Author Topic: Neo- tropical Mahogany?  (Read 5191 times)

Strumming Fool

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Neo- tropical Mahogany?
« on: July 01, 2018, 05:56:25 PM »
Does anyone know what this means? Saw it in the V-class article in the newest W&S issue when referencing the new V-class 514 and 524. Anyone?
My Taylor Grand Auditoriums:

1997 Cujo14 - old growth cedar/black walnut
2014 K24e - master grade koa
2018 Custom GA - bear claw sitka spruce/mahogany
2019 614 - torrified sitka spruce/flamed maple
2020 714 - lutz spruce/rosewood

StrummingMadMan

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Re: Neo- tropical Mahogany?
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2018, 08:06:33 PM »
I think I maybe, kind of, sort of know. Mahogany can grow in different places, for example, African Mahogany. Taylor's neo-tropical mahogany grows in Central and South America. These would be different growing conditions and change the characteristics somewhat. Or it's just marketing to give the wood a cooler name?

You should write into Wood and Steel and "Ask Bob"
414-L2 (2003)
614ce (2015)
810e DLX (2015)
K24ce (2015)
516e-FLTD (2013)
Gibson J-15 (2016)
Larrivee L-05 (2018)
Larrivee OM-40R (2018)
Martin D-18 (1959) -my grandpa, then dad's guitar
Rockbridge SJ - German Spruce/Cocobolo (2011)

zeebow

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Re: Neo- tropical Mahogany?
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2018, 08:22:07 PM »
neotropical means parts of central and south america. i know scott paul (who was the director of green peace, now director of sustainabliliy) talked about how he accidentally made mohagany part kd CITES, maybe it had something to do with that, neo tropical mohagany has shown up in the taylor catalog for a while now, i think i saw it in 2017
1995 912C - englemann/eir
2009 xxxv-p - sitka/madagascar
2010 414ce - sitka/ovangkol (made on my wedding day!)
2011 914ce - cedar/eir
2014 martin 000-28 custom - adi/cocobolo
2017 BTO GC 12 fret - lutz/cocobolo
2019 BTO GC 12 fret - cedar/cocobolo
2019 sheeran w03 - cedar/santos rosewood
2019 lowden s35 12 fret - driftwood cedar/cocobolo
2020 lowden s35 12 fret alpine spruce/madagascar
2023 lowden wee wl-35 12 fret - driftwood cedar/madagascar
2023 martin 00-28 modern deluxe - sitka/eir

Strumming Fool

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Re: Neo- tropical Mahogany?
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2018, 09:53:40 PM »
I did a little research myself. Mahogany originally found in Honduras, also grows in other regions of central and South America as most of us know. However, it appears that the "neo" refers to other areas in North America  including southern California, southern Texas and southern Florida.
My Taylor Grand Auditoriums:

1997 Cujo14 - old growth cedar/black walnut
2014 K24e - master grade koa
2018 Custom GA - bear claw sitka spruce/mahogany
2019 614 - torrified sitka spruce/flamed maple
2020 714 - lutz spruce/rosewood

GrainWave

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Re: Neo- tropical Mahogany?
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2018, 12:51:28 AM »
I wondered this a year ago when I bought my guitar and read it was partly constructed from Neo-Tropical Mahogany.

I thought then that it might refer to Fijian Mahogany, partly because Taylor uses quite a bit of it and also because the story is the trees were planted there a few hundred years ago and are not native to Fiji.

ClassicRock

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Re: Neo- tropical Mahogany?
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2018, 09:18:59 AM »
These vague terms allow the builder to substitute source woods based on availability without resorting to a change or violation of their specs. I’m more familiar with Martin where they do some pretty advanced wordsmithery. “genuine” “select” “hardwood” all come into play.

I for one consider the spec sheet to be a contract between builder and buyer. The more specific it is, the better I am informed and the happier I am. I come from a building materials background where the specifications are law and the only thing to keep contractors from cheating. So, I view it as very important what’s shown in these guitar specs and when I buy a guitar, I expect them to conform, without deviation, from the published specifications. Otherwise, it’s false advertising in my view. 
« Last Edit: July 02, 2018, 09:21:00 AM by ClassicRock »