I don't know why, but before I even got really interested in the CF market I was a "junkie" of the notion that solid tonewoods get better with age. I researched the idea (and would love to see commentary by owners, luthiers, or any interested like me to chat about this) for many years and have also researched the heck out of how to get an acoustic to sound great live.
I've played some amazing older guitars and there is just something about it that is super cool to have a vintage in your lap. However, I've often had some older guitars that didn't respond to my ear, or better put, didn't relay that notion to me. That got me thinking, is it really true? Do tonewoods sound better with age?
I would ultimately say yes, but I would say it with a bit of restraint. What do I mean by that? Well- let's say that you bought a NEW solid woods guitar back in 1978 and that you were the original owner AND played it regularly for the last 36 years. Here is a profound question to challenge those who think that age really affects a guitar a whole lot more in the tone department than a fresh set of strings would, or the fingerstips and approach of the artist that plays it;
How do you really know what your guitar sounded like 36 years ago?
For those of you who have kids, it's much more shocking to your friends and family members that have not seen them in a year than it is to you about "how much they have grown". You have seen them every day over the last year and the transition really isn't as noticeable to you. Sure, you know they have grown in stature and intellect but it just doesn't hit you like it does your family members that haven't seen your kids since last Easter. To them, it's shocking sometimes.
Wouldn't that be true of your guitar too? I mean, if you play the thing daily over the course of 36 years wouldn't it be fair to ask how much of the love affair with that guitar's particular tonal qualities is merely psychological? What brings me to write so much and so late is that one of the biggest "cons" I hear wood purists speak about when addressing their dislike of CF guitars is that THEIR guitars will sound better with age. CF is "you get what you get" right out of the case and it will never change. I just listened to some sound samples tonight that have me just perplexed over the quality of tone that these modern CF marvels can generate, and those purists should really take note!
Al Petteway just bought a Rainsong Shorty and did a relatively controlled experiment between 5 guitars that are similar in size. He did the same fingerstyle piece and kept all guitars with the same strings, and EQs flat. The results are amazing. Steve (Doubleneck) here on this forum did a similar experiment between a Rainsong Parlor and a Taylor GS mini.
One of the 5 guitars is a 1931 Martin 0-28 (Brazilian/ Adirondack). That guitar is 83 years old this year and I'm having a tough time believing how great the Rainsongs sound (one Shorty and one custom OM with hybrid b/s and top) when comparing them to this Martin!
Here is the link to the recordings Al posted on Soundcloud. 5 different guitars; 3 wood variety and 2 CF guitars. Can you spot the Shorty? The Rainsong OM? The Martin? The Circa 000? The Tippen Cresendo? (by the way, my favorite is the Circa)
https://soundcloud.com/al-petteway
