Luna Guitars HEN PA SPR Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

to the Luna Guitars HEN PA SPR Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Luna Guitars has distinguished itself as a maker of handcrafted acoustic instruments that provide a unique experience with creative designs. The company offers a diverse lineup of instruments, including ukuleles, guitars, basses, and mandolins. Founded in 2005, Luna has built a dedicated following of musicians who appreciate the distinctive look and sound of their instruments.

The Luna Guitars HEN PA SPR is an acoustic-electric guitar that combines Luna's creativity with the warm resonance of a traditional acoustic. This guitar has a stylish etched design on the top and sides with a Hawaiian motif, featuring palm trees, hula dancers, seashells and ocean waves. The HEN PA SPR is crafted with premium tonewoods like solid spruce for the top and mahogany back and sides. It also incorporates Luna’s signature etched rosette and butterfly vine fretboard inlay for a one-of-a-kind appearance. Despite its stylized look, the HEN PA SPR still delivers a rich acoustic tone and comfortable playing feel that skilled guitarists will appreciate.

Construction

The Luna Henna Paradise Spruce Acoustic-Electric guitar features a solid sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck. The spruce top provides a bright, lively tone while the mahogany back and sides add warmth and richness to the overall sound.

The guitar has a natural satin finish that allows the wood grain to show through beautifully. The finish is smooth to the touch yet not overly glossy. There are two finish options available - natural and black.

The hardware includes a rosewood bridge and headplate, chrome die-cast tuning machines, and a tortoise style pickguard. The nut and saddle are Tusq by Graphtech which helps provide greater sustain and clarity. The neck has a standard 25.5" scale length and joins the body at the 14th fret.

Overall the materials and hardware used in the Luna Henna Paradise Spruce are high quality and help contribute to the guitar's impressive sound and playability. The hybrid construction of solid wood top with laminated back and sides makes this an affordable option while still providing excellent tone.

Another quality acoustic-electric guitar to consider in a similar price range is the Ortega Guitars R121L. This guitar features a solid cedar top with mahogany back and sides for a balanced and nuanced tone. The neck is mahogany which provides stability and durability. The slim neck profile makes it comfortable for playing intricate chords and lead lines.

The R121L has a cutaway for easy upper fret access. It comes equipped with a passive undersaddle piezo pickup and preamp system for amplifying your acoustic tone. Tone controls allow you to shape your amplified sound. The hardware includes a rosewood bridge and chrome die-cast tuners for stability and easy tuning.

Overall the Ortega R121L provides an excellent value for a gig-ready acoustic-electric guitar. The solid cedar top offers crystal clear tone while the mahogany back, sides, and neck provide warmth and balanced resonance. The slim neck and cutaway add comfort and playability. And the onboard electronics give you stage-ready amplified tones. If you're looking for quality construction, sound, and versatility at an affordable price, the Ortega R121L is worth a close look.

Sound

Luna's Henna Paradise Spruce acoustic-electric guitar produces a balanced, articulate tone with nice sustain and warmth thanks to its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The all-solid wood construction allows the spruce top to ring out brightly with crisp highs, while the mahogany body adds some richness and resonance to the midrange and low end.

The combination of spruce and mahogany is a tried and true recipe that many guitar makers rely on for their acoustic instruments. The spruce provides clarity and shimmer, while the mahogany provides a smooth, robust low end that fills out the guitar's voice.

Plugged in, the Henna Paradise's undersaddle piezo pickup and preamp system captures the guitar's acoustic tone quite faithfully. The guitar is able to maintain its balanced tonal character and dynamics when amplified or recorded directly. The pickup and preamp don't color the tone negatively and allow the natural acoustic sound to shine through.

Overall, the Luna Henna Paradise Spruce offers a versatile tonal palette for fingerstyle, strumming and light flatpicking. The solid wood construction delivers excellent resonance, bright highs and warm lows that make this guitar suitable for various musical genres. Its built-in electronics also make it stage-ready for live performances or studio work.

Another quality acoustic-electric guitar to consider is the Donner DAG-1CL. This affordable model features a laminated spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck. It produces a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum, with good articulation and sustain. The built-in EQ and tuner make it easy to dial in your amplified tone and keep the guitar in tune. With its handsome looks and easy playability, the Donner DAG-1CL is an excellent choice for beginners looking for their first acoustic-electric or gigging musicians in need of an affordable, reliable stage guitar.

