I saw the Ouessant L1 guitar at the Holy Grail Guitar Show in Berlin in October 2016, and it was also showcased in the Local Woods Challenge. Fred Pons is doing some incredible work in both guitar design and sustainable materials. The guitar body is made of bio-composites, flax fibre (linen) and resin.
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Most people know it as the fabric for a variety of uses (tablecloths, bath towels, dish towels, bed sheets, etc.), home and commercial furnishing items (wallpaper/wall coverings, upholstery, window treatments, etc.), apparel items (suits, dresses, skirts, shirts, etc.), to industrial products (luggage, canvases, sewing thread, etc.).
In this application as a guitar material for the back and sides, it is similar to what is done with carbon composites. With the world’s forests for guitar wood dwindling, I applaud Fred for trying new materials and helping to create sustainable ecology while at the same time producing wonderful guitars that are full of tonal character.
