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Location: big island | until tonite, i have never heard an all koa guitar that impressed me acoustically. i attended a hawaiian music appreciation class, with 26 other folks, taught by cyril pahinui this evening. cyril proudly wore his grammy nominee medal and told us all about being in LA a couple weeks ago at the grammys. he spoke very highly of quincy jones. and yes, cyril is a master slack key guitarist but the tacoma guitar he played tonite would have sounded good in any amateur player's hands too. i was astounded at the quality of sound both in volume and sonic spectrum. wow!
i found the exact model he was playing on eBay and if i had the bucks i'd be all over this one. i've never played a tacoma before and i am now glad to know it is also an ovation cousin. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Lanaki, if you get the chance, GRAB ONE!!! I have this exact model, and I can tell you that it is one I plan to keep for a long, long time. Absolutely an incredible guitar, plus, it sounds phenomenal in dropped tuning with medium strings.
The koa on mine is significantly better than the one you saw on ebay though...I believe it's either high-figure or mastergrade. Either way, it's a killer instrument. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | That looks beautiful Randy! I might have to take a stab at it if it doesn't get too high. |
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Location: Scotland | The other guitarist in my band has this guitar with Koa B/S and a spruce top. It's a fine instrument, Tacoma produce some excellent guitars. $1200 for that is a giveaway, I can't belive it hasn't gone, the parts and raw lumber would cost somewhere near the starting bid!
I used to have a handmade all Koa jumbo and it sounded great. I no longer own it, and personally wouldn't own another koa-topped guitar again, unless it was a Weissenborn-style, but that's just me.
Incidentally, he's wrong about the electronics in the ebay listing. Baggs, not Fishman. |
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Location: East Tennessee | That is a beautiful guitar. :cool: |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Real pretty. Looks big. |
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Location: GA USA | Hey, I got nominated for a Grammy once for an album cover design, but you don't see me wearing any medals. But then, nobody ever gave me one, 'cause I didn't make it outta the first round.
That sounds like an interesting class. And I'd be disappointed if a Hawaiian class didn't feature koa of some kind. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Mine also has the LR Baggs preamp system. It's pretty simple and straightforward, and puts out some great sound.
I've taken to using this as my alternate tuning guitar, since it has such a deep voice, although it sounds really nice with a good pick attack. |
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Location: big island | Originally posted by edensharvest:
...Absolutely an incredible guitar, plus, it sounds phenomenal in dropped tuning with medium strings...
cyril plays mostly in an open C tuning and uses medium strings. i think he had elixirs on it last night. the quality of koa on his was about the same as in this guitar on the bay. koa, however, changes at every angle so it is most difficult to compare.
the seller does mention he was in error about the pickup system and that it has the baggs rather than the fishman. the baggs is preferred, IMO. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Neck is too small |
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Location: big island | yup. the only drawback for me about this model. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Beal, don't you have another name for that neck size?? :D |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | You are never going to let me live that down are you?
Yes, it's the he who bats from the wrong side of the plate(not that there's anything wrong with that) neck. |
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Location: Cincinnati | it's the he who bats from the wrong side of the plate that hurt.  |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | It's Jim's fault. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | it's always jim's fault.... |
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Location: South of most, North of few | ...and now it really is Jim's fault.... ;) |
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Location: big island | nah...blame it on the trader. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Randy, I blame you. After that glowing report, I had to get it. Now I know I'm on the road to being a better guitar player. :rolleyes: |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | hahaha...at least you didn't blame me... :D :p :D :p :D |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | You're OK this time Andrew. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Andrew has too many guitars... |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by MWoody:
Andrew has too many guitars... How about "The Ol" Trader" ?
Although an accurate count is difficult to get. :D
BTW; Woody, Congratulations on being over 9k in posts.  |
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Location: west | That's a really nice Tacoma... I'd love to have one... :-)
The nicest all KOA guitar I've ever heard or played has to be the Martin Steve Miller 00-37K2. Just really really articulate, crystal clear and great sustain.
HM article
similar 00 on ebay |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | That Martin looks nice, though I think you miss something not having the Koa top. IMHO you get more sound difference out of the Koa on top than the back/sides ever will.
Nicely broken in all-koa is definitely its own flavor...one which is definitely worth trying! :D |
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Location: SoCal | That's why I like this one (1980 D25-K2)   |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Nice, Tony! The Tacoma is due to show up tomorrow.
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Location: big island | anxiously awaiting word from ya jim...
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Location: big island | you may hafta join another forum jim! |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Nah, I'm at home here with all you other nuts!
