Sound Pure's Take
Conditon: Used, Very Good
This Grand Auditorium's tone has grown as deep, dark, and rich as the wonderful Shaded Edgeburst that graces the entire guitar! All of the initial crisp, mid and high-heavy punch that Koa demonstrates in a new instrument has given way to a far more balanced, mature and sonorous tonality. This is just a -great- example of why we love our trade-in/consignment program--the previous owner, through careful handling and ample playing, has developed the guitar's character to a point that can only be reached with time and attention. And now we get to offer the curated results at a used price! The 12 fret design supports and maintains the hyper-present response that Koa always brings to an instrument, lending the guitar an additional boost to presence and projection. Whether you've always been a lover of Koa's unique tonal properties or if you're just now becoming interested in this special tonewood, this guitar is sure to delight longtime collectors and curious first-timers alike!
SP Luthier Notes: Setup
From Taylor Guitars
Koa Series
The flamey AA-grade koa earmarked for this series was so seductive we couldn't resist going all-koa (although a premium Engelmann spruce top is optional). Larry Breedlove's rosette design incorporates a serpentine swath of koa set against creamy boxwood. The koa/boxwood pairing carries over to the Engraved Twist fretboard inlay, in which the design's swirling complexity is tempered with the subtle, organic quality of thin wood lines. A shaded edgeburst around the entire guitar — including the neck — adds a touch of vintage Hawaiian charm that's complemented by rosewood binding, thin white purfling, and Gotoh tuners.
Tonally, a koa top should make koa's natural midrange sweetness even more pronounced, especially after the guitar has been played in. Koa guitars also tend to be well-suited for the stage because the initial attack is balanced and focused without being boomy.
The koa LTDs are offered in four model options: a cutaway Grand Auditorium and Grand Symphony, along with a pair of non-cutaway 12-fret models, a Grand Auditorium and Grand Concert. Players can expect a warmer, richer overall tone with the 12-frets due to the bridge’s more central placement on the lower bout.
Model: GA-LTD Koa Limited Edition
Serial: 1108031121
Year: 2011
Body Style: Grand Auditorium
Scale Length: 24 7/8"
Top Wood: Koa
Body Wood: Koa
Bracing: CV
Pickguard: None
Tuners: Gotoh
Electronics: Expression System
Body Width:
Nut & Saddle: Bone
Truss Rod Cover: Ebony
Number of Frets: 20
Body Length:
Body Depth: 4 3/8"
Binding/Edge Treatment: Wood
Back Config: 2-piece No Wedge
Rosette Size: 3-Ring
Back/Side Finish: Gloss
Backstrap Wood: None
Stain/Sunburst: Edgeburst
Armrest: None
Top Finish: Gloss
Backstrap Finish: None
Bridge Inlay: None
Armrest Binding: None
Rosette Material: Koa/Boxwood
Wedge: None
Neck Width: 1 3/4"
Fretboard Binding: Wood
Type of Neck Joint: Scarf
Fretboard Wood: Ebony
Heel Length:
Fretboard Inlay: Engraved Twist
Heel Cap Binding: None
Neck/Heel: Mahogany
Neck Finish: Gloss
Peghead Finish: Gloss
Peghead Type: Standard
Headstock Overlay: Ebony
Peghead Logo: Taylor Mother of Pearl
Peghead Binding: Wood
Peghead Purfling: None
Peghead Inlay: None
Bridge Pins: Black
Fingerboard Ext: None
Buttons: Gold
Edge Trim: None
Case: Hardshell
Warranty
This item is sold without the Sound Pure 3-year warranty (used / B-stock / dealer-exempt). Coverage terms for items in this category live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.
Returns
Try Before You Buy: 48-hour audition. Program details →
You may also like
Browse Large Body (Jumbo/Auditorium) →
Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC
Come hear it in our control rooms.
Sound Pure is a working studio in Durham, NC — a 1,000 sq ft live room and two pro control rooms. Book a session to audition gear in a world-class acoustic space before you buy.