Custom Cooba & Old growth Sitka Spruce

Built to Be Driven

The Maker’s Choice IV guitar is built to be driven. It rewards a confident hand, delivering serious volume and headroom, with a voice that is bold, immediate, and full of character. There is a rawness to its response, an expressive, grunty edge that invites you to dig in and push it harder, while still holding onto clarity and control when you pull it back.

Rare Tonewood Foundation

At the heart of this instrument is a rare and highly prized Australian Cooba set, drawn from Aaron’s personal collection and paired with an old growth Sitka Spruce soundboard. Together, they deliver a tonal profile that is powerful yet balanced, with strong projection and a clear, open top end supported by a rich, focused midrange that cuts through without ever becoming harsh.

The Voice of Cooba

Cooba, a lesser known Acacia species, is not something you will find in mainstream guitars. Sourced in limited quantities over many years, it produces a lightweight yet highly responsive timber. Its voice carries some of the depth and complexity often associated with Rosewood, but with a more forward, present midrange that gives the instrument its punch and immediacy.

Body Shape & Performance

In shaping this build, the team selected the Grand Auditorium body as the ideal platform for this pairing. Slightly broader through the lower bout than the D 78, yet with a tighter waist, it provides the balance and control needed to realise the intended voicing, enhancing both projection and articulation across the entire range.

Refined Aesthetic Detail

Aesthetically, the guitar is equally deliberate. A stunning segmented rosette features fiddleback Australian Blackwood, with maple bindings carefully selected to offset the deep chocolate tones of the back and sides. The contrast is refined but confident, giving the instrument a visual identity that complements its tonal strength without overpowering it.

A Guitar with Intent

The result is a guitar with a distinct personality, one that feels alive under the hands and pushes you to play with intent. It responds when you lean in, holds together when you back off, and rewards every nuance in between.