Here on Guitar World we get to see six-strings of all shapes and sizes, but it’s fair to say that the KLOS Grand Cutaway Mini caught our attention even before we’d unwrapped it – arriving, as it did, in a small, lightweight box.
The instrument is pitched as a universal guitar that’s made to be with you, wherever you are. KLOS says the guitar performs equally as well in your home, on stage, in studio, or even the great outdoors, thanks to the remarkable tonal consistency, resonance and durability of its carbon fiber construction.
Guitar World Gear Editor Paul Riario put those claims to the test with a review model that features a ‘carbon timber’ body and neck, stainless steel frets, a PLEK setup and LR Baggs electronics. The guitar arrived strung, but with its neck removed, in a custom ‘convertible’ carry case.
Paul got the potentially high-stakes job of assembling it on camera in our video review above but, as you’ll see, found the setup remarkably straightforward.
“I’m pretty amazed at how easy this process was,” says Paul. “Right out of the box…I literally bolted it together and the action is perfect on this thing.”
That low action and buttery playability is due in part to the fact that every KLOS neck is run through its PLEK machine, while the carbon timber body – formed from a nickel-infused carbon fiber weave – both emulates the look of wood and captures some of its tonal characteristics, too.
“It has that deep and separate resonance of carbon fiber,” notes Paul. “But I’m struck by the warmth of it, so I guess it’s for good reason it’s called carbon timber – it has that warmth of a wood instrument.”
It’s a cliche to say a guitar punches above its weight, but in this case, it’s quite literally the case. The small-bodied, 3lb, 10oz Grand Cutaway Mini offers the sort of booming volume and sustain that you would usually only associate with much larger instruments.
There’s also a real clarity across the neck that, as Paul notes, is likely thanks to that PLEK treatment. ‘Consistency’ is the watchword when it comes to the materials, too, and alongside those hard-wearing stainless steel frets, there’s that carbon fiber body.
“It won’t warp or bend or crack in different climates,” says Paul. “So this is the perfect travel guitar or outdoor guitar that will be resistant to all those changes in temperature and humidity that would normally affect wooden instruments.”
KLOS stands by its choices, too, offering a lifetime guarantee on its builds, meaning these are made to last at least as long as the player that holds them – wherever they may roam.
“It’s just a stellar guitar in every respect,” says Paul. “You almost forget you’re playing a carbon fiber instrument… this is a lifestyle instrument that is ready for the stage, the studio and even the great outdoors. This is one of those instruments that will just wow you right from the very start.”
Prices for the KLOS Carbon Timber Grand Cutaway Mini start at $2,409, or $1,959 for the carbon fiber option. Our video model, the Carbon Timber Acoustic-Electric with an LR Baggs Anthem system comes in at $2,849.00.
To find out why players are choosing carbon fiber, visit KLOS Guitars.
