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Joined: April 2007 Posts: 143
Location: Colorado Springs, CO | What is koa ? |
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Joined: March 2005 Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Wood. |
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Joined: October 2005 Posts: 5332
Location: Bluffton, SC | This is koa
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Kampgrounds of America(tm) |
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Joined: April 2007 Posts: 143
Location: Colorado Springs, CO | How is it for guitars? |
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Joined: November 2003 Posts: 11039
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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Joined: February 2002 Posts: 5750
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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Joined: October 2005 Posts: 5332
Location: Bluffton, SC | Now JW's insulting trees! Somebody stop this maniac!! |
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Joined: April 2007 Posts: 143
Location: Colorado Springs, CO | How about for a guitar? |
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Joined: April 2007 Posts: 143
Location: Colorado Springs, CO | Paul Templeman can a guitar made from koa be a good one? |
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Joined: November 2003 Posts: 11039
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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Joined: February 2002 Posts: 5750
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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Joined: October 2005 Posts: 5332
Location: Bluffton, SC | Saw it and walked away too. Mom would be proud.
If she talked to me anymore... :rolleyes: |
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Joined: December 2001 Posts: 10583
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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Joined: April 2006 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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 Joined: January 2002 Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Laminated tops always sound like....well...lamb. |
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Joined: March 2003 Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | Had a change to play the koa 2006 collectors, pretty wood, sound ho hum.
Steve |
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Joined: October 2006 Posts: 5576
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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Joined: February 2002 Posts: 5750
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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 Joined: August 2005 Posts: 3736
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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Joined: November 2004 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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Joined: April 2006 Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Lamb sounds GOOD :)
Vic |
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 Joined: January 2002 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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Joined: 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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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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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | LemmeKnow if y'need a hand with the logo, Beal. |
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 Joined: January 2006 Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Flamed koa. Oh boy . . . |
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 Joined: January 2002 Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | OK Cliff, I'll be in touch. |
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