Mahogany Guitars

With a mellow, soulful voice and earthy looks, mahogany guitars are not flashy or ostentatious. This is why they have become a staple for songwriters, country players and roots guitarists.

Mahogany has a warm, full mid-range with a soft treble response and pillowy low end. This is the opposite of rosewoods. shiny ‘scooped’ tone. If rosewood sounds hi-fi, then mahogany sounds like vinyl. Mahogany is a favourite of sound engineers because of how well it sits in a busy mix.

Traditionally cheaper than rosewood, iconic mahogany guitars like the Martin D-18 and Gibson J45. became known as rugged, ‘workhorse’ guitars for the everyman. That’s why they’ve been loved by no-nonsense players as diverse as Kurt Cobain, Hank Williams and John Lennon.

Why should I choose a mahogany guitar?