JuanCarlosVejar Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 Folks , been a Koa lover for along time ... this year I may have the chance to get a custom koa guitar . I'm basically looking for a history lesson on koa itself and the Gibson/Koa relationship from the old days to now . what kind of Koa should I have bozeman build my guitar out of ? It's not going to happen right away but I have to start building the idea in my head then ask the bozeman people to replicate it Lol . that being said this koa top is pretty much perfection to my eye did gibson use koa back in the 30's and 40's ?? thanks JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 I think they did in some of their Ukes.....I haven't seen any guitars...I do believe they did some slide hawaiian guitars, but not with Koa...Maybe RAR knows, I think he has an "H" guitar. By the way, that is a beautiful Koa J-200 in your pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Chance Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 I don't think Gibson produced and sold koa guitars in the 30's and 40's (unlike CF Martin) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenumber2 Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 If they used it back then I haven't seen it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quake Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Gibson probably experimented with koa through the years, but the first I've seen it used for in routine production was in the early '90's in the SJ-200's. Martin started making dred and 00 sized koa models in 1980 and even made some 7/8 sized versions. I'm a big fan of koa as well, when it is done correctly. I'd say the conventional view is it always looks great, but the sound may not match. The all koa versions are a different type of guitar as well, as I find it takes quite some time to break in the top to achieve the signature "sweet" sound of a koa top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rar Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 did gibson use koa back in the 30's and 40's ?? I don't know of any Gibson-branded koa instruments from that time, but there are a few koa ukes that appear to be Gibson-built dating back to the '30s. In particular, there are a couple of known examples of what are basically TU-1s built for Dusi's Music in Youngstown OH (now long gone). Richard Johnson at Gryphon has examined one, and is pretty sure it was Gibson-built. -- Bob R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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