Nyatoh

A group of pale red-brown South-East Asian hardwoods sold as a mahogany or nato substitute.

The name covers several Palaquium and Planchonella species cut across Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, and it is one of the timbers that filled the gap when supplies of genuine mahogany tightened. It is light, stable and easy to machine, glues and finishes well, and it is usually hidden under paint or veneer because its plain appearance is not worth showing. It is commonly described as mahogany-adjacent but plainer, with a softer bottom and a slightly hollow middle. It is a rational factory choice rather than a tonal one, and it appears on necks, bodies and acoustic back-and-sides at the inexpensive end.

Example: A mid-priced acoustic with nyatoh back and sides is light, stable and predictable, which is exactly what a factory needs from a bulk timber.

typical use: Bodies, necks and acoustic backs and sides on budget and mid-priced instruments.

Nyatoh

See also