We know you travel, and that’s why the Voyage-Air Guitar enables you to take your music with you, anywhere you go. This section features photos, stories, and videos from real owners. Play. Fold. Travel.

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Jerry Kern talks about his VAD-06

Jerry Kern talks about his VAD-06: I’ve been a bass player in rock bands for years from Northeastern Pennsylvania to Charleston, SC, Washington DC and South Florida. I had a bunch of fun and made lifelong friends in those bands, but have now decided that the rock band thing is over for me. I can’t, however, give up playing altogether.

I’ve always had an acoustic guitar around for writing, supplementing my bass playing or just for sitting around and playing songs for friends. When I moved to Florida, I discovered that some of my neighbors are very good musicians. Eventually, we got together and had a jam session and since then have been playing parties in the neighborhood and have been offered gigs at local venues (which may happen, but the party gigs are too fun to give up). We call ourselves the Black Flamingos. The concept is that anyone who sits in to jam with us in any capacity automatically becomes a band member.

I have a great career which includes some traveling and we fly to visit family and friends at least a few times a year, so I started looking for a travel guitar this year. I did some extensive research and found the options to be very limited, with most being mini guitars or guitar-like sticks with strings. I eventually played a Voyage Air and immediately ordered one. I was absolutely stunned by the sound and play-ability of this guitar, but there’s one more aspect of it that really made a difference for me. The Black Flamingos play a lot of acoustic versions of rock songs, and with a bunch of people with tambourines, gourd shakers, cowbells and all singing along, the guitars can be easily drowned out. Well, not my VAD-06; this thing projects like crazy! I really couldn’t be more satisfied with this instrument. There are a lot of parties in it’s future and trips to friends and family.

If any of you are ever in the West Palm Beach area – look us up, chances are there’s a party in the neighborhood. Check us out on facebook and let us know if you want to join us! http://www.facebook.com/theblackflamingos

Sincerely,
Jerry Kern

Cayman Islands

Eric Berg about his adventures with his new Voyage Air guitar in the Cayman Islands: “The picture was taken at Sandy Cay on Grand Cayman a few weeks ago. I was part of a crew that was sailing a 37′ Island Packet from Key Largo to the Panama Canal. “I am very much enjoying my Voyage-Air. I purchased it last December, with this trip as well as future travels in mind. “Needless to say, the environment aboard a sailboat isn’t ideal for a guitar. It’s wet and salty, high humidity, bumpy, and cramped for space. “I am fortunate in that I own a number of nice acoustic guitars ( Martin OM-42, a 000-18GE, a D-35, and a Custom Shop 000-28, a Santa Cruz 00-28, and several vintage Yamaha FGs). I even bought a Calton case for traveling, but it’s so heavy it was a pain to lug around. More to the point, I wasn’t keen on subjecting any of my $2000+ guitars to the harsh marine environment. “The entry-level VAOM-06 seemed to be just the ticket. The backpack case was the deal clincher.

“I had read about Voyage Air guitars on the Usenet newsgroup , and knew that many of the forum participants reviewed them favorably. As there are no dealers in my area, I purchased mine on faith and word of mouth. “I have not been disappointed. In fact, quite the opposite. While I wanted the portability and ease of conveyance in a travel guitar, I didn’t want to sacrifice tone and play-ability. “I am happy to report that my VAOM-06 has exceeded my expectations on all counts.

“In fact, I’ve taken the guitar to a number of jam sessions and received numerous compliments on its sound. When I fold it up at the end of a session, the look on people’s faces is priceless. “Just this past weekend, someone remarked that I’ve been bringing my Voyage Air to jams more frequently than I have my other Martin guitars. Hmmm…..

“So, in a nutshell, that’s my story. Congratulations to all of you on a wonderful, innovative product. I wish Voyage Air continued success, and I will be certain to continue to be a “good will ambassador.”

