Relish Guitars in Switzerland have created an interesting guitar model they call Jane. The main differentiating feature is that the sides of the guitar are made of aluminum, with the top and back of a pressed wood veneer.
This aluminum layer is used as the base for the pickups and bridge, as well as the main structural part of the guitar.
The fretboard is a dense, dark strand woven bamboo – an unusual wood for the fingerboard. The neck is maple with stainless steel frets.
The top and back are a moulded 7-ply laminate, pressed into shape.
Finally, the guitar uses touch sensors for the pickup selectors, with LEDs as indicators.
You can also swap out pickups and electronics easily due to the body cavity access and connectors used.
Overall, the guitar is very eco-friendly and forges ahead with some interesting ideas. The drawbacks I have are the body shape and price. It’s a bit stumpy, and doesn’t evoke a sleekness or modern feel which its construction clearly emphasizes. Also, at > $5K USD, it’s not wallet-friendly. But then again, most things which push the envelope are not cheap. Nor are things cheap when made in Switzerland!