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#2
11-21-2016, 08:31 AM
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I think they are all just a little different, I've been extremely happy with my H-WS1000N2 12 fret, but I wouldn't call it "the best"....whatever that is. My wife says the Rainsong is my best sounding guitar. I prefer the SCGC, but the Rainsong is a close second. Ya gotta play them, if you can find them.
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John 
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#3
11-21-2016, 08:41 AM
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That's a pretty loaded question on this forum as you'll find people who really like different makes so best is not really a question that will get just one answer.
With that being said I'll thrown in my 2 cents as to what I feel is "My Best" CF guitar. After owning about 8 different Composite Acoustics I can say for the longest time this was my preferred carbon guitar as I thought they sounded more like a wooden guitar for whatever reason. I feel that of the Rainsong guitars I've owned they are slightly brighter overall, not in a bad way just different and some players prefer this. I will say that RS offers a lot of different materials in different ways now days and sound more wooden if you choose the right materials for what you like. They make a great guitar as well. I have only owned 1 Blackbird lucky 13 and it was a neat guitar and sounded great & played fantastic. This guitar to me sounded somewhat in-between the CA & RS guitars that I've owned. Now days I have fallen in love with the Emerald X20. I find that it has it's own voice and that voice is just so pleasing to the senses. Joy to play, listen to and be the listener. All in all these companies all make a great guitar so no bad choice there.
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Emerald X20 Cocobolo Woody Emerald X20 Opus 6 String Baritone Iris ND-200 Hand Painted By Sarah Ryan Iris Smeck Slope Shoulder Dread Iris AB Model Many Takamine Pro series Godin A8 Mandolin
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#4
11-21-2016, 08:59 AM
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I would definitely prefer a 'woody' and warmer sounding CF guitar considering I much prefer dark-sounding acoustic or electric guitars.
I just found this clip on the mcpherson and wow this sounds pretty warm for a CF guitar? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoI__eFt61M Are there any others that sound more warm and hopefully at a cheaper price? Last edited by Rivers; 11-21-2016 at 09:08 AM.
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#5
11-21-2016, 10:17 AM
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"Woody and warmer" pretty much describes the CO series of Rainsongs, with the unidirectional carbon fiber top (as opposed to the CF weave). The next step in the continuum is the H series with a hybrid mixture of CF and fiberglass. Lots of people like the SMH Smokey - once they dump those coated black strings.
My new Blackbird Lucky 13 sounds darker than my Rainsong WS-1000. I have called Lucky more mahogany-like, whereas the Rainsong is brighter and more spruce-like. I might eventually experiment with different strings and possibly a nut that yields a brighter tone. But right now I'm just enjoying the heck out of it. Almost all play time has been on Lucky 13 since it arrived, and it is the one going to Arizona with me next week. Every maker has their own take on tone. The Blackbird El Capitan sounds very much like my Taylor guitars. And nothing comes cheap in the composite / carbon fiber world, BTW.
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#6
11-21-2016, 10:34 AM
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The main composite guitar builders these days, all of which build fine instruments in a range of designs, materials and sizes (including travel size) with many followers/owners here include...
- Composite Acoustics (now owned by Peavey) - Emerald (by far the most flexible to dial-in player preferences such as scale length and nut width, and offers beautiful wood top veneers added to the otherwise one piece instrument) - RainSong - Blackbird (now offering an eKoa linen material on some models) - Kevin Michaels (by McPherson) - Journey OF660 (removable neck, smallest travel profile) The best thing you can do is follow (and search) threads in this CF sub-forum for a while to gain insight about the different builders and their models, and the banter that goes on among member contributors. Not that YouTube videos provide the best indication of tone, but they help and most makes/models have been reviewed.
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Tom '21 Martin D-18 Standard | '02 Taylor 814c | '18 Taylor 214ceDLX | '18 Taylor 150e-12 | '78 Ibanez Dread (First acoustic) | '08 CA Cargo | '02 Fender Strat American '57 RI My original songs
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#7
11-21-2016, 11:12 AM
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Rivers...
