There are hundreds of trees and wood types that you can use for the guitars and this factor plays an important role in how the guitar might sound.
The wood type doesn’t only have to do with the right aesthetics, and design factor, but there is a lot more that you will have to consider while you are choosing a wood type for your guitar.
That includes the texture, durability, grain, resonance and of course the feel of the guitar. Keeping that all in the perspective, Koa, and Rosewood are two of the most popular wood types that one can use on their guitars.
Both look quite similar in color, but the pattern on these is quite different and so is the resonance. A few things that you might need to know about them both if you are looking to decide in order to pick the wood type for your guitar are:
Koa vs Rosewood Overview
| Features | Koa | Rosewood |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Brighter | Warmer |
| Note separation | Koa separtes notes better | Not as good |
| Ideal for | Strummers | Fingerstyle players |
Koa
This is an exotic wood type that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and is not found in any other part of the world.
It is the second most common tree in the Hawaiian Islands and you can expect some really good quality from this wood. Koa comes from a species of flowering tree in the family of Fabaceae.
The wood has the right color scheme on it with a reddish-brown texture and not only that, but it also has the right durability and firmness on it which makes it the ideal choice for use on a guitar.
Koa wood is also the best thing for you to have on the guitar if you are looking to enjoy a natural wood finish on the guitar without having to worry about getting it colored or the finish getting off.
Color and Style
With the right polish, you will give your guitar the right looks that you might be looking for.
In addition to all that, you will be enjoying the stability and durability of the wood on your guitars that is scratch resistant and won’t begin to fade anytime soon.
Yet, the elasticity is not that great on the Koa, but that is certainly going to get you the best tonal edge.
You will be having the right protection for the guitar, including the resonance on all those crisp genres that you might be looking to play with your guitar.
Sound Output
Guitars that are made from Koa wood generally sound quite brighter, even before you’ve used it in enough for the sound to mellow down. This means that the acoustic sound generally has a brighter top-end, giving a very crisp and clean sound output.
And, when the guitar has been broken in, even then the instrument manages to retain its clarity. However, the difference then is that the tone becomes more balanced and slightly warmer.
All in all, if you like playing fingerstyle music and are looking for an instrument that’s going to last you a while, you can’t go wrong with a guitar that’s made using Koa wood.
Because of its bright output, you may want to consider using a thumb pad when picking instead of using fingernails, as that produces a more pronounced sound.
Frequencies
The high-end frequencies are great on Koa. More importantly, keeping the sound aside, you should know that most guitars which are made from Koa wood are generally premium instruments, mainly because Koa is not widely available, and costs a lot of money.
If you need a guitar that looks unique and stylish and is made from one of the most premium wood types out on the market, you should consider going for Koa.
It’s an ideal choice all around for those who like to finger pick or play some riffs. The bass response on Koa is also considerably lower, but that actually works in your favor if you want every note to stand out and resonate.
Rosewood
Rosewood gets you the best of both worlds and is one of the most popular wood types that you can get your hands on.
Rosewood also gets you the perfection of having the elasticity on the wood type and not only that, but you will also be enjoying the right durability on the wood.
The pattern is also reddish-brown, with a softer grain and straighter lines as opposed to the Koa, and that will be helping you out to make sure that you get the right experience on your guitar.
Build Quality
The rosewood also gets you the perfection of the posture while you are playing the guitar for longer hours.
The rosewood is simply the best thing for you to enjoy, and it gets you the right edge of durability, performance, and efficiency at the same time. Rosewood is also perfect for you to be having perfection on tunes.
It will give you the best possible resonance and audio experience for you. You can play it for all the different genres including soft and mellow ones including the pop, folk, country, and even for the bass on your guitar.
Sound Output
Rosewood is generally installed on the back of an acoustic guitar, as well as the neck and often on the fingerboard.
In fact, rosewood and maple fingerboards are two of the most popular choices out there. The reason why fingerpickers will often choose rosewood is because of its warm tone, which is what gives it such popularity.
However, because the note separation isn’t as high, it’s not really a good choice for those who like nuance with each note. Instead, strummers generally prefer rosewood guitars because of their thicker tonality.
Frequency Range
Generally, rosewood guitars produce low-end frequencies. And, it’s important to note that just like Koa, rosewood is also only used on premium guitars. Most others are made from cheaper types of wood like Sitka or sometimes oak.
There are restrictions on the export of Rosewood, and in general, Brazilian rosewood is not available at all, which is one of the main reasons why it’s often difficult to get a hold of guitars that are made using rosewood.
If you want a guitar that has a darker, unique appearance, looks incredibly good, and is obviously quite expensive, then you can’t go wrong with one that’s made of rosewood.
These are guitars that are going to last you for years to come, and you can except the guitar to only get better with age.
Koa vs. Rosewood – Which One’s the Better Pick?
There’s generally not a direct comparison between both Koa and Rosewood, since both serve very different purposes.
However, if you want a guitar that’s ideal for strumming, then Koa might be a better pick all in all. If you want something that produces deep, rich and warm tones, then a rosewood guitar might be a better pick for you.