Pete Huttlinger - WOW - gets his hands on a Voyage-Air Guitar!

Pete Huttlinger... who? He's a National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion, and also a veteran of solo Carnegie Hall performances. He's on the short list of legendary guitar players who were invited to BOTH of Eric Clapton's 'Crossroads' concerts (2004, 2007) ...

Simply stated: Pete Huttlinger is Seriously Awesome on the guitar, okay? Okay.

Recently, Pete performed at the Guitar Player Live! 2009 event in Livermore, CA. New to the concept of a folding guitar that could actually sound GOOD... he was cornered by Wesley Lem of the Voyage-Air staff. Okay, Wes basically stuffed a guitar in his hands, but the following video shows the result:



Check out Pete Huttlinger's website at: www.petehuttlinger.com, or click here for his MySpace page (that has lots of his music and stuff).

Another Voyage-Air Traveler

One of the early adopters of the Voyage-Air guitar was Wes Lem, who recently had first-hand experience of traveling from San Jose to New York with his guitar. Wes took the time to write about it in his blog, and has allowed us to post excerpts of it here:

"I just got back from an extended trip to New York City which happened to be the first air travel trip I took with the Voyage-Air Guitar. I have to admit I was a little nervous as I waited to have my Voyage-Air VAOM-06 Songwriter to pass through the San Francisco airport X-RAY machines. Sure enough it passed through with no delays and it was onward to the departure gate.

"Once we got on board the plane I was able to find on overhead compartment just above my assigned seat in coach and carefully placed the VA Guitar Case horizontally in the overhead compartment. The Overhead Compartment door closed with plenty of room to spare and my anxiety went away as the plane taxied down the runway. I had heard that passengers have paid another seat fare just to get their stringed instrument stowed on board the plane and that checking the instrument in the cargo hold is on sure-fire way to commit instrument suicide and the baggage handlers will almost surely destroy any stringed instrument no matter how tough the carrying case is designed.

"After we landed in New York's JFK airport I retrieved the Voyage-Air Guitar from the overhead compartment and de-planed as easily as I boarded the aircraft. WOW! How easy was that? No extra baggage charges. Piece of mind knowing that the guitar is safely stowed in a protective case in the overhead storage compartment. No unwieldy heavy case to carry or handle while getting on or off the plane. This was a piece of cake. As easy as bringing a laptop computer on-board a plane...

"I un-folded the guitar as soon as I checked into the hotel and only the B string needed a minor tuning adjustment. I reassembled the guitar and was in tune in about a minute's time. Simply AMAZING... There you have it. A personal testimonial for the Voyage-Air guitar's AIR TRAVEL WORTHINESS."

You can find Wes' online blog at http://wlbloguno.blogspot.com/, where he talks about other interesting stuff.

Hey Wes: Thanks!

Bob K is Ready for Naples, Italy

Noted Christian composer, musician and minister Bob Kilpatrick has become a full-on Voyage-Air enthusiast over the past months. Why? Simple: there is no other guitar that plays great, sounds great, is a professional-quality instrument AND folds in half for travel! Click to watch this quick video:

Fitted with an LR Baggs pickup, the guitar you see in this video is the exact same one that Bob will be playing before a crowd of 100,000 in Naples, Italy later this month.

With his 3-times-per-day radio show on the K-LOVE radio network, Bob and his music reaches more than four-million listeners each and every day.

Check back for pictures, videos and more once we get those pics and videos of Bob in Italy!

Voyage-Air Drops Into the Shark Tank!

ABC-TV's newest 'reality show' named Shark Tank featured Voyage-Air President Jeff Cohen and his son Josh, during Episode #3 on August 23, 2009. Culled from thousands of applicants, the Shark Tank show chose Voyage-Air as a promising new product, and worthy of investor attention before a national TV audience.

How did it turn out? You can watch the complete episode here on your computer.

Amazed at the technology, and the fact that folded guitars stayed in tune when opened, the previously skeptical investors started a barrage of low-ball offers, bidding for a majority stake to control the company. Unfazed, seasoned entrepreneur Jeff Cohen took control and countered, with a limited license to use the Voyage-Air patent technology. No deal.

