Hawaiian Koa

Taylor Acoustic Guitar Woods

Tropical Mahogany A midrange powerhouse. Mahogany is prized for balance and articulation, making it one of the best all-around tonewoods there is. Indian Rosewood The tonewood superstar. Popular, traditional, and versatile, Bob Taylor puts Indian rosewood among the greatest tonewoods ever. Big Leaf Maple High-end sparkle and incomparable good looks put maple in its own category. Hawaiian Koa Few woods carry the allure of Hawaiian koa, with its gorgeous figure and sweet, complex tone. Walnut Walnut’s crisp highs are balanced by a deep, woody low end that emerges as the guitar is played in. Cocobolo A cannon of a guitar, with exotic coloration and figure to match its bold voice. Ovangkol Although not as well-known as its Indian rosewood cousin, ovangkol shares many of the same properties, making it a versatile, great-sounding tonewood. Sapele One of the best all-around tonewoods there is, sapele will deliver for any playing style. Rosewood Laminate A rosewood veneer and laminate construction present a beautiful aesthetic in a durable, affordable package. Sapele Laminate Laminate construction is used to offer attractive, durable and affordable models. Maple Laminate Maple veneer is part of the resilient laminate construction on the black 214ce-BLK. Blackwood Laminate A blackwood veneer with laminate construction blends exotic beauty, resilience and affordability. Quilted Sapele Besides boasting gorgeous figure, the tone enhances sapele’s “bright mahogany” voice with extra low-end warmth. Tasmanian Blackwood Koa's cousin produces a similar tone, with a breathy midrange and bright treble notes, plus low-end overtones. Macassar Ebony Macassar’s exotic beauty is matched by a bold, dynamic tone that can be dark or bright, depending on the player and the top pairing. Koa Laminate Koa veneer is part of the resilient laminate construction on the 210ce-K and 214ce-K. Granadillo Sonically comparable to rosewood, granadillo’s higher density yields a clear, ringing tone. African Ebony A dense wood typically used for fretboards and bridges, ebony produces rich overtones.

Hawaiian Koa

Origin: The Big Island of Hawaii

Used On: The Koa Acoustic and Acoustic/Electric Series

As a tropical hardwood, a koa top will initially project a bright and focused tone, especially together with koa back and sides, but as it's played, it matures into an increasingly warm, rich, sweet sound with healthy overtone "bloom," especially in the midrange. A common mistake is when a "bright" player buys a koa-top guitar in part for its visual beauty, finds it to be too bright, and doesn't play it enough to allow the wood to develop its resonant tone.

Goes Well With: Fingerstylists who play more with the pads of their fingers and tend to have a meatier touch. Bright players need to be careful because of koa's existing brightness.

 

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