Regards,
Eric Berg

In Egypt

Tim Brookes, world-known blogger and world-traveler, recently wrote a conclusion to his travels in Egypt. While blogging and documenting his travels in Cairo, he proudly uses his Voyage Air guitar as an entre to meet new friends and fellow musicians:

“…Sensing an opportunity, I said what I’ve taken to saying under these circumstances: stay here and I’ll be back to show you something you’ve never seen before. I ran off to my room and came back with my social passe-partout, my Voyage Air folding guitar.”

Tim notes a wide-range of world adventures on his blog, and his Voyage Air guitar has always proven a worthy traveling companion.

 

Tim Brookes: In Egypt

Tim Brookes, world-known blogger and world-traveler, recently wrote a conclusion to his travels in Egypt. While blogging and documenting his travels in Cairo, he proudly uses his Voyage-Air guitar as an entre to meet new friends and fellow musicians:

“…Sensing an opportunity, I said what I’ve taken to saying under these circumstances: stay here and I’ll be back to show you something you’ve never seen before. I ran off to my room and came back with my social passe-partout, my Voyage-Air folding guitar.”

Tim notes a wide-range of world adventures on his blog, and his Voyage-Air guitar has always proven a worthy traveling companion.

In Ethiopia

“Last week, I played my new VAD-04 at Wenshi Crater Lake at the edge of civilization in central Ethiopia.

“I don’t think the village children had ever seen a guitar before, much less a guitar that folds!

“Wenshi Crater Lake is located at about 10,000 feet above sea level. The crater lip is approximately 11,400 feet. You can drive to the top of the rim along a 45 km dirt road that climbs up the outside of the crater. Then you have to hike down to the lake.

“I started playing along the lakefront, where there is an ancient village and a group of children very politely gathered to listen. I then went over to them, and started playing Wagonwheel by Old Crow Medicine Show.

“The children got so into the music that, well, I taught them the song. My daughter’s cell-phone battery died before the song was over, but we got most of it on video.”

Here’s the video:
YouTube player

The only viable answer

The Voyage Air Guitar is the only viable answer for serious guitar playing motorcycle riders.

I have been looking for a guitar that I could take with me, when I ride my 2007 Harley-Davidson VROD.  I have owned Baby Taylor, Little Martin and Composite Acoustics Cargo “travel guitars”.  They can all be strapped to your back, but they all have three problems in common.

1.  They all have shortened, but solid necks and headstocks.  This means that the neck and headstock of the guitar, when strapped snugly to your back, will project above you head, making it difficult to tilt your head back, especially when wearing a helmet.  The more “forward” your riding stance is, the more prevalent this problem will be.  Walking through an airport, this isn’t an issue.  Riding on a motorcycle, this can be lethal.

In addition, at high speeds, that protruding neck and headstock can catch the air and begin to twist and pull at the rider, in the wind.  The faster you’re going, the more of a problem this can be.  The turbulence these protrusions can cause at +80mph, can be substantial and unsafe.  Anyone who has ever stuck their arm out of the window, while driving on the highway, knows how hard the wind can blow at those speeds.  Imagine something the size of your arm, that is flat like sail, twisting around behind you.  Not good.

The Voyage Air folds in half.  It straps as comfortably to my back, as any knapsack would, with no protrusions or projections, enabling my helmeted head, to move freely left and right, as well as back and forth, safely.

2.  The Taylor, Martin and CA are all 00 sized, or smaller, changing the voicing, playing position and neck feel.  I always need playing time to recover the “feel” of any of these instruments, if I’m practiced up, on a standard sized guitar.

The Voyage Air is a full sized guitar that sounds normal, plays well, and feels right.

3.  All three of the others, present problems with amplification.  Advertisements aside, I will tell you that from a practical standpoint, it’s next to impossible to get a true, decent amplified sound from any of these other instruments.

The Voyage Air can have any after-market pickup system installed, producing amplified sound that is by design, up to par with any well made, full-sized guitar.

At the end of the day, for a serious guitarist who rides a motorcycle, there is no other alternative.  Thank you for having the daring and innovation to invent a truly motorcycle-portable instrument, that can accommodate all of my needs as a player.

Wendell Choy
Honolulu, Hawaii