lpfan Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I was just wondering if anyone or any companies have ever tried to make guitars out of materials other than wood? If so, what did they or you use? How was the sound? Please post pics and links if you have any info. I'm an industrial technology major at EKU and I thought that this info might be useful for a presentation in one of my "materials" classes. Thanks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSDx Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I was just wondering if anyone or any companies have ever tried to make guitars out of materials other than wood? If so' date=' what did they or you use? How was the sound? Please post pics and links if you have any info. I'm an industrial technology major at EKU and I thought that this info might be useful for a presentation in one of my "materials" classes. Thanks!!![/quote'] Assuming you mean the body, how's 'bout the Dan Armstrong Plexiglass guitar ??? http://www.danarmstrong.org/ http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document?cpd=0OEY&doc_id=99371&base_pid=514304&index=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart1281734103 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 http://www.rainsong.com/sound/ http://www.otheroom.com/namm99/Guitars.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntelligentAl Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I think Jack White plays a guitar thats made mostly from plastic, and he makes that sound pretty awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart1281734103 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 And don't forget Nationals, et al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EpiEric Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Jack White's guitar IntelligentAl mentioned is an Airline (Montgomery Ward) Res-O-Glass. They had a fiberglass body. The original L Series Steinbergers were "Steinberger Blend" a combination of graphite and carbon fiber. Danelectros are Masonite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexygibson Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Yep; Martin has been doing that for a while now; and lets not forget Ovation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 There is a small guitar company in England, Making Guitars out of Recycled plastic bottles with maple necks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I'm an industrial technology major at EKU and I thought that this info might be useful for a presentation in one of my "materials" classes. Thanks!!! You're the industrial technology major, you tell me!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I remember ! Simon lee cyclotron guitars..... see the link simon lee wbsite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxHart85231281734137 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 i got a danolectro dc (like Jimmy Page) im pretty sure that its made out of plastic tops, with a masonite body its sounds pretty fantastic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpfan Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 You're the industrial technology major' date=' you tell me!!![/quote'] Did I miss something? I'm asking for advice so I can learn a little bit. Thanks for your help Ricochet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I'm asking for advice so I can learn a little bit. Thanks for your help Ricochet. Thank the guys doing your homework. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpfan Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 Thank the guys doing your homework. It's not a homework assignment, I just wanted the info because I thought that it might be an interesting subject that I might be able to present if the opportunity showed itself. I don't know what I did to offend you or to make you act this way but oh well, no love loss here. Have a nice day and come back when aunt flow leaves town. LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animalfarm Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 "Recently" (approx. 30+ days ago?) we had a thread running that featured picture after picture after picture of "Alternative material" guitars. I may have some of those photos left in my photobucket files, or may be able to "re-find" the original posts. Anyone else remember that thread? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwhi2001 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Fender did a short production run of aluminium hollow-bodied Strats, but for some reason it never went into ongoing production. They're a bit of a collectors item. Google it and you'll find info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Yep; Martin has been doing that for a while now; and lets not forget Ovation.HPL sounds the same as wood, in my experience... it may not be Brazilian Rosewood or Honduran Mahogany, but it's certainly to the same standard as your garden-variety rosewood. I just looks a bit different. Martin also has an aluminum guitar I want to try. I don't remember if it's all aluminum, or if it has an aluminum top on an HPL body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Carbon fiber here. And metal here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I don't mind helping out and can understand how "wood-alternatives" can be of interest. I do mind someone asking "advice" without (seemingly) showing a modicum of effort themselves. Something I'm observing on this and other forums all too often. All this stuff is available doing a simple "google". Something I'd expect you to have tried particularly since you're majoring in this stuff. Of course I could be all wrong and/or "my aunt flow" acting up. Btw. Choice words for a guy looking for help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I was just wondering if anyone or any companies have ever tried to make guitars out of materials other than wood? If so' date=' what did they or you use? How was the sound? Please post pics and links if you have any info. I'm an industrial technology major at EKU and I thought that this info might be useful for a presentation in one of my "materials" classes. Thanks!!![/quote'] Jeez, wtf, I don't mind answering, it's an interesting topic: http://www.metalcarver.com/guitar/index.htm http://www.veleno.net/history2.htm http://www.metalnecks.com/ http://www.specimenproducts.com/instru/aluminum_guitar.html http://www.alumisonic.com/ http://www.bergeronguitars.com/id23.htm And my personal favorite design: http://www.normandyguitars.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twanger Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Gibson made the Kalamazoo line of guitars. The bodies of some were made of masonite. Epiphone, as late as 2005, made bodies of plywood. Squier does also. Don't remember the makers but I do remember a guitar body made of Lucite (other than the Dan Armstrong mentioned above) and another that made the necks of aluminum. Of course, as a kid, banjos or guitars made from cigar boxes were big fun. Danelectro (Silvertone,et al ) used Formica as the face and back veneers. Guitars made with "alternative" materials are quite interesting. They have familiar but unique voices. I find plywood to be very interesting because it has a nice resonance similar in many ways to an acoustic guitar. Plywood can be rich, warm, complex and pleasing when played unplugged. When it's plugged you'll quickly discover the importance of pickup selection as the sound can often be muddy or at least poorly defined. With careful selection of pickups (or a lot of time shopping through plywood guitars) the sound can be quite marvelous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midiman56 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I've wanted one of those Veleno's since the summer of 1974! Check it out in action: JIm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captmidnight Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Plastic, plexi glass, fiberglass, graphite, and aluminum, I forget which one that MF had for sale back about a year ago, that was made of some sort of beads that were fused together. Neck and body...all was one piece. If it is strong enough to hold up under the string pressure I am guessing someone has tried making a guitar out of it:-" Capt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I forget which one that MF had for sale back about a year ago' date=' that was made of some sort of beads that were fused together. Neck and body...all was one piece. [/quote'] A Catalyst? Carbon-fiber and glass beads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpfan Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 I don't mind helping out and can understand how "wood-alternatives" can be of interest. I do mind someone asking "advice" without (seemingly) showing a modicum of effort themselves. Something I'm observing on this and other forums all too often.All this stuff is available doing a simple "google". Something I'd expect you to have tried particularly since you're majoring in this stuff. Of course I could be all wrong and/or "my aunt flow" acting up. Btw. Choice words for a guy looking for help. Look Ricochet, if you want to give advice thats wonderful. If you don't, thats fine too. We are all here to help each other out. I just thought that I would ask everyone here because most of the members are very knowledgeable and give good advice. If you want to be a smarta$$ and be spiteful, join another group because we are here to help each other not knit pick one another because someone is "looking for help". I always thought that the best way to get information was to ask people that know what they are talking about. And thats what I did. For everyone else, THANK YOU!!! You guys have given me alot of direction and helpful information. I really appreciate you guys helping me out. I really thought that this would be an interesting topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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