African mahogany Mandolin back and sides set grade AAA*

African mahogany Mandolin back and sides set western size grade AAA*

Khaya spp. from West Africa

600kg/m3

Photo is of a typical set.

West African mahogany is a much more freely available timber than swietenia mahogany and looks almost exactly the same.

These sets have been produced from old stock lumber reputed to be over 15 years old.

AAA – Quarter sawn wood or nearly so.

AA – Wood that is quartered to one edge, (where the centre joint of the back will be ), gradually straying from the quarter ending up slab sawn at the opposite edge.

A – Wood that is slab sawn, the main slab sawn area being approximately half way across the board.

* - One or more asterisks may be added to the grade mark to indicate wood that is aesthetically more pleasing or desirable by virtue of colour, intensity of figure or fineness of grain.

Back and sides sets are pre matched for colour and character.

Back and sides sets frequently are different grades for the back and the sides e.g. AAA sides and AA back. The valuation of these sets assumes the back and the sides each represent 50% of the value of a set and are then added together.

Backs 2pc 350 x 140 x 4mm
Sides 2pc 550 x 70 x 3.5mm
Soundboard 2pc 350 x 140 x 4mm
Fingerboard 290 x 45 x 7mm
Neck blank SIA 600 x 65 x 25mm
(spliced head stacked heel).
Neck blank SIB 400 x 65 x 65mm
(one piece bandsawn neck).