Views (thoughts) of Full Koa (top, b/s) Owners Sought! Votes of Potential Owners too.

[Cool555]

I have been enchanted by the Koa guitars' looks and tone for quite a while already. I recently watched the 2 YouTube videos below and my interest was ignited again.

As I've currently owned a GS Mini-Koa for 2 years now, I'm quite sure I'm a Koa-lover (both for its look and tone). I have read that it is better to use Koa for only the back and sides of the guitar.

Owners of full Koa guitars, what made you decide to buy and own a full Koa (top, b/s) guitar? How long have you owned your full Koa guitar. Still loving that guitar? Any regrets?

Koa-lovers and "haters", please feel free to comment and vote also! Thank you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYPp...&feature=share

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lld...&feature=share

[TRose]

I have an all acacia koa CS-10V made by Pono. It’s a wonderfully versatile guitar. It does have a different voice from my spruce topped guitars. I found it sounds better to me with “brighter” strings.
Best,
Tom

[vindibona1]

Tone is in the fingers. Beauty is in the eye.

[Wade Hampton]

I've heard some gorgeous-sounding all-koa guitars, but since koa is a hardwood, in practical terms that means that it takes significantly longer for an all-koa guitar to break in and come into its full voice than a similar guitar with a spruce top will. They tend to start off pretty stiff.

Plus, you can't get as many different tone colors out of a koa top as you can a spruce or cedar top.

So while I absolutely love koa for both its sound and its appearance, all of my koa guitars and mountain dulcimers have had either spruce or cedar tops.


Wade Hampton Miller

[troystory92]

A K24ce is my dream guitar.


With that said, I currently own a 214ce-k dlx and a GS Mini Koa. So yea, I like Koa.


I don't get much of it on the 214ce-k dlx but i love the mini. I use Nickel Plated Polyweb Elixirs on it and get a really nice warm, woody sound.

[Quake17]

I've had my Martin D42-K2 for 17 years and still love it! I've since added all koa Taylors and a Goodall. I'm a big fan of the unique "Sweetness" koa tops can develop if built to take advantage of the potential.

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by TRose

I have an all acacia koa CS-10V made by Pono. It’s a wonderfully versatile guitar. It does have a different voice from my spruce topped guitars. I found it sounds better to me with “brighter” strings.
Best,
Tom

Thanks Tom for your input!

Would love to see some pictures of your Koa guitar if you’ve already got them in your handphone. If not, it’s alright...

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

I've heard some gorgeous-sounding all-koa guitars, but since koa is a hardwood, in practical terms that means that it takes significantly longer for an all-koa guitar to break in and come into its full voice than a similar guitar with a spruce top will. They tend to start off pretty stiff.

Plus, you can't get as many different tone colors out of a koa top as you can a spruce or cedar top.

So while I absolutely love koa for both its sound and its appearance, all of my koa guitars and mountain dulcimers have had either spruce or cedar tops.


Wade Hampton Miller

Thanks Wade for your contribution.

[s2y]

I haven't played a koa acoustic that I liked yet. I'm sure they're out there. I don't live in an area where I can try out a bunch of nice koa guitars. I probably wouldn't order one on a custom build, which is usually the route I choose.

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by troystory92

A K24ce is my dream guitar.





With that said, I currently own a 214ce-k dlx and a GS Mini Koa. So yea, I like Koa.





I don't get much of it on the 214ce-k dlx but i love the mini. I use Nickel Plated Polyweb Elixirs on it and get a really nice warm, woody sound.

Yes, a K24ce is my dream guitar too!

We’ll just enjoy our GS Mini Koa for now. I’ve tried the 224ce-k-dlx (koa top) and I was pretty impressed with that guitar. I use Elixirs Nanoweb PB 12-53 for my Mini.

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by Quake17

I've had my Martin D42-K2 for 17 years and still love it! I've since added all koa Taylors and a Goodall. I'm a big fan of the unique "Sweetness" koa tops can develop if built to take advantage of the potential.

Wow! You’re the real Koa-guitarman then!

How does the tone change over the years?

Any pictures to show us of your 3 full-Koa guitars? Just a thought. Maybe someone should start a thread to display their Koa guitars!

[SprintBob]

My Taylor K-22ce was bought in 2017 and has subtly opened up over time. The tone to my ears is very balanced low to high and that is what I call “sweet”. It does not have the sustain and overtone complexity of my Froggy Bottom, Santa Cruz, and Collings guitars but at times that is what I like about it. I was not sure if I would bond with an all koa guitar when I got the K-22 but my experience with it has led me to believe I always want one in my collection.

[Quake17]

As Wade mentioned, being a hardwood, koa takes some time to get played in compared to spruce or cedar. It's never going to be as loud as the softer wood tops but I felt it took about 9 months of daily playing and the sound matured. I'm not much of a photo guy but I'll see if I can post something.

BTW, the late Russ L. Was the real koa guitar man. There is a great picture of Russ surrounded by his beauties.

[Lonzo]

Hi all, I have a K26ce with florentine cutaway and upgraded with matte gold Gotoh 510s.. and a Bourgeois OM all figured Mastergrade Koa with a very tasteful burst around the top. The latter is even outperforming the first in the looks department, one of the most beautiful ones I hav seen if we talk only koa... if I only could post pics here..
Tonewise the Bourgeois has some room to open up still. Didn’t dare to tonerite it yet but will soon. Teted it with the K26ce and could discern a difference to the better.

[Rosewood99]

My Taylor All koa K66 12 string is a joy to both play and look at.