Best Koa Acoustic Guitars of 2025

Nicole Kim Avatar
Nicole Kim
Last Updated: Jan 2, 2025

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Koa acoustic guitars are a popular choice among musicians for their unique sound and beautiful appearance. These guitars are made with koa wood, which is native to Hawaii and prized for its rich tones and striking grain patterns. Koa guitars are known for their warm, balanced sound and are often used for fingerstyle playing. They are also highly collectible due to their rarity and beauty. If you're looking for a high-quality acoustic guitar with a distinctive sound and appearance, a koa guitar may be the perfect choice for you.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Martin D-X1E Koa Guitar Cover #TOP 1
Martin D-X1E Koa Guitar
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus ES2 Acoustic-electric Guitar Cover #TOP 2
Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus ES2 Acoustic-electric Guitar
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Washburn G-Mini 55 Koa Guitar Cover #TOP 3
Washburn G-Mini 55 Koa Guitar
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Koa Acoustic Guitars

#TOP 1

Martin D-X1E Koa Guitar

MARTIN
11DX1EKOA
Natural
Martin D-X1E Koa Guitar Cover
Martin D-X1E Koa Acoustic-electric Guitar - Figured Koa

The Martin D-X1E Koa is a versatile 6-string acoustic-electric guitar designed for musicians who value quality and playability. Its HPL top provides durability while ensuring a balanced sound, perfect for both strumming and fingerpicking. The Richlite fingerboard, made from figured koa, offers a smooth playing experience, enhancing your comfort during long practice sessions. With HPL back and sides, this guitar is resistant to changes in humidity, making it ideal for performers on the go. The birch neck adds stability and ease of play, allowing you to focus on your music without distractions.

What We Like
Durable HPL construction
Smooth Richlite fingerboard
Stable birch neck
Humidity-resistant design

Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus ES2 Acoustic-electric Guitar

FG02016011001751084
Shaded Edgeburst
Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus ES2 Acoustic-electric Guitar Cover
Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus - Shaded Edgeburst

The Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus ES2 Acoustic-electric Guitar is an exceptional instrument with solid Koa top, ebony fingerboard in shaded edgeburst, Koa back, sides, and a mahogany neck. The guitar is perfect for those who want an acoustic-electric guitar that is comfortable to play and has a beautiful tonality. The guitar has a scale length of 23.5 Inches, making it easy to play, even for beginners. The nickel strings produce a bright and vibrant sound, while the layered Koa back material type enhances the guitar's durability and stability. The guitar is designed for right-handed players and comes with a gig bag, making it easy to carry and store.

What We Like
Exceptional tonality with solid Koa top and ebony fingerboard
Durable and stable with layered Koa back material type
Comfortable to play with a scale length of 23.5 Inches

Washburn G-Mini 55 Koa Guitar

WCGM55K-D
Natural
Travel Size
Washburn G-Mini 55 Koa Guitar Cover
Washburn Comfort G-Mini 55 Koa Travel Size Acoustic Guitar, Natural

The Washburn G-Mini Guitar is a compact travel-sized instrument designed for musicians on the go. Its solid spruce top combined with mahogany back and sides produces a rich, resonant sound, making it perfect for both practice and performance. The ebony bridge and fretboard enhance playability and comfort, allowing you to enjoy longer playing sessions without strain. With a scale length of 23-1/4 inches and a nut width of 1-11/16 inches, this guitar is easy to handle and ideal for various playing styles. Plus, it comes with a gig bag for convenient transport.

What We Like
Rich sound quality
Comfortable playability
Compact and portable
Includes gig bag
#TOP 4

Taylor Baby BT Koa Guitar

FB03005000007871000
Natural
Taylor Baby BT Koa Guitar Cover
Taylor Baby BT Koa Acoustic Guitar - Natural

The Taylor Baby BT Guitar features a stunning Koa top that not only enhances its visual appeal but also provides a warm, rich tone. With an ebony fingerboard, you can enjoy smooth playability and quick response, making it easier to express your musical ideas. The laminate back and sides contribute to the guitar's durability, ensuring it withstands the test of time. Additionally, the maple neck offers stability and comfort, allowing you to play for hours without discomfort. This combination of features makes the Taylor Baby BT Guitar a fantastic choice for both beginners and experienced players alike.

