This is the world famous elegant King of Woods. During the monarchy period in Hawaii, no one was allowed to be in possession of this wood except royalty. It was truly the Wood of Kings. Koa is highly prized for musical instruments as one of the rarest and most beautiful woods in the world. It's availability is limited and is cherished by anyone fortunate enough to own it. Like gold, it increases in value. The tonality of this magnificent wood is warm and brilliant.
Hawaiian Koa drums are fitted with our premier Custom Traditional model hardware. Made of 100% Stainless steel, this hardware or jewelry is hand buffed to a mirror finish. Volcano Percussion is the only company in the world that produces hardware of this quality and originality. We were awarded First Place in the Best Musical Instrument category at the 2004 Hawaii Forest Industry Association Woodworking Show juried competition in Honolulu Hawaii.
The tonality of these drums are fantastic. We strive to delight all percussionists with our unique sounds and beauty. Our quintos produce cracking brilliant highs. The congas emit rich, strong and warm clarity with resonance. As for our tumbas, they command bass with their extra large bellies in addition to having responsive sustain and projection.
Koa is prized for its stunning beauty and figuring. The different colors and textures of Koa wood are determined by the tree's age, the kind of soil, and elevation that the tree grows in. Koa hues range from light golden blonde, to deep auburn red, to dark chocolate brown. Not all Koa is created equal, the highest quality Koa is curly, tigerstripe and fiddleback Koa. These woods have high figuring and chatoyancy (cat's eye effect).
| 9.00" - Super Mini Requinto |
| 09.75" - Super Requinto |
| 10.25" - Requinto |
| 11.00" - Quinto |
| 11.75" - Conga |
| 12.50" - Tumba |
| 13.25" - Super Tumba |
| 14.00" - Boomba |
| 15.00" - Super Boomba |
| All drum heights 30" |
For Koa Wood instruments: The most compelling quality of Koa as a tone wood is the midrange focus with extra top-end brightness and chime. Only a very small fraction cut and collected Koa wood goes to instrument making.
Wood Choices: Are Koa, Monkeypod and Mango. Each come in a
Grade: of quality being: Premium, Full Curl, and Partical Curl. And for Monkeypod additionally Figured and Highly Figured. And additionally for Mango is Spalted Mango.
Configurations: Or Styles vary between: Single Choice, Single Alternate, or Double Alternate.
The photo above shows some of the woods, grades and configurations to give an idea of the choices of combinations. It is a visual guide only as your drum will vary in its grain and figure patterns. Hence your drum will vary because "Every Drum is Truly a Unique Original". You will see other drums throughout the website that will vary highly in it's looks. "Where Every Drum is an Original".
