When I published my Top 10 Guitars For Girls list back in 2006, Luna Guitars‘ Andromeda Floyd Grape came in with an honorable mention at #9, not due to any kind of lack of quality on Luna’s part (actually, the specs looked great,) but because the company was simply too young, and for the life of me I couldn’t find an Andromeda to test out.
A lot has changed though in the last year, and while a few of Luna’s models may now be in direct competition with that other “Girl Guitar” maker, Daisy Rock, the company appears to be making its biggest push towards the female shredder market––a neighborhood that Daisy Rock has forsaken completely.
Unfortunately, it’s still pretty damned difficult to find a hands-on review of the guitars in Luna’s Andromeda line (and I still haven’t managed to get my hands on one for even an in-store test-drive.)
But never fear, the illustrious Lori Linstruth, of Play Like A Girl! fame, not only managed to score a complimentary Andromeda Flame Grape from Luna, she was kind enough to provide the rest of the world with what is quite possibly the first review of the Andromeda Floyd Grape to find its way online.
Oh yeah, and she accepted their invitation to become a Luna Artist as well… not a bad endorsement of their product at all.
The Andromeda Floyd Grape sits right in the middle of Luna’s Andromeda line, and comes in with a surprisingly low suggested retail price in the mid-$500s.
The guitar features a double-cutaway sculpted body design (for full fretboard access,) light-weight basswood body, maple bolt-on neck with petite profile(25½” scale length,) rosewood fretboard with “phase of the moon” mother-of-pearl inlays, licensed Floyd Rose locking tremolo, sealed matte nickel tuning machines, and a pair of matte nickel Floyd Rose humbuckers.
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August 21st, 2007 at 2:05 am
Don’t understand how girls have a problem playing regular guitars. I have very slim fingers yet can play guitars such as a Gibson L5 with no probs at all.
August 21st, 2007 at 7:27 am
That’s a real cool body, never seen that approach before of cutting body out of the back bottom. Nice.
April, I think Nancy Wilson of Heart is proof that girls can play ANY guitar. But, alas, whatever works for anyone is what matters, right?
IG
August 21st, 2007 at 7:49 am
I’d say “female shredders” is a rather specialised market. Girls have too much sense to waste their time playing that stuff. Time better spent cooking, cleaning, etc.
August 21st, 2007 at 8:40 am
April, I think it’s probably more of a nicety than a real necessity for most females. If a full-size instrument feels good then no need to deviate, but if something smaller works better then at least the option is available.
IG, I think you meant Bonnie Raitt, right? ;)
Mark––you’re just dying to stir up some trouble, aren’t you….
August 21st, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Always.
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:26 am
I suppose I’m just not a “girly girl”.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:36 am
It takes all kinds :)
October 14th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I’m a shredder, happy to plead guilty to that, and I prefer thinner faster necks. Vai doesn’t play Wizard necks because he likes 1959 Les Paul necks. I agree, women probably could play a variety of necks, but the few I’ve worked with over the years who have really wanted to be great seem to prefer thinner faster necks for all the same reasons that I do. I used to play with a girl who couldn’t have been much taller than 5 feet, and she always prefered the feel of the Ibanez and Jackson necks for metal shred, for her smaller hands. I honestly wish there were more girls into metal and shred playing, but I think it’s just that the two genders are wired differently. What I do like is the way that Lori Linstruth and Luna are approaching the market. Originally as a gag I started playing a pink Dasiy Rock singlecut and I found the thing could SHRED. Fast easy neck and short scale. I ended up going on to pick up the Daisy Venus model, also very fast. But I don’t think Daisy Rock would ever offer a floyd rose guitar, because A they seem to be targeting ONLY women, and B, they’re assuming girls don’t shred. Lori would tell us how much of a disservice that attitude is to women players.
Speaking of Lori, I read her review of the guitar, and I agree with 100% of it without even having picked it up. It does look great, but the two things keeping me away are the same gripes that she had.
#1 The controls arrangement. Put a 3-way toggle under the bridge pup and it’s a hit.
#2 The scale. A 24 fret Floyd Rose on a 24.75″ Les Paul scale is the best there is for speed AND for ease of play. Look at what Shawn Lane used to do with that set up. Speaking of which, I have a Shawn Lane Charvel 750XL and it’s the fastest thing out there. All Luna would need to do would be shorten the scale while keeping it 24 frets and this thing would be a light-touch charm for girls and even guy shredders like me, all at the same time.
Keep up the good work Luna, you and Lori share the same awesome attitude, bring awesome stuff to the girls AND the boys and maybe someday we can all play along. =]
March 8th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Actually, Adrian Vandenberg’s Peavey Model has a thin neck and he’s pretty tall (over 6′). I have huge hands and love thin necks on my guitars where I can easily bar at will with my thumb and still play.
Like to try one of these some time.
April 20th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Have you been able to get your hands on one yet? I’m torn between Daisy Rock and Luna!! I can’t find any sort of comparison scale. Maybe I should just get one of each. From the reviews(I’m US military spouse in Germany), the only Luna downfall is no strap holders and for DR, can’t keep it’s tune(though that’s arguable).
So, I’m very much stuck. My 8yr old daughter and I would like to start playing. We both are beginners. Maybe I should just get one of each. XD