What is koa ?
saccaguea
Posted 2007-05-04 7:36 PM (#101854)
Subject: What is koa ?


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Location: Colorado Springs, CO
What is koa ?
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Mark in Boise
Posted 2007-05-04 7:39 PM (#101855 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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March 2005
Posts: 12761

Location: Boise, Idaho
Wood.
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Weaser P
Posted 2007-05-04 7:48 PM (#101856 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


Joined:
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Posts: 5332

Location: Bluffton, SC
This is koa

Originally posted by Tupperware:






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cliff
Posted 2007-05-04 7:51 PM (#101857 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: NJ
Kampgrounds of America(tm)
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saccaguea
Posted 2007-05-04 7:52 PM (#101858 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: Colorado Springs, CO
How is it for guitars?
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Jeff W.
Posted 2007-05-04 7:52 PM (#101859 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub
It's a related Acaicia Tree Species native to Hawaii. Tropical Hard Wood. Good Tonal characteristics...

... if you like Uke music.


(used primarily for back and sides on guitars, but as pictured, sometimes as tops, as well)
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Paul Templeman
Posted 2007-05-04 7:54 PM (#101860 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: Scotland
Koa is a word used in the islands for a species of wood more commonly known as Acacia. The whole Koa thing is hype, it's just a hardwood, no better or worse than mahogany, rosewood or whatever. It's very prerty but you all need to stop buying into the bullshit and use your ears instead of your eyes. Some Koa will sound great, the rest wont.
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Weaser P
Posted 2007-05-04 7:54 PM (#101861 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: Bluffton, SC
Now JW's insulting trees! Somebody stop this maniac!!
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saccaguea
Posted 2007-05-04 7:57 PM (#101862 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


Joined:
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Location: Colorado Springs, CO
How about for a guitar?
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saccaguea
Posted 2007-05-04 8:00 PM (#101863 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Paul Templeman can a guitar made from koa be a good one?
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Jeff W.
Posted 2007-05-04 8:03 PM (#101864 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub
and don't think for a minute that i didn't consider working the " Tropical HardWood" angle...


and yes, a Koa guitar can sound very good, if it's made to sound good...
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Paul Templeman
Posted 2007-05-04 8:05 PM (#101865 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: Scotland
Originally posted by saccaguea:
Paul Templeman can a guitar made from koa be a good one?
YES. Absolutely. But, my personal opinion is that softwoods such as spruce and cedar make for BETTER sounding guitars
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Weaser P
Posted 2007-05-04 8:05 PM (#101866 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: Bluffton, SC
Saw it and walked away too. Mom would be proud.

If she talked to me anymore... :rolleyes:
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alpep
Posted 2007-05-04 8:49 PM (#101867 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: NJ
Different woods for different textures of sound.

is anyone any better than the other NO but they are like different flavors of ice cream.
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FlicKreno aka Solid Top
Posted 2007-05-04 9:00 PM (#101868 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Posts: 2491

Location: Copenhagen Denmark
I would say that KOA would be interesting on a LAMINATED-TOP..Good Sound..Nice Esthetics...

Vic
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Beal
Posted 2007-05-04 9:18 PM (#101869 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?



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Location: 6 String Ranch
Laminated tops always sound like....well...lamb.
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45flint
Posted 2007-05-04 9:28 PM (#101870 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Posts: 555

Location: Wooster, Ohio
Had a change to play the koa 2006 collectors, pretty wood, sound ho hum.
Steve
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lanaki
Posted 2007-05-04 9:40 PM (#101871 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: big island
koa is one of the prettiest woods you will ever see on an instrument or furniture. as a tonewood, IMO, it is best used in constructing an instrument for producing mids and trebles. koa on the back and sides of a guitar works well, as long as there is a less dense wood (spruce/cedar) on top. the vibration of the top is crucial for volume and warmth. there are usually exceptions to every rule and it seems the "koala" produces a well balanced sound, but i imagine it lacks somewhat in volume.
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Paul Templeman
Posted 2007-05-05 6:45 AM (#101872 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Location: Scotland
Koa can make great guitars, it's all in the design. The 2006 Koa prototype (same as the guitar in the pics) I played up at the factory had a stunning sound. If I needed another guitar I'd happily own one of these.
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muzza
Posted 2007-05-05 9:24 AM (#101873 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?



Joined:
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia
Originally posted by cwk2:
Laminated tops always sound like....well...lamb.
I think you're getting marinated chops mixed up with laminated tops. ;)
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giuseppe
Posted 2007-05-05 10:09 AM (#101874 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?
Joined:
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Posts: 308

I have tried some nice Koa guitars (non-Ovations) that sounded really good, similar to mahogany I would say.

This one on ovationtribute.com is astonishing! Very nice flamed Koa.

Ovation 1778-KGC Custom Elite


HERE is another one!
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FlicKreno aka Solid Top
Posted 2007-05-05 6:49 PM (#101875 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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Posts: 2491

Location: Copenhagen Denmark
Lamb sounds GOOD :)

Vic
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Beal
Posted 2007-05-05 10:25 PM (#101876 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?



Joined:
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Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch
I like the little body guitars for Koa. I had a Collings C-10 and it was stunning. had a little faggy neck so it's gone. Next winter I'll be building an all koa OO size, solid back, top and sides. 12 fret slotted peghead, 1 3/4 maybe biggier, probably mahogony and a rosewood board, Decoration however Charlie Kelly feels like it. Satin nitro lacquer, waverly keys. Hand built by the FGC or it might be CAWK, company. still working on the logo. We like 2Nia2CGBG but probably won't go with that one.
Could run anywhere from $4000 to $6000 or adjusted as you want it dressed up. would be just as easy to do several as one.
Any interest?
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moody, p.i.
Posted 2007-05-05 10:35 PM (#101877 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


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March 2002
Posts: 15682

Location: SoCal
Sure. If you're buying, count me in. If I gotta come up with the jack, well, there may be a problem....
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Billy Blaze
Posted 2007-05-08 7:08 AM (#101878 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 95

Location: Fort worth Texas
I have played guitars that had the same wood but the shape was different and the difference was night and day some woods suit some shapes, it's a quest for tone and the best way to find the right guitar is to search by playing as many as you can and make your own choice, everyone who plays usually agree's that this is all a very subjective thing and the best way to go about buying what you will be happy ith is to spend several days in various guitar shops trying out as many as you can.
Good luck on your search, remember though that since Koa is rare that will increase the price a lot.
I like Rosewood back and sides with a Cedar top but you may like spruce and mahogony or a round back. Its all about what sounds good to you which will make the difference on how much you enjoy playing it and that is the end result.
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cliff
Posted 2007-05-08 9:22 AM (#101879 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842

Location: NJ
LemmeKnow if y'need a hand with the logo, Beal.
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ProfessorBB
Posted 2007-05-08 9:42 AM (#101880 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?



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January 2006
Posts: 5881

Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains
Flamed koa. Oh boy . . .
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Beal
Posted 2007-05-08 11:03 AM (#101881 - in reply to #101854)
Subject: Re: What is koa ?



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch
OK Cliff, I'll be in touch.
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