What Is Figured Koa Wood

The problem with koa.

What is figured koa wood.

Curly koa is also unmatched in price with highly figured material for guitar sets priced as high as 150 bf. Thus the supply of koa wood depends significantly on storm frequency. Posted 2010 01 21 12 27 am. Chris allen of koa wood hawaii in kurtistown hawaii cost of koa wood.

The price of koa may vary as much as any species of hardwood in the world. Koa is a hard wood and has high crush resistance and shock absorbance. Any info would be appreciated. The spirit of the volcano lives in this tree and radiates from the lumber.

I know of no other wood possessing the chatoyancy or range of colors of koa. Koa wood is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain patterns. Old growth trees contain the most figured lumber. Plain koa or koa that has no changes in color or figure can be purchased from 15 to 20 bf.

Most acacia koa has some kind of figure or light or stress curl on it. The grain is interlocked which often causes curly figuring. If koa is quarter sawn 20 to 50 bf. I am looking at a couple of takamine guitars one thats also figure koa.

Koa lumber with a premium curl can strain your wallet for 60 to 120 bf depending on the intensity of the figure and the reputation of the exotic wood dealer who is selling it. A friend has the 2009 collectors sweet guitar with the figured koa top.