The Donner DAG-1CL may not have the complex overtones and full resonance of a solid wood instrument, but its laminated spruce and mahogany construction still delivers pleasant acoustic tone and performance. For an entry-level acoustic-electric model, it punches above its weight class tonally. The pickup and preamp perform admirably as well, giving players some tonal shaping options when plugging the guitar into an amplifier or PA system. While it won't compete sound-wise with premium models, the Donner DAG-1CL provides great bang for your buck if you're shopping on a budget.

When comparing the Luna Henna Paradise Spruce to the Donner DAG-1CL, the Luna certainly has the edge in build quality, materials, and rich acoustic tone. However, the Donner is no slouch for a sub-$200 acoustic-electric, providing playable performance and respectable amplified sound. The choice between the two comes down to your budget and needs. The Luna is the clear winner tonally, but costs more. The Donner gives you great value for money and gets the job done well for less.

Playability

The Luna Hen Parlor Spruce guitar features a comfortable and easy to play neck that will accommodate both beginning and experienced players. The neck has a smooth satin finish with a standard 25.5" scale length and nut width of 1 11/16".

The fretboard is made of quality rosewood which contributes to the smooth feel and promotes comfortable playing over long periods. It has 20 frets and a 14" radius that allows for easy fretting and bending.

The nut and compensated saddle are both crafted from quality Tusq material which helps produce clear notes across the fretboard. The nut width and string spacing make it easy to play complex chords without buzzing. Overall the Hen Parlor Spruce offers a very playable experience even for demanding guitarists.

Electronics

The Luna Hen PA SPR comes equipped with a high-quality preamp and pickup system that provides excellent amplified tone for both live performance and recording situations.

The guitar utilizes a custom-designed preamp specifically voicing the solid spruce top found on the Hen. Controls include master volume, bass, mid, and treble adjustment, giving you a wide palette for crafting your ideal amplified tone. There is also a built-in tuner with LED display that mutes the output when engaged, allowing for quiet tuning between songs.

The undersaddle piezo pickup combined with Luna's preamp captures the gorgeous resonance and nuanced overtones of the Hen's solid wood top. The pickup registers the guitar's entire tonal range with great sensitivity. Through the preamp, it produces balanced tone across lows, mids, and highs.

Feedback is well controlled thanks to the guitar's smaller folk body size. Its electronics can be pushed to higher volumes on stage without feedback issues. The system provides plenty of headroom before topping out as well.

Overall, the Hen PA SPR offers natural amplified acoustic tone suited for any venue. The guitar remains responsive when plugged in, with excellent note articulation and dynamics. It's an ideal acoustic-electric for gigging musicians who need amplification but don't want to sacrifice their instrument's inherent sound.

Design Aesthetics

The Luna Hen Parlor Spring creates a distinctive visual style with its laser-etched rosette design of a hen with chicks on the soundhole. This eye-catching motif brings creativity and artistic flair to the guitar. The etched design has an antique look, like it was carefully hand-carved. This gives the instrument a unique appearance that stands out.

Beyond the etched artwork, the Guitar features crisp white binding along the body and neck. This classy touch accentuates the instrument's shape and offers a clean look. The spruce top has an attractive semi-gloss finish that allows the wood's natural grain patterns to shine through. The mahogany back and sides are done in a transparent cherry burst finish that provides depth and accentuates the woodgrain.

Overall, the Hen Parlor Spring has excellent fit and finish. Attention to detail is apparent across the instrument, from the pearl dot fingerboard inlays to the multi-ply body binding. The guitar looks elegantly crafted yet maintains an organic naturalness. Between the distinctive etching and high-quality craftsmanship, this Luna acoustic-electric is truly a work of art.

Accessories

This guitar comes with a padded gig bag for protection during transport and storage. The gig bag has backpack straps, making it easy to carry the guitar hands-free.

Aside from the included gig bag, there are no other accessories that come standard with the Luna Guitars Henna Paradise Spruce acoustic-electric guitar. However, there are a number of optional accessories that can be purchased separately to complement this model:

• Guitar strap - A wide, padded strap can make playing more comfortable and prevent neck fatigue during longer practice or performance sessions. Leather and suede straps are good options that won't slip off your shoulder easily.

