Posted by Norm on 6/10/2009, 8:25 pm, in reply to "Re: The Martin: "Neck Material: Select Hardwood" Specification Answered By Martin's Dick Boak!"
I think both of these (African and American) would qualify; Sapele is NOT "real Mahogany," but often passed off as such by people who should know better. IIRC, African Mahogany=Khaya anthotheca
Tropical American Mahogany=Swietenia macrophylla fit that bill. Pretty sure the Martin D-18's were Swietenia macrophylia. Both seem to be harvested at an alarming rate, and several luthiers have indicated in the not-too-distant future will become rarer, more expensive, and perhaps CITES protected. When this looks like a possibility, I would suspect some hoarding to occur.
"Select hardwoods" now is being plugged in for "solid mahogany" necks. Ovangkol is not a mahogany either, but has come into the building loop, like Sapele, as being "mahogany like." Some actually prefer Ovangkol because it has a bit more of a rosewood tilt toward the "darker," or bassier tonal spectrum.
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