Never going back

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by Captain Jim

You just described the RainSong models with a wood veneer.

For discussion sake: the offset soundhole used by Emerald and McPherson is more than just looks - it projects nicely to the player. I wasn't too sure about the look of Emeralds before buying my first one... and then I learned about the ergonomic design and how the offset soundhole and unique headstock come together to make for a better owner experience. There is something to be said for that forward-thinking design.

Good luck with your search.

During the Emerald 25% off sale, I decided to get a Kestrel (Emerald's take on the archtop design). I selected the blue one, but my wife decided I should get one of the models with the wood veneer, so who am I to argue with The One Who Must Be Obeyed?

My concern was that it might seem tacky to try to make a CF guitar look like wood. That concern was completely unfounded. It looks like the wood wood belongs there and Emerald really has figured out how to make that just right. I am really happy with my wife's choice. Though probably cliche by now, I will say that the photos on Emerald's site, nice as they are, don't do the wood veneer justice. In real life, it is simply stunning.

Also, I agree with Captain Jim about the offset sound hole, though the design of Emerald's is a bit better suited to double as a sound port for the player because it is on both the side and top like the corner of the guitar facing the player was cut off, but in a stylish manner. The McPherson offset sound hole is only on the top, facing away from the player like a standard guitar sound hole. For McPherson, the idea was just to have more of the top vibrating rather than being interrupted by a sound hole smack dab in the middle of the top. They build their wood guitars like that too.

Tony

[Aspiring]

Originally Posted by rollypolly

Are there any CF guitars that are made to look more like wooden guitars? I’m intrigued by the possibility of a problem free instrument, but the black carbon fiber offset body look is not for me. If they made one that looked like a regular 000 I’d be all over it.

Also describing my BlackBird ElCapitan that I have for sale.

Although it is an ekoa composite instead of carbon.

[K20C]

Originally Posted by rollypolly

Are there any CF guitars that are made to look more like wooden guitars? I’m intrigued by the possibility of a problem free instrument, but the black carbon fiber offset body look is not for me. If they made one that looked like a regular 000 I’d be all over it.

The APSE closely resembles a wood guitar.

[Earl49]

Originally Posted by buzzardwhiskey

Was thinking about this last night while enjoying a fresh set of strings on my Sable... there's no way I'm buying another $3000+ wooden guitar. I can appreciate LOTS of 'em, but I'm so just frickin' done with their worries.

That is why I got into carbon fiber in the first place more than 22 years ago. In Alaska, we had fairly humid summers and ultra-dry indoor conditions during winter. I got tired of repairing my good wood guitars because maintaining a proper environment was extremely tough. Enter the Rainsong WS-1000 that I still have and play regularly. I have since gone deeper into composites with Emerald, Blackbird, and Composite Acoustics. I'm never going back again either.

Originally Posted by Aspiring

Also describing my Blackbird El Capitan... Although it is an ekoa composite instead of carbon.

ekoa looks like mahogany. I have an ekoa Farallon tenor ukulele which became my primary player. The fine koa and mango ukes sit in the closet now.

[Fixedgear60]

Buzz... could not agree with you more .. my McPherson Touring was love at first strum and outside of my 52 Re-issue Tele my only guitars these days... the latest editions with inlays, honeycomb weave and all blacked out won my heart from a looks perspective..classy and understaned. love hearing all the adventures of everyone but I have my "one"....

[DDW]

Originally Posted by ceciltguitar

In regards to carbon fiber “CLASSICAL” guitars:

Yes, Emerald and Journey make nylon string carbon fiber guitars.

Specifically “Classical” carbon fiber guitars include:

https://leviora-guitars.de/en/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044061835762

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv1RbPE7K_M

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=433596

I'm not sure any of those actually exist anymore. The Leviora website has not been updated since 2018. Dlutowski may exist, but I don't know of anyone who has ever seen one. The ones pictured in the Youtube and website don't appear to have traditional nylon tuners and no specs on nut width etc., again very old postings. The Emerald is not offered in a classical nut width and flat fingerboard. Klos has announced, but not yet introduced a "classical", no specs yet.

So while there are nylon string carbon guitars, one with true classical specs is either non-existent or very rare.

[H165]

Are there also classical guitars?
A quick check at ebay/ amazon gave no results.

You could get halfway there with an old Ovation 1763

[martingitdave]

I'm close to picking up a Sable again. Once locally is calling my name. My only consternation is acoustic volume when playing in an ensemble with banjo. I had one of these a few years ago and it sounded awesome solo, but didn't quite hang in the ensemble. So, I have to decide what I want the instrument to be used for. I love the idea of using for outdoor events, but many of them are jam sessions or ensembles. These are first world concerns.

