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

Sheeran by Lowden S02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/Top Bevel & LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden S02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/Top Bevel & LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden S02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/Top Bevel & LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden S02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/Top Bevel & LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden S02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/Top Bevel & LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden S02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/Top Bevel & LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden S02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/Top Bevel & LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden S02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/Top Bevel & LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden S02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/Top Bevel & LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel

Sheeran by Lowden S02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/Top Bevel & LR Baggs Element VTC

$1,190.00
Sheeran by Lowden W02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden W02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden W02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden W02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden W02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden W02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden W02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden W02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel
Sheeran by Lowden W02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/LR Baggs Element VTC Acoustic Guitars / Mini/Travel

Sheeran by Lowden W02 Sitka Spruce/Indian Rosewood w/LR Baggs Element VTC

$1,070.00
Martin Road Series D-13E Sitka/Ziricote Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series D-13E Sitka/Ziricote Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series D-13E Sitka/Ziricote Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series D-13E Sitka/Ziricote Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series D-13E Sitka/Ziricote Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series D-13E Sitka/Ziricote Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series D-13E Sitka/Ziricote Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series D-13E Sitka/Ziricote Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin Road Series D-13E Sitka/Ziricote Natural Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought

Martin Road Series D-13E Sitka/Ziricote Natural

$1,399.00
Martin D Jr-10E Streetmaster Sapele Satin LEFTY Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin D Jr-10E Streetmaster Sapele Satin LEFTY Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Martin D Jr-10E Streetmaster Sapele Satin LEFTY Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought

Martin D Jr-10E Streetmaster Sapele Satin LEFTY

$699.00
Recording King Parlor Resonator Acoustic Guitars / Resonator
Recording King Parlor Resonator Acoustic Guitars / Resonator
Recording King Parlor Resonator Acoustic Guitars / Resonator
Recording King Parlor Resonator Acoustic Guitars / Resonator
Recording King Parlor Resonator Acoustic Guitars / Resonator
Recording King Parlor Resonator Acoustic Guitars / Resonator
Recording King Parlor Resonator Acoustic Guitars / Resonator
Recording King Parlor Resonator Acoustic Guitars / Resonator

Recording King Parlor Resonator

$799.99
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 Aged Natural Antique Gloss w/Fishman Sonicore Acoustic Guitars / Jumbo
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 Aged Natural Antique Gloss w/Fishman Sonicore Acoustic Guitars / Jumbo
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 Aged Natural Antique Gloss w/Fishman Sonicore Acoustic Guitars / Jumbo
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 Aged Natural Antique Gloss w/Fishman Sonicore Acoustic Guitars / Jumbo
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 Aged Natural Antique Gloss w/Fishman Sonicore Acoustic Guitars / Jumbo
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 Aged Natural Antique Gloss w/Fishman Sonicore Acoustic Guitars / Jumbo
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 Aged Natural Antique Gloss w/Fishman Sonicore Acoustic Guitars / Jumbo
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 Aged Natural Antique Gloss w/Fishman Sonicore Acoustic Guitars / Jumbo

Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 Aged Natural Antique Gloss w/Fishman Sonicore

$999.00
Martin OM-28E Natural w/Fishman Electronics Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Martin OM-28E Natural w/Fishman Electronics Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Martin OM-28E Natural w/Fishman Electronics Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Martin OM-28E Natural w/Fishman Electronics Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Martin OM-28E Natural w/Fishman Electronics Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Martin OM-28E Natural w/Fishman Electronics Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Martin OM-28E Natural w/Fishman Electronics Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Martin OM-28E Natural w/Fishman Electronics Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Martin OM-28E Natural w/Fishman Electronics Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium
Martin OM-28E Natural w/Fishman Electronics Acoustic Guitars / OM and Auditorium

Martin OM-28E Natural w/Fishman Electronics

$3,799.00
Yamaha GigMaker Standard Acoustic Package w/F325 Guitar Tobacco Sunburst Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought
Yamaha GigMaker Standard Acoustic Package w/F325 Guitar Tobacco Sunburst Acoustic Guitars / Dreadnought

Yamaha GigMaker Standard Acoustic Package w/F325 Guitar Tobacco Sunburst

$219.99

Related Posts

Pigtronix | 2021 New Releases

Pigtronix | 2021 New Releases

New for 2021, Pigtronix packs a universe of sound packed into each space-saving chassis, Pigtronix's three new micro models squeeze infinite tone onto the average pedalboard's finite real estate. The...

Read more
Supro | 2021 New Releases

Supro | 2021 New Releases

Channeling lap steel amplifiers of the '30s and '40s, the Supro Delta King Series offers historic style and tube-driven tone in three sizes and two tolex options. Fast forward in time...

Read more
NAMM | Believe In Music Week

NAMM | Believe In Music Week

So you’ve probably guessed it. NAMM isn’t happening in the usual way. In response to COVID, the international trade show is going virtual and, here's the good news—guess what? You’re...

Read more