Are there any CF guitars the have a Gibson sound/tone?

[Mike CT]

I have a HB and a J45 and am curious as I never looked into a CF and have a very dry house in the winter (I humidify cases and will use a room humidifier too).

Thanks!
Mike

[Swampdigger]

Blackbird El Capitan. I have no experience with this guitar other than the words I have read and youtube content. But it may be worthy of your attention.

[steelvibe]

Well, El Capitan looks like a Gibson anyway. There are some here that have played them and a couple that even own them. Not carbon fiber though- they are made from Blackbird's proprietary material "ekoa". Might not be as rigid CF but certainly more impervious to the elements than wood. Great looking guitars!

https://www.blackbirdguitar.com/products/el-capitan

[Earl49]

While El Capitan looks like a J-200, it is actually (and feels) considerably smaller - roughly 85% of the J-200 body. Think Dreadnought Jr versus D-28. My impression of the El Capitan sound was very Taylor-like, not Gibson-y. But I am far from expert on the "Gibson sound", having never owned one (played many) and everyone hears differently.

Lucky 13 is similar in size to the L series Gibson's and 00 bodies, but I wouldn't compare the sound directly to an L00 or an LG0. L13 has its own small-bodied sound, but with CF clarity, not a dry / woody / fundamental mahogany "thump" as most smaller Gibson's are described. I'm sure that the right kind of strings could get fairly close.

Confused? Me too........ [shrug]

[Doubleneck]

I have a 1967 Gibson J-45 I bought new in high school as my first real guitar. Been playing it in the last several weeks, just aged into a awesome guitar. A carbon equivilant to the sound will be tuff. Rainsong is out, just too bell-like. The Composite Acoustic Legacy might get you closer, they were made to sound like a Martin D28. Surprising I think the Emerald is a contender as well. My 6 side on my double is kind of bright woody, the X20 though been too long since I played one. The big McPherson, CA influenced.

[bizango1]

I haven't been exposed to many CF guitars but I can say with certainty that my Emerald X20 sounds a lot closer to my J-45TV tone than the tone of my Martins.
It even has that character of the J-45 that makes it easy to sing with.

[Doubleneck]

Originally Posted by bizango1

I haven't been exposed to many CF guitars but I can say with certainty that my Emerald X20 sounds a lot closer to my J-45TV tone than the tone of my Martins.
It even has that character of the J-45 that makes it easy to sing with.

That's interesting because I thought the X20 might be a good bet given my experience with the Doubleneck. Talk about two opposite looks!Lol

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Originally Posted by bizango1

I haven't been exposed to many CF guitars but I can say with certainty that my Emerald X20 sounds a lot closer to my J-45TV tone than the tone of my Martins.
It even has that character of the J-45 that makes it easy to sing with.

With all due respect, the x20 is about as far from the tone of my J45 as a CF guitar can get. The El Capitan actually sounds a lot like the Collings SJ, so again not like a J45 or HB. The Blackbird Lucky 13 does have a vintage Gibson vibe, but again nothing like a J45 or Hummingbird.

Were I trying to get close to the J45 or HB, I would look to the Rainsong full Hybrid dreadnought, preferably with the 12-fret short scale neck.

[Mike CT]

What about the CA Legacy?

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Originally Posted by Mike CT

What about the CA Legacy?

The Legacy could also work, although it has more of a Rosewod/Spruce Martin D-28 vibe. Awesome dreadnoughts, BTW.

[Captain Jim]

When I got my first carbon fiber guitar, I wondered what wood guitar it might sound like... discovered it has its own wonderful sound. Which led me to more CF guitars... that each have their own great sound. For the record, I had a Gibson acoustic in the 70s. Then, moved on to other guitars I liked even more.

I hope you get the opportunity to play a bunch of carbon fiber guitars - like wood, the different manufacturers and models have their signature sounds. You may find something you like better than your favorite wood guitar (I did!).

[Doubleneck]

Here is the Rainsong Hybrid Dred.
https://youtu.be/MddKTUBmAvg

[email4eric]

Originally Posted by Ted @ LA Guitar Sales

Were I trying to get close to the J45 or HB, I would look to the Rainsong full Hybrid dreadnought, preferably with the 12-fret short scale neck.

Ted, would that be a custom? Looks like the Hybrid Dreads on the Rainsong site are 14 fret...

[email4eric]

Originally Posted by Doubleneck

Here is the Rainsong Hybrid Dred.
https://youtu.be/MddKTUBmAvg

Not to steal the thread from the OP but this to me is by far the most divergent from the more typical CF "sound" and gravitates more toward the wood tonality that I am biased toward.

Good post! I think I've been stuck on trying to find a smaller body CF that wouldn't sound so crystalline or chimey. Pretty sure that isn't going to happen in the near future.

This was a desirable sound to me albeit it's not much of a travel sized guitar! I'm glad that I continue to lurk on the dark side of the AGF!

[Doubleneck]

Originally Posted by email4eric

Not to steal the thread from the OP but this to me is by far the most divergent from the more typical CF "sound" and gravitates more toward the wood tonality that I am biased toward.

Good post! I think I've been stuck on trying to find a smaller body CF that wouldn't sound so crystalline or chimey. Pretty sure that isn't going to happen in the near future.

This was a desirable sound to me albeit it's not much of a travel sized guitar! I'm glad that I continue to lurk on the dark side of the AGF!

I forget about Rainsong Hybrids cause all the Rainsongs I have owned have been totally carbon fiber. I actually like the clarity, bell-like quality but it is it's own sound. Also it's been a bit of a mind game for me in that Hybrids seemed to be introduced to lower the price point. It was hard for me to think cheaper was better but maybe here it is, at least more wood like?