#1
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Staining mahogany...
Why do certain makers stain mahogany dark reddish brown (Martin) or RED (certain Taylors)?
Is there some historic reason for this?
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Avian Skylark Pono 0000-30 Gardiner Parlor Kremona Kiano Ramsay Hauser Cordoba C10 Chris Walsh Archtop Gardiner Concert Taylor Leo Kottke Gretsch 6120 Pavan TP30 Aria A19c Hsienmo MJ Ukuleles: Cocobolo 5 string Tenor Kanilea K3 Koa Kanilea K1 Walnut Tenor Kala Super Tenor Rebel Super Concert Nehemiah Covey Tenor Mainland Mahogany Tenor Mainland Cedar/Rosewood Tenor |
#2
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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.
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#3
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Drives me nuts - I'll take mine au naturale....
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"One small heart, and a great big soul that's driving" |
#4
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^^^^
Me too (the drives nuts part). I don't mind Martin's color, some Taylors are obnoxious (IMO) they are so RED.
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Avian Skylark Pono 0000-30 Gardiner Parlor Kremona Kiano Ramsay Hauser Cordoba C10 Chris Walsh Archtop Gardiner Concert Taylor Leo Kottke Gretsch 6120 Pavan TP30 Aria A19c Hsienmo MJ Ukuleles: Cocobolo 5 string Tenor Kanilea K3 Koa Kanilea K1 Walnut Tenor Kala Super Tenor Rebel Super Concert Nehemiah Covey Tenor Mainland Mahogany Tenor Mainland Cedar/Rosewood Tenor |
#5
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My Taylor Leo Kottke with mahogany back and sides, which looks to be UN-stained.
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Avian Skylark Pono 0000-30 Gardiner Parlor Kremona Kiano Ramsay Hauser Cordoba C10 Chris Walsh Archtop Gardiner Concert Taylor Leo Kottke Gretsch 6120 Pavan TP30 Aria A19c Hsienmo MJ Ukuleles: Cocobolo 5 string Tenor Kanilea K3 Koa Kanilea K1 Walnut Tenor Kala Super Tenor Rebel Super Concert Nehemiah Covey Tenor Mainland Mahogany Tenor Mainland Cedar/Rosewood Tenor |
#6
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It might have started with the furniture manufacturers, who have been staining mahogany red for much longer than I've been alive.
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Keith Martin 000-42 Marquis Taylor Classical Alvarez 12 String Gibson ES345s Fender P-Bass Gibson tenor banjo |
#7
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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.
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#8
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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.... Last edited by J Patrick; 08-07-2020 at 02:22 PM. |
#9
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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.
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#10
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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 |
#11
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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.
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#12
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#13
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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.
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#14
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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 |
#15
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