Ecology – The regional wood used in the manufacture of Ouessant “insitu” confirmed for Kopo that the use of exotic woods such as mahogany, ebony or rosewood, a tradition inherited from colonial history, is really a choice based on criteria thought to be in service of acoustical functioning. Kopo has strived for many years to find regional wood species that replace conventional woods  from distant sources.

 Ash, for example, has long been the preferred wood carpenters and wheelwrights for the manufacture of all parts requiring high elasticity (wheels, leaf springs, bows, etc.). This is a timber whose mechanical properties  promote the same dynamic stiffness that can be expected from a wood used for instruments. Other regional woods such as walnut, cherry, cypress and maple of course can also be used for the back and sides of guitars. For the soundboard, if a change in the material should take place, his research suggests a compound of different species possibly married to composites is best. From experience, spruce and cedar are not questioned in the manufacture of guitar and remain essential for their woody structure, favoring the acoustic transmission. For parts subject to more wear, such as fingerboard and bridge parts, the choice is more limited because woods that dense are more rare in Europe. However, Cormier (a regional wood species) corresponds to the criteria of hardness and stability since it was used to make tools (handles, planes made from wood, etc. ). Fallen into disuse among woodworkers, this wood is now more rare and difficult to find. The wood from a lime tree used for the neck might be selected for its weight, mechanical strength, and low density. It is quite sufficient for stability and lightness especially when it is assembled in multiple folds. To every extent possible, once a wood species selected Kopo is committed to sourcing from sawmills and woods near Europe or France.  It goes without saying that wood suppliers Kopo works with are able to specify the provenance of the species they are selling.