An acoustic guitar made from a synthetic polymer rather than wood has been built in the UK by Loughborough University PhD designer Owain Pedgley and well-known luthier Rob Armstrong. The prototype looks and feels, and most importantly, sounds just as good as a guitar made from finest wood and could bring down the cost of even the most highly strung, top-quality instruments. Pedgley is now seeking a manufacturer to turn his polycarbonate prototype into a production model.
Polycarb out does exotic wood in guitar sound
According to Pedgeley "It is difficult at this stage to say how much the
guitar will cost but it might be possible to produce an instrument that sells
for between 50 and 100 UK pounds." He adds that it has already had significant endorsement
from UK guitar guru Gordon Giltrap. "He's really impressed with it and has
recorded with it, so the instrument's reputation is growing all the while,"
adds Pedgeley.
