Modern guitar

[ChurchHill]

As many have mentioned, a lot of these ideas have been around for some time. The one thing that I've really noticed in the past five years or so, and it's nothing new either, is the wide-spread adaptation of "alternative" woods, things other than maple, mahogany, rosewood, ebony. Of course, woods like korina (limba), walnut, koa, etc., have been used for a long time. Others are relative newcomers. It may just be me, but I've noticed that there is a much larger variety of woods being used now and across a much wider market spectrum.

 

[the rossness]

As many have mentioned, a lot of these ideas have been around for some time. The one thing that I've really noticed in the past five years or so, and it's nothing new either, is the wide-spread adaptation of "alternative" woods, things other than maple, mahogany, rosewood, ebony. Of course, woods like korina (limba), walnut, koa, etc., have been used for a long time. Others are relative newcomers. It may just be me, but I've noticed that there is a much larger variety of woods being used now and across a much wider market spectrum.

There was a company called Switch which made guitars out of a plastic material called Vibracel. It was supposed to sound like mahogany. but was very heavy.
RKS guitars had swappable bodies.
I remember demoing an Andreas guitar with a metal fingerboard. (Weird but neat guitar). Vigier also has the fretless guitar with the metal fingerboard
James Trussart makes metal guitars but they've been around for a while now.
I have a Line 6 Variax and I love the tech, but its not being developed further (I'd love to see more R&D put into making it available on more than just line 6/ yamaha guitars)
I've seen the gold frets. True Temperament frets. Why don't we see more companies use these?