Essentially an extended guitar neck, last year's Cross Guitar featured a fold-down plank and an arm rest for quiet playing comfort while traveling. Now its makers have installed an amp and pickup system and refined the design, and have returned to Kickstarter to fund the production of version 2.0.
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Instrument modder Frank Piesik has combined 3D printing, electronic hackery and touch sensing to create the ElektroCaster that bridges the gap between traditional guitars like a Telecaster and full-on electronic sound makers like the (no longer in production) Kitara.
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Full-sized guitars don't exactly make easy travel buddies – dreadnoughts are bulky and pickup-packing axes often heavy. Travel guitars can help, but players may have to make sacrifices for portability. Genesis guitars have been designed to marry full-size feel and tone with travel-ready convenience.
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When standing up, guitarists can adjust a strap to personal comfort or ergonomics. But trying to get the same feel when sitting in the studio or rehearsal room can be a challenge. The Performaxe is a leg rest for electrics that's been designed to put frets within easy reach when seated.
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Carry-on luggage restrictions mean that musicians can't usually stow a guitar in an overhead locker, so either have to pay for an extra ticket or run the gauntlet and check it in. The Mercury Modular Guitar can be broken apart and squeezed into a carry-on suitcase.
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Last year, startup RnD64 launched a portable digital guitar called the Jammy that slid out from 12.6 inches long during transit to nearly 20 inches for play. Now the Delaware team has totally redesigned the travel-friendly instrument, which has just gone up for pre-order.
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Back in 2016, Line 6 claimed its Relay G10 was the easiest wireless guitar system to use. A year later, Boss joined in with its own plug and play system for the portable Katana Air amplifier. Now the Roland-owned music gear maker has launched a new line of wireless systems called the WL Series.
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We've seen the big players in the guitar-making world raid stocks of old or reclaimed wood to create rather impressive limited run instruments. But none of those has quite as much character as The Bench from artist, maker and upcycler Keith Decent from New York's Hudson Valley.
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On May 19, music lovers and collectors will get their chance to snag a treasure trove of memorabilia linked to rock and pop icons. Among many items of clothing, handwritten song lyrics and instruments once owned by rock's greatest stars is an gem of a find that's not been seen in public since 1965.
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Exotic hardwoods are getting harder to come by and tighter tonewood regulations are having an impact on guitar making. France's Alquier Guitars is going all out for its Cosmic builds, turning away from tropical wood, making use of sustainable bamboo and breaking out titanium hardware.
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