WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH KOA?

Why is Everyone Kookoo for Koa?!  

What is koa? Found on the big island of Hawaii and made from the Hawaiian acacia koa tree, this tropical hardwood blends the midrange of mahogany with the top end of maple. Due to its density, a new koa guitar often starts out sounding bright – but the more it is played, the more the sound opens up with a beautifully rich, resonant tone.

A Little Background on Koa:

Koa trees are very large – known to grow as tall as 82ft with a spread of up to 39ft wide (even larger if growing in deep volcanic ash). Koa trees were used by ancient Hawaiians to build canoes and surfboards and are sometimes still used to build furniture. Because koa is a 'tonewood,' it is used to make ukuleles, acoustic guitars, and Weissenborn-style Hawaiian steel guitars. In Hawaiian, the word koa itself means brave, bold, fearless or warrior.

The Hawaiian music fad of the 1900s-1920s brought farther reaching awareness to this unique and beautiful wood. In 1916, CF Martin created six models of all-koa wood guitars for their largest dealer at the time, Southern California Music Company in Los Angeles. After WWII, koa instruments started popping up all over the world. Taylor Guitars now makes an extensive line of koa guitars: the Taylor Acoustic Koa Series. 

So Why Are Koa Guitars So Popular?

While many believe that the Holy Grail of tonewoods is Brazilian rosewood, Hawaiian Koa just might be in the running. Koa is lightweight and has a wonderfully compressed dynamic range. It combines clarity with warm, thick tone and produces incredible separation for individual notes. Koa wood is diverse and complex with an incomparable appearance. The color spectrum and swirling grain pattern is as wide as it is breathtaking—from varying reds to cinnamon browns and bold charcoal streaks. So the sound quality and the look makes koa guitars highly sought-after instruments.

Another factor is the scarcity of the wood and the fact that koa guitars will always be in limited supply. Koa forests have been depleted over the years, making the procurement of koa wood more difficult and very expensive. This is why the Taylor GS Mini-e Solid Koa Top Lefty w/ES-B is one of the most noteworthy items we have in stock right now. GS Minis are already a popular Taylor model, so at $799, this GS Mini which features all-solid koa top, back and sides is an incredible value.

Chicago Music Exchange has an impressive selection of koa guitars in-store and online. Shop Koa guitars now!

SHOP ACOUSTIC GUITARS

Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought

Gibson J-50 ADJ Natural 1969

$2,995.00
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium

Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Natural w/Atmosfeel Pickup System

$1,430.00
Atkin Essential 000 Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Natural Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Atkin Essential 000 Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Natural Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Atkin Essential 000 Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Natural Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Atkin Essential 000 Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Natural Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Atkin Essential 000 Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Natural Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Atkin Essential 000 Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Natural Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Atkin Essential 000 Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Natural Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Atkin Essential 000 Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Natural Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Atkin Essential 000 Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Natural Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Atkin Essential 000 Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Natural Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium

Atkin Essential 000 Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Natural

$3,899.00
Atkin The Forty Three Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Sunburst Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Atkin The Forty Three Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Sunburst Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Atkin The Forty Three Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Sunburst Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Atkin The Forty Three Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Sunburst Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Atkin The Forty Three Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Sunburst Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Atkin The Forty Three Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Sunburst Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Atkin The Forty Three Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Sunburst Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Atkin The Forty Three Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Sunburst Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Atkin The Forty Three Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Sunburst Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought

Atkin The Forty Three Baked Sitka/Mahogany Aged Sunburst

$4,549.00
Yamaha FS800 Natural 2019 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha FS800 Natural 2019 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha FS800 Natural 2019 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha FS800 Natural 2019 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha FS800 Natural 2019 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha FS800 Natural 2019 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha FS800 Natural 2019 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha FS800 Natural 2019 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Yamaha FS800 Natural 2019 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium

Yamaha FS800 Natural 2019

$195.00
Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss Acoustic Guitars / Parlor

Alvarez MPA66SHB Masterworks Acoustic Guitar Shadowburst Gloss

$595.00
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Dove Natural 1969 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought

Gibson Dove Natural 1969

$4,295.00
Martin OMJM John Mayer Acoustic-Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitars / Built-in Electronics
Martin OMJM John Mayer Acoustic-Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitars / Built-in Electronics
Martin OMJM John Mayer Acoustic-Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitars / Built-in Electronics
Martin OMJM John Mayer Acoustic-Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitars / Built-in Electronics
Martin OMJM John Mayer Acoustic-Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitars / Built-in Electronics
Martin OMJM John Mayer Acoustic-Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitars / Built-in Electronics
Martin OMJM John Mayer Acoustic-Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitars / Built-in Electronics
Martin OMJM John Mayer Acoustic-Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitars / Built-in Electronics
Martin OMJM John Mayer Acoustic-Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitars / Built-in Electronics
Martin OMJM John Mayer Acoustic-Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitars / Built-in Electronics

Martin OMJM John Mayer Acoustic-Electric Guitar

$3,600.00

Related Posts

Vintage Tours: Costa Mesa

Vintage Tours: Costa Mesa

Ahhh. Costa Mesa, California, home of the Orange County Fair, El Pollo Loco, the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice facility, and Amigos SoCal. When our intrepid vintage buyers heard they could...

Read more
Inside: Benson Amps Q&A with Chris Benson

Inside: Benson Amps Q&A with Chris Benson

Benson Amps may look like vintage-inspired clones, but what comes out is something all their own.

Read more
CME Exclusives: Gibson USA Les Paul Double Cuts

CME Exclusives: Gibson USA Les Paul Double Cuts

Introduced in 1954 as a way for guitars to appear white on black & white television screens without blowing out under highly reflective studio lights, Gibson brought "TV Yellow" into...

Read more