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  #1  
Old 12-30-2013, 07:29 PM
martind42 martind42 is offline
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Default Best Carbon Fiber Guitar

What is the finest carbon fiber guitar made today?
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Old 12-30-2013, 07:34 PM
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You won't get a definitive answer to that any more than you would if asking the same question about a wood guitar. Suffice to say, guitars preferences are a personal choice. There are many very fine CF guitars now being made. An investment in reading the many threads about them, mainly here and at the MacNichol CF guitar forum, should help you find which brand/model may be best for you.
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Old 12-30-2013, 08:14 PM
martind42 martind42 is offline
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Well I'm only hearing or reading about a few, Rainsong, Composite Acoustics, Emerald, etc. There have to be others out there making a name for themselves with their quality. So who are the top designers/builders these days besides the above?
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Old 12-30-2013, 08:27 PM
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That's an easy question! The best CF guitar is ...... the one you own!!
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Old 12-30-2013, 08:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martind42 View Post
Well I'm only hearing or reading about a few, Rainsong, Composite Acoustics, Emerald, etc. There have to be others out there making a name for themselves with their quality. So who are the top designers/builders these days besides the above?
This question is answerable. I certainly don't know them all, but Blackbird quickly comes to mind beyond those you've listed.
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Old 12-30-2013, 08:38 PM
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Most of us who own a CF guitar think we bought "the best." Or maybe: the best for the current use. I have to agree with Acousticado that defining "the best" is too subjective - there are a LOT of nice CF guitars being made, and I haven't had the opportunity to play 'em all.
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Old 12-30-2013, 09:00 PM
MikeB1 MikeB1 is offline
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Default Check the Big 4 Dealers

Depending on where you live, it can be difficult to try a variety of CF guitars.

You could go to those 4 companies previously metioned and look for dealers in your area.

Call first before you take a long ride. Sometimes dealers have items on their website that they don't have in stock.

Two great dealers are MacNichols in Utah, and LA Guitar Sales in California.
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Old 12-30-2013, 09:05 PM
martind42 martind42 is offline
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Had forgotten about Blackbird, liked their Lucky 13 model somewhat. The sound over YouTube isn't stellar, but I'd never trust a YouTube video to judge it by. Wouldn't mind a unique shape, but none of their other models are appealing.

Last edited by martind42; 12-30-2013 at 09:10 PM.
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Old 12-30-2013, 09:09 PM
CQC6 CQC6 is offline
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Hey,

The workmanship and available options on the Emerald guitars makes them a great choice. I really like the Artisan X7-OS I just got. Very nice guitar.
Just an opinion.
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Old 12-30-2013, 10:37 PM
Ted @ LA Guitar Sales Ted @ LA Guitar Sales is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martind42 View Post
Well I'm only hearing or reading about a few, Rainsong, Composite Acoustics, Emerald, etc. There have to be others out there making a name for themselves with their quality. So who are the top designers/builders these days besides the above?
Quote:
Originally Posted by martind42 View Post
Had forgotten about Blackbird, liked their Lucky 13 model somewhat. The sound over YouTube isn't stellar, but I'd never trust a YouTube video to judge it by. Wouldn't mind a unique shape, but none of their other models are appealing.
As far as carbon fiber acoustic builders, I am only aware of four, Rainsong, Blackbird, Emerald, and Composite Acoustics. In addition Journey Instruments has a sexy all CF travel guitar we should have in a few weeks. What info are you looking for. Are you wondering which of these brands is the best or I there are others?
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Old 12-30-2013, 11:16 PM
slewis slewis is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdinco View Post
That's an easy question! The best CF guitar is ...... the one you own!!
That's my answer too. I'm sure happy with mine....
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Old 12-30-2013, 11:29 PM
mchalebk mchalebk is offline
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RainSong, CA, Emerald and Blackbird are the four main CF guitar manufacturers. Leviora is new to the game and appears to be making some fine CF guitars.

If you're really interested, it might help to have some idea of what you're looking for. There are big differences between the different CF manufacturers.
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Old 12-31-2013, 02:37 AM
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There is Viktorian that makes very pricey but high quality guitars and now ukuleles--you can find more threads over at the MacNichols forum. $4-5000 range as I recall.

Also Brunner in Switzerland makes small, high end, CF guitars with removable necks for travel. I've seen these in person--super quality --but not cheap either. He's the only maker I know who makes both wood and CF, though he primarily makes wood with his own unique improvements. I'd love to own anything he makes.
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Old 12-31-2013, 02:56 AM
Doubleneck Doubleneck is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by martind42 View Post
What is the finest carbon fiber guitar made today?
To answer your question directly I would give two guitars one I own (totally prejudiced answer) and one I don't but have played.

1. Rainsong JM1000 with a unidirectional top.

2. Emerald Doubleneck

Leviora is the probably the high end carbon but priced way above the 4 major makers.
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Old 12-31-2013, 03:39 AM
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Oooops. The Victorian is made by Leviora--I mixed up their names.

There is also a much cheaper, but somewhat odd CF maker called Alpaca. They are new and their first guitars were CF but they may be moving to a combination of CF and flax fiber composite guitars. Again, very odd looking but much cheaper--made specifically for traveling. http://alpacaguitar.com/
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