What We Like
Beautiful Koa top
Smooth ebony fingerboard
Durable laminate construction
Comfortable maple neck
#TOP 5

Luna Safari Koa Supreme Guitar

SAFKOASUPREME
Natural
Luna Safari Koa Supreme Guitar Cover
Luna Guitars Safari Koa Supreme 6 String Acoustic/Electric Guitar with Gigbag, Right (SAFKOASUPREME)

The Luna Safari Koa Guitar is designed for musicians who appreciate quality craftsmanship. It features a set neck construction, providing stability and ease of playability, which is perfect for both beginners and advanced players. The body is made from solid "A" grade Koa, offering a warm and rich sound that enhances your music. With a mahogany neck, you'll experience smooth transitions along the fretboard, making it comfortable to play. The pau ferro fretboard and bridge add durability and a touch of elegance, ensuring your guitar not only sounds great but looks stunning too.

What We Like
High-quality Koa construction
Set neck for stability
Smooth mahogany neck
Durable pau ferro materials
#TOP 6

Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Guitar

GS Mini-e Koa
Natural
Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Guitar Cover
Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Acoustic-Electric Guitar w/Structured Gig Bag

The Taylor GS Mini-e Guitar is an excellent choice for travel and beginner musicians alike. Its compact size makes it easy to carry, allowing you to play music wherever you go. The included gig bag ensures your guitar stays protected during transport. With a stunning Koa top, this guitar not only sounds great but also looks beautiful, enhancing your playing experience. Additionally, its impressive build quality ensures durability, giving you confidence that it will last through your musical journey.

What We Like
Portable and travel-friendly
Includes protective gig bag
Stunning Koa wood appearance
Durable construction
#TOP 7

Little Martin LXK2 Acoustic Guitar

MARTIN
LXK2
Dark Natural
Right
Little Martin LXK2 Acoustic Guitar Cover
Little Martin LXK2 Acoustic Guitar with Gig Bag, Koa and Sitka Spruce HPL Construction, Modified 0-14 Fret, Modified Low Oval Neck Shape Dark Natural

The Little Martin LXK2 is a high-quality steel-string acoustic guitar that has a Sitka spruce and koa high-pressure laminate (HPL) construction. It produces professional sound, making it ideal for playing around a campfire or practicing around the house. The guitar is built with sustainable wood certified parts, features a mortise and tenon neck joint, non-scalloped X-Brace, standard tapered neck, and chrome-enclosed gear tuners, which make it as captivating as it sounds. It delivers enhanced playability, making playing a pleasure, no matter your experience or skill level. Little Martin guitars are built to stand up to late-night jams, long studio sessions, and plenty of strumming or picking.

What We Like
Professional sound
Superior appearance
Enhanced playability
#TOP 8

Oscar Schmidt OG2KOA-A

OG2KOA-A
Oscar Schmidt OG2KOA-A Cover
Oscar Schmidt 6 String OG2 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar. Koa, Right, (OG2KOA-A)

The Oscar Schmidt OG2KOA-A, also known as the Oscar Schmidt Dreadnought Guitar, is a 6-string acoustic guitar that belongs to the steel-string acoustic guitars category. This guitar features a dreadnought style, which provides a rich and full sound. The fully adjustable truss rod allows you to easily adjust the neck of the guitar to suit your playing style and preferences. The chrome die-cast tuners ensure precise tuning and stability, so you can play with confidence. With standard x bracing, this guitar offers enhanced support and resonance for a more balanced and powerful sound. The Oscar Schmidt OG2KOA-A comes with a lifetime warranty, giving you peace of mind and assurance of its quality and durability.

