Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi everyone.

I have a set of Koa here (I've never worked with Koa before but I'm really loving the way it looks with a little naptha on it).

I'm really not sure what sorts of bindings might look nice. I actually got the set from John at Blues Creek (Thanks John, everything looks great to me) - it's part of a Martin kit. It came with white plastic (definitely don't like those) and EI rosewood bindings. I can't say I really like the way the rosewood looks against the sides and I was wondering if anyone has any binding schemes in mind that they've found work nicely with Koa.

I should mention that the top is Sitka and the neck is spanish cedar.

Any opinions or links or photos would be appreciated.

Thanks

-Clint

_________________
-Clint Beacock

Clint buddy I like BRW bindings with lighter, sandy colored Koa.

Any Rosewood would look great.
Here's one with Madagascar.

_________________
Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Thanks Hesh and Peter for the photos. I'd agree that both those rosewoods go nicely with your sets.

From the pictures, my set looks to be similar in color to yours, Hesh. I think what I don't like is that my rosewood bindings are maybe too purple for my liking (and they're a lot smaller than I'd like). I think if I found something with more of a reddish tinge it'd look 'right' to me.

-Clint

_________________
-Clint Beacock

Hey Clint,

I am building with aussie blackwood (an acacia like Koa) and am using flamed maple. They look awesome. I am using a bwb purfling with them as well though.

Shane

_________________
Canada

macassar ebony looks really good on koa.

Mark

All good suggestions. Here's one I did last year, Madagascar rosewood on koa.



Pat

_________________
formerly known around here as burbank
_________________

http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I'd agree with everyone about the rosewood option. I think any of them look great with koa. But another option is cocobolo. I used this on a ukulele, and it turned out great. Here is a bouzouki I did with EIR and Koa, and the ukulele with cocobolo. Good luck!

_________________
Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Tracy....cocobolo IS a rosewood...


Ebony is also a nice option.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Rosewood, no doubt. It's a perfect combination. It's the only binding I bend on a hot, round galvanized pipe heated
by a propane torch. For some reason, it just works great for me. Done carefully, it's fun to do and comes out
great. Others have their methods that work well, for me it's the pipe. I've not tried my electrically heated bender
and probably won't, that pipe just works.
Anyway, I'm firmly in the rosewood camp for Koa, a great combination.

Best
Bruce

_________________
Bruce Herrmann
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

Hey Clint,

Indian rosewood looks purple when its raw but will turn dark drown when finihsed.
give it a wipe with some naptha to see what it ill look like under finish,

if you want a redish ting then coco or mad rose looks nice.
i also like koa with koa as you as you use side purfle's

joel.

Are your sides pre-bent?
if so dark on light looks great!
BUT if not and your sides are wider then you need trim off the extra width for bindings that will match your sides and just use purfs.on the bindings to break up the look to make it seem like you inlaid them!!
Mike

_________________
Mike Collins

Thanks for all your replies and advice guys.

I really appreciate it. Unfortunately, the sides are prebent and shaped so I can't use the offcuts as bindings, Mike. I thought that would've been nice too.

Thanks again, all.
-Clint

_________________
-Clint Beacock

Order some Koa bindings with the purfs. glued on-
It'll make a killer looking gitar!!!!

mike

_________________
Mike Collins

no particular order ...

koa, ebony, curly maple, ziricote, brw

also depends what purf colour scheme you may be using ... I have used lines with added purple, orange, and just plain old blk/maple/blk .... blue and green can also work with koa.

_________________
Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Darker choices
IRW, BRW, Coco, Snakewood, Curly Walnut

I have a Koa ukulele that has Tortoise bindings and I really like the look. In fact, I plan on the Tortoise binding on a Koa ukulele that I’m planning for myself.

Philip

_________________
aka konacat

If you think my playing is bad you should hear me sing!
Practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds competence. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in practice.

I have not done that combo but that wuld be a great look

I'm building my daughter a koa/spruce 12 fretter and had planned on using tortise too but couldn't find any in town and didn't want to wait for UPS so I used rosewood. I think it looks great.