What You Need To Know About Korina
The Basics of Guitar's Most Desirable Tonewood.
Korina, korina! What the hell is it? Well, let’s start there.
Korina is really just the American name for Terminalia superba, or African Limba, the largest tree in the Combretaceae family and native to West Africa. Sound-wise, it’s similar to mahogany—heavy, warm, with a rich low end.
In the 1950s, Gibson began using the wood to make guitars like the Flying V, Moderne, Futura, and Explorer, some of history’s most collectible guitars. Very few still exist today. Those that do routinely command six figures at auction.
WHY?
The answer is simple. It sounds good. It looks good. And it’s rare. Prized for its resonance and exotic appearance, korina is difficult to source and even more difficult to work with, so there simply aren’t as many korina guitars in the world as the players who want them.
SHOOT US AN EMAIL!
Help us, help you! Give us an email and we can help find the perfect gear to add to your own collection!
Thankfully, we’ve got plenty!
Supply, demand, and a front-row seat for the birth of rock and roll continue to build this tonewood’s mythical quality, but we’ve been stocking up to make sure you have access before it becomes even harder to get.
From late-’70s and early-‘80s reissues to more modern models, our collection of Gibson-made korina guitars spans the brand’s post-1950s output, offering players affordable, accessible versions of the world’s rarest designs. So if you’ve got korina on your mind, just call, click, or stop in our Lincoln Avenue showroom. Now’s the time to bring it home.
SHOP GIBSON KORINA
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