Koa

A Hawaiian hardwood, prized for its warm, slightly compressed tone and its striking figured grain, used for tops and full acoustic bodies.

It sits between mahogany and maple in character, with a sweet midrange and a top end that is present without being brittle, and it is one of the few species attractive enough to be used for a whole acoustic guitar rather than just a back and sides. The figured pieces are expensive and often reserved for smaller instruments or thin caps. Its availability is limited, since the species grows only in Hawaii and is protected there.

Example: an all-koa acoustic with a figured top is the classic Hawaiian instrument, warm and rich without the deep bass of a rosewood body.

Koa

See also