#31
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It’s a shame what happened to CA. I’d high hopes they would take it forward when I purchased mine after the peavey purchased.
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#32
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doc,
CA was a disapointment. The instruments were incredibly innovative. I had high hopes for a nylon string, but alas! Peavy has done a nice job of quality control but not done anything that advances the line. |
#33
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Other manufacturers chose to take advantage of "molding" guitars to make body shapes that aren't similar to the wood manufacturers... and be able to take advantage of the ergonomics and sound qualities. I recall reading a while back that RainSong purchased CNC equipment that will enable them to make their own molds, which should significantly reduce the price to design/build new models. Frankly, I expected to see some of that by now. I guess I don't see that RainSong has been left behind, but rather has intentionally chosen their niche (and all of carbon fiber is still pretty much a niche of the guitar world). From a strictly business point of view, the most successful have scaled their business to allow profitability as demand expands and contracts. None of the carbon fiber guitars can be considered "inexpensive," but RainSong didn't have anything to compete with Emerald or Journey in that $1,000 to $1,500 range... until offering the CH line. Since they are the largest CF guitar maker, their market is what other CF makers are looking towards. The best resolution wouldn't be each CF maker trying to expand their "piece of the pie," but to make the pie bigger. I think that is happening, as CF guitars are becoming more accepted. Those of us on this sub-forum already know what carbon fiber offers for advantages over wood. The bigger issue is educating the rest of the guitar world so those in the market for a $1500 to $3000 guitar will consider CF along with the wood options. Early on, carbon fiber guitars were often referred to as "plastic," and wood guitar fans wouldn't give them a second look. These days, when anyone asks about my CF guitars, I let them know it is another material option - a premium option (like Brazilian rosewood or cocobolo). I've been around long enough to remember the early Taylor vs Martin debates, and how Taylors were catagorized (as a whole) as "thinner and too trebly"... I didn't feel that way, and chose Taylor over Martin. And, currently, I choose my Emeralds as being the CF sound I prefer. As CF becomes more accepted, and each of the builders refines their guitar offerings, prices go up. I don't think any of them have figured out a way to mass produce them (like Taylor and Martin) to gain the economy of scale. In the meantime, we have some great carbon fiber options. |
#34
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Quote:
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What should Peavy change? What innovations would you like to see? Personally, the only thing I would change on my GX would be electronics... a K&K option would be nice. Anything changes in the neck and body design would likely be a downgrade. Peavey did well to focus on production quality rather than make "innovations" just for the sake of making changes to attract market attention. Other manufactures are still catching up. Emerald just introduced a streamlined neck join in the last few weeks. CA has had this for years. And CA is still the only company that offers a production (non-custom) neck width and profile to accomodate electric players. Soundwise, you don't hear people complaining about carbon fiber "twang," or treble/plastic brittleness as you do with some of the other CFs. The current CA sound works well for me, but if there were to be innovations, alternate materials would be the place I'd like to see it. An eKoa GX would be of interest, but I suppose that is going to be up to Joe at Blackbird! |
#35
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Strumalot,
For one thing I think Peavy could have pushed the CF frontier with an electric model or two. The company has a lot of experience in electrics. Peavy made my first & second CF guitars and I have a high regard for Peavy design, sound, and daring. My reservation about Peavy is that the other makers have been advancing rapidly while Peavy seems to resting. I followed the company as it went through the painfull process of bringing CA back at a high level of quality and respect what the company has accomplished. It's sort of stupid but I guess my responce is based on the cliche of "what have you done for me recently?" |
#36
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Breedlove... I had one that I absolutely loved. But man, they seem to be prone to stupid stuff. That new logo they have? They might as well have written Breedlove in Comic Sans. That is a HORRIBLE logo. Their headstocks used to look so sleek and classy. Now they look like a child’s guitar. I cannot imagine the meeting where they sat, pitched and approved that design. |
#37
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78pQ2wAPpWw Last edited by GuitarDoc; 07-01-2018 at 02:38 PM. Reason: wrong name |
#38
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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 |
#39
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Composite Guitar Prices
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Is that why they changed the logo? They got sold? I agree... the SCGC logo is super sleek (I actually partially traded my Breedlove and a Rainsong for a SC). I love those classy looking logos- SCGC, Olson, Flammang. Dark headstocks with simple, elegant lettering. |
#40
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Those were exciting times for CF guitars. New things were happening and there was a larger and more diverse user base on the MacNichols forum. I miss that. Quote:
Would love to see Peavey introduce new CF electric guitars and basses. I would be a buyer. On the GX front, what Peavey can do for me is not mess with it!!!... just in case I need another one. |
#41
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A CF electric has to compete with a nearly indestructible and very inexpensive solid body wood guitar. I think that market is hopeless for CF for the foreseeable future.
RainSong, as the volume leader, makes less than 1000 guitars a year (I was quoted 700 recently). Regardless, only a few days production of all solid wood Martins or Taylors. Wood looks really nice. CF is really sturdy. Tone is in the ear of the beholder (I here no CF "twang" playing my RainSong CH-PA and CH-WS). For all my CF proselytizing, I've not convinced a single in-person friend to buy a CF guitar. The only other CF guitar owner I've met face-to-face (not counting Ted of LAGS), was someone who was moving to Florida, was a full time cantor, and really wanted (possibly needed) a RainSong. I bought her a new H-WS as a going away gift.
__________________
jf45ir Free DIY Acoustic Guitar IR Generator .wav file, 30 seconds, pickup left, mic right, open position strumming best...send to direct email below I'll send you 100/0, 75/25, 50/50 & 0/100 IR/Bypass IRs IR Demo, read the description too: https://youtu.be/SELEE4yugjE My duo's website and my email... [email protected] Jon Fields |
#42
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Martin built 85,000 guitars last year. (that includes everything not just solid wood guitars, and both factories) which is around 340 guitars a day for a standard 5 day, 50 week, work year.
__________________
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 |
#43
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I am less concerned about who builds the most, but tend to focus on who builds what I want. If I recall correctly, in a radio interview with Alistair for Emerald's 20th Anniversary bash, I think it was said that they currently build about 15 guitars per week. As usual, I may be mis-remembering.
I have done the Taylor Factory Tour a couple times and marvel at how they can consistently produce SO MANY guitars per day. If the CF makers are using molds to produce each guitar, they can only do one at a time per model (unless they have multiple molds). I don't claim to have any insight into any of the builders, but I truly appreciate what they are producing... regardless of the numbers. In all likelihood, CF won't ever be mass produced like the current wood makers... I'm OK with that. One more special one, with that Irish mojo... what more could a guy want? |
#44
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Tearing up thinking about that forum and that store. Always dreamt of buying bunches from him. I’m glad I didn’t play your guitar. Heard those pre Peavy’s had something in them that made them sound better and I probably wouldn’t have purchased mine.
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#45
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My GX is a Peavey build, probably one of the first. You might recall Fred Poole posting on the MacNichol site about the Peavey takeover. I think they took about a year to tweak the designs and correct the pre-Peavey production problems.
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