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KOA

#22
DZ said:
Don't believe everything you read.
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To some extent, you are right. Wood varys so much from piece to piece in characteristics that it's sometimes hard to make generalizations. Most builders that I talk to though, when asked, the first words out of their mouth are "Mahogany" in terms of comparisons. I have heard one builder characterize Koa as a very bright wood, so I can see where the Maple connection came from.
 
#24
I love my Victor Bailey Jazz.
Koa good!!!
It's my first bass with Koa (and mahogany) so I don't know where it sits compared to other Koa basses.
It has a nice smooth top end and pretty focused lower mids/lows.
I sold on the combo of Koa & Mahogany. I'm dying to hear some feed back on the Sadowsky basses of this combo and the Victor Bailey 5 as well (due in April-as said by Victor himself!).
If Roger feels confident in this combination of woods, then it must be pretty good, as he doesn't move from his tried and true ash or alder a whole lot.
My VB Jazz is the only thing keeping me from a Sadowsky 4 right now (Ooo...ash with rosewood Sadowsky 4......suddenly I feel all warm and fuzzy :smug: )
 
#25
Mine's got koa too... just for the top :D Don't know how thick it is though :p Can't wait for Carey to finish it!! :D

deepkoa.jpg


Mr Turner, if you are reading this - I really hope that my piezo bridge gets completed (and shipped out) soon... please? :help:
 
#26
Amen to the differences from piece to piece for a given wood; generalizations are not always accurate.

However, I have an Alembic that I bought new back in 1976 (yikes!) that has a Koa core. I had never heard of the wood at the time, and it is a bit unusual for Alembic. Most Alembics are Mahogany, and I also happened to pick up one of those five years ago, or so. I would say the Koa is a good bit brighter and snappier, somewhere between the Mahogany and Alder, perhaps a little closer to Alder. The Koa actually seems to cut through guitar wash a little better than the Mahogany. I think it kind of depends on the mix you're working with as to which is more suitable. If there is more space in the mix, the Mahogany has this nice thick tone; if you need cut, the Koa is kinda like Alder with a little extra heft, but also thicker than Ash. Donno if that helps, but ME.
 
#27
I would characterize the sound of my Koa Jazz as bright and closer to Maple than Mahogany. It's the Mahogany that gives the Bailey's that midrange, not the Koa top.

I originally had an all maple Fender Tele neck on it which, along with the 3 DiMarzio J's really made this a bright grindy bass. It only emphasized the bright characteristics of the Koa body. Putting the Padauk neck on it and getting Aero's (with their fuller tone and bigger bottom) has taken a lot of that edginess off. Now I love the way it's fat and punchy. Quite a difference from the Maple/Koa combo.

This has been my experience - YMMV.
 
#36
unity bass said:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=13993

My Peavey Unity bass is light ( 7 1/4 lbs.), and the neck is very stable. The body is Koa and the neck is Koa with Purpleheart. I've had several compliments on the tone. I'll never let this bass go. It's just too versatile and easy to play. Also, I just like the way it looks!
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Likewise. I've got the same model and it has been my only electric bass for 14 years now. I just haven't found any need to relpace it. It could use a little more fundamental in its tone, but that's a minor minor quibble...
 

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