When I design a stock instrument, I usually start with one inspiring piece of wood and let it lead me through the shop. Everything else is a variation on the original theme, complimenting it or adding contrast. In this case, I was excited to use this Sitka Spruce, harvested by luthier Craig Wilson and his father. This particular top has so much color and grain variation that I couldn’t wait to build around it. The one piece back and sides are quilted/curly Koa, from a board I saved from the old Mya-Moe shop. The fretboard/headplate/bridge is Jatoba, a South American hardwood I salvaged from the Carpenter Ant stash. I used more spruce for the neck, with Jatoba and maple laminations. The maple binding wraps it all up. With a spruce top and a low g, it sounds awesome. Whenever I use Koa, I donate to plant more Koa trees in Hawaii through https://savinghawaiisforests.org.