Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi all
This is my first post to this forum though i have been lurking and learning for a while now. Would like to thank Lance and Brock for providing this forum and giving me the opportunity to join in. Have enjoyed the exchange of information and banter that goes on here.

Have only completed one LMI kit guitar (an OM style) while taking a class given by Mr. Robbie O'Brien (an excellent instructor and a great learning experience).

This summer i would like to build a OLF-SJ style guitar that will be mostly for fingerpicked style playing. Have found a nice Koa back/side set, and am wondering what some of you might suggest as a good choice of wood for the top.
Any suggestions for this newb?
Thanks in advance

jerrym39102.0402314815

Welcome to the forum. You will love it here.
As far as a fingerpicking Koa guitar you have several options.
A koa top works very well. I have made 2 all koas and they are very nice.
Also, I have made one with an Adi top. To me, this is a fantastic
combination. To date it is my favorite guitar.

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

I really like redwood with koa and am just about to start one. It will be a fingerstyle guitar and I'm looking for lots of complexity and plenty of punch. The last koa/redwood guitar I made had that and I have a few new ideas for this one that I think will push it further along. I will share them after I test them.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I always think of Koa as a sort of transitional wood, but leaning more towards a mahogany type of sound, I've built only one with koa a OOO with a Euro top and I loved the sound. (I have given this one away as I had a brain abberation and put abalam purfling on it and it looked , to me, absolutely horrible. Can't stand bling).

I think John's suggestion of a redwood top will be amazing on Koa, I'm just about to start a Mahogany/redwood with some of Hank's redwood. Mahog/Redwood is now considered a classic combination here.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Yeah, I agree with John and Colin. But that's no surprise to me. Redwood or cedar would be nice. I expect to build a lot of guitars with redwood tops in my lifetime. I have over 30 tops, so I'd better like it.


And Welcome to the OLF!Don Williams39102.5815277778

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"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."

Jerry, there you have it. From the OLFers a cross-section of all the top wood. Truth is KOA plays well with others and whatever you select should be fine.

I didn't know Colin was bling averse. It all makes sense now, mahogany, Rodgers tuners, intricately carved lute holes..... wait a minute, isn't that bling?   

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Now, now Bruce! I just like my guitars low key and tasteful . Actually I don't like pearl or abalony on MY guitars, just as I don't like overly shiny finishes on them either.

Anyway, Rodgers tuners are just functionally efficient and lute roses are both a statement of craftsmanship and have centuries of tradition behind them. No, I like my guitars to be wood please.

That said the archlute I'm starting to work on will be bling personified, triple roses, carved dolphin pegboxes, and gold and silver inlaid neck and pegboxes, a definite case of needing sunglasses! Pip, pip!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Welcome to the OLF Jerry ! A lot of good choices here for your top. I like Lutz spruce or Adirondack spruce.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Welcome to the OLF Jerry!

Lutz and adi will make great sounding tops for koa!

Please show pics of your progress as you build this one!

Serge

Welcome to the OLF! I'd go with Cedar/Koa. Makes a real smooth sounding instrument. I did my last bouzouki with this combination, and it is my favorite instrument. I'm sure redwood would be good too. I've heard a lot of long time builders say they like the Koa/cedar combo for fingerstyle guitars. I'd agree. You can't go wrong with this recommendation. Good luck!
Tracy
PS -I used to be Robbie's teaching assistant about 1 year ago. Great class up at Red Rocks, and once again a full class this semester also!

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

I'm surprised no one has suggested Engelmann.
So let me throw that into the ring.
You'll get a sound quite close to European, but it can still be a wood from the States. (To match your Koa, you know. Sort of a theme.)
I'd say try Sitka, but that's a risky suggestion around here!   

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Thanks for the welcomes and all your responses. As Bruce pointed out, it appears that koa is friendly with most all of the top woods. While i'm probably leaning toward either redwood or cedar, this certainly arouses my curiosity about the other combinations - and you know what curiosity does .... produces more guitars
Looks like i will need more back/side sets to do some experimenting. By the time i try adi, lutz, koa and engelmann, this should keep me busy for some time.
John - will be interested in hearing about the outcome
       of your ideas
Colin - can't wait to see some progress pics of your
        archlute
Serge - will be happy to post pics, all of your feedback
        will be welcome
Tracy - very good on being a TA for Robbie. Very
        worthwhile classes. Hope to take another next
        fall, work schedule permitting.

Thanks again to you all for the suggestions. Am sure there will be more questions along the way

Jerry, welcome! Nice to see that you finally joined up. As you can
obviously see, everyone is very helpful here.

Hope you are well.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

By the way, I got to see Jerry's first effort, and he did a really great job.
Maybe some pics, Jerry?

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

seconded!

Thanks Mike for the kind words. It was certainly with your help that it came together. Mike is also a first rate teacher - hope your new course will help many new students. Will attempt to get some pics up as i learn to navigate the forum. Understand there have been a few problems of late, so will see when these get smoothed out.
Again, thanks to you all

Hi Jerry!
Welcome to the OLF!

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Support the OLF! Bookmark our STEWMAC link Today!
Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I vote for the Koa with Englemann

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

maybe this time the photo will appear

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

Jerry,

Glad to see you hanging around on the OLF. As you can tell, the info here is great! I am with Mike...How about some pics of that first guitar you built?

[QUOTE=Hesh1956]   ...the best wounding gutiar that I have ever built.
[/QUOTE]

Ah yes, nothing like the wound of a Lutz top.   

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

mmmmmm, lutz wounds.........
Good to see ya around, Jerry.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Lutz Wounds??? I better be careful cause I just got ten of them in the shop from Shane!