The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #99045   Message #2411536
Posted By: SharonA
12-Aug-08 - 10:56 AM
Thread Name: Folding guitars for travel - comments?
Subject: RE: Folding guitars for travel - comments?
Very interesting idea. I wish that the site gave more specs like nut width, scale length, bracing, possible on-board electronics, etc.

I wondered how the strings stayed in place on the nut and bridge, but I see from the FAQ on the Voyage-Air site (linked to by Scrump) that they've solved this with what they call a "Freelock" nut and a "captive" bridge.

Still, there's the inevitable spot in the fingerboard where the neck separates from the body. Any looseness of the hinge or misalignment of neck to body would create unevenness in the fingerboard that would affect the action and perhaps cause buzzing. I'm sure it's all lined up properly at the factory, but how well does it retain its alignment over time and with wear? They put a picture of Brad Paisley on their home page, carrying the guitar around by slinging the neck over his shoulder and letting the guitar body hang by the hinge -- kinda gives folks the wrong idea about how durable it is, if DebC's description of the hinge is any indication!!!!

The case doesn't look like it prevents the neck from wiggling from side to side during transport. (Velcro straps on a detached pad? Phshaww!) DebC says the manufacturer recommends that it be folded in its case only for airplane travel... but what's the point in spending the $$$ for a folding guitar if you have to carry it around in a standard case??

Also, I see from the video that when the neck is folded down, the two sections of the fingerboard are pressed together. Even when placed in the case with the detached pad, there's no padding between those two fingerboard sections. Don't know what the radius of the fingerboard is, but whatever it is, there must be lots of pressure on and rubbing of the fingerboard and frets.

The video shows a soft, backpack-like gig bag which doesn't appear to protect the instrument from being crushed -- what's to keep the headstock, which sticks up when the instrument is folded, from being broken? The product section of the site shows a molded foam carrying case with a handle but no apparent backpack straps. I'd certainly prefer the molded foam for sturdiness but, as michaeldee21 says, it would be nice to be able to carry it on one's back also.

I don't much like the placement of the bolt that one must screw in to attach the neck. Where does one screw in a strap button without interfering with that bolt?

Of course, the biggest question is: what about the instrument's tone???

Again, the folding neck is an interesting idea -- or gimmick -- but it seems to me that they still have a few kinks to work out. For the time being, I'll wait and watch to see if it stands the test of time.