[PingerFicker]

I am toying with the idea of getting a hand-built guitar commissioned in the near future. I am trying to figure out which woods I want to use. I am hoping someone here will be able to help me, I think adds has an adequate knowledge of tonewoods. I think that I want an indian rosewood back and sides, but I am toying with the idea of using koa because it looks incredible. I don't know where koa's tone falls into the spectrum. Brazilian rosewood being the rich full harmonic end with maple being bright and more fundamental on the other end, with mahogany in the middle of the two. Where would koa fall? I am guessing it would be similar to rosewood, but now as rich, but more rich than mahogany.

Also, what top do you reccomend. I am looking for a rich, strong-bassed, full of harmonic guitar. What top would be better, red cedar, sitka spruce, or englemann spruce?

I think that I would like to commission a guitar from a man named trent kronbauer, who lives in British Columbia. I played one of his guitars a while ago and fell in love with it. His price is just right. $1500 starting price for a hand built guitar is a very good price. With all the upgrades that I want it will probably end up costing me about $2300. You can check out his website here:

http://www.kronbauerguitars.com/

Apart from the kronbauer, I am looking at a builded named micheal bashkin out of ft. collins colorado. I have played about 5 or 6 of his guitars, and they are all very emaculate. But, they start at $3500 and that is too much for me to afford right now. His guitars play very well, and his shop is only about an hour away, where as Kronbauer is about 20 hours away. You can see bashkin's guitars here:

http://bashkinguitars.com/

Tell me what some of you all think?

[PingerFicker]

So if I want a good fingerstyle guitar, with a strong but not punch bass and a sweet high end, I sould nix the idea of using koa and stick with rosewood?

[PingerFicker]

Yeah, I know what you mean. Then what top would you reccomend? I don't know very much about the tops of guitars.

[adds]

Well Rio rosewood is said to be the best and id agree but you have to pay for it.And its only getting more expencive as time goes by as its just the old stock thats just being used up now its protected.Id disagree with gav that maple sounds the best personly.Its far too bright for alot of peoples likeing but its personal opinion at the end of the day.Best for fiddles yes but guitar i dont think so.As far as koa goes its a loverly wood with a really rich warm sound.I built my copy of dadfads gibson 34 jumbo with a flamed koa back and sides and a bear claw sitka spruce top and its now my number one guitar.I couldnt be happer with its tone.Although to be honest adirondack is said to be the best for tone.But at the time of chooseing my woods i wasnt awear of this.Plus i really wanted the bear claw which i could only find in the spuce.Same a mahogany is the best neck wood but i couldnt find a flamed bit for love nore money.So i went with maple.It still sounds great plus i kind of like the contrast from the koa.But anyway Koas a great wood loverly warm and rich tone and not as pricey as the Rio rosewood.But if you can afford the Rio go for it.It will sound great and hold its value better.

[brethren]

I would suggest going to Guitar Center or Sam Ash and playing Taylor guitars with the tonewoods you have mentioned. I have a Koa and Rosewood Taylor both with Spruce tops. The Koa has a sweet and louder sound that cuts through when doing lead stuff while the Rosewood is mellower with a bassy sound. I guess its all just personel preference but this might offer some answers too.http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/features/woods/WoodTypes.aspx

[PingerFicker]

I would suggest going to Guitar Center or Sam Ash and playing Taylor guitars with the tonewoods you have mentioned. I have a Koa and Rosewood Taylor both with Spruce tops. The Koa has a sweet and louder sound that cuts through when doing lead stuff while the Rosewood is mellower with a bassy sound. I guess its all just personel preference but this might offer some answers too.http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/features/woods/WoodTypes.aspx

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There is no guitar center anywhere near where I live. There are some guitar stores around that sell really crappy guitars. I don't even know the brands they are selling.