Should I spring for the Korina?

[Beergoblin]

Well I guess the title says it all. I'm trying to weigh each side and make a decision. Any opinions?

The Korina costs about $200 extra, but that isn't a HUGE amount of money in the long run scheme of things so thats not really a big factor.

The weight: The Korina is lighter, but heavy guitars in general don't bother me, but still I'd prefer the lighter weight if available.

Sound: Well this would obviously be the deciding factor. I hear mixed reviews that Korina actually sounds any different than regular old mahogany (although the regular Standard would have a maple cap also). I play alot of material with fairly high gain, so any small nuances that are there would probably be undectectable.

Overall look: Well I change my mind on this one on a daily basis, I'd like to just get both The regular Standard has an awesome tobaccoburst top, but the Korina looks great and has that vintage vibe going.

At the end of the day, is the Korina actually better or the "holy grail" of tone woods? Or do you think its more of the fact that its a rare wood which adds to the mojo factor? I dunno.......

[MCChris]

Something to keep in mind is that korina is a LOUD tonewood, at least in my experience. If you have a loud rig, it might be too much, as it was for me.

[princeofdarkness56]

You really want the korina don't you. Go for it.

[Beergoblin]

Something to keep in mind is that korina is a LOUD tonewood, at least in my experience. If you have a loud rig, it might be too much, as it was for me.

Thats interesting, never thought about that at all. Still, I think I would probably be able to balance it out with my amp I would think but who knows?

[BTMN]

As a true "Livingroom noodler", meaning without trained pristine ears, I can tell you there is some sound differance. Being it is a little brighter most of the time. I find it has great resonace too. MCC is right it can be loud. Unplugged the Korina is very loud for a solid body guitar and my Artist is sweet sounding unplugged.

As a natural finish lover, I also like the look of Korina with clear on it a TON. Hamer picks great looking wood no matter the flavor. Anyone you know have a Korina guitar? If you were in Tampa Bay area you would be more than welcome to try mine. Dont have a Hamer Standard but I have a couple Korina guitars including a, '01 Artist Korina HB. Nice mellow sounding guitar with 2 SD '59s in it. It will crank up nice with some high gain on it and I find I set my Brian May Vox a lil midrangey high setting on the tone knob with that guitar.

AW hell, what am I yackin' on for, Get some KORINA BABY!!!!

Edited cause I didn't say what I wanted.

[m chops]

I like Korina because of its weight. As I have gotten older, weight has gotten to be a much more important consideration.

You will not be getting any younger . . .

[Beergoblin]

You really want the korina don't you.  Go for it.

I do, but I want the regular one too! Heres a few pics of the guitars I'm looking at. If I decide to go Korina I have a couple to choose from with/without pickguards and inlays etc which I can't make up my mind on either Its just nit picking though, I think I'd be happy with any of them I just cant make up my mind one way or the other.

[MCChris]

Something to keep in mind is that korina is a LOUD tonewood, at least in my experience. If you have a loud rig, it might be too much, as it was for me.

Thats interesting, never thought about that at all. Still, I think I would probably be able to balance it out with my amp I would think but who knows?

The main issue would be balancing it with your other guitars. Switch from the korina to a mahogany would very likely require significant tweaking to the amp.

Not trying to dissuade you, just don't expect a shrinking violet. Korina guitars BARK.

[Beergoblin]

I do have a couple other guitars with the usual mahogany/maple cap configuration, so I guess the Korina would make more sense just to have a different flavor in the mix.......I'm such a sucker for flamed tobacco burst though! I think I'll probably just go with the Korina, what the hell.

[Beergoblin]

Something to keep in mind is that korina is a LOUD tonewood, at least in my experience. If you have a loud rig, it might be too much, as it was for me.

Thats interesting, never thought about that at all. Still, I think I would probably be able to balance it out with my amp I would think but who knows?

The main issue would be balancing it with your other guitars. Switch from the korina to a mahogany would very likely require significant tweaking to the amp.

Not trying to dissuade you, just don't expect a shrinking violet. Korina guitars BARK.

Gotcha.

[silentman]

This is my Korina-backed/necked Standard Custom. In terms of weight, it is a bit lighter than some mahogany ones I've played. BUT you also can have lightweight mahogany. Soundwise it's got more prominent upper-mids and can cut thru very well. I've also got a ebony board on this one, but I don't think it factors into the tone much. I recently put a set of Rio Grande pups in this one and it really opened it up sonically.

I don't think there are any other Korina Standard Customs out there that I'm aware of to give you another person's opinion. SOme folks have played this one.

[Beergoblin]

This is my Korina-backed/necked Standard Custom. In terms of weight, it is a bit lighter than some mahogany ones I've played. BUT you also can have lightweight mahogany. Soundwise it's got more prominent upper-mids and can cut thru very well. I've also got a ebony board on this one, but I don't think it factors into the tone much. I recently put a set of Rio Grande pups in this one and it really opened it up sonically.

I don't think there are any other Korina Standard Customs out there that I'm aware of to give you another person's opinion. SOme folks have played this one.

Very nice guitar. Again, I think I'd be happier either way its just difficult deciding between the two. Which Rio Grandes did you throw in there?

[silentman]

Which Rio Grandes did you throw in there?

I've got a BBQ bucker in the Bridge and a Genuine Texas in the neck.

[Scooter]

I'm a huge Korina fan. See my Superglide thread. My Korina guitar has a maple cap (best of both worlds, I guess).

