Growing only in the Hawaiian Islands, koa is coveted for its golden honey looks, often with gorgeous grain patterns of considerable luster and depth. The tone of Martins made with koa fall somewhere between mahogany and rosewood, with less woofiness in the bass than rosewood, a midrange that is punchy like mahogany, while also having shimmering high end overtones unique to this Acacia species.

Koa soundboards provide a mellower voice than koa guitars with spruce tops. But as they age and open up, the sustain and harmonic complexity increases dramatically, and they look spectacular!