Koa Lovers!!!

[Songman]

Hi,
THose of you who own Koa guitars or like to own one, please share your experiences or opinions to why you like Koa back/side guitar. Especially compared to Mahogany, Rosewood, or maple.

Now I've heard some people say that Koa sounds inbetween Mahogany and rosewood. I don't know how much of that is true since maple and Walnut is said to be inbetween mahogany and rosewood too.

I just want to get honest opinons as to what you guys think of Koa wood as back and side.
thanks:angel

[joel]

In my experience, Koa is on the whole a bit crisper and a bit less warm than mahogany typically is, but similar in that it offers a rich complex tone. To continue generalizing, I'd say that manogany tends to produce the 'richest' (harmonics, sparkle & low-end) tone. Rosewood & maple are clearer & smoother, with rosewood emphasizing 'warm' and maple emphasizing 'bright'. I guess I like mahogany the best, but Koa is the prettiest and the crisp tone can be nice. Goodal, for example, makes some really rich sounding koa guitars.

Everyone will tell you that the build is the most important though, overshadowing the materials. Also, on an acoustic, the top is of primary importance. The choice of Cedar vs Spruce on top overshadows what the back and sides are made of.

[clemduolian]

Koa is a uniquely beautiful tone wood. Closer to mahogany than anything else, but with a subtlety and ability to produce overtones that is incredible.
My archtop is koa back and sides (very unusual for an archtop) and it sings like no other guitar I've heard. The top is spruce. The sound hole, port and French polish finish add to the tone. The older koa gets, the better it sounds.

[PB Wilson]

It goes without saying that your archtop is one beautiful guitar. That koa figuring is stunning. Who's the maker?

[clemduolian]

Thanks. The builder is Erich Solomon, a very talented guy. He's got a myspace page http://www.myspace.com/solomonguitars but I don't think he has a website.

Clem

[BKRMON]

Koa is very close to mahogany sonically, but much more interesting to look at.

Here's mine:

[joel]

Choice! I've got a guitar almost just like that, Thorn #006. And that archtop looks really stunning too.

[Scott Peterson]

I've owned a number of koa guitars.

Acoustically, IMHO, koa is between maple and mahogany. Some Koa is brighter, some is more mellow. The bell curve is in-between the extremes, but it is very similar to mahogany with a bit more bite ala maple. If that makes sense.

I've owned all Koa acoustic guitars, koa back/sides acoustic guitars and a number of koa topped guitars. It is - by far - my favorite wood on the planet.

[Songman]

I got a Larrivee LV-09Koa on the way. I already have some pictures if someone want's to post them for me. I would but I don't know how.
thanks, David

[joel]

Koa Larrivee... That'll work! My local store deals those, and they're always nice. Often with spectacular inlays too. Enjoy!

[Steve L]

I got a Breedlove Dreadnought in '93. When it was being made, they told me that Koa was between mahogany and rosewood. I would agree. And it time, it has obviously become fuller and richer--more like the rosewood.
I have been told by others that my guitar has incredible tone--full bottom and clear highs. I was also once by a local guitar tech that my Breedlove Koa (with Englemann top) sounded better than any Koa Martin he had ever heard!
And it looks very cool, too!!

[drolling]

Had a chance to play an Koa National recently. Best sounding/looking wood-bodied reso I've ever played! Unfortunately it was considerably more expensive than the rest of the wooden resos and a bit more than some of the metal bodies as well..

Really wanted it, tho'..

There's pics of one on the Elderly site if anyone's interested. Not surprisingly, it's always backordered.

[Doctorblue]

Hi,
On Saturday I bought a James Goodall Aloha Standard (koa back and sides, Sitka top, pheasant wood fretboard and bridge) from my friends Larry Broido and Tom Wade at Acoustic Roots/Medley Music in Bryn Mawr PA. I was looking for a larger body guitar (my Huss and Dalton Traditional OM was a very nice guitar but just not doing it for me) and had been playing high end Collings, Bourgeois, Santa Cruz and Martins when Larry suggested I try the Goodall. I have never been a huge fan of koa, but it took only a few strums for me to be blown away - clear trebles, complex midrange and a distinct and assertive bass, and especially - unbelivable harmonics - to quote one reviewer on Harmony Central - it truly sounds like a grand piano in a box. I would agree that tonally it comes somewhere between mahogany and rosewood. This particular guitar has a much richer bass than other koas I have played (the relatively weak bass is what turned me off to other koa body guitars I have played). What is truly amazing is that this is considered the Goodall "entry level" guitar (no fancy binding or inlay). All I can say is THANK YOU Mr. Goodall for making a magnificent instrument and THANK YOU Larry and Tom for your usual patience!
Bill Chodoff

[CharlieNC]

technically...

Koa IS a type of mahogony

[mainsale]

I've got a Taylor K-14C. It has a Cedar top with Koa back and sides and is an amazing sounding guitar. From new it had an amazing richness of tone, with some additional complexity to it and outstanding sustain. It sounded like a much older guitar than it was. It's got about five additional years on it now, and it just keeps getting more complex in tone and generally better every day. It made me a believer in Koa. So much so that I bought a Taylor Kenny Loggins Signature with is an all Koa Jumbo with extras. It's very, very articulate for a Jumbo but still has the jumbo's huge tone. Yeah, that Koa is some kind of special wood.