There are many different species of woods that are sold as mahogany.
Larrivee uses a mahogany called sapele; other makers use Honduran mahogany(Swietenia macrophylla). Grown from Southern Mexico into South America The queen of mahoganies, Cuban (Swietenia mahagoni), is no longer available, but we have heard that some Hawaiian luthiers (specifically Ko’olau Guitar and ‘Ukulele Company – link to Luthier section of our website) use Cuban mahogany that is being grown in Hawaii.
All the mahoganies produce a warm bright sound with a clear fundamental. A particularly auspicious pairing is Adirondack spruce and mahogany; don’t tell anybody but our favorite Froggys are made from these two woods. Mahogany used to be sold as a bargain wood, think of the price differences between the Martin D-18 and D-28, but in the last few years the price has risen to meet that of Indian rosewood, so most makers do not sell mahogany as a cheaper (or inferior wood), which indeed it is not. It’s really a matter of taste, shrimp or steak? Mahogany tends to be brighter, clearer and more trebly than Indian (think lemon); Indian is darker, richer and bassier (think dark chocolate). One is not better than the other. They are just different. Viva la difference!