Some of you may remember my earlier rant about the sad state of the industry when it comes to guitars designed for women, and my subsequent delight at discovering the refreshingly empowering Luna Guitars.

What you might not know is that the articles initiated a series of events behind the scenes here at P.L.A.G.

Not long after I’d published the articles, the artistic designer and conceptual director of Luna Guitars, Yvonne DeVilliers, got in touch with me to invite me to become a Luna artist. She generously offered to send me a Luna Andromeda Floyd Grape to try, encouraging me to send candid feedback and suggestions for any improvements I might find. [Given that I'm never short of things to say when it comes to guitars, I think she may have got more than she bargained for! ]

Of course it’s a great honor to have a company offer to send you a complementary guitar, but I want to make it clear that didn’t accept Yvonne’s kind offer just to score some new gear. Far from it. Luna’s positive and empowering message had charmed me from the beginning, but the more I learned about the company, the more confident I became that it was a company I wished to support. Had Yvonne not approached me first, I would definitely have initiated contact myself (as soon as I got up my nerve!).

A player’s relationship to her instrument is not limited to practical and technical design issues; it also involves highly personal, emotional aspects. Luna Guitars understands this, and it’s part of what makes them so refreshing. On the Luna website you won’t find long-fingernail-sporting porn stars pouting seductively with guitars that they obviously don’t have a clue about how to play, the misogynist subtext being “Guitar is a boys’ club — we only allow girls whose first priority is being attractive to men.” No no no. The Luna site offers words of affirmation and encouragement to women and men alike, wrapped in a beautiful design aesthetic inspired by flora and fauna, exotic henna patterns, mythical beasts such as the dragon and phoenix, and classic works of art.

In short, Luna Guitars is a company that walks the talk of its promotional copy, aiming to create instruments that “fire your imagination, inspire your creativity and offer you the perfect guitar for expressing that special music inside that only you can hear.” That’s a message I can stand behind, but it was some words of Yvonne’s, found on the inside cover of the Luna 2007 catalog, that really hit me:

Luna Guitars’ namesake is the moon that shines by reflecting the constant light of the sun. Like the moon, we wax and wane. Sometimes we feel bright and clear, and sometimes we find ourselves in darkness. But the source of light is always there. I encourage you to remember that always…especially in dark and challenging times.

That message profoundly resonated with me, and I decided then and there to accept their generous invitation to become a Luna artist before I’d even played one of their guitars.

It didn’t take too long before the FedEx guy rapped on my door, heralding the delivery of my new Andromeda Grape. Upon unpacking it I was surprised to see that in real life the guitar is even sleeker and more elegant than it appears in the photos. When I’d tuned up and plugged in, it played and sounded great as well.

Andromeda Grape Floyd Review

After having a few months to evaluate the Andromeda (she’s currently my main guitar) I can offer the following observations. One could of course argue that my opinion is biased, but I’ve done my best to provide a balanced and objective view of the Andromeda’s strengths as well as its weaknesses.

THINGS I LOVE

• Slim neck profile (good for my small hands)
• Excellent sustain (Much better than my HMs)
• Smooth trem action (VASTLY better than the Kahler Spyders I’m used to)
• Light weight (you can play standing up without killing your back)
• Comfortable shape
• Killer rhythm sound (note: my Andromeda is fitted with EMGs)
• Great overall sound and feel
• Attractive design: I hate to admit it because I’m normally a total form-over-function kinda girl, but I feel so much cooler playing a guitar that looks good! (HM Strats are not generally admired for their aesthetics.) I even get the warm fuzzies when I look at the Andromeda sitting on its stand.

THINGS I’D CHANGE
Here comes my “That’s nitpicking, isn’t it?” Nigel Tufnel section :

• For playing live, I would need to move the pickup selector switch to a position that is easier to access. This is something that I believe Luna plans to address on forthcoming models.
• The Andromeda is a standard 25.5″ scale length. My own preference is 25″ or even Gibson scale, to lower string tension and increase the reach available for my little girlie hands.

Admittedly, to keep the Andromeda as affordable as possible, some sacrifices have been made. For example, the trem is a licensed Floyd rather than an original. But as I see it, this is actually a good thing. The low price makes the Luna Andromeda an eminently affordable guitar for new players who have not yet discovered their own quirky preferences. If a player outgrows the stock Andromeda components — pickups, trem, etc. — they can easily change them to suit their personal preferences. The Andromeda is so affordable that those who eventually wish to switch out the components can easily do so, and have the exact components that they prefer on a neck and body that ROCK.

Final verdict: at 339 USD on Amazon, the Andromeda Floyd Grape is a bargain.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR LUNA?
Luna Guitars is a company that is extremely interested in and responsive to suggestions from their players. For example, the new line of Andromedas will feature a round of changes suggested by Luna players. There are also plans in the works for a Pro Artist line, an exciting prospect that you can bet I will monitor with great interest!

Keep your eyes open for Luna’s forthcoming “Lighten Up” campaign, which will highlight the Andromeda as well as their other electrics. Additionally, Luna will be adding many new acoustic and electric guitars for 2008, guitars that designer Yvonne assures “will carry forth the Luna vibe and commitment to creating inspired instruments that are physically comfortable, visually appealing and spiritually nourishing.”

Thanks to Yvonne and Derek and all at Luna!

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