• Laser Etched Henna “Om”
• Body: VG - OM
• Top: Solid Spruce
• Back/Sides: Rosewood
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Preamp/Tuner: B-Band
• Scale: 25 1⁄2”
• Nut Width: 1 11⁄16”
• Finish: Gloss Front
• Satin Back & Sides
• Upper bout : 11 3⁄5 ”
• Waist : 9 3⁄5”
• Lower bout: 15 1⁄2”
• Thickness: 3 3/4”
• Body length: 19 1⁄2”
• Lifetime Warranty
  

The Luna Vicki Genfan guitar story:

Luna is proud to unveil the first USA Luna created by master luthier Gray Burchette for Vicki Genfan, winner of Guitar Player Magazine's 2008 "Guitar Superstar" award.

Vicki was drawn to Luna's Henna guitar since we first met her at the 2007 Summer NAMM show. She has been playing the Muse 12 string and Luna Artist Trinity, but has longed for a Henna guitar of her dreams with all the bells and whistles that her particular type of playing requires.

Vicki started her process by playing and testing dozens of guitars that Gray Burchette had built for other clients, and settled on a Jumbo body which lends itself to the full tones she needs for her percussive style of playing.

The soundboard of the guitar is, appropriately, made of Alpine Moon Spruce. Moon wood is define as wood that, according to tradition, exhibits outstanding and unique characteristics when felled during certain phases of the moon. For centuries lumber was cut exclusively in the winter and then only at certain times in accordance with the phases of the moon. Specific, moon-related felling guidelines passed down through generations have continued to produce tonally superior wood.

The OM symbol on the soundboard is significant to Vicki as it represents the origin of all sounds; the primordial vibration, which has been her life's work to explore. Luna commissioned Alex Morgan, the renowned UK Henna artist that created the rest of Luna's Henna designs, to render the OM symbol in a simple, elegant composition. This was then laser etched on the soundboard.

The back and sides of the instrument are Cocobolo....a true Rosewood that grows along the Pacific seaboard. It is heavier, harder and more dense than other Rosewood and because of this is a better sound reflector. It offers increased power, volume and sustain with incredible beauty. The amazing detail at the back of the guitar is actually the sapwood of the Cocobolo which, with Gray's skillful touch, adds another layer of organic artistry.

Luna's logo shines brightly in MOP against an ebony headstock, while Luna's signature MOP fret markers wax and wane against an ebony fret board. Satin gold Gotoh Super 5-10 tuners crown the headstock and the instrument is further graced by bone nut and saddle and an African Blackwood bridge. Eucalyptus binding embraces the body and the neck is laminated in 5 pieces comprised of mahogany on the outside, maple next to the mahogany and black walnut down the middle.

What is interesting about the end view is that Gray used a Manzer 'wedge' construction that enables the instrument to be more ergonomic where it meets the arm (3 3/4") and flares out to it's full depth at the other edge (4 7/8"). The instrument also features a 15' radius back, and 20' radius top.

Luna Vicki Genfan Signature Acoustic Guitar Review

Gayla Drake Paul

All right, I’ll admit it—I’m spoiled rotten. For the past few months, some of the finest acoustic guitars imaginable have passed through my fingers. Thousands of dollars in wood and wire have flowed like music through my life lately, and I have to tell you, it’s been a rockin’ year so far. But we decided we needed to review a few budget-friendly acoustics to try and hit that sweet spot where affordability meets quality—and boy, we hit it right this time. We’ve been seeing more Luna guitars around lately, and when we heard they were about to release a Vicki Genfan signature model, our ears perked up. We had to check it out.

How Much? Are You Forgetting a Zero?
Our guess—based on who knows how many guitars we’ve played, owned, reviewed, or otherwise fondled over a collective 200 or so years of playing—was that this guitar would be priced somewhere between $1500 and $1800. But when I emailed the friendly folks at Luna for the official street price, the response was “$499.” At first I thought it was a typo, but they assured me it was not. Then I asked if they were all smokin’ crack. This guitar sounds and plays like an instrument several times its price, and it also comes with a sweet B-Band pickup with a built in DI. According to Yvonne DeVillers, the company’s creative director and designer, “One of Luna’s missions is to make guitars accessible to the average player. Most of the rest of our line MAP at $399 or less.” She continued, “I can say that not only have we held steady in an unsteady economy, but we have grown our business. Folks just don’t have crazy money to spend on music, and we need it now more than ever.” Well, all I can say to that is, “Amen.”