What We Like
Dreadnought style
Fully adjustable truss rod
Chrome die-cast tuners
#TOP 9

Journey Instruments Acacia Koa Travel Guitar

OF882CN
Yellow Brown
Journey Instruments Acacia Koa Travel Guitar Cover
Journey Instruments Solid Acacia Koa Travel Guitar – OF882CN Traveling Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Collapsible Patented System – Portable Backpack Case (Overhead)

The Journey Instruments Travel Guitar is designed for musicians on the go. Its innovative collapsible neck system allows you to set it up or take it down in about 20 seconds, making it incredibly convenient for travel. You’ll appreciate the guitar's exceptional sound quality, thanks to its advanced bracing that enhances resonance and volume for any performance size. Plus, the included TSA-compliant backpack case ensures your guitar is protected and easy to carry on airplanes. With a lifetime warranty on the neck locking system, you can enjoy peace of mind while you travel with your music.

What We Like
Portable and easy to assemble
High-quality sound performance
TSA-compliant carry case
Lifetime warranty on neck
#TOP 10

GAEA 36 inch Solid Koa Top Travel style Acoustic Guitar

GS-603
Black
GAEA 36 inch Solid Koa Top Travel style Acoustic Guitar Cover
GAEA 36 inch Solid Koa Top Travel style Acoustic Guitar with D'Adario EXP-16 Coated Phosphor Bronze String Koa Back & Side Rosewood Fingerboard & bridge (Acoustic) (GS-603)

The GAEA Solid Koa Acoustic Guitar is a travel-style acoustic guitar with a 36-inch size. It features a solid A+ grade Koa top and Koa back and side, providing a rich and resonant sound. The black chrome die-cast machine heads ensure stable intonation, while the EXP-16 coated phosphor bronze string sets offer excellent tone and durability. With a nut width of 1 3/4'' and a scale length of 23 1/2'', this guitar is comfortable to play. The mahogany neck adds to the overall quality and feel of the instrument. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, the GAEA Solid Koa Acoustic Guitar is a reliable and versatile choice.

What We Like
Rich and resonant sound
Stable intonation
Durable coated phosphor bronze strings
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are koa guitars good?

Lightweight, rigid, yet bendable, Koa is a great material for guitar manufacturers to work with. When paired with the right soundboard, it also has a wonderful tonal quality.

2. What does koa mean in guitars?

Because koa is a 'tonewood,' it is used to make ukuleles, acoustic guitars, and Weissenborn-style Hawaiian steel guitars. In Hawaiian, the word koa itself means brave, bold, fearless or warrior. The Hawaiian music fad of the 1900s-1920s brought farther reaching awareness to this unique and beautiful wood.

3. What do koa guitars sound like?

Due to its density, a new koa guitar tends to start out sounding a little bright and tight, somewhat like maple. But the more a koa guitar is played, the more the sound opens up, expanding the midrange and rewarding the player with a richer, sweeter, more resonant tone.

4. Does Martin make a koa guitar?

With the 000-12E Koa in Martin's lineup, now more players can turn their dreams of owning a koa guitar into reality. The back and side of this gorgeous model are constructed with koa fine veneer, which is an environmentally conscious, alternative-wood option, made by bonding koa hardwood to an African mahogany core.

Editor's Notes

During our koa acoustic guitar research, we found 24 koa acoustic guitar products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 2,880 customer reviews through our big data system to write the koa acoustic guitars list. We found that most customers choose koa acoustic guitars with an average price of $1,011.10.

The koa acoustic guitars are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of koa acoustic guitars, including MARTIN, Taylor, Washburn, LUNA, Oscar Schmidt. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 74 consumers with an average rating of 4.8.

Written by
Nicole Kim Avatar

Nicole Kim has been a music teacher and a private piano instructor for six years now. She is a very talented musician who plays piano to a high standard and won several awards in international piano competitions. Lately, she has been sharing her music expertise online, giving incredible tips on how to select the right musical instruments.