a new OLF member looking for some good old stuff, and he'll most likely give you all the help you need.

BTW, he's redoing his website, but don't let this put you off. He's got the goods.CarltonM38983.5338888889

[QUOTE=Aoibeann] You will be surprised where you find stuff. I came across some quarter sawn honduran from a guy who was closing up his custom cabinet maker. He had scored it from a high end boat maker. I was there to check out some tools when he asked if I would be interested in some exotic wood. Right place at the right time.[/QUOTE]

Great tip there Lillian, i'll be checking that out around here too!

Thanks guys I'll give him a call first thing monday and will be sure to post some picures of my finished project.

I believe that Hibdon has some Honduran as well.

Al

[QUOTE=A Peebels] I believe that Hibdon has some Honduran as well.

Al[/QUOTE]

Indeed they do. Give them a call while you're at it, and tell them what you are looking for. At the very least, they will keep an eye out for your special board.

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Try looking here...

[QUOTE=RCoates] Try looking here...[/QUOTE]

One concern is the term "Hondo" mahogany has become generalized to mean all American mahogany these days. Back in the day Hondo mahogany meant the true species from Honduras and new timber has not been commercially available for years and years. It's most likely that auction set is Big Leaf mahogany and not Hondo. EBay is like that