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  #1  
Old 06-18-2013, 09:52 AM
michaelht1 michaelht1 is offline
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Default Blackbird composite guitar

Any comments on the Blackbird Super OM, I am considering ordering one, the reviews sound great but than most reviews seem to go that way, has anyone tried a Super om and what were your thoughts or concerns.
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Old 06-18-2013, 01:20 PM
Doubleneck Doubleneck is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by michaelht1 View Post
Any comments on the Blackbird Super OM, I am considering ordering one, the reviews sound great but than most reviews seem to go that way, has anyone tried a Super om and what were your thoughts or concerns.
What style of guitar do you play?
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  #3  
Old 06-18-2013, 01:45 PM
michaelht1 michaelht1 is offline
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Default Blackbird

I honestly can't tell you what style, in the learning phase, but bluegrass, country is what I lean towards.
I have a very nice guitar but scared to death of damaging it (Charis) I wanted something to celebrate my retirement and wanted a nice guitar (Charis) but its just not comfortable worrying about it, so I figured with a background in composites I might try one of those and just enjoy the playing and learning process.
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Old 06-18-2013, 03:18 PM
Alexander Coe Alexander Coe is offline
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A general observation: They are awesome guitars from an excellent company.
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Old 06-18-2013, 03:32 PM
Doubleneck Doubleneck is offline
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To me the Blackbird OM is more of a finger style guitar vs Bluegrass, however, I have very limited experience with it. To me Bluegrass would be more CA or Rainsong. The Dred or jumbo models.
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  #6  
Old 06-18-2013, 03:41 PM
Jim K Jim K is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by michaelht1 View Post
I honestly can't tell you what style, in the learning phase, but bluegrass, country is what I lean towards.
I have a very nice guitar but scared to death of damaging it (Charis) I wanted something to celebrate my retirement and wanted a nice guitar (Charis) but its just not comfortable worrying about it, so I figured with a background in composites I might try one of those and just enjoy the playing and learning process.
If your target style of music is "bluegrass, country", . . . that would suggest a dreadnought body style guitar.

The Blackbird Super OM is an excellent guitar, but its tone (while very good), will not be a stereotypical bluegrass/country style tone. Also, unless you find a used Super OM, you are looking at a higher price range for a carbon guitar.

Since you state that if you are still "in the learning phase", . . . you might want to consider a lower price range carbon guitar as a compliment to your Charis, which I think is a higher price range.

So you might want to consider a RainSong Dreadnought guitar, with the Studio fine texture finish. The "Studio" guitars are RainSong's lower price range guitars, . . . but which essentially only differ from the higher price RainSongs based on the finish (i.e. fine texture, not glossy). Note however, the fine texture finish, while very durable, can result in some scratchy noise if your playing style brushes the guitar top. Many have reported that installing an aftermarket pickguard will eliminate the noise issue.
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Old 06-18-2013, 04:13 PM
michaelht1 michaelht1 is offline
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Default Blackbird

Thank you for your comments, I will look at the Rainsong as well.
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Old 06-19-2013, 08:03 AM
mchalebk mchalebk is offline
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it you want to play Bluegrass and don't have a problem with dreadnoughts, you should try to take a look at one of the CA dreads. They have gone by different names through the years, but there are two basic models: vintage and standard. The vintage voiced versions are intended to sound somewhat like an old Martin dread. The standard version is more modern sounding. I would think that either would be great for Bluegrass and these are the CF guitars that sound most like wood guitars (if that's something you care about).

The present CA dreads are called Legacy. There are some other names you might find on older models (for instance, mine is called Vintage Performer).
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Old 06-19-2013, 08:04 AM
Finger Stylish Finger Stylish is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by michaelht1 View Post
Thank you for your comments, I will look at the Rainsong as well.
I Have a Rainsong H DR1000 N2 (dred) and I play Bluegrass and Fingerstyle guitar and I can tell you that the carbon dred is good with either style and changing strings for a style preference works well with these Carbon guitars.
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  #10  
Old 06-19-2013, 09:43 AM
michaelht1 michaelht1 is offline
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Thank you Brain and Vance, will look into the CA guitar and Rainsong as suggested
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  #11  
Old 06-19-2013, 10:15 PM
LionEyes LionEyes is offline
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I own a Blackbird and a couple Rainsongs. I would go with a Rainsong, check out MacNichol Guitars, they offer free set up's and bone nut with the purchase of a guitar, and they offer several brands. They also have a forum with lots of good info and video/guitar sound clips.
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Old 06-20-2013, 09:28 AM
BongoSTL BongoSTL is offline
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I love my super om.very responsive, very resonate, and great for fingerpicking and strumming. I'm not a blue grass guy, so I can't tell you about that...But I can tell you it is a big step up from the rainsong / ca that I've played..
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Old 06-20-2013, 04:12 PM
LionEyes LionEyes is offline
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I had to put a bigger low E string (.56) on my super om, to get the bass response
where I thought it should be. Strummed and picked it sounds ok. I think it could use more volume. The body style is great, it really fits in my lap nice.
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Old 06-20-2013, 05:07 PM
BongoSTL BongoSTL is offline
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More volume? ? ? Do you have one of the original ones, not the 2.0? Because mine is no question louder than my Santa Cruz Dred...
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Old 06-20-2013, 11:25 PM
LionEyes LionEyes is offline
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I've got one of the new BB. I just A/B'd mine with a Rainsong CO-WS1000N2
and a '66 Martin D28, and they both had more headroom. I'm using John Pearse light gauge
80/20 phosphor bronze strings on all 3.

Last edited by LionEyes; 06-21-2013 at 12:18 AM.
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