All Koa SJ

[Andromeda]

Since I am an abalone lover I do recommend that. But for binding would you consider rosewood?

[Nort]

Hi Steve,

How about Snakewood for the binding?

[riorider]

I may just be boring (likely) but mac eb gets my vote... depending on the shades in the koa and the mac eb..

But - I'll qualify this with the admittance that you guys who build these guitars almost always have a better "picture" both of what will look good and how to achieve it.

So, a very small voice saying "maybe mac eb?"...

Thanks!

Phil

[SteveS]

Originally Posted by Tone Gopher

My sitka/Maui koa guitar has Brazilian rosewood binding with cobalt blue purfling. The contrast and cool colors still delight me after nearly ten years. The fingerboard is similarly bound.

Do you have a picture that shows off that blue and BRW?

[SteveS]

Originally Posted by riorider

I may just be boring (likely) but mac eb gets my vote... depending on the shades in the koa and the mac eb...

Mac eb is still in the lead position.

[SteveS]

Originally Posted by Nort

Hi Steve,

How about Snakewood for the binding?

I love snake wood. But I think something less busy would work better with this koa. What do you think?

[ricll]

Might as well give my 2 cents. You could use bloodwood like you did on the other guitar and include a thinner strip of ebony together facing the top? Something like this (with ebony instead of abalone):

[SteveS]

Originally Posted by ricll

Might as well give my 2 cents. You could use bloodwood like you did on the other guitar and include a thinner strip of ebony together facing the top? Something like this (with ebony instead of abalone):

I like that idea. Below is what I like to do with a spruce top - run some "radial" purfling from cut off of the back. This is Dennis' guitar with koa/mac ebony and then koa radial purfling. It also shows the radiused arm rest. It might work to use the koa for radial purfling, but I think it would be nice if it were a different would type than the top. Maybe abalone or ebony?

[Nort]

Hi Steve,

With the snakewood, I was'nt thinking of anything with high figuring,
just trying to think in terms of coloring that would compliment the Koa.
perhaps some variety of rosewood with a coloring that would compliment
the koa could also be nice.

On the purfling, something minimal lilke violin style purfling, but with a
green/white/green purfling, thinking that the green would compliment the
Koa and the wood binding. maybe?

All The Best.

[SteveS]

Originally Posted by Nort

Hi Steve,

With the snakewood, I was'nt thinking of anything with high figuring,
just trying to think in terms of coloring that would compliment the Koa.......

OK - I always think of the high figure stuff. I like the color too.

[SteveS]

I'm moving a little slow on this one, but I selected the fretboard and a small abalone inlay for the 12th fret.
This is a 25.7" scale

[Fliss]

Very pretty, Steve!

Fliss

[Nort]

The fingerboard and inlay look really nice,

Take your time Steve, remember, Good things come to those who wait

[riorider]

Love that fingerboard! Just the right amount of color 'texture'..

Nicely selected!!

rr/Phil

[Coke_zero]

I really like bloodwood binding on koa guitars. WIll be fun following this build.