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Koa body


crazydog

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Posted

I am looking at a used H150 Classic; the owner says that it is a Koa wood body. It also has a 3 piece neck. I've never seen a H 150 using Koa and the 3 piece neck seems unusual too. Can anyone shed any light on this? Has a "T" serial code. Pics below...(BTW - she is a knockout!) asking $1795 ...seems high but may not be if this is a custom...etc. Thoughts?

 

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Posted

Interesting guitar, but KOA is just another type of mahogany.....

I dont think this is correct. They are both trees though.

Posted

she sure is purdy

to me, that looks like Quilted maple over Mahogany, FWIW

 

another quilt on a hog for comparison....

 

quilt...

P1100530.jpg

 

hog

idolback.jpg

Posted

I am looking at a used H150 Classic; the owner says that it is a Koa wood body. It also has a 3 piece neck. I've never seen a H 150 using Koa and the 3 piece neck seems unusual too. Can anyone shed any light on this? Has a "T" serial code. Pics below...(BTW - she is a knockout!) asking $1795 ...seems high but may not be if this is a custom...etc. Thoughts?

 

post-2698-0-98279000-1323457270_thumb.jpg

 

post-2698-0-29880600-1323457258_thumb.jpg

 

post-2698-0-23301900-1323457245_thumb.jpg

 

post-2698-0-65615500-1323457231_thumb.jpg

One Man;s opinion, but $1795 for even a Custom used H-150 seems way high..YMMV..

Posted

I dont think this is correct. They are both trees though.

 

You're right when I think about it, I heard they were similiar tone woods, not the same woods from different parts of the world...

Posted

I vote: 1/4 sawn mahogany back.

Posted

One Man;s opinion, but $1795 for even a Custom used H-150 seems way high..YMMV..

+1 !!! Thats way to much for a 150, especially used. You can buy a dandy 157 for less than that. Just sayin??

Posted

Interesting guitar, but KOA is just another type of mahogany..... Its certainly not a standard 150, but I don't its worth the price...

 

Koa (Acacia koa) is a type of Acacia tree in the pea family not even slightly related to a Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) other than the fact they are both trees. Some people do say that the tone of both woods are similar.

Posted

Thx for all the great info, as usual, you guys come through! Appreciate all the help...I think price is high too but wanted to make sure I wasn't looking at something special i didnt know about. Owner INSISTS its koa; I'll let him think that. I agree that its probably a custom with a real fine piece of mahogany and beautiful quilted top. Couldn't find info on the 3 piece neck anywhere; even on here...did/does Heritage do 3 piece necks often? Custom only? Thx again...

Posted

Yes. Heritage does do 1, 3 and 5 piece necks. Odd, isn't it?

Posted

 

Koa (Acacia koa) is a type of Acacia tree in the pea family not even slightly related to a Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) other than the fact they are both trees. Some people do say that the tone of both woods are similar.

One of the hardest sounding guitars I ever played was a koa Taylor. Looked absolutely gorgeous with a very 3D ripple effect running right across the top.

It was visually spectacular. But I couldnt get a sweet sound out of it. Very clinical sounding.(what ever that description means)

Then I heard a guy whose ability far surpassed mine play that same guitar and every note was clear and articulate. They just popped out and filled the room. He had a wonderful acoustic style, very precise and definite. He made it sound wonderful. He made most guitars sound wonderful but it was the first time I had heard that guitar sound great and I finally realised its place and appeal.

Posted

It could be Limba/korina. The grain of Mahogany and Limba is very similar. The neck looks like Maple, but could be a Limba/Mahogany glue up. It's hard to find Limba neck wood. Could explain the 3 pieces.

Posted

I insist on it being a Class of 59 model with white korina body. TRUST ME!

I can see the korina body but it still looks like a quilty maple cap to me. I could be wrong. I have been on numerous occasions.

You have or did have something like this at one time right?

Posted

I could see the seller confusing Koa with Korina. Agree with MM. The back looks like my 137. Together with a three piece korina neck, deco tuners, bound headstock and MOP "the Heritage" and super top I could see that as a bit out of the fair price range. If the neck, frets, feel and sound are acceptable and no issues. How are the frets? Yes, the upgrades are well worth a couple of hundred more than the usual 150 pricing $1200- $1400. Anyone agree pricing trends are pushing $1600- $1800 for used 155s, 157 these days?

Posted

I'm with the Maestro on this one... looks like white korina for the back.

 

I like the three piece neck and the bound headstock. Very nice figuring on the front. For that particular guitar, I think $1600 would probably be the tops I would go. 18 is a bit on the stiff side.

Posted

 

Koa (Acacia koa) is a type of Acacia tree in the pea family not even slightly related to a Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) other than the fact they are both trees. Some people do say that the tone of both woods are similar.

I think what Detroit meant is that Koa and Mahogony sound similiar.

 

I'm also of the opinion that guitar is definately not koa, and is overpriced.

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