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PaokanoMike
Aloha
USA
18 Posts |
 Posted - 05/02/2010 : 6:37:05 PM
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I bought a Taylor big baby around a year ago, I want a really nice Hawaiian style Koa or the like what do you like as far as sound and beauty? Also what do you play and like ?
I know this is subjective but what do you look for sound wise?
THANK YOU FOR SCHOOLING ME.
Mahalo plenty,
Michael+
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+Praise the Son+ |
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Earl
`Olu`olu
USA
533 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 05:15:38 AM
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Good choice to start with. I am very partial to Taylor guitars in general, and slowly getting rid of the other brand. At the moment, I have a 2007 424 special edition GA, all koa. And a 2006 koa GS with a spruce top. That koa GS is probably the best guitar that I own now, both beautiful and awesome sound, but $3K new. It was sitting in a shop used, and after the first strum I was hooked.
Takamine makes an all-koa GA size guitar (EF508KC) for about $1350 or so. Uncle Cyril uses that one to tour with. If it ever gets broken while traveling, it is easy to order another just like it, plus it comes with electronics already. I have played several of them and some were really good, some were so-so.
Some koa guitars look a lot better than they sound. Each piece of wood is individual, so play whatever you can find and see whether they speak to you. Also, if you are serious about a purchase try to make sure it has new strings on it. You can't judge tone with cruddy old strings.
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salmonella
Lokahi
240 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 06:56:53 AM
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Set a budget (you need one, trust me) and then play as many guitars as you can at or below that budget. You have some very nice stores in your area for that (buffalo bros, music power (look online for the location) etc..
Use your eyes to find it on the wall, then close your eyes when you play it. Buy the one that you just cannot bear to put back on the wall. I would not limit your choices at this point to Koa unless the visual is as important to you as the sound. You might miss the nicest sounding guitar you will ever play just because it is boring old mahogany.
For more specific advice, you would need to tell us any preferences you have on such things as size (if you are used to a big baby for instance a jumbo body will probably not work for you), configuration (string widths at various places), plugged in vs only acoustic..etc, etc, etc.
Everyone has their favorites, you need to find yours. We can help once you have it narrowed down a bit since most of us have experience with a lot of different guitars and can relate our experiences with them.
BTW, the shopping is fun, but pretty time consuming. You are lucky that you have so many nice stores near you. You might want to ask before you tune them to taropatch 
Dave |
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Hookani
Lokahi
232 Posts |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 1:18:51 PM
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| Derek's 12-string koa is not only a most beautiful guitar, but it sounds about as nice as anything I have ever heard. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 1:57:20 PM
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I used to have a Taylor baby, then a big baby, then a 314kce, and now a K22ce. After the baby guitars I went Koa. The K22ce is the finest guitar I own and play. I have Elixir light strings on it and play lots of different slack key tunings. The next guitar (besides a AAAAA-Koa R. Taylor Style 2) is the new limited edition solid koa 12-fret http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/limiteds/spring2010/HawaiianKoa12-Fret/
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E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
Edited by - Mika ele on 05/03/2010 1:57:49 PM |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 2:44:59 PM
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Hi -
Don't forget that for about the same price as a high end robot-built guitar (no offense, Taylor owners--remember, I own an ancient 414K and love it) you can get a lovingly hand crafted guitar from any number of luthiers.
Ask Maggie about her brand new Evergreen Mountain instrument from Oregon's Jerry Nolte, or check out Dennis Lake's Po Mahina guitars.
Check out the "Instruments" page on my website for pix of a couple of Jerry & Dennis' guitars & links to the builders.
http://www.mark-o.com/
There are pros and cons to getting hand built axe...'natch. But well worth the consideration.
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Edited by - Mark on 05/03/2010 2:48:42 PM |
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Volcano
Akahai
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 3:33:58 PM
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| Agreed about Dennis Lake. His guitars and ukes are built on the Big Island and are superb. Also try to check out a Goodall Aloha - koa and spruce. My personal favorite. Taylors are okay for a mass production guitar but there's something very special about a guitar that has had the attention of a master luthier. |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2010 : 5:25:41 PM
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Salmonela said: "Set a budget (you need one, trust me) and then play as many guitars as you can at or below that budget. You have some very nice stores in your area for that (buffalo bros, music power (look online for the location) etc..
