I think the reason is that back in the day (pre 1940s) all mahogany was Cuban, so no need to specify. These days you can't buy new Cuban from Cuba (it is grown on plantations in India), so you won't find any big manufacturers using it. The only people using are those using reclaimed wood or the occasional old stash somewhere.I have only ever seen all Martin's referred to as Mahogany, which is why I asked.
Very early years of production I believe they used spruce tops which was not successful, they them moved to mahogany and obviously Koa.
There is a member of the forum who was specifically looking for a Timms' Cuban mahogany due to his father's roots in Cuba. So it had sentimental importance that the wood originated in Cuba and not sound significance. I believe he successfully bid and acquired one. (Forgive me if not quite accurate or if memory is faulty here).For some reason there seems to be a big thing that I have not come across before as regards Cuban mahogany and quite specific with this builder. Can someone tell me why ? Is it because it's a rarer wood regardless of its tonally qualities and that's what people want rarerity means more expensive instrument for collectors.
I would suggest that this question has been answered in this thread. I don't believe there is any intention to mislead here; this luthier is well known, well established, his experience is extensive and well respected, and if his opinion on the likelihood of the wood identity, based on years of experience of working with various tone woods, isn't sufficient, then that's up to the buyer. If it's a really big deal to the buyer that the wood identity is more important than the tone of the instrument, and the quality of the final instrument, then that's up to the buyer. These decisions are not for us to call here on this platform.If you were to sell an instrument made from Cuban mahogany.... and it was made from reclaimed furniture with no documentation how can you then sell it as Cuban mahogany. Sorry dont wish to dwell on this.
Yeah, not sure why you keep coming back to this. Without expertise and mostly from forum posts, furniture made from a certain period of time (let's say two centuries ago) did not have issues of provenance. A furniture company would source their mahogany from Cuba or Florida or the Carribean. So if today you acquired this old "Cuban" mahogany table, that is what you got.If you were to sell an instrument made from Cuban mahogany.... and it was made from reclaimed furniture with no documentation how can you then sell it as Cuban mahogany. Sorry dont wish to dwell on this.
But that's just what you are doing, Jon.If you were to sell an instrument made from Cuban mahogany.... and it was made from reclaimed furniture with no documentation how can you then sell it as Cuban mahogany. Sorry dont wish to dwell on this.
So I guess another way of looking at this is the world of antiques. Is a certain painting by a famous painter even though it wasn't signed?To clarify none of my questions are accusing anybody of anything and should not be read that way.
My last post is a valid question and still is, it has nothing to do with the builders integrity or otherwise, only the situation and I am sure people have thought the same thought.
This is a forum and you have to put questions out there surely.
I live in an area where there are a great many people of Cuban decent whose families arrived here prior to the Revolution, when travel and trade were unrestricted. If one of these people has a mahogany table that was made in Cuba by their grandfather and brought here 75 years ago, is it Cuban mahogany? What if the wood was salvaged from a boat or piece of furniture from somewhere else?To clarify none of my questions are accusing anybody of anything and should not be read that way.
My last post is a valid question and still is, it has nothing to do with the builders integrity or otherwise, only the situation and I am sure people have thought the same thought.
This is a forum and you have to put questions out there surely.
What sort of mahogany was used to make the Martin Soprano ukuleles in the 1920s?
If you were to sell an instrument made from Cuban mahogany.... and it was made from reclaimed furniture with no documentation how can you then sell it as Cuban mahogany. Sorry dont wish to dwell on this.
Everything with respect to musical instruments is subjective. Sound, color, feel, etc. What isn't in question is that prior to 1946, it WAS the mahogany of choice for fine cabinet making, and the better musical instruments. I'm not a luthier or a cabinet maker but I'm willing to bet that it had to do with it's physical and sonic properties. It's not like Honduras and Mexican mahogany (the closest varieties considered true mahoganies), weren't widely available at the time. And of course, the fact that it is rare makes it more desirable, and thus command higher prices.I think the principal reason Cuban has become chic is simply demand. There’s a perception that it’s better in some way, plus it’s rarer, so it’s more in demand, which fuels the perception that it’s better.
Never underestimate a label. Example: American cosmetics are marketed with chic foreign spellings, like crème for cream and riche for rich and colour for color, because those terms make the product more attractive.
That would not work. I live on the Big Island (Hawaii) and Cuban grows great here, as well as many other mahoganies. Heavy, dense wood and really beautiful when it is curly.Cuba is the largest of the Caribbean islands. Perhaps we should call it Big Island Mahogany -
or might that just introduce another layer of confusion?
I live on the Big Island (Hawaii) and Cuban grows great here, as well as many other mahoganies.
My latest find ...A Victorian oval table top approx: 1.5 M x 1 M x 22 mm thick ... Made up of two full width boards.
All I have to do is try and find some sopranos hidden within.
D49A6D53-C026-45E1-9E6B-1A139CA4481D by Ken Timms,
To clarify none of my questions are accusing anybody of anything and should not be read that way.
My last post is a valid question and still is, it has nothing to do with the builders integrity or otherwise, only the situation and I am sure people have thought the same thought.
This is a forum and you have to put questions out there surely.