Custom guitar wood options

[G Man]

So, I'm having Ryan Gadow build me a Custom Hollow P90 with korina back/sides and neck with an ebony board. I was originally thinking korina top as well, but Ryan has suggested that a maple cap may give it a little more in the high end dept. I'm not sure, as I think the warmth of the korina on top may work well, but I'm not sure if it will be too mushy/bass heavy/lacking mids. If it were you, what would you do, maple or korina top wood?

Thanks for the input.

[murkat]

depends on the body chunk of limba...

Most limba is light, airy, "tele" sounding, kinda like ash.

when I was at GCS, and did runs of LP's, LPC's with limba body / maple tops.... it was awful combo to my ears.

and with ebony boards, just took it over the top searing awful.

Limba is good with limba.

[Armitage]

Hard to argue with true experience. Thumbs up to murkat.

[atquinn]

My thought was always that pure limba gives the benefits of mahogany/maple with just one wood. However, if the builder knows the sound you're going for and that's what he's suggesting given the woods he's got on hand, it would be hard to argue with that.

-

Austin

[ptm1diver]

I have a Hamer Korina, Artist with P90s. All Korina, sounds great. Also, I'm building a neckthrough (3-piece) with hollowed-out wings and Korina Top, ebony board. Three pickups, similar to Jerry Garcia.

But tone, and what I like is all personal preference. What you like you like, and what I like may be different. Also, the strings, amps, effects, etc all make a difference.

Just my 2.375 cents worth. Best to you with the build.

Paul

[django49]

I would not argue with the resident expert! My thought is that if there is something you are looking for in korina, that should be the primary wood.

I also have a high opinion of Ryan, so I would listen to what he says and get more specific about actual examples he has built......And that really should be in the context of what else you have and play, with respect to how a new combination would fit in there.

My GUESS is that all korina and a rosewood board would be a better balance.

Now, that said, I have some familiarity with a certain PRS (wood library) DGT. It has a very LIGHT mahogany body, maple cap, korina NECK and rosewood (BRW) board. Promoted at the time as being very responsive, with a resonant feel, with "the right balance of low end wallop and upper mid cut". Take the seller's sales pitch with a grain of salt, but I DO think it succeeds.

One other.....The Huber Dolphin I picked up here MIGHT also be comparable. Chambered and longer scale (like the Gadow). Very lightweight. All korina, with a rosewood board. Superb! Chimey and well rounded guitar. Obviously does NOT have the same fat low end as a solid body. (I assume the Gadow is the typical bolt on neck, where the Dolphin is set).

As always, YMMV.

[murkat]

My thought was always that pure limba gives the benefits of mahogany/maple with just one wood.

-

Austin

to my ears, Koa reminds me of a Mahogany / Maple combo, with more "girth" in the mids, punchy.

(Koa, my fav solid body tone wood)

[Armitage]

Love Koa, lots of it around here!

[murkat]

too expensive, and limited here in the 48

[JohnnyB]

Would a koa top work with a limba body & neck?

[murkat]

Would a koa top work with a limba body & neck?

nope.

Koa neck, with Koa, or rose wood or pau board, yes.

Quilted (softer) maple top, possibly yes. (there were a few LP's with a quilt top (soft maple) that did sound good w/ limba body).

[JohnnyB]

Koa is so damn' amazing. I heard a genuine pre-war all-koa Weissenborn at a vintage guitar store near me. The prospective buyer gave it one strum and the sound (tone, tonal balance, and volume) lit up a large display room. Not only loud, but just plain beautiful. True, the Weissenborn has the advantage of a hollow neck, but still ...

[pirateflynn]

I'd be inclined to say a spruce top for a hollow body. I've had remarkable hollow and semi-hollow guitars with spruce tops, although with mahogany body and necks. I prefer rosewood fingerboards instead of ebony for warmth over immediacy.

[bubs_42]

too expensive, and limited here in the 48

I know, I LOVE KOA!