#1
|
|||
|
|||
Have enjoyed my carbon fiber experience, but...
After some months with my Rainsong CH-OM-1100NS and Emerald X7 Artisan, I've concluded that my favorite tones still come from guitars that are 000/OM size or larger... and are made of wood. I do admit to being a bit picky when it comes to sound quality of chords and single notes, as I play all over the fret board, with a lot of open string chords played arpeggiated, do a lot of single note soloing as well, and tone quality is really a biggie for me. Upper registers on the smaller bodied, shorter scale guitars just lack the quality of tone that I prefer.
Smaller bodies (smaller than 000/OM size) don't give me the rich fullness of tone and body that I get from the 000/OM size. They can serve a purpose, of course, due to their compact size. But the tonal compromise is there to rear it's head, as well. I've found that the carbon fiber guitars just don't quite get that rich quality of sound that my ears appreciate from fine wood guitars - and that is a quality that I don't really want to live without - humidity requirements notwithstanding. Of my Martin OM28-V Eastman E10-00M Rainsong CH-OM1100NS Emerald X7 Artisan my OM28-V clearly and easily stands head and shoulders above the others, with the Rainsong coming in #2 to my ears. The 00 Eastman has great, brilliant tone and charm, but doesn't quite have that 000/OM "body" that I prefer. That said, I'm not letting go of my CF guitars, nor of the Eastman. "Horses for courses" as they say. They each serve a purpose! The CF guitars definitely serve a specific purpose and they do that very well. The Rainsong CH-OM really does sound very good: big, rich, and brilliant! I am impressed with the tone and output of this guitar. And the Emerald X7 gives me the very compact form factor that I wanted, though it is hampered in sound output and quality by its small size. The beauty of the CF guitars is: I can leave them both out, unattended, in the desert 18-20% RH without any worries. And I really do appreciate that very much. That is WHY I bought them to begin with! And I feel that is THE greatest benefit offered by CF guitars, though Rainsong really has done an outstanding job of making CF guitars that play and sound great, also. I could live with just the Rainsong CH-OM1100NS if I had to. It sounds that good. But it still isn't quite in the ball park of my OM28-V. So, CF guitars have not been able to win my exclusive interest. And that's ok, as I didn't really expect that they would. My next guitar.... is looking to be a Martin 000-15M! I played one the other day that just knocked my socks off! . Looks like I'll have another wood acoustic guitar to have to keep close tabs on in my dry climate. Last edited by DHart; 12-10-2017 at 10:12 PM. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Hey... did someone steal D Hart’s ID to toy with our emotions??
__________________
YUP.... Emerald: X-20, Center hole X-10 (Maple) and X-7 (redwood), Spalted Chen Chen X 10 level 3, CA: Early OX and Cargo McPherson: Early Kevin Michael Proto Some wood things by Epi, Harmony, Takamine, Good Time, PRS, Slick, Gypsy Music, keyboards, wind controllers.. etc |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
DHart, I am there with you so far. I still like my Taylor 812ce 12 fret Wildwood best for tone, but I play more on the CF due to travel and the ability to leave them out.
Not ready to give up wood, but if I could have just one, the 812 would be it except I travel every week, so, maybe the Rainsong wins out...thank god my wife won’t let me sell any guitars, great problem to have
__________________
Dave McPherson Sable, Blackbird Lucky 13, Rainsong OM1000. Various wood, mostly Taylors |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
I agree, but seems that wood guitars have an easier time winning your heart. Must be an organic thing? But not selling my carbons. Lol
__________________
Steve 2020 McKnight Grand Recording - Cedar Top 2005 McKnight SS Dred 2001 Michael Keller Koa Baby 2014 Godin Inuk 2012 Deering B6 Openback Banjo 2012 Emerald Acoustic Doubleneck 2012 Rainsong JM1000 Black Ice 2009 Wechter Pathmaker 9600 LTD 1982 Yairi D-87 Doubleneck 1987 Ovation Collectors 1993 Ovation Collectors 1967 J-45 Gibson 1974 20th Annivers. Les Paul Custom |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
My favorite guitar that I own is my SCGC D-12, so I understand, but I sold the OM28 because I prefered the X20. Also a fan of the 000-15M, but isn't it a 1 11/16 nut width? Have you tried the 15SM ? And, my Cargo still gets the most play.