• Extra strings - It's always handy to have spare strings in case one breaks. Phosphor bronze acoustic strings, gauge 12 or 13, are recommended for this guitar.

• Guitar stand - A stand provides an upright place to store the guitar safely when not in use. This protects the guitar from getting knocked over and damaged.

• Capo - A capo is a clamp placed across the neck to shorten the length of the strings. This allows players to change the key of songs while using the same open chord fingerings.

• Electronic tuner - For keeping the guitar precisely in tune without having to rely on tuning by ear. Clip-on headstock tuners are a popular choice.

• Humidifier - For climates that are very dry, a humidifier can help prevent the wood from drying out and the top from cracking.

So while no extra accessories come standard, Luna Guitars does offer a nice padded gig bag to protect the Henna Paradise Spruce when transporting or storing it. Players can then further customize and accessorize the guitar to suit their needs.

Price

From an MSRP of around $300, this Luna guitar can be readily found from various retailers brand new for $200-250. This positions the Etched Paradise model as a very competitively priced electro-acoustic guitar.

For the build quality, sound, and features it provides, the Luna Etched Paradise presents excellent value. All-solid wood construction with a concert-sized body is impressive at this price point. The guitar sounds full and balanced acoustically and performs well when plugged in.

At about half the cost of higher-end electro-acoustic models, the Luna Etched Paradise manages to capture much of the same warm, balanced tone and playability. For those looking to upgrade from a beginner acoustic-electric without breaking the bank, the Luna Etched Paradise is a great option that outperforms its modest price tag.

Alternatives

The Luna Hen PA SPR acoustic-electric guitar faces some stiff competition in its price range of $200-300 from other respected guitar manufacturers. Here are some of the top alternatives to consider:

Yamaha APX600

The Yamaha APX600 is a great alternative that retails for around $299. It has a slightly smaller cutaway body than the Luna but produces a balanced and dynamic sound. The APX600 features a solid spruce top, nato back and sides, and a 5-way EQ system for versatility. Playability is very comfortable on the slim neck. Overall, the Yamaha compares well and gives the Luna a run for its money.

Fender CP-140SE

At the higher end, the Fender CP-140SE can be found for $299-$349. This all-mahogany guitar generates a rich, full sound perfect for blues and jazz. The Fishman electronics provide classic Fender tone shaping options. The downside is that the wider neck profile may not suit all players. The Luna seems better for those who prefer a slimmer neck.

Epiphone DR-100

On the budget side, the Epiphone DR-100 delivers surprising quality for around $179. While it lacks the cutaway and electronics, its mahogany and spruce construction produces vintage acoustic tone. The Luna benefits from the cutaway and preamp, but the DR-100 holds its own as a cheaper alternative for beginners.

Ibanez PF15ECE

Another strong competitor is the Ibanez PF15ECE for $199. Ibanez is known for fast necks, and this guitar provides excellent playability. The PF15ECE generates a balanced tone across frequencies, though not quite as rich sounding as the Luna. Still, the Ibanez is one to consider if playability outranks tone.

In summary, while the Luna is a strong choice, there are viable alternatives in this competitive price range that stack up well depending on your priorities as a player. Testing them in person can help determine if the Luna's design and sound suit you best.

Summary

The Luna Hen PA Spruce acoustic-electric guitar has a lot going for it that make it a compelling option for gigging musicians.

Some of the key pros of this guitar are its solid spruce top, which provides excellent resonance and sustain, and the built-in preamp and tuner, which make plugging into an amp or PA system easy. The cutaway body style improves upper fret access, while the mahogany back and sides offer balanced tone.

The guitar's etched soundhole rosette and mother of pearl fretboard inlays provide eye-catching visual flair. And the Luna brand is known for producing quality instruments at reasonable prices.

Potential buyers who play live shows, especially solo singer-songwriters, will appreciate the Hen's acoustic-electric capabilities and range of onboard tone-shaping controls. It's also a good fit for guitarists drawn to Luna's distinctive aesthetics.

In terms of cons, the laminate back and sides don't offer the richness of all-solid wood construction. And the factory strings and basic gig bag leave room for upgrades.

Overall, the Luna Hen PA Spruce presents a compelling blend of solid spruce top tone, flexible acoustic-electric performance, visual beauty, and accessible price point. For gigging players needing amplification, this Luna model merits strong consideration.