[gibiphone]

Back in Mid-August, I speculated to a couple of other MLP members that the Edwards LP series was made from genuine mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) grown in South East Asian plantations. This is completely legal because the mahogany of these plantations fall outside the international jurisdiction and control of The Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), since the mahogany is not grown in its native range of Central and South America.

I asked both ESP Japan and ESP USA to confirm this, but have not received a response other than ESP’s statement that the guitars are made from mahogany sourced in South East Asia. ESP Japan did confirm that the wood is neither Sapele (entandrophragma cylindricum) nor African Mahogany (khaya anthotheca).

So what follows is my speculation—an educated guess. But it’s not proven fact, yet; and I might be wrong.

I believe that the Edwards LP series is made from genuine mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) grown in plantations in Indonesia. That’s why the guitars are so light and lively.

ESP has an established presence and a history of production of ESP guitars in Indonesia.

There are large plantations growing mahogany in Indonesia, principally in Java. The plantations of Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) have a net area of about 102,842 Ha (254,128 Acres) (4.17 % of Java and Madura Island ).

When Indonesia was a colony of the Netherlands, from the 17th century until the end of World War II, Dutch administrators in Central Java planted Swietenia mahogany trees along the roadsides and in forests. The Dutch began bringing saplings from Central and South America (specifically Cuba, Honduras and Brazil) to Indonesia as far back as 400 years ago, first to line roadways, and later to start plantations to support Holland’s demand as a large furniture manufacturing nation. The Dutch populated the plantations in Indonesia with bigleaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) more than 150 years ago, after the supply of Cuban mahogany (S. mahagoni) petered out in the Caribbean. This Mahogany is non indigenous to Indonesia and does not come from natural rainforests. Swietenia macrophylla is variously known as Brazilian mahogany, American mahogany or Big Leaf mahogany. The Dutch started the Indonesian plantations using Swietenia macrophylla saplings from Brazil and probably Honduras.

There is also a chance that the Swietenia macrophylla used in Edwards LP series if grown on plantations in Fiji. There seems to be a good supply of such wood on the international market at prices around US$1250/cbm.

True mahogany comes from only three species of the genus Swietenia: mahagoni (Carribean/Cuban), humilis (Pacific/Honduran), and macrophylla (Brazilian/American/Broadleaf). Although each has different leaves and flowers, their woods are virtually undistinguishable. The listed American mahoganies of the genus Swietenia should not be confused with other tree species with reddish wood that are commonly called "mahogany." Philippine mahogany is a name given to some of the different species of Shorea that grow in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. African mahogany refers to several species of Khaya that grow throughout West Africa. Santos mahogany (Myroxylon balsamum) ranges from southern Mexico to Argentina. None of these "mahoganies" are listed in the CITES Appendices. ((For a detailed discussion of what constitutes “true” mahagony, see below))

Mahogany General Overview
Mahogany is native to the Caribbean and Central and South American lowland tropical or subtropical forests. Caribbean and Pacific coast mahoganies supplied the world's markets for quality wood for centuries, but the two species are no longer commercially logged and are considered commercially extinct throughout much of their ranges. By the time Caribbean and Pacific coast mahoganies were listed in Appendix II of CITES, commercial trade no longer occurred. The recent Appendix-II listing of bigleaf mahogany, the only species left in commercial trade, is intended to ensure that trade in that species is based on sustainable harvest and to address the threats of unregulated trade and illegal harvest. The listing is limited to logs, sawn wood, veneer sheets, and plywood, not other parts, derivatives, and products, such as furniture.

The listing of big leaf mahogany includes only populations in the Neotropics. Therefore, bigleaf mahogany grown on plantations outside of its native range SUCH AS INDONESIA (Neotropics) is not regulated under Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

CHAPTER I--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
PART 250--GUIDES FOR THE HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE INDUSTRY--Table of Contents Sec. 250.3 Identity of woods.
Industry members should not use any direct or indirect representation concerning the identity of the wood in industry products that is false or likely to mislead purchasers as to the actual wood composition.
Mahogany.
(1) The unqualified term mahogany should not be used to describe wood other than genuine solid mahogany (genus Swietenia of the Meliaceae family). The woods of genus Swietenia may be described by the term 'mahogany' with or without a prefix designating the country or region of its origin, such as 'Honduras mahogany', 'Costa Rican mahogany', 'Brazilian mahogany' or 'Mexican mahogany'. (“American Mahogany” is also used)
(2) The term 'mahogany' may be used to describe solid wood of the genus Khaya of the Meliaceae family, but only when prefixed by the word 'African' (e.g., 'African mahogany desk').
(3) In naming or designating the seven non-mahogany Philippine woods Tanguile, Red Lauan, White Lauan, Tiaong, Almon, Mayapis, and Bagtikan, the term 'mahogany' may be used but only when prefixed by the word 'Philippine' (e.g., 'Philippine mahogany table'), due to the long standing usage of that term. Examples of improper use of the term 'mahogany' include reference to Red Lauan as 'Lauan mahogany' or to White Lauan as 'Blond Lauan mahogany'. Such woods, however, may be described as 'Red Lauan' or 'Lauan' or 'White Lauan', respectively. The term 'Philippine mahogany' will be accepted as a name or designation of the seven woods named above. Such term shall not be applied to any other wood, whether or not grown on the Philippine Islands.
(4) The term 'mahogany', with or without qualifications, should not be used to describe any other wood except as provided above. This applies also to any of the woods belonging to the Meliaceae family, other than genera Swietenia and Khaya.


Honduran Mahogany (American Mahogany)
Common Name(s): Honduran Mahogany, Honduras Mahogany, American Mahogany, Genuine Mahogany, Big-Leaf Mahogany, Brazilian Mahogany
Scientific Name: Swietenia macrophylla
Distribution: From Southern Mexico to central South America; also commonly grown on plantations
Tree Size: 150 ft (45 m) tall, 6 ft (2 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 39 lbs/ft3 (620 kg/m3)
Basic Specific Gravity: .54
Hardness: 900 lbf (4,000 N)
Bending Strength: 11,660 lbf/in2 (80,390 kPa)
Elasticity: 1,386,000 lbf/in2 (9,560 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 3.0%, Tangential: 4.1%, Volumetric: 7.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.4