What top for a KOA back and sides?

What're You Doing?
Post Reply
Benjy
Posts: 156
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 8:49 pm
Location: Irmo, SC

What top for a KOA back and sides?

Post by Benjy »

This past spring on a trip to Hawaii I was able to visit a wood shop that had a huge supply of Koa! I was able to sort through his stash and pick out a cool back and side set (that I could afford)! I am going to build a "d" style. I am basically a flat picker/rhythm style player. I was thinking about a Adirondack spruce top.

What do you guys think would be a good option?
johnnparchem
Posts: 2354
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 10:50 pm
Location: Seattle
Contact:

Re: What top for a KOA back and sides?

Post by johnnparchem »

Koa! but the Adirondack spruce would be great as well.
rcnewcomb
Posts: 360
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:04 pm
Location: San Jose, CA, USA

Re: What top for a KOA back and sides?

Post by rcnewcomb »

Another vote for a Koa top. In 1981 I bought my wife a Martin D-25K2 that has a Koa top, back, and sides. It has matured nicely.
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out - another good day in the shop
tippie53
Posts: 7013
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
Contact:

Re: What top for a KOA back and sides?

Post by tippie53 »

I love Koa but to me they are thin Good looking and ok but red spruce to me sounds better on koa
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
John J
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: Saint Paul, MN

Re: What top for a KOA back and sides?

Post by John J »

I did a cedar top w/Koa on a 00 awhile back. Very warm.
Learning every day.
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3252
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: What top for a KOA back and sides?

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Most Koa guitars that I've seen, and the one I owned, had koa. But I like the idea of cedar. It depends on what sound your looking for.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
Bob Gleason
Posts: 413
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2015 2:45 pm
Contact:

Re: What top for a KOA back and sides?

Post by Bob Gleason »

Redwood is worth looking at. I use it on all my koa B/S ukes and guitars that don't have a koa top. I do make some koa top guitars. Very pretty, but I consider them dangerous in terms of longevity. Koa is very strange in terms of stability and resistance to string tension over time. Still, nice if you can get away with it!--Bob
Post Reply