While a committed devotee of the great instrument woods of the Pacific Northwest I must confess to a recent infatuation with Koa. Some kind friends at Taylor Guitar and Pacific Rim Tonewoods gave me a few scraps of Koa being cut at Pacific Rim. I recently built the tenor shown in this picture. I found it an interesting experience. Firstly, koa bends and works quite easily. It almost feels rubbery when you work with it but it is in reality a really tough strong wood. It also does not show its beauty much until you hit it with the finish, Then STAND BACK! The figure just jumps out. It is extremely dramatic, more so than any wood I have worked with. I paired a lovely koa back and sides with some of my special cedar for the top. This piece has 417 growth rings across the lower bout.
When I strung it up I was thrilled. I think the best sounding uke I have built. I don't think I will sell it (until I hear a better one I suppose). The combination of the cedar and koa seems to marry warmth with clarity. The highs are brilliant, the lows are warm. I just love this uke for the beauty of its wood and the richness of its voice. Here are a couple shots of my current favorite. note! all those dots on the fretboard are stick-on paper. I am trying to train my brain to play up the neck more frequently.
When I strung it up I was thrilled. I think the best sounding uke I have built. I don't think I will sell it (until I hear a better one I suppose). The combination of the cedar and koa seems to marry warmth with clarity. The highs are brilliant, the lows are warm. I just love this uke for the beauty of its wood and the richness of its voice. Here are a couple shots of my current favorite. note! all those dots on the fretboard are stick-on paper. I am trying to train my brain to play up the neck more frequently.
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