Luna Gypsy Muse Student Guitar Review – A Real Beauty Fit for Any Student

Body And Neck:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:

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As affordable, beginner-friendly acoustic guitars go, Luna models take some beating. In particular, this Muse from their Gypsy series, which is focused on giving new students a comfortable and easy-playing guitar that doesn’t cost more than necessary. Let’s take a closer look…

Body & Neck

First things first – the 25.5” non-cutaway body of the Gypsy Muse is a parlor size, meaning it’s smaller and therefore easier to hold and transport when compared to something bigger, like a dreadnought. This parlor body features a tried-and-tested tonewood pairing, with laminated select spruce used on the top and a mahogany laminate in the rest of the body (although an all-mahogany version is also available). The C-shaped mahogany neck is a plus too, with a sleek satin finish and a low action for easy playing.

Compared to some of Luna’s other extroverted offerings, the Gypsy Muse is considerably more minimalist in design, although far from basic. In fact, Luna have struck a nice balance with their decoration, keeping things simple but adding some character through the 20-fret rosewood fretboard, which sports their signature mother-of-pearl moon phase inlays. The soundhole rosette, meanwhile, features the Celtic Knot rosette.

Hardware

Despite what initially looks like a preamp control panel on the side of the guitar, don’t be fooled (not that Luna are trying to fool anyone!) – this is simply Luna’s BC-350 digital tuner. While it means you can’t plug into an amp, the tuner is a fine addition at this price and an invaluable tool for beginners.

As for the actual tuning, this is set and held by a robust set of sealed die-cast tuners, which are pretty reliable and keeps things stable. A rosewood bridge, a set of D’Addario EXP16 coated strings, and an included gig bag complete a good hardware line-up.

Sound

There’s a reason spruce and mahogany – even laminates – are consistently used on guitars: it’s a pairing that works! The Muse Gypsy gives a clear, bright and cheerful tone with decent projection. It’s not as complex in characters as other beginner-friendly acoustics we’ve reviewed, and it’s not the loudest guitar due to the petite size, but this shouldn’t be a problem for beginners.

Conclusion

Luna put a lot of thought into their guitars, and the result is an instrument that both beginners and experienced players will enjoy. There are certainly louder and more inspiring guitars in terms of tone, but the overall look, feel and functionality – for the wallet-friendly price – shows great value for newbies.

For more info about the Luna Gypsy Muse Student Guitar, click here.
For more beginner acoustic guitars you might like, click here.