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Puluke
Aloha
USA
36 Posts |
 Posted - 03/09/2012 : 3:01:44 PM
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Does anybody have opinions on Voyage Air guitars? Their neck folds, so that it can be put into its small case and be easily carried onto a plane. Is it a gimmick? Does anyone know how they sound?
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- Bruce |
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GuitarVlog
Akahai
USA
60 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2012 : 4:50:36 PM
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I played a prototype and tried out the folding neck. It's not a gimmick. The hinge design works rather well.
If you go to www.acousticguitarforum.com and do a search for previous topics, you'll find that owners have favorable opinions of them. |
- Keo |
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Russell Letson
`Olu`olu
USA
504 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2012 : 07:05:16 AM
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The sample I played worked well mechanically and sounded at least decent. I might have bought it as a travel guitar, except that the case didn't look strong enough to survive the baggage system, should some airline employee refuse to let it be kept in the cabin. And the whole package is just fat enough that it would not fit in the overhead of some smaller aircraft, which guarantees that eventually it would go into the hold.
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Earl
`Olu`olu
USA
523 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2012 : 07:02:21 AM
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I own a Voyage Air OM-02 guitar, the least expensive series that they make. The folding mechanism works quite well, and I routinely break the guitar down to show that function off. People are amazed when I fold the guitar. When space isn't an issue, I put it in a regular gig bag and leave it assembled and tuned.
I had to do some minor modifications to the setup. The strings were binding slightly through the captive nut, and I had to relieve the holes on the thicker bass strings slightly and lube them with graphite. The guitar also came strung up with the windings high on the capstan post, and that made the binding worse. The result was that the guitar would not be in tune when reassembled. It is better now.
This was an all laminated wood model, and it does not sound as good as a solid wood guitar. I bought it as a trial when they had a sale, and wanted more durable laminated materials. The more expensive solid wood models sound quite good. This one is comparable in tone to a $250 Yamaha FG series with laminated woods.
The neck heel does stick up from the hinge point when folded, and the case therefore sticks out about four inches. That might make for trouble fitting in smaller overhead bins. It is a decently padded gig bag, so it won't survive the baggage system if you are forced to check it. It would probably fit just fine under the seat in front of you. I have not flown with it -- I don't fly anymore, period. (That's another story).
The backpack is comfortable when cruising around festivals and campgrounds, and it also attaches nicely on the back of the motorcycle.
No it won't take the place of my Taylor 414 for sound, but it is decently playable, and there are times when there is an advanatage having a more compact package that transports easily.
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2012 : 07:59:43 AM
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| I have heard good things but have never played one myself. I think quite a few Taropatchers own Voyage Airs. |
Andy |
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Allen M Cary
Lokahi
USA
158 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2012 : 10:01:55 AM
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The late Lance McCollum built one of the first Voyage Air guitars to show that it wasn't just a gimmick, but could be used on a high end custom Luthier-built guitar. I saw it and played it at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival in 2009. It was amazing that a guitar that good could fold in half. It even stayed in tune after folding and restraightening. I just wish they would sell the neck mechanism to us luthiers. I'd build one in a heartbeat.
Aloha,
Allen |
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chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2012 : 3:27:00 PM
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| I have one and it's acceptable for a full sized travel guitar. I also have a Calton that I use for my Taylor 814ce, but I haven't taken it to Hawaii since I got the Voyage-Air. Mine does have a solid wood top and I find that it works better with mediums (Elixir PB Nanowebs) and tuned down 1 step from Taro Patch. I liked it enough to install Fishman Rare Earth. As Earl said, it probably won't replace your go-to rig, but it works for me going to Hawaii twice a year. As Russel said, you may still have issues on smaller craft that don't have full-sized overheads. |
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jon
Aloha
9 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2012 : 4:38:11 PM
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The OM model is not a bad guitar. It's comfortable to play and has a reasonably good sound.
The hinge mechanism is quite amazing - really strong and stable. It pretty much stays in tune when you unfold it.
The backpack has two sections: one holds the folded guitar and the other holds books and other paraphernalia. When they are zipped together, they are too thick to fit into the overhead rack of a Hawaiian Airlines 767. Unzipped, they fit fine. The whole package is no larger than the carry on suitcases so you should not have any trouble getting it onto the plane.
Another consideration is that when you get where you are going, your unfolded guitar will have no protection unless you fold it and put it back in its little case. |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 06:36:46 AM
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quote:
The whole package is no larger than the carry on suitcases so you should not have any trouble getting it onto the plane.
I nearly bought a Voyage Air. Armed with the maximum dimensions that United Airlines and American Airlines allow for carry-on (which is 9x13x22 and 10x13x22), I went to Gryphon Music and measured the guitar folded in it's case (but without that extra pocket). It exceeds the depth dimension considerably and will NOT fit in one of those test boxes they sometimes make you use at the airport. Of course, many people bring carry-ons that are bigger than 10x13x22, and mostly the crew ignore small excesses, but I have seen more than one passenger forced to use the test box and then forced to gate-check.
I no longer try to carry-on a guitar of any kind, just check it in inside a very good case.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
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noeau
Ha`aha`a
USA
1105 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 09:19:27 AM
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| It is a great guitar for the price. I got a solid top OM and often use it at gigs it has a K&K Western that I had installed. Donʻt even need a pre-amp. |
No'eau, eia au he mea pa'ani wale nō. |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 12:14:05 PM
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Paul has a Voyage-Air and he likes it. His is the cheapest, smallest model and it is made of laminated wood. It is wonderful for not bopping your wife on the head in the airport while your shorts fall down to your ankles. It is also a great conversation piece. The model he has does not have a pickup. He has a magnetic pickup that he can use if need be for amplification purposes. Me, from the audience standpoint -- I don't like it. I don't think it sounds very good at all. It sounds plinky and it is not very loud and it sounds rather tinny. He changed the strings that it came with because they just did not lend themselves to ki ho`alu. They were too light and flopped around, so he put Elixir strings on it. He took it to O`ahu last summer and it fit in all the overhead bins just fine. He also takes it places where space might be tight, like when we go to someone's house and there is a crowd.
It is a remarkable engineering feat. That is something I am in awe of -- that someone had the idea to do such a thing and the smarts to work it all out.
I reckon for the money it is all right. It does what he bought it for -- it travels easily so he doesn't have to worry about the Taylor getting wanged around by the airlines when it is gate checked. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
Edited by - wcerto on 03/13/2012 2:47:24 PM |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 12:18:20 PM
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| No'eau's sounds really good, IMHO. |
keaka |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 12:19:30 PM
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| No'eau's sounds really good, IMHO. |
keaka |
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Topic |
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Voyage Air Guitars?