I own both a Journey OF660 and a Blackbird El Capitan. The El Capitan is not carbon fiber (there is some in the bracing I believe) but is made from a revolutionary material called Ekoa. It is a premium instrument at a premium price and sounds like a wood guitar vs. a composite. The Journey is a great instrument, but really excels in the travel category. Please see my NGD post from yesterday regarding the El Capitan. Cheers... Todd in Chicago Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk
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#8
11-22-2016, 10:04 AM
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Quote:
Btw, the KMs come in two sizes...the original travel size (which is in the video you posted), and the full-size Sable. What size guitar are you interested in? As a bit of history, the designer of the KMs is Ellis Seal, former owner/builder of Composite Acoustics (CA) guitars until around 2010 when they went out of business, then Peavey them took over. CA guitars are well-regarded and tend to be thought of as having a woody tone. I've owned two and still have my travel size Cargo I bought new in '08, which is a very well regarded guitar. If that size guitar is what interests you, you should check them out. In fact, there is a current thread in this subforum advising that both Sweetwater and Elderly are now offering great deals on Cargos...$4-500 off list right now. Real good deal. Here's a link to that thread: http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=450217
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Tom '21 Martin D-18 Standard | '02 Taylor 814c | '18 Taylor 214ceDLX | '18 Taylor 150e-12 | '78 Ibanez Dread (First acoustic) | '08 CA Cargo | '02 Fender Strat American '57 RI My original songs Last edited by Acousticado; 11-22-2016 at 10:14 AM.
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#9
11-28-2016, 03:28 PM
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FWIW I happen to be in Phoenix this week. We just made a post lunch side trip to Sam Ash in Glendale, where I briefly played a Rainsong H-WS-1000 and a 14 fret Parlor with the unidirectional top. They also had another parlor in green, also 14 fret on closeout sale.
The hybrid WS sounded full, rich and warm. By itself the parlor sounded fine, but side by side the Parlor sounded rather bright, more immediate, and small. I would compare the two as a Taylor GS Mini mahogany compares to a Taylor 512 or 322. The parlor is only about 1" shorter overall, but the body size is most definitely smaller. I would only find this body shape useful / comfortable with a strap. I have the Blackbird Lucky 13 with me on this trip, but it wasn't with us in the car today. However it is a lot closer is tone and volume to the WS than the RS Parlor. I hope this commentary helps anyone who is contemplating the purchase of a CF guitar. I put it here rather than starting a whole new thread.
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#10
11-28-2016, 04:36 PM
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I have a Rainsong Shorty SSA that sounds great. Not exactly like wood, but woody. Many times I have been asked what kind of wood it is...then I explain.
My guitar playing friends are amazed at the sound it puts out...even a local luthier thinks its great. In the end, it's all up to your ear. 
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Goditi la vita! Collings ~ Taylor ~ Martin
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#11
11-28-2016, 06:54 PM
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Godfather;
Well said!
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#12
11-28-2016, 10:20 PM
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Quote:
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Cheers, Tom PS If you don't want to invest in yourself, why should anyone else even bother to try?
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#13
11-28-2016, 11:02 PM
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Quote:
For what the OP is wanting, I think the Hybrid or Concert WS would be the way to go.
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Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01 Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking Breedlove American Series C20/SR Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212 https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music
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#15
11-30-2016, 01:05 PM
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Quote:
Note that my recommendation is based purely on more warmth, not what I consider to be the best sounding CF guitar. Were you looking for a CF guitar with good clarity, excellent note separation, rich overtones, and outstanding playabilty, the list would have started from the other direction. Ideally you want to try these guitars so you can get a feel for the tone, and feel for yourself, but I understand that may not be possible. Last edited by Ted @ LA Guitar Sales; 11-30-2016 at 03:24 PM.
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