Carbon Fiber Road Trip

[TheChicagoTodd]

Originally Posted by Ted @ LA Guitar Sales

Sometimes I get so confused.

[emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23] [emoji23]

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[philjs]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

Maybe Canada too, but luckily for me, we winter in Florida, so if there happened to be a road trip during that period in a year, I could participate.

Maybe not, Tom, if we have 2 or 3, or more, Canadians involved. And last time I shipped a guitar it was no more expensive to ship Stateside than it was to ship across Canada so I don't think that would be an issue. The only real issue is with Customs fees/duties on either side of the border (and, of course, the exchange rate if one of them ended up not going any further than the Maritimes!).

Ted, I'd be interested in testing/trying any non-dread Rainsong or the full size McPherson but I'm not particularly interested in CA (available locally) or anything "travel size" ('cause that's what my Papoose is for).

Phil

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Originally Posted by futboljim

This is a great idea, Ted.

My only problem is that I think you are trying to get me in trouble. I already had agreed that I wouldn't bring any more guitars into the house, then that darn Journey showed up. The smarter half didn't think my argument that since the Journey was living in my car, it really wasn't coming into the house, was all that clever.

I guess that's why she's the smarter half. I really hope your plan doesn't get me into more trouble, but I like the plan!

Jim, you have to start categorizing your guitars by group. For instance, you have your electric group, your acoustic group, your wood group, your carbon fiber group, 6-string group, your 12-string group, your travel group, and so on. Once categorized properly, you can say "but honey, I haven't bought a travel guitar in quite some time". In fact, a guitar like the Journey OF660 can be added to either the CF group, or travel guitar group, which ever is less crowded. When I bought my fifth motorcycle, I explained to Helene that while I did own a Cruiser, a dirt bike, a dual sport, and a vintage road bike, this is my first "sport touring" motorcycle.

[TheChicagoTodd]

Originally Posted by Ted @ LA Guitar Sales

Jim, you have to start categorizing your guitars by group. For instance, you have your electric group, your acoustic group, your wood group, your carbon fiber group, 6-string group, your 12-string group, your travel group, and so on. Once categorized properly, you can say "but honey, I haven't bought a travel guitar in quite some time". In fact, a guitar like the Journey OF660 can be added to either the CF group, or travel guitar group, which ever is less crowded. When I bought my fifth motorcycle, I explained to Helene that while I did own a Cruiser, a dirt bike, a dual sport, and a vintage road bike, this is my first "sport touring" motorcycle.

Lol!

I was able to convince my wife that my Journey of660 didn't actually count as one of the three guitars I was supposed to have been allowed because it's so small when it's disassembled and in its travel bag that I can put it up on the high shelf in the closet and doesn't take up any space.

Much to my surprise somehow that actually worked! Score one for men's ingenuity![emoji23]

Todd in Chicago

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[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Originally Posted by TheChicagoTodd

..Much to my surprise somehow that actually worked! Score one for men's ingenuity!

It's all about perspective, Todd.

Oh Tod;

Your wife knows that you have the guitar, and she knows where it's at. You must be a young guy to not yet understand that wives are far more observant than men. You see what you have now? She has the high ground. You are sneaking around and thinking you are getting away with something, but you are not.

Here is the second great lesson. As long as it's not another woman, you could sneak a Bentley into the garage and your wife would let you live.

that's my 2 cents....

[Captain Jim]

Ah, grasshopper, much to learn. When man thinks he has the upper hand, it is because woman is letting him think that. Generally, for a purpose. Maybe not right this moment. Something for you to think about while you try to get some sleep tonight.

[futboljim]

Originally Posted by Ted @ LA Guitar Sales

Jim, you have to start categorizing your guitars by group. For instance, you have your electric group, your acoustic group, your wood group, your carbon fiber group, 6-string group, your 12-string group, your travel group, and so on. Once categorized properly, you can say "but honey, I haven't bought a travel guitar in quite some time". In fact, a guitar like the Journey OF660 can be added to either the CF group, or travel guitar group, which ever is less crowded. When I bought my fifth motorcycle, I explained to Helene that while I did own a Cruiser, a dirt bike, a dual sport, and a vintage road bike, this is my first "sport touring" motorcycle.

Love it, my type of logic!

Rather than putting as part of a guitar group, i went a step further. This is camping and travel equipment - takes up far less room than anything else when camping or traveling, and resides in my Cx5, taking up no room in the house!

[futboljim]

Originally Posted by TheChicagoTodd

Lol!

I was able to convince my wife that my Journey of660 didn't actually count as one of the three guitars I was supposed to have been allowed because it's so small when it's disassembled and in its travel bag that I can put it up on the high shelf in the closet and doesn't take up any space.

Much to my surprise somehow that actually worked! Score one for men's ingenuity![emoji23]

Todd in Chicago

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

Love it!

I think mine worked, too - I'll just have to put up with the occasional smart aleck comment, and a few extra boxes showing up addressed to my wife, lol.