__________________
John Last edited by jdinco; 12-08-2017 at 09:48 AM. |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
I have to agree as well. My Taylor 814c has the best tone among the guitars I own, yet because of small size and comfort, my Cargo gets the most play. Though I don’t expect the Cargo to go anywhere any time soon, I’m now working on adjusting to my evolving interests...might be Composite, might be wood, or both. I’m excited to experience where the coming months lead.
__________________
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 |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
When I saw the title to this thread, I thought there might be a couple CF guitars looking for a new home.
I still do the wood vs carbon fiber comparisons every now and then. To keep it fair, I try to compare similar sizes... Between my X20 and the 814, the X20 comes out on top for me. Between the RainSong Shorty and the 522ce 12-fret, the Taylor is my choice; these two are very different in tone. Between the X7 and the GSmini, it's the X7; not even close. I try different strings from time to time. Plugged in and pure acoustic. In the end, each of them sounds like... a guitar. Differences to be sure, but each of mine gives me a satisfying sound. As an aside, while getting the bass about 10 days ago, I had some time to kill while the sales guy went to look for one in a box... I went into the acoustic room... played 3 Martins... nope. We all have our preferences. I guess I've found that playing guitar hasn't been a quest for "the one." Most of my life, I've had one acoustic and one electric, and that has served me well. It's fun to enjoy the variety. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
I get it. No single tool in the tool box can do everything. There is a place for both natural composites (wood) and man-made composites (carbon fiber or ekoa). Based on your description, I wonder if a Rainsong CH-WS might have been a better choice than the CH-OM. Just a little deeper body, close to 000 / OM profile, with a slightly bolder tone.
Here in Idaho I don't have nearly the humidity problems that I used to have in wintertime Alaska or that you have all year in AZ. While I am actively converting over to CF, there are still a couple of koa Taylors that will always be with me and will be the last wood guitars to go. Koa is a special wood, and I play a lot of Hawaiian music. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
I use my brother-in-law's Ramirez for comparison with my CF nylon strung guitars. The Blackbird Rider comes closest to the classical sound, followed by the Rainsong Parlor, followed by the Emerald X10 & 20. None of the mentioned instruments match the Ramirez in tone or projection.
That comparison is based on the classical sound developed with 500 years of research and development. I am not surprised that CF produces a different sound than wood, but I am surprised that the CF makers are coming so close to the sound of wood. It seems that CF is tunable. Wooden instruments are also tunable depending on woods used, bracing, and so forth. But CF may be more malleable due to shaping, bracing, layering and so forth. Not matching the classical sound has not been a problem for me. I like the variety of sound that we're getting from the various carbon fiber guitars. I also like the durability, the shaping options and the ergonomics. The only wooden guitars in my collection are the ones I've made and one of the five made by my father-in -law. They are not particularly good guitars, but they have sentimental value. I hear a lot of sentiment on this thread coming from the owners of some really fine wooden guitars. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
If you want the qualities of a larger guitar, CF guitars come in larger sizes too. My CA GX is very comparable to the Taylor GA size (about 20" body length, lower bout width of 16", max depth 4.75 give or take), and while it of course sounds different than, say, a 814ce, it's not by that much. CA also has a reputation for being a bit "woodier" sounding than other CF guitars, perhaps due to the fact that they use top bracing.
We all have our preferences--and there are places and uses for every instrument--but don't buy an apple expecting it to be anything like an orange. You want a "big guitar" sound, you need to buy a big guitar. |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Had you played a WS before grabbing your OM? |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
He did I tell ya...tried both
__________________
YUP.... Emerald: X-20, Center hole X-10 (Maple) and X-7 (redwood), Spalted Chen Chen X 10 level 3, CA: Early OX and Cargo McPherson: Early Kevin Michael Proto Some wood things by Epi, Harmony, Takamine, Good Time, PRS, Slick, Gypsy Music, keyboards, wind controllers.. etc |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Quote:
|