Staining mahogany...

[jimmy bookout]

Why do certain makers stain mahogany dark reddish brown (Martin) or RED (certain Taylors)?
Is there some historic reason for this?

[John Arnold]

Staining is about cosmetics. Darker woods are often associated with more expensive furniture or guitars. Freshly cut mahogany can be rather pale in color, but it tends to turn reddish brown with advanced age. Staining just speeds up the process.

[fitness1]

Drives me nuts - I'll take mine au naturale....

[jimmy bookout]

^^^^
Me too (the drives nuts part). I don't mind Martin's color, some Taylors are obnoxious (IMO) they are so RED.

[jimmy bookout]

My Taylor Leo Kottke with mahogany back and sides, which looks to be UN-stained.

[musicman1951]

It might have started with the furniture manufacturers, who have been staining mahogany red for much longer than I've been alive.

[redir]

Grain fillers, especially the older oil based ones, tended to stain the mahogany red too. I think it's nice to add a bit of color to otherwise pale mahogany.

[J Patrick]

Originally Posted by jimmy bookout

My Taylor Leo Kottke with mahogany back and sides, which looks to be UN-stained.

Might be unstained but it looks like it could have been stained...in my opinion it likely has been stained...the neck looks like it has not been stained...in any case it’s beautiful to my eyes....

Mahogany has a lot of different hues but the majority of it is relatively pale and not that stunning...staining...even light staining enhances the figure and makes it considerably more attractive....

[Fatfinger McGee]

Everyone knows that red makes things faster, like sportscars. That's why Taylors are known for fast necks and bright tones. At least, that's what my grandpa told me.

[Wade Hampton]

Something that has always confused me in books is when something is described as “mahogany colored.” By context I usually piece together that the author means a rich red brown, but it always takes me right out of the story because I know what mahogany lumber looks like before any stain is applied.


whm

[Br1ck]

I think almost every mahogony guitar ever has been stained. Once in a while you see an old Gibson that is much paler, and I think that is real aged mahogany.

Pono gets flack for not staining mahogany. I think it started because of the lack of grain pattern. Dark pore filler is often used too to make a guitar body look richer.

[DukeX]

Originally Posted by Br1ck

I think almost every mahogony guitar ever has been stained. Once in a while you see an old Gibson that is much paler, and I think that is real aged mahogany.

Pono gets flack for not staining mahogany. I think it started because of the lack of grain pattern. Dark pore filler is often used too to make a guitar body look richer.

I don't think Larrivee stains theirs.

[yaharadelta]

Originally Posted by DukeX

I don't think Larrivee stains theirs.

I'd agree with that, and I like the look, nice golden brown color, the grain and figure of the wood really pops, nice in contrast to a spruce top.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by DukeX

I don't think Larrivee stains theirs.

No, they don't, and neither did the Tacoma Guitar Company when they were in business. It's interesting, though - I happen to have my little Tacoma Papoose hanging on a stand here beside my computer, and it's darkened and reddened up quite a bit since I got it in 1997. Back when I got it it was a pale tan, barely any color to it at all, and its cedar top was darker than the back and sides.

Now the top is a bit darker but the back and sides are considerably darker and redder than the top is.

Interesting. I don't think I would have specifically noticed that if we weren't discussing the color of mahogany in this thread.

These changes DO have a way of sneaking up on you!


Wade Hampton Miller

[redir]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Something that has always confused me in books is when something is described as “mahogany colored.” By context I usually piece together that the author means a rich red brown, but it always takes me right out of the story because I know what mahogany lumber looks like before any stain is applied.


whm

It depends on how old it is. I was lucky enough to score a nice stash of mahogany boards that was cut in the 1950's. It's deep redish brown through and through.