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

Martin D-19 190th Anniversary (Limited to 190 Instruments) Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin D-19 190th Anniversary (Limited to 190 Instruments) Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin D-19 190th Anniversary (Limited to 190 Instruments) Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin D-19 190th Anniversary (Limited to 190 Instruments) Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin D-19 190th Anniversary (Limited to 190 Instruments) Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin D-19 190th Anniversary (Limited to 190 Instruments) Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin D-19 190th Anniversary (Limited to 190 Instruments) Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin D-19 190th Anniversary (Limited to 190 Instruments) Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin D-19 190th Anniversary (Limited to 190 Instruments) Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin D-19 190th Anniversary (Limited to 190 Instruments) Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought

Martin D-19 190th Anniversary (Limited to 190 Instruments) Natural

$4,000.00
Martin LXM Natural Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Martin LXM Natural Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Martin LXM Natural Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Martin LXM Natural Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Martin LXM Natural Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Martin LXM Natural Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Martin LXM Natural Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Martin LXM Natural Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Martin LXM Natural Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Martin LXM Natural Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Martin LXM Natural Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel

Martin LXM Natural

$300.00
Martin Road Series DRS1 Natural 2011 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series DRS1 Natural 2011 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series DRS1 Natural 2011 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series DRS1 Natural 2011 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series DRS1 Natural 2011 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series DRS1 Natural 2011 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series DRS1 Natural 2011 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series DRS1 Natural 2011 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series DRS1 Natural 2011 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series DRS1 Natural 2011 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought

Martin Road Series DRS1 Natural 2011

$595.00
Taylor 610 Natural 1983 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Taylor 610 Natural 1983 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Taylor 610 Natural 1983 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Taylor 610 Natural 1983 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Taylor 610 Natural 1983 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Taylor 610 Natural 1983 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Taylor 610 Natural 1983 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Taylor 610 Natural 1983 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Taylor 610 Natural 1983 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Taylor 610 Natural 1983 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought

Taylor 610 Natural 1983

$1,595.00
Taylor GT 811e Sitka/Rosewood Natural ES2 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Taylor GT 811e Sitka/Rosewood Natural ES2 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Taylor GT 811e Sitka/Rosewood Natural ES2 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Taylor GT 811e Sitka/Rosewood Natural ES2 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Taylor GT 811e Sitka/Rosewood Natural ES2 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Taylor GT 811e Sitka/Rosewood Natural ES2 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Taylor GT 811e Sitka/Rosewood Natural ES2 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Taylor GT 811e Sitka/Rosewood Natural ES2 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Taylor GT 811e Sitka/Rosewood Natural ES2 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Taylor GT 811e Sitka/Rosewood Natural ES2 Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium

Taylor GT 811e Sitka/Rosewood Natural ES2

$2,653.00
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought

Gibson Montana Banner J-45 Sunburst 2017

$3,750.00
Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset 2023 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset 2023 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset 2023 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset 2023 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset 2023 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset 2023 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset 2023 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset 2023 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset 2023 Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought

Martin DSS-17 Whiskey Sunset 2023

$1,250.00
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor
Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022 Acoustic Guitars / Parlor

Gibson L-00 Standard Sunburst 2022

$2,095.00

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