I just unboxed it and all I can say is WOW!! The pictures don't begin to do it justice. Randy, you were right about the sound. Much better than any other Koa I have had the pleasure of playing. I can't explain the sound other than RICH, and the looks, as I said, pictures can not capture the beauty of the Koa. Can you tell I'm happy with the purchase? It's hard to believe someone else is as anal about their guitar care as I am. This guy really took fine care of this one! I can't find a mark of any kind on it. :D :D :D |
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| Sweet, glad you''re happy with it Trader. We need pics! |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Oh yeah, pics...
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Location: East Tennessee | WOW!!! Jim that is one beautiful guitar. :cool: Are the tuning knobs ebony? Also I see an empty wall hanger. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | No Mike, I think they are just black plastic. As for the empty wall hanger... I just put the 97 collectors to bed in the case to make room for one of the two that are due here next week...
Film at 11...  |
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| That's some of the prettiest koa I've seen in a while. Nice bookmatching, too. Congrats. |
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Location: big island | this guitar looks fabulous, jim. and i know that photography can never capture the three dimensional spectacular beauty of koa. i am pleased to hear you also like its sound, jim.
not that i can afford one, but i've been scrounging the internet for another one this morning.
now, the question remains...how long will the trader keep this one? dangit, i'm still anxious! |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
No Mike, I think they are just black plastic. As for the empty wall hanger... I just put the 97 collectors to bed in the case to make room for one of the two that are due here next week...
Film at 11...
I'd put a set of ebony knobs on it. As for the empty wall hanger which one is going up there? |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
No Mike, I think they are just black plastic. As for the empty wall hanger... I just put the 97 collectors to bed in the case to make room for one of the two that are due here next week...
Film at 11...
I'd put a set of ebony knobs on it. As for the empty wall hanger which one is going up there?
BTW; The CA looks nice also. The wall needs some plastic on it. :D |
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Location: South of most, North of few | I think I'm done trading for a while. I have a couple here that might go to other members, but I really need to slow down and smell the flowers. I even added my sig again. |
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Location: big island | Originally posted by Trader Jim:
I think I'm done trading for a while... and i have a truckload of sailboat fuel to sell you too. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | There seems to be an abundance of "sailboat fuel" on this board. Mostly the hot type... :D |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by lanaki:
Originally posted by Trader Jim:
I think I'm done trading for a while... and i have a truckload of sailboat fuel to sell you too. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Capo Guy:
Originally posted by Trader Jim:
No Mike, I think they are just black plastic. As for the empty wall hanger... I just put the 97 collectors to bed in the case to make room for one of the two that are due here next week...
Film at 11...
I'd put a set of ebony knobs on it. As for the empty wall hanger which one is going up there?
BTW; The CA looks nice also. The wall needs some plastic on it. :D |
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Location: East Tennessee | Jim,
We need a picture of the whole wall. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | I'll post one when I get the Folklore in. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | I knew you'd like that one...mine is now part of the "permanent" family...right next to my Koa 12-string. Actually, these Koa series Tacomas will probably never be produced again, and should become highly sought-after in the future, so picking one up is a great collecter's-type item as well.
I need to take pics of mine - the koa is way different grain, which is pretty interesting variation on the same guitar model. |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Andrew, if you get around to it, send me some pics of yours via email. I'd like to see it. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | I'll get some tonight - I've been working in Seattle for the past week, and I've got to go back again this afternoon. I had some on the computer, but we just had to wipe and reload it due to a whold ton of issues it was having. |
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Location: big island | btw, cyril plays guitar using a plastic thumbpick and a metal fingerpick on his middle finger. he uses his index finger to strum. i am sure his choice of picks compliments the sound of his tacoma. |
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Location: big island | here's another one: i can't bid cuz i live in hawaii :rolleyes:
tacoma EKK19C |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Okay, here's some pics of mine, for comparison sake:
Sorry for the lousy lighting, but our house is pretty dark in the evenings.
Check out the flaming on this Koa though...I haven't quite seen another EKK19 with the same grain to it. Most I've seen are more of a straight-grain Koa without the flaming to them. |
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Location: big island | gorgeous, andrew. looks like yours has some sapwood (the lighter shades) included. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Who are you calling a sap? :D |
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Location: Upper Left USA | "Sap" is pidgeon for "What is up, my brother".
Us Island brother's gotta stick together!
M(McNeil Island)Woody |
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Posts: 5575
Location: big island | i love this place. it ain't a great place to be while "on vacation", but i'd wanna live here. :rolleyes: |
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tacoma koa guitar...