NTGD Yipee!! - 2011 Fall Ltd Koa GA

[markallen]

I'm very excited to have received my Fall Koa Ltd. It is the GA size in solid Koa with beautiful inlaid woods on the rosette and fretboard. This is the standard neck with the 25.5" scale length. I played it for about an hour last night and it just sounds lovely. Extremely balanced from lows to highs. Previously I had a 2010 Spring Koa LTD 12 fret GC which was definitely more "chime like" in the higher registers, but this guitar seems exceptionally more balanced overall which I like much better. I know it takes a while for Koa to open up, so if what I'm hearing now is only going to get better with age, I'm a very happy camper!  A big "tip of the hat" to Jon and Sharon Gagnon at My Favorite Guitars who provided their usual incredible service on this sale. I've purchased many guitars from them in the past and the service and pricing have always been spectacular.

I'm out of town on vacation next week and considering having it sit the whole week with ToneRite on it. We'll see what happens.

Cheers,
Mark

Of course, no NTGD post would be complete without photos:

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

WOW, what a beauty!!  I love my 2010 Fall Limited Koa but the 2011 is absolutely stunning.  You know about Koa opening up so as you said in your post - it's only going to get better.  Mine opened this summer and it was amazing.

Congrats and enjoy.

[markallen]

WOW, what a beauty!!  I love my 2010 Fall Limited Koa but the 2011 is absolutely stunning.  You know about Koa opening up so as you said in your post - it's only going to get better.  Mine opened this summer and it was amazing.

Congrats and enjoy.

Thanks TP,

I'm going to (hopefully) accelerate the opening up process a bit with the ToneRite. I've never used one and am honestly a bit of a sceptic, but I've found no reports of the process damaging or worsening the tone of a guitar so I figure "nothing ventured, nothing gained". While I'm on vacation next week, I'm planning on letting the ToneRite do it's thing.

Mark

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

What style of music do you play?  I do mostly flatpicking with some strumming.  I got the GS Mini the other day and didn't get to play it enough yet to compare it against my Koa but it seems the Koa is brighter and to me sounds so full tho' that could be the GS body.  I'm still learning about all the differences in woods and body shapes.

How are you going to survive a week away from your new baby?

[cjd-player]

Wow, what a beautiful guitar.  Andy Powers is certainly doing great work at Taylor.  Taylor's future would seem to be in good hands.

Congratulations.

[Terry]

Well done! It's almost too pretty to play
Congrats.

[markallen]

What style of music do you play?  I do mostly flatpicking with some strumming.  I got the GS Mini the other day and didn't get to play it enough yet to compare it against my Koa but it seems the Koa is brighter and to me sounds so full tho' that could be the GS body.  I'm still learning about all the differences in woods and body shapes.

How are you going to survive a week away from your new baby?

I play mainly light strumming and fingerpicking. Folk / campfire / worship type stuff. I had the 12 fret short scale and it just seemed a bit too cramped for me. This of course is more "me than "guitar" as I'm 6'2" and 240# with stubby fingers.

The Koa is bright. In fact, I also have a GS6 big leaf maple and the Koa is easily as bright as the maple. I'm just loving the feel of it so far.

Yes, I'm going to miss her next week. But mama and I are going to Branson and then a side trip to Nashville, so I think I'll have plenty to do.

[michaelw]

ho, ho ... whoa

that is some ultra-flamed koa on your new guitar, Mark

congrats & thanks for sharing the pics with us

i like the reflection on this one, kind of a 'solarized' effect ...  extremely


very nice

[bo1142]

Holy geez!  That is beautiful.  Congratulations.  You know that there is a downside to an all Koa guitar, right?  You can't play it ALL the time...you must sleep   Enjoy!

[LindaLoo]

Absolutely stunning!!!! Many congratulations.

[gdeleo]

That is one beautiful guitar.  All the best of luck with it.

[Raven]

Very Nice !!!!!! I love mine as well !!!! Congrats ....... 

[John429]

Super beautiful guitar, Mark! I love the fret board inlay as well. You will have so much enjoyment playing it!

[Edward]

WOW!  That is some amazing koa ...easily some of the finest koa I have ever seen.  Congrats and enjoy!

Edward

[Strumming Fool]

Mark-

That's just stunning! I had the good fortune to play one recently at Martin Music in Memphis TN. I think that Taylor seems to have gained an edge over other builders regarding koa-topped guitars. While I'm not much of fan of a hardwood-topped guitars, the last few I've played from Taylor sounded really good right out of the box. I wish you many, many years with that lovely instrument. Congrats and Merry Christmas.