KOA Esquire + Black Korina

"As each of my guitars is built, I'd like to think I give it life"--- Zi Guitar

Black Korina Stealth Esquire

Some of the world’s most prized vintage guitars are made from a West African hardwood called Korina also known as Limba. Today the original "Flying V's" and "Explorers" are bringing prices in excess of $300,000.00.
In my opinion I believe this legendary exotic tone wood is the absolute best wood to make a guitar from. It dense with tone, not only gives the guitar great sounding & most tonal, but virtually it's also one of the most beautifully figured exotic hardwoods in the world, with distinctive natural wood grain and patterns.
Therefore, I’ve chosen this premium wood to fashion of my Exotic wood series "The Black Korina Stealth Esquire" to take on a timeless classic. Of course, forgot to mention, I also decided to add a little secret under the hood (with hidden neck and middle pickups)

KOA Esquire

In Hawaiian, the word “Koa” literally translates to “warrior,” and the name comes from the wood’s association with the warriors of Kamehameha the Great. During Kamehameha’s reign, Koa was so highly regarded that anyone other than the royal class was prohibited from owning it. Its subsequent popularization kicked off the famous ukulele trend of the 1910s and 1920s, achieving global popularity for the instrument as a result.
Lutherie is an art that requires the absolute best in exotic woods and Hawaiian KOA has been treasured ever since by luthiers around the world. As a tonewood, Koa is warm but balanced with a clear bottom end and defined upper range without being overly bright. Its midrange is nice and open with moderate warmth. It's not overly loud but does have great projection. With a wide color spectrum and a swirling grain, exceptionally rare figures, Koa is breathtakingly beautiful. It’s a joy to work with and a pure tonal heaven.