[futboljim]

Lol Evan and Capt Jim - I think you're correct!

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I'm discussing this with the builders, stay tuned.

[Frogstar]

I'm interested, generally more so in larger bodies, but wouldn't necessarily pass up the chance on a smaller body, just so I can actually hear a CF guitar in person for once.

Originally Posted by Acousticado

Thanks for proposing this, Ted. I very much like the idea, though my participation would be limited to perhaps a couple of Blackbird models, same for Rainsong, and Emerald (if you and Alistair can work something out, great, or if Emerald road trips theirs alone as they've indicated they hope to).

I thought the last I'd heard was that Emerald wasn't planning to do another road trip program?

[Acousticado]

Originally Posted by Frogstar

I'm interested, generally more so in larger bodies, but wouldn't necessarily pass up the chance on a smaller body, just so I can actually hear a CF guitar in person for once.

I thought the last I'd heard was that Emerald wasn't planning to do another road trip program?

To my knowledge, it's not a case of Emerald doing "another" road trip program, as the only one they participated in (along with other builders) was a few years ago organized by Michael Stone of MacNicol Guitars through the carbon fiber forum Michael used to run. Rather, Emerald had mentioned in more recent times that they want to offer their own road trip for their guitars only, but likely they've simply been too busy resulting in a lack of available inventory to be able to follow through, at least for the time being. I sure hope it does happen at some point in the future.

Regardless, what Ted is trying to organize is great. I hope he can pull it together.

[Frogstar]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

To my knowledge, it's not a case of Emerald doing "another" road trip program, as the only one they participated in (along with other builders) was a few years ago organized by Michael Stone of MacNicol Guitars through the carbon fiber forum Michael used to run. Rather, Emerald had mentioned in more recent times that they want to offer their own road trip for their guitars only, but likely they've simply been too busy resulting in a lack of available inventory to be able to follow through, at least for the time being. I sure hope it does happen at some point in the future.

Regardless, what Ted is trying to organize is great. I hope he can pull it together.

Agreed, sounds like a potential win for everyone involved!

[Captain Jim]

The times they are a changin'...

It seems to me that a road trip is a fine way to get a particular guitar "out there" to people who might buy it. Especially with the review of it on-line being a requirement for those participating in the road trip.

That said, the review will reach far more people than the road trip. So, for a small manufacturer or dealer (I consider any business with fewer than 100 employees to be "small"), the return on investment is in getting the word out, more than getting the guitar out.

Every NGD or NGO that gets posted here is great PR. Those who are interested in carbon fiber will eventually find their way to this sub-forum. I bought my RainSong Shorty without ever playing one. Same with the X7 and the X20. What I had in my favor ordering those guitars sight unseen: a bunch of folks here who had one and wrote about their experiences right here in this sub-forum. I bought with anticipation and excitement, but very little concern that these guitars might not be what I wanted. The workmanship is excellent, and I believe they are very consistent. And, just like a wood guitar, you can make adjustments as part of a set-up to get it just right for you.

I feel much better about ordering a carbon fiber guitar without having hands-on than I would any wood guitar. There are plenty of videos on line to get a vague idea of the sound of any particular model. Other reviews will likely mention what to expect for the feel of the guitar. If you've been playing any length of time (and it seems like more experienced players are buying CF than newbies), you know what you like for scale and nut width. It really isn't that much of a leap of faith.

So, for those who have to try before they buy, a road trip will be helpful. But, if you know you like the sound of carbon fiber, the rest of this is pretty easy... find a size and style you like. If you are playing out, you will likely be shaping the tone a bit on any guitar. If you aren't ever plugging in, you still have tone options with different strings.

BUT, if you are hoping that a small CF is going to sound like a vintage dread Martin, you haven't been paying attention here. I sometimes chuckle when I read the "Which CF sounds most like wood?" posts. "Wood" covers a pretty broad tone pallette. So does "carbon fiber." And, it can be different and still be great.

So, for those on the fence, do a search on the guitar model that most interests you. Then, get yours on the way to you, so you aren't wasting any more time... you can be playing instead of wondering.

Ted and staff at LA Guitar Sales handles a lot of CF lines; he will listen to you and facilitate you getting the right guitar for your needs. If Emerald is more to your liking (and it is mine), Sean at Emerald will do the same for their line and custom options. If I had known about all this sooner, I could have saved myself some $$ on the wood guitars I bought that don't get much attention from me these days.

I am sure not encouraging a blind buying frenzy, but the leap of faith is more like taking a step in the right direction from my perspective. Let's face it, in spite of how cool guitar players are, we tend to be a pretty traditional bunch. These carbon fiber guitars aren't some new-age, different kinda instrument - they are guitars. Each of mine sounds like... a guitar. A great sounding guitar that doesn't require the fuss of wood. And feels like it was made to be played, without the hard edges.

I wish somebody would have said that to me a decade ago. Well, truth be told, somebody did (an acquaintance who worked for CA)... I just didn't open my mind and listen at the time.