The Acoustic Guitar Forum - Best: inexpensive, solid, all Koa guitars?

The Acoustic Guitar Forum (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php)

- General Acoustic Guitar Discussion (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=24)

- - Best: inexpensive, solid, all Koa guitars? (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350793)

Best: inexpensive, solid, all Koa guitars?

Which brands offer the best: inexpensive, solid, all Koa guitars?

Inexpensive all solid koa? Might not be possible. Koa is not cheap.

Pono has some all Acacia parlors for just over $500. Acacia is an offshoot of Koa (I think).

Taylor 2014 3XXce FLTD all Koa satin finish would be a good start.
Not really inexpensive but I think they will be fantastic

what kind of sound does koa produce? on the softer side, more pronounced?

Quote:

Originally Posted by werkout52 (Post 4057906)

Taylor 2014 3XXce FLTD all Koa satin finish would be a good start. Not really inexpensive but I think they will be fantastic...

- and courtesy of Ted @ LA Guitar Sales (lifted from another thread) here they are:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted @ LA Guitar Sales (Post 4056814)

Taylor has been busy getting these guitars built so they should be showing up at your local store now...

300 Series Fall LTDs - Hawaiian koa back, sides and top, all-satin finish, no pickguard, and Expression System 2 pickup, with other standard 300 Series appointments: mother-of-pearl dot fretboard inlays, black binding, 3-ring rosette, and Taylor nickel tuners. Ships in a Taylor deluxe hardshell case.

http://laguitarsales.com/tools/local...2802042e0d.jpg

GS Mini Fall LTD - Layered Hawaiian koa back and sides, solid koa top, no pickguard, and ES-T pickup, with other standard GS Mini appointments: 5mm dot fretboard inlays, 3-ring rosette, all-matte finish, and chrome tuners. Ships in a GS Mini hard bag.

http://laguitarsales.com/tools/local...3ab39d1601.jpg

It's not all-solid, but that GS Mini might be a nice "inexpensive" option...

Quote:

Originally Posted by werkout52 (Post 4057906)

Taylor 2014 3XXce FLTD all Koa satin finish would be a good start.
Not really inexpensive but I think they will be fantastic

Yup, these are outstanding guitars. Keep in mind, the more highly figured the wood looks, the more expensive it will be. These 300 Series solid Koa guitars are beautiful, but they aren't using master grade Koa on them. Since they are all solid wood, they sound like a Koa guitar. We played them last week at NAMM. Great guitars for a few bucks more than a standard 300 series.
As mentioned before, Koa is an expensive wood in general. These might be the best value on the market.

The OP specified inexpensive. Those are not cheap. I think the correct answer is still "not possible."

The 2014 LTD GS mini koa has laminate sides.

For a less expensive but highly comparable guitar, check out an all-acacia Pono. Similar wood with similar looks and tone. You'll like the price compared to the other options.

Over the years, Larrivée has occasionally offered koa in their less expensive "3 Series" guitars, which have satin finishes. You might be able to find a used one.

whm

Quote:

Originally Posted by callouses (Post 4057915)

what kind of sound does koa produce? on the softer side, more pronounced?

A sound that doesn't particularly appeal to me. But my buddy has a T5 in flamed KOA that looks and sounds fantastic. It's right up there with some of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen. And, of course, there's nothing inexpensive about it.

It is considered by some that the "plain" Koa (rather than flamed) produces a better, more mellow sound.

Rod

I hear you Rod. For me, the flip side of mellow is muted. And that's the way I'd describe the Taylor Koa's I've played. The balance is there. But I'd have to play them amplified to produce the output of something like a 500 series or 800 series unamplified.