XOX Audio Tools "The Handle" Electric Guitar With Case

EXCELLENT LIKE NEW CONDITION

SUPER FAST SAME DAY SHIPPING

With all the talk about "Going Green" and protecting the environment, it's only a matter of time before the guitar industry will need to start seriously considering the use of non-wood alternatives for building instruments. The reports are becoming more and more frequent, stating that precious tone woods and exotic woods are becoming increasingly rare. They will soon be either too expensive to build with or, even worse, protected and unavailable entirely for instrument builders.

XOX Audio Tools has stepped up to the plate with some real innovation and creativity by providing a quality alternative to the wooden guitar. The Handle is completely manufactured out of carbon fiber, once again demonstrating that many long-held beliefs about guitar making are in need of rethinking. From headstock to fingerboard to the body of the guitar, not a splinter can be found on this creation. And at just over four pounds, you don't have to worry about a back breaker either. Could this be the next evolution of the electric guitar?

Features:

At first impression, the most appealing feature of The Handle is the unique body design. While staying true to a traditional single cut outline, the body contains some very art deco cutout shapes adding to its contemporary appeal. It's only when you grab hold of this lightweight (4.85 lbs) instrument that you realize it's not made of wood, but of something way more exciting § carbon fiber! Though we've seen carbon fiber material introduced into guitar manufacturing before, The Handle is the first single piece, mono-chassis body manufactured of carbon fiber from the headstock to the bout of the body.

Closer inspection reveals the beauty of rolled carbon fiber § there's something very beautiful to behold in the weaved pattern of the carbon material, much like the latest racing bicycle or tennis racquet.

The fretboard is constructed of a pressure-formed thermostat laminate containing twenty-four full-scale frets, and the neck has a slim tapered profile measuring a 12" radius. One of the best advantages to a carbon fiber neck is that it maintains tuning under the most extreme temperature and humidity changes § and it is not likely to snap or crack, either. From an adjustment standpoint, the neck is fitted with a dual action truss rod to enable full adjustment as desired.

Where would such an instrument originate? The Handle is designed in Italy and manufactured in Europe, striving to use only high quality European and American parts including:

Planet Waves auto trim tuners

GraphTech nut

Nickel-Silver frets

DiMarzio PAF Pro pickups

The Handle is equipped with one anodized aluminum Volume knob and one Tone knob. A somewhat unique three-way Blend control knob manages pickup selection. A center detent marks dual-pickup operation while turning the knob left or right will blend all tones in-between until reaching full bridge-only or full neck-only position.

The body contour is concave in form, providing added comfort and playability.

The two main factors when considering an instrument are playability and tone § and if you're one to get bored fast or aren't fortunate enough to have multiple instruments, you may want to consider flexibility. The Handle provides quite a bit of flexibility yet maintains very identifiable characteristics of its own

The Handle offers a wide range of tonal options due in part to the pure sonic characteristics of carbon fiber, the hollow chamber of the body, and the 3-way Blend control knob § the options are endless.

We've seen a lot of different knob configurations and designs to help improve accessibility and pinky finger control. XOX Audio Tools got it right § with the "Scream" knob located directly under the high E string and positioned between the bridge and bridge pick-up, pinky finger control while playing was a breeze. In most applications using smaller diameter knobs, you would run out of pinky before you reached your desired volume level. The diameter of the "Scream" knob provided excellent control in just the right proportions for volume swells and fades.

The Handle is equipped with twenty-four frets, and to our pleasure, they were all accessible with ease. The slim tapered neck provided added comfort and ease in playing our blistering solo lines

From a cosmetic standpoint, The Handle is all but conservative. Strap this guitar on and it's pure attitude § young, new, and vibrant, sexy, bold, and gregarious. After all, a guitar should be inspirational and help extract your inner being § or at least help portray the image trying to escape from within. What we're trying to capture in words is that this guitar took us to a whole new place that just makes you feel like you want to rock, and rock hard. Everything we played from rock to funk to fusion § it all provoked a hint of edge.

Considering the quality and strength of carbon fiber, innovative design and craftsmanship, and hey § the cool factor, this guitar is an attention grabber from both a musician's standpoint and a spectators view. Though aspiring musicians will presumably stick to less expensive wood alternatives, The Handle will appeal to the pro-level player looking for something versatile that is a little different, a little wild, and a little showy.