Suhr Standard Koa vs Mahogany

After posting my koa & pau ferro demonstration I received a number of questions about how koa compares to mahogany. Since I think the tones should speak for themselves I decided to put together this comparison.

The Gear:

Guitars:
Suhr Standard (natural finish)
Koa Body, pau ferro neck and fingerboard

Suhr Standard (tobacco burst)
Mahogany body & neck, maple top and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard

Both guitars have identical Suhr pickups: DSH - bridge, V60lp Middle, DSV neck

Amp(s):
CAA OD100 Classic + (all but final high gain clips)
David Friedman "Hairy Brow Eye" Modded Egnater Seminar Head (final high gain clips)

Cab: CAA 1x12 with Eminence Governor

Recording gear:
Mic: SM57
I/O & mic pre: MOTU 896
Software: Ableton Live & Final Cut Express

Category:

Music

Tags:

• koa
• pau ferro
• mahogany
• brazilian rosewood
• suhr
• suhr standard
• guitar
• CAA
• custom audio amplifiers
• od100
• classic +
• egnater
• david friedman
• hairy brown eye
• eminence governors
• reb beach
• DSH
• DSV

[AndreNieri]

i don't think it's a very accurate comparison, since both guitars don't share the same neck and scale specs. but great tones, anyway...

[lacis]

@AndreNieri Actually the scale specs are identical. Its not so much koa vs mahogany as its koa with pau ferro vs. mahogany with mahognay. If you're interested in a tone comparison with a neck swap, I invite you to check out my alder vs swamp ash with a neck swap clip archive at my website.

[Psycherz]

Could you do a video just like this but with Alder and mahogany? I'm very curious as to how alder sounds in comparison.

[lacis]

@Psycherz I used to own an Alder standard with the exact same specs (other than woods) as the koa. If I re-acquire that guitar I'd be happy to do a demo.

[topperspoppers]

i think i prefer the mahogany... none the less.. nice comparison...

could i detect some jamiroquai at the beginning?

[lacis]

@topperspoppers There is always the possibility of hearing Jamiroquai in my playing. ;-)

[bischerosti]

The Koa sounds Beautiful, every note is so articulate. I want one!!!!

[helterskelter786]

@lacis

Do you think the alder Suhr you mentioned having owned before sounded stratty or twangy, even at the 1 or 5 positions? I mean, did it sound too distant from the mahogany one, which btw is my favorite in this video...? Thanks

[Morenas1222]

Those are best Suhr pickups in your opinion?

[rabbani1995]

it is indeed sounded different, but i'm not really sure nor able to explain how they differ from each other in tone. what do you think about the difference?

[MorlowKing]

Btw clean is CAA OD 100C?

[MorlowKing]

Koa is warmed becouse the one with mahogany has maple top. :/

[rabbitspliff]

I was wondering if you could tell me the relative tonal differences if, theoretically, you were to use a Maple neck instead of a Pau Ferro, on the Koa one (Pau Ferro fingerboard remaining)?

[lifeson241]

The koa is bright and clear, versus the mahogony seems to be thin not as bright as the koa, although playing Dokken on the mahogony was the Winner, I would go with the koa...Thanks alot for the demonstration !!!

[BrothersCinco]

only slight difference to my ears. the mahogany is more balanced and harmonically even while the koa is thicker in the mid range and a little more in your face.