[Markcarl]

Originally Posted by K20C

The APSE closely resembles a wood guitar.

Yes it does! I love the look of the copper burst finish on the APSE!

[Markcarl]

Originally Posted by Mayfair

Interesting thread and crazy enough, I don't think I've ever played a carbon fiber guitar. I need to get one in my hands soon!

Yes, you should! I think you might like it!

I got my first carbon fiber guitar mostly for practical reasons. I lived in Colorado which is really hard on wood acoustic guitars and I wanted a guitar I could leave hanging up all the time. I also wanted something I could take with me on road trips and not worry about it cracking, warping, etc….

I bought a used Rainsong OM guitar from the Guitar Center website. I bought it from a store that was out of state so I didn’t even get to play it or hear it before buying it. I was blown away by that guitar. It is everything I expected in terms of its durability and ruggedness. It’s way beyond what I expected in terms of sound and playability.

I moved to South Dakota a year ago. It’s similar to Colorado and hard on wood acoustic guitars. I have that same Rainsong OM along with other Rainsong and Emerald carbon fiber guitars hung up throughout the house. They’re part of the decor in the house and they get played a lot.

I heard an interview with John McLaughlin where he said guitars need to be played. Otherwise, he said they become ill. He talked about giving some of his guitars away or letting people borrow guitars that he wasn’t playing a lot - including his famous Shakti acoustic guitar!

I still have some wood Martin and Collings OM guitars. I felt guilty a few months ago because they hadn’t been getting played a lot. I don’t leave those guitars out of their case usually. I worry about them more. My carbon fiber guitars get played more often. The humidity in my house has been between 40% and 47% for around the last month and a half so I took my wood acoustics out and hung them up in the house and have been playing them regularly. I rediscovered how much I like them and how wonderful they are to play and listen to! As winter gets closer, I know they’ll go back in their cases and won’t get played as much.

Originally Posted by buzzardwhiskey

Was thinking about this last night while enjoying a fresh set of strings on my Sable... there's no way I'm buying another $3000+ wooden guitar. I can appreciate LOTS of 'em, but I'm so just frickin' done with their worries.

I can relate to what buzzardwhiskey said. I doubt I would ever buy another expensive wood acoustic guitar. I want to keep the ones I have as long as I play them. They deserve to be played. I’ve been spoiled by the carbon fiber guitars. It’s nice not having to worry about temperature and humidity changes. The sound I hear from my carbon fiber guitars is beautiful and no way inferior to what I hear from my wood guitars.

I remember when the Collings guitars were built. I remember the guitars I had to sell to pay for the Collings guitars! They were special order guitars. I talked to the guys at the Collings factory a few times while the guitars were being built. They are some of the best examples I’ve seen of fine wood craftsmanship. They have sentimental value to me and they are a joy to play and listen to.

[DownUpDave]

I can completely understand the rational behind your love of a non-wood guitar. But everytime I open the case on my Martin and get hit in the face with the intoxicating scent of mahogany and then see the shimmer of silking from perfectly 1/4 sawn wood, well I just love it

[Mbroady]

Never say never

With that said I would never be without at least one CF guitar, and I would never be without at least one wood guitar. Fortunately, for now a choice does not have to be made.

If I had to choose then Carbon Fiber would allow more flexibility in regards to the where-and-when of life.

[gurroz]

I have a carbon fiber guitar and ukulele that I use when traveling in my motorhome. I recently returned from 4 months on the beach. There's no way I would subject my wood instruments to that environment, not to mention durability.

[guitarxan]

I have 2 CF Guitars, a Sable and a Touring. The Sable is my full time gigging guitar. Here in AZ (Cave Creek) the hot dry climate wreaks havoc on a guitar. I see alot of musicians constantly tuning during gigs. Not so with the Sable and those with Emeralds, which are two most prevalent around here.

But around the house My D18 and OM35 get all the acoustic play time. I would never sell them but I wont ever buy another wood guitar.

I have a McPherson Camrielle that i am planning on selling, to which i will put the proceeds towards a custom Emerald Virtuo or Kestrel at some point.

[DownUpDave]

Originally Posted by DownUpDave

I can completely understand the rational behind your love of a non-wood guitar. But everytime I open the case on my Martin and get hit in the face with the intoxicating scent of mahogany and then see the shimmer of silking from perfectly 1/4 sawn wood, well I just love it

That being said I do have a Journey Instrument OF660 which I had bought for the sole purpose of traveling with. We rent a house in Mexico for a month every January and it's nice to have that guitar sitting out on a stand 24/7.

I do have mixed feelings about the sound. I have never played a high end carbon fiber guitar. Guess I gotta change that.