In summary, the Sharks weren't prepared to make a realistic offer for a product that is so well developed, so well established, and with a national dealer network in place. And yes, the show hinted at new products and technologies that will prove to be very very interesting. We'll report here ASAP!

Nettie Tackles Brazil with a Voyage-Air

We recently fixed up Rev. Nettie Spiwack with a Voyage-Air Songwriter, and she sent us this letter after a trip to the center of Brazil:

"As an interfaith minister, musical devotion leader and founding member of Soulfyre Musical Ministries, I've been faced with the challenge of transporting my guitar to places far and wide. Ever in search of a way to avoid the panicky moment boarding the plane: "Will there be room in the closet? In the overhead? If not will I have to >gasp< let them put it in luggage?" I have also been dealing with the uncomfortable fact that as the years have gone on, my guitar cases got heavier and heavier, with no roadie in sight!

"Due to its smaller size, I was about to buy a Baby Taylor when I found the TakeYourGuitar.com website. The Voyage-Air was the answer to my prayers! On my recent trip to Brazil, this folding guitar flew in the domestic and international overhead compartments, no problem!

"It did evoke curiousity at one security check-in. The guitar did everything promised...held its tuning, produced wonderful sound, and, critical for me, was light enough for this 50+ traveler's shoulders. All in all, it transformed my experience of bringing the music with me. Everyone who sees it folding into its case is fascinated, especially musicians.

"This is an invention too long in coming! My friend wants to know when they'll do it for 5-string banjos. Now, if only they'll add on-board electronics..."

Oh wow, and thanks Nettie! About those electronics... no pun intended, but stay tuned!

Bob Kilpatrick - Christian Radio Host, Composer, Musician

To those familiar with contemporary Christian music, Bob Kilpatrick needs no introduction. As a radio host at K-LOVE, his 3x-a-day show has over 3-million listeners. As a musician, his concerts draw 100,000+. Bob's music and message truly reaches a world-wide audience.

Last Sunday, Bob had a chance to play a Voyage-Air guitar, and passed along the following comments:

“I have played guitar all my life, and have toured the world for thirty plus years performing worship music. Some of my songs are considered "classics" in Contemporary Christian music. In fact, I’m a columnist for Christian Musician Magazine, which recently had a review about the Voyage-Air folding travel guitars.

“You know what? I read that review, in the same magazine I write for, and I didn’t believe it. How could a guitar fold in half for travel, fit in the overhead bin of an airliner, and still play and sound like a great acoustic guitar? I own high-end guitars. I know what a good one sounds like.

“Very recently, I played at a church and met Jim Wolcott of TakeYourGuitar.com. Knowing that I was skeptical, Jim raced back to his shop and brought back a Voyage-Air Dreadnought for me to try. This was an all-solid Premiere Series guitar, with solid Rosewood back and sides, and solid Sitka Spruce top.

“I was very impressed! I never imagined that a folding guitar could sound this good. I talked to Jim, and he explained the features and construction. It still doesn't make sense to me. But it doesn't have to. I know from playing it that it sounds great!

“By the end of the evening, I asked Jim if I could take one of these Voyage-Air guitars on my upcoming tour to Italy, and I was SERIOUS. The Voyage-Air Dreadnought is a simply amazing guitar, and I would be proud to take it on the road. A full-size Dreadnought guitar that takes only half the space would be very handy for me and all the other guitarists who are climbing on airplanes week after week. In a month, I’ll be playing in front of a festival audience of over 100,000. I would be thrilled to use a Voyage-Air guitar for that performance.”

Sincerely,

Bob Kilpatrick

Bob Kilpatrick Ministries

Dave Carroll: United Breaks Guitars!

Songwriter/Musician Dave Carroll put pen to music paper based on his experience flying to a gig on United Airlines. After watching the ground crew heaving his bass player's instrument, moments after destroying his prized Taylor 710, Carroll tried to file a damage claim with the airline.

No deal. After long and futile efforts in dealing with the airline, the official position was "you signed a damage waiver when you checked your bag. Damage is not our responsibility." You can read the whole story here.

So Carroll has created a music video of the experience, and posted it on YouTube, and you can view it here. Good stuff Dave.

Um.. Dave? have you heard about Voyage-Air Guitars?