On Denver Craigslist.
NFI
https://denver.craigslist.org/msg/d/...009834334.html
Attachment 180884
Printable View
On Denver Craigslist.
NFI
https://denver.craigslist.org/msg/d/...009834334.html
Attachment 180884
Nice
very nice, maple back and sides, i bet that is bright and punchy
That is Koa top, back and sides. No maple at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by ollaimh
Wasn't the AK all koa wood?
Is that a crack I see roughly beneath the E strings?
wow beautiful koa. it is flamed like maple. so it should be very bright.
Top is spruce, back & sides are koa.
The AK has top, back and sides of Koa.Quote:
Originally Posted by 20MartinA
Martin made koa instruments from the late 1910's until 1940. The first koa mandolin was built in 1918. AK mandolins were made in standard production from 1921 until 1937. A few BK mandolins were made in 1921 and 1925.
All of Martin's pre-war koa instruments had koa tops. It is possible that a special order instrument with a spruce top could come to light, but I have not heard of such an instrument.
Spruce tops became available on koa Martins when they re-introduced koa guitars in 1980. A handful of koa mandolins were built in the 1980's. They were listed with koa tops. One is currently for sale at a well known music store.
The above information comes from the Martin history books by Longworth, Johnston, and Boak.
For those who know a little bit about wood, it is clear that the craigslist mandolin has an all koa body, including the top. It is unusual to see one with such prominent figuring in the wood. It is a very attractive instrument.