Best Koa Top Electric Guitars in 2026
Here you'll find the best Koa top electric guitars. It's a type of wood native to the Hawaiian Islands, where it's pretty common. Its musical properties make it a great wood for making guitars, but it's especially popular for building Ukuleles.
After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.
There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.
After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.
There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.
1. ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (39 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (50 votes)
Show All Specs
| ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | ESP LTD | |
| Year: | 2024 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Japan | |
| Series: | SN | |
| Colors: | Natural | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | Koa | |
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Mahogany | |
| Bridge: | Evertune (F model) | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Grover | |
| Fretboard: | Macassar Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | Maple | |
| Decoration: | Dots | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Thin U | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) | |
| Frets: | 22 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" to 16" | |
| Nut: | Plastic | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Seymour Duncan Custom 14 (ESP Exclusive) (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 5 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Pickup Mods: | Coil Split | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa
ESP LTD SN-1000 Evertune Koa
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Made in Japan
- Expensive Wood
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Stays in Tune (Evertune)
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- No Locking Tuners
- No High-Quality Nut
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
2. Fender Custom Artisan Koa Thinline Stratocaster
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Show All Specs
| Fender Custom Artisan Koa Thinline Stratocaster | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Fender Custom | |
| Year: | 2020 | |
| Configuration: | SSS | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | United States | |
| Series: | Artisan | |
| Colors: | Natural | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | 4A Figured Koa | |
| Type: | Semi-Hollow | |
| Body Material: | Roasted Ash | |
| Bridge: | Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Vintage Style with Tortoise Shell Buttons | |
| Fretboard: | Round-Lam Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | 3A Roasted Birdseye Maple | |
| Decoration: | Mother of Pearl dot | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | '60s Oval C | |
| Frets: | 21 Narrow Tall | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 9.5" to 12" | |
| Nut: | Bone | |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Middle Pickup: | Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 5 | |
| Knobs: | Bell | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 2 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Custom Artisan Koa Thinline Stratocaster
Fender Custom Artisan Koa Thinline Stratocaster
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
3. Ibanez RG6PKAG Premium
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (3 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Herman Li fast (3 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (23 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (15 votes)
Show All Specs
| Ibanez RG6PKAG Premium | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Ibanez | |
| Year: | 2021 | |
| Configuration: | HSS | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | RG | |
| Colors: | Natural | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | Koa | |
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | African Mahogany | |
| Bridge: | Edge | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Gotoh machine heads | |
| Fretboard: | Rosewood | |
| Neck Material: | 11pc Maple/Walnut/Bubinga | |
| Decoration: | Mother of Pearl dot | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Wizard | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.71'' (18mm) - 12th Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 Jumbo Gold | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 16" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 43mm (1.693'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Middle Pickup: | EMG SA (Single Coil / Active) | |
| Neck Pickup: | EMG SA (Single Coil / Active) | |
| Switch: | 5 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Gold | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez RG6PKAG Premium
Ibanez RG6PKAG Premium
- Gold Frets
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
4. EVH Wolfgang WG Standard Exotic Koa
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (6 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (8 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (6 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (6 votes)
Show All Specs
| EVH Wolfgang WG Standard Exotic Koa | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | EVH | |
| Year: | 2022 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | Wolfgang Standard | |
| Colors: | Natural | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | Koa | |
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Basswood | |
| Bridge: | EVH-Branded Floyd Rose Special Locking Tremolo | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | EVH-Branded | |
| Fretboard: | Baked Maple | |
| Neck Material: | Baked Maple | |
| Decoration: | Black Dot | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Wolfgang Backshape | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.88'' (22.4mm) | |
| Frets: | 22 Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" to 16" | |
| Nut: | Locking | |
| Nut Width: | 41.3mm (1.625'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
EVH Wolfgang WG Standard Exotic Koa
EVH Wolfgang WG Standard Exotic Koa
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Retainer Bar
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
5. ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune KOA
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (39 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (50 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (5 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (7 votes)
Show All Specs
| ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune KOA | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | ESP LTD | |
| Year: | 2021 | |
| Configuration: | HH | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | Indonesia | |
| Series: | TE | |
| Colors: | Natural | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | Hawaiian Koa | |
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Mahogany | |
| Bridge: | Evertune (F model) | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Set | |
| Tuners: | LTD Locking | |
| Fretboard: | Macassar Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | 3pc Maple | |
| Decoration: | Offset Dots | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | Thin U | |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) | |
| Frets: | 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 13.78" | |
| Nut: | Plastic | |
| Nut Width: | 42mm (1.654'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | EMG 57 (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Neck Pickup: | EMG 66TW (Humbucker / Active) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Pickup Mods: | Coil Split | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Black | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune KOA
ESP LTD TE-1000 Evertune KOA
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Stays in Tune (Evertune)
- Made in Indonesia
- No High-Quality Nut
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
6. Fender Custom Artisan Koa Dual P90 Strat
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Hard (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Sightly unstable (1 vote)
- Weight: Slightly heavy (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (1 vote)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Clean (1 vote)
Show All Specs
| Fender Custom Artisan Koa Dual P90 Strat | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Fender Custom | |
| Year: | 2020 | |
| Configuration: | P90P90 | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | United States | |
| Series: | Artisan | |
| Colors: | Natural | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | Koa | |
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | 1-Piece Vintage Michigan Mahogany | |
| Bridge: | 6-Saddle Hardtail with Pat. Pend. Saddles | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Vintage Style | |
| Fretboard: | Round-Laminated Rosewood | |
| Neck Material: | 3A Roasted Flame Maple | |
| Decoration: | Vintage Clay Dot | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | 1960 Oval C | |
| Frets: | 21 Narrow Tall | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 9.5" to 12" | |
| Nut: | Bone | |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Fender Custom Shop P90 (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Fender Custom Shop P90 (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Nickel | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Custom Artisan Koa Dual P90 Strat
Fender Custom Artisan Koa Dual P90 Strat
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Weight Relief
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
7. Fender Custom Artisan Koa P90 Telecaster
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Show All Specs
| Fender Custom Artisan Koa P90 Telecaster | ||
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Fender Custom | |
| Year: | 2020 | |
| Configuration: | SP90 | |
| Strings: | 6 | |
| Made in: | United States | |
| Series: | Artisan | |
| Colors: | Natural | |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | |
| Body | ||
| Top: | 4A Figured Koa | |
| Type: | Solid Body | |
| Body Material: | Chambered 2-Piece Fiji Mahogany with 4A Figured Koa Top | |
| Bridge: | Reverse Nocaster Bridge with Brass RSD Saddles | |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Bolt-On | |
| Tuners: | Vintage Style with Tortoise Shell Buttons | |
| Fretboard: | Round-Lam Ebony | |
| Neck Material: | 4A Roasted Flame Maple | |
| Decoration: | Mother of Pearl dot | |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | |
| Shape: | '60s Oval C | |
| Frets: | 21 Jumbo | |
| Fretboard Radius: | 9.5" to 12" | |
| Nut: | Bone | |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Loaded '51 Nocaster (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Neck Pickup: | Fender Custom Shop P90 (Single Coil / Passive) | |
| Switch: | 3 | |
| Knobs: | Dome | |
| Volume Controls: | 1 | |
| Tone Controls: | 1 | |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | |
| Hardware Color: | Chrome | |
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Custom Artisan Koa P90 Telecaster
Fender Custom Artisan Koa P90 Telecaster
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Bone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Weight Relief
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