Use your eyes to find it on the wall, then close your eyes when you play it. Buy the one that you just cannot bear to put back on the wall. I would not limit your choices at this point to Koa unless the visual is as important to you as the sound. You might miss the nicest sounding guitar you will ever play just because it is boring old mahogany.
For more specific advice, you would need to tell us any preferences you have on such things as size (if you are used to a big baby for instance a jumbo body will probably not work for you), configuration (string widths at various places), plugged in vs only acoustic..etc, etc, etc.
Everyone has their favorites, you need to find yours."
This is the best advice on here. We all know what our own hands and ears like, and what our budgets will stand. You really need to discover what yours like. I played several models that sounded very nice, but the feel of the neck was uncomfortable to my hands. They're the only hands I have, I have to go with what works. Same for my ears. If they didn't like what they heard, it wouldn't have come home with me. Your budget may or may not stand for a high end guitar; mine wouldn't. Robot or otherwise,$3k guitars aren't in my future. You need to play as many as possible, and find one that won't let you leave without it.
Unko Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2177 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2010 : 04:47:19 AM
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| What Unko Paul just said. Each guitar will sound different, even if from the same maker, same model etc. Read up on the different woods and what to listen for when you play them. The guitar will become an extension of your being, a tool for communcation. |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2010 : 08:27:07 AM
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| btw, when I played with Led on Sunday, he was playing his Martin 000-18. It sounded great! No acoustic Taylor's in sight, although he did play his single pickup solid body electric Taylor. |
keaka |
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maggie
Aloha
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2010 : 6:28:18 PM
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As Mark said, I do have a brand spankin' new Evergreen Mountain Instruments guitar. I met with Jerry last Fall and after a few hours of conversation about the music I play, what I wanted to hear in the instrument, my future as a musician (I am, as they say, facing the downhill side of life and expect to play only for family and friends) we came up with the exact guitar I wanted - a koa and cedar studio cutaway with wider string spacing (1 3/4). Jerry delivered it a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't be happier. Unfortunately my work has suffered tremendously since the arrival of the guitar - instead of writing, like I should be doing, I keep picking it up and playing. If I don't start working soon, I'll have to move it to the other side of my office - right now it sits an arm's' length away from my desk and keeps asking to be played.
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salmonella
Lokahi
240 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2010 : 7:16:35 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by maggie
As Mark said, I do have a brand spankin' new Evergreen Mountain Instruments guitar. I met with Jerry last Fall and after a few hours of conversation about the music I play, what I wanted to hear in the instrument, my future as a musician (I am, as they say, facing the downhill side of life and expect to play only for family and friends) we came up with the exact guitar I wanted - a koa and cedar studio cutaway with wider string spacing (1 3/4). Jerry delivered it a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't be happier. Unfortunately my work has suffered tremendously since the arrival of the guitar - instead of writing, like I should be doing, I keep picking it up and playing. If I don't start working soon, I'll have to move it to the other side of my office - right now it sits an arm's' length away from my desk and keeps asking to be played.
Maggie
Sounds wonderful. Are there pics some place we can see?
Dave |
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maggie
Aloha
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2010 : 7:29:21 PM
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| Photos coming soon... er... as soon as I figure out how to upload them to TP. |
Edited by - maggie on 05/04/2010 7:30:34 PM |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2010 : 9:22:25 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by maggie
(I am, as they say, facing the downhill side of life and expect to play only for family and friends)
Maggie - as long as we can create, there is no downhill side of life! As a "senior citizen", my life continues to be full, and I am learning more every day, especially in music. There are life transitions, of course, each one, I believe, leading to a new adventure. Hang in there! |
keaka |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2010 : 11:23:52 AM
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quote:
I am, as they say, facing the downhill side of life
Well, when I was hiking up the mountain to get into the powder back in the Wasatch, I much preferred the downhill side to the the uphill...
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Guitar question ?
