I was on Trinity Guitars website today and noticed that it said LAST OF THE MAHOGANY on a few of the regular 03 series guitars like the L-03 said Last of the mahogany and then I scrowlled down a little and saw a L-03 Mahogany top that said SOUTH AMERICAN MAHOGANY.

Soooo my question is WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?? Is there a difference between South American Mahogany and the Mahogany that Larrivee has always used?? and what is the type of mahogany they used before?

THANKS

I'm not sure about your actual question, but all the dealers have been saying "last of the mahogany tops" for at least three years now.  What's up with that?  They seem to keep on coming.

Hi JBF,

"Mahogany" and "South American Mahogany," as referred to on the trinity website, are the same things.  Genuine mahogany, aka swietsomethingsomething macrofisomethingsomething, comes from many South American countries.  Larrivee just recently announced that the 03 series guitars will come standard with sapelle back and sides.

As for the "last of the mahogany tops"... it's true, Larrivee discontinued the mahogany tops on the 03 line a couple years ago.  Now, as for "last of the mahogany"... that's more recent.

Hope that makes sense.


-dan

Jim is refering to a couple of things here...1 thge dicontinuation of the 03mt series...new hog tops will only be on the 05 series.  2. the fact that Larrivee is switching to sappelle for backs and sides on all 03 series guitars from now on...so in this case these are the last models that Trinity has that still have actual mahogany instead of sappelle.  Sappelle looks similiar and has many of the same tonal characteristics (from what I understand...I've never played one... :arrow)  as hog but is more plentiful and less expensive.  mahogany will still be available for the 05 and above series.

hope this helps

Blue

Dan you are close the scientific name of South American Mahogany is Swietenia Macrophylla It has many common names the most  used in North America is Honduras Mahogany or Genuine Mahogany. There are several other species of wood sold as Mahogany but Swietenia Macrophylla is the only true Mahogany. In 2006 South American Mahogany, Swietenia Macrophylla was added to the list of threatened species on the CTIES treaty. CITES deals with all types of plants and animals and seeks to protect them from further exploitation. The major used of the wood have been furniture, boats and yes musical intruments.

Sapele is a wood from Africa. Mainly from Ivory Coast, Nigeria and the Congo. It has been used for years and a substitute for Genuine Mahogany. One of the ways to tell the woods apart is that Sapele will most often have a ribbon stripe appearance showing dark and light lines in the wood. Genuine Mahogany will do the same but not as often. At a cellular level you can see black spots, with your naked eyes, in Mahogany that are not present in Sapele.  Sapele also has a aromatic smell like cedar.
   
  The general properties of the woods are similar. As for the sound I cannot tell the difference. I am sure some will want to comment on that opinion.

  For the notes I have on the Trinity Guitars web page. They are all intended to show that the guitar with the note is the Last Genuine Mahogany 03 I will have. As for the MT hog tops, several popped up on the Larrivee inventory through last year and Rick knew I liked them so he offered then to me. That is where these came from. The MT  in no longer available. 
  I hope this clarifies the situation. For anyone who is still awake good for you!