What is figured koa wood?

What is Figured Koa? Figured Koawood is Acacia Koawood with more prominent grain pattern than typical koawood. Typically figure is assessed from the wood's longitudinal face. According to its most basic definition, figured Acacia has a different grain-pattern appearance than a typical Acacia board.

What is so special about Koa wood?

The Wood Grain Pattern Is Exceptional

Koa wood is arguably one of the most beautiful woods in the world. It is special in its own right because of its unique figuring, colors, and textures. All of which is influenced and determined by the age of the tree, its elevation and soil in which it grows.

Is Figured koa solid?

Solid Figured Koa Acoustic-Electric.

How can you tell real Koa wood?

You can identify Koa by examining three primary attributes; color, grain, and origin. Koa is generally reddish gold to dark brown in color. Its acute interlocking wood grain produces a highly curly or figured appearance. Its origin is always Hawaii.

Is Koa wood a hardwood?

Koa is a hardwood and has high crush resistance and shock absorbance. It is often compared to walnut, however, it weighs about 25% more and its interlocking grain makes for an exceptional figure. It's thin, light-colored sapwood surrounds the hardwood that woodworkers describe as lustrous, swirled marble.

Koa Wood: 3 Reasons I Hate Hawaiian Koa Lumber ?

Which is better koa or mahogany?

The Quick Answer. Mahogany acoustic guitars sound warmer and fuller compared to koa acoustic guitars which sound brighter and clearer. Koa acoustic guitars are usually rarer and more expensive, and they have a more unique grain. Both woods are dark although there are some variations in the shades between guitars.

What wood is closest to Koa wood?

Koa is more expensive than Australian blackwood, which is typically considered a lower-cost alternative to Hawaiian koa. A domestic species, locust, is similar in characteristics to the koa and Australian black acacia tree and is sometimes referred to as false acacia, but don't confuse it with authentic acacia.

What is Koa wood worth?

A koa tree—prized for its use in hand-crafted furniture—can be worth upwards of $50,000 in today's market. In theory, you could score $2,500 from a single tree.

Is Koa wood only found in Hawaii?

Koa trees are another plant species that is found only in Hawaii and nowhere else in the world.

Is Koa wood native to Hawaii?

About this species: The Koa tree is endemic to Hawai'i and can be found on all the main islands except Kaho'olawe and Ni'ihau. Koa is the largest native tree species in the Hawaiian islands, reaching heights of approximately 115 feet.

Is Koa wood good for guitars?

Lightweight, rigid, yet bendable, Koa is a great material for guitar manufacturers to work with. When paired with the right soundboard, it also has a wonderful tonal quality.

How do you seal koa wood?

What is koa wood guitar?

Koa is a rare, lightweight hardwood with tight grain. It offers a balanced tone with a clear bottom end and defined upper range. Koa is typically used as the top in electric guitar/bass laminate designs or the sides/back in acoustic designs, but not in solid bodies, acoustic tops, necks or fretboards.

What tree does Koa wood come from?

Acacia koa is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it is the second most common tree. The highest populations are on Hawaiʻi, Maui and Oʻahu. Its name in the Hawaiian language, koa, also means brave, bold, fearless, or warrior.

Is Koa wood a lightweight?

Koa wood isn't just good for weapons used by warriors in 18th-century Hawaii. A lot of musicians have reaped the benefits of its rich texture and tonal quality. The material is lightweight and pliable, making it easy to create smooth-sounding guitars and other instruments.

Is Koa wood sacred?

Koa Wood is legendary in Hawaii. Not only is this amazing wood native to Hawaii but it is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain pattern. Koa has honored heritage in Hawaii and is highly revered and sacred.

Is acacia same as koa?

The first thing to know is that acacia wood and koa wood are very similar. In fact, acacia is in the same family as koa and sometimes when shopping for an acacia wood ukulele, you will see it called “koa acacia.” There are about 1300 different kinds of acacia wood!

How long does it take to grow a koa tree?

Koa are fast growing trees at 5 feet per year for the first five years, and can reach impressive heights in several decades in upper elevation landscapes. [16] Though koa can grow at lower elevations, some varieties may succumb to diseases after a decade of growth.

Is Koa wood rare?

Koa trees grow on the Hawaiian Islands at elevations of 2,000-7,000 feet. Needless to say, that makes koa trees pretty rare. To avoid excessive harvesting, the Hawaiian government has made strict rules about who can harvest the wood and how much can be sold in a year.

What wood is the most expensive?

African Blackwood

It is considered as the most expensive wood in the world because not only it is challenging to work with hand or machine tools, its trees are already near-threatened. But as expensive as it may seem, African Blackwood is worth the price.

Is Koa wood dense?

Density. Koa has a density of 37 pounds per cubic foot at 6 percent MC. This means that a board foot will weigh about 3 pounds. This density is similar to many other U.S. hardwoods and a little below hard maple.

What does koa wood smell like?

Warm Hawaiian Koa wood and white cedar mixed with island passion fruit, juicy pineapple, and sweet coconut, complimented with pure amber and musk.

Is Koa wood mahogany?

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.

What wood is GS Mini?

Every GS Mini guitar and bass is built with a solid top for optimal projection and clarity. Choose from spruce, mahogany and koa for top woods, along with layered rosewood, layered mahogany, and layered koa for the backs and sides.