I own and have owned several maple-capped mahogany guitars, and I swear there is a major tone difference. The Korina has a very complex upper midrange tone. The first time I plugged in, I had to check if my chorus pedal was on. It wasn't. It was just a beautiful sound.

I play mostly high-gain stuff and yes, Korina works well.

YMMV

[serial]

Korina is not necessarily lighter than mahogany. I've had two all-mahogany Hamer Standards (no maple top-an '02 and a four digit) that were lighter than most korina Standards. One or two korina Standards from the run of 100 in '95-'96 were really weighty. Most of my 10-12 mahogany/maple top Standards (all four digits, so they just had the maple veneer, not the milled cap that Hamer uses now) were light too. The one Korina Standard I owned briefly was medium weight.

FWIW, the korina ones tend to do better on resale. Korina Standards and Vectors were the first Hamer models that actually sold used for higher prices than what they listed for originally, including the four digit Standards. Of course, that's changed now...

[cmatthes]

I completely agree with Serial. Don't believe the hype - Korina is not always lighter than Mahogany!

I've played Korina Standards that were like freakin' cinderblocks on a strap, and have owned regular mahogany Standards that would blow away in a stiff breeze. If you're ordering strictly on the weight basis, you can always request a lightweight body (you may have to pay a little extra for that).

If you're trying to round out you tonal palette, definitely give the Korina a try (but also make sure that you get a light piece). I agree with MCC here as well - the extra "Bark" factor is an apt description to my ears.

[Beergoblin]

I'm a huge Korina fan. See my Superglide thread. My Korina guitar has a maple cap (best of both worlds, I guess).

I own and have owned several maple-capped mahogany guitars, and I swear there is a major tone difference. The Korina has a very complex upper midrange tone. The first time I plugged in, I had to check if my chorus pedal was on. It wasn't. It was just a beautiful sound.

I play mostly high-gain stuff and yes, Korina works well.

YMMV

Thats good to hear, I play alot of high gain stuff as well and I was wondering if it would be a noticeable difference, or even subpar in comparison to mahogany for high gain stuff.

[Beergoblin]

Between the couple of dealers I'm looking at, if I go Korina I can get one for a good weight between 7-8.5, somewhere around there, so if I do go Korina I definately will go lighter. I think since I do have the usual mahogany/maple cap area covered in multiple guitars already, I owe it to myself to get the Korina just for the tonal difference, even if it is subtle..........now all I would have to do would be to decide between having a pickguard or not and victory vs dot inlays

Thx for all the replies

[Beergoblin]

I'm a huge Korina fan. See my Superglide thread. My Korina guitar has a maple cap (best of both worlds, I guess).

I own and have owned several maple-capped mahogany guitars, and I swear there is a major tone difference. The Korina has a very complex upper midrange tone. The first time I plugged in, I had to check if my chorus pedal was on. It wasn't. It was just a beautiful sound.

I play mostly high-gain stuff and yes, Korina works well.

YMMV

Thats a crazy axe you have there my friend! Very cool.

[Scooter]

Thats a crazy axe you have there my friend!  Very cool.

Why thank you!

[peedenmark7]

not to beat it, but I absolutely agree with everyone on the weight factor..

I spec'd the spalted standard to be a heavier piece of korina, its lighter than my other newer mahogany bodied standards ,

but lighter than one of my old ones.

its minimal at best.

there is a tonal varaition for sure, but pickups, fingerboard top can alter this somewhat.

I will admitt part of the korina thing for me was resale down the road... shoulf that ever actually happen...

I had some korina gibsons in the early '80s ,but it was so long ago ,that I hadnt really a clue what to expect...

I like mine... very balanced in all departments... I'll order it again.

curious though.....

only a $200 difference to go from mahogany to korina ?

who's your dealer ?

that would seem to be below dealer cost from the near $1k retail upcharge korina adds.

unless we're talking 2 pc. body...?

[cmatthes]

John:

The upcharge to go from Mahogany to Korina (body and neck) should be @ $1,000 - $1,200 +/- . I think that he is talking about the advertised prices for a Flametopped Standard v. a straight Korina Standard out of dealer stock like the Wilcutt pics he attached. I know when I priced it out a couple of years ago, the direct quote from Hamer was over $800 (I think it was $450 for neck and $400 for body??).

[silentman]

The upcharge to go from Mahogany to Korina (body and neck) should be @ $1,000-$1,200 +/- .

Ouch! I got a deal... In 2003, it was $400 list to go to korina. (got a 2 piece body)

[Beergoblin]

I'm not 100% on the one piece body vs the two piece, but as far as the $200 is concerned I'm not building a custom one off, these are based off the prices that I got from Willcutts on a couple of their Korina Standards vs a regular Standard I was interested in. A couple of their models differ, like Brazilian Rosewood on some, and different inlays etc. But generally, their Korina Standards averaged around $200 more than the regular Standards I was looking at.

I actually found a 2nd dealer which has a Korina Standard I'm interested that has it priced the same as a regular Standard from Willcutt, so go figure

[BTMN]

Oh MY!!!! I love this page.

http://willcuttguitars.com/brandsubentries...did=30&subid=98

Edited cause: I CAN spell. Dagnab it!! Also to mention that YES!!!! I do love that page too. Oh YEAH!! I will have to be content (Quite BTW) with my 3 Standards. SOMEDAY Korina Standard, SOMEDAY!!!

Wanted to add: The one on the left is a '77 Standard Custom, in the middle a '79 dot neck Standard, and on the right a '96 two piece bodied Dean USA Z in Korina. My third Standard is a '97 one piece Mahogany Standard not in the shot obviously.