Which CF guitar sounds most true to a high end wood acoustic?

[jwellsy]

I lusted for a D35 for many years.
After getting my X30 fan fret, I no longer need a D35
IMHO my X30 is a D35 gas killer.

[steelvibe]

None, especially as a high end wooden guitar ages. However, there are some really great sounding CF options and they are getting better all the time.

[acwild]

Originally Posted by Sarah1F

I had my mind and heart set on a Martin HD28. Nothing compared to it in my mind, but I just didn’t want to spend that much on a guitar. Even so, I kept going back to it in our local shops….that is, until my RainSong found me….a pre-owned V-DR1100n2, wood top dreadnought.
Oh how I love that guitar!! The sound blows me away every time I pick it up. My comparison is that I have forgotten all about wanting the HD28, until reading your post! It reminded me how much I no longer care about the HD28. lol

I had an HD28 that was very fun to play. The only problem was that it was sensitive to any temperature changes so I had to have two saddles. One for winter and one for summer. I was also playing outdoors and that thing would always go out of tune. That’s what led me to carbon fiber guitars.

[Sarah1F]

Originally Posted by acwild

I had an HD28 that was very fun to play. The only problem was that it was sensitive to any temperature changes so I had to have two saddles. One for winter and one for summer. I was also playing outdoors and that thing would always go out of tune. That’s what led me to carbon fiber guitars.

Agreed. It’s one more thing I love about my RainSong. I forget to check the tuning because it’s hardly ever out at all, regardless of what temperature or humidity it has spent time in.

[Markcarl]

I agree. I took my Rainsong WS1000 to an open mic last week. Before playing I went outside and tuned the guitar. I went back in and started playing. I would’ve never done that with a wood guitar. I didn’t have to worry at all about the guitar going out of tune or the finish cracking due to the temperature change.

I’ve played out a lot with my Collings OM with an LR Baggs Dual Source pickup. That Collings is a joy to play and it sounds fantastic. I baby it more though than my carbon fiber guitars and know it’s susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity.

[brainfertilizer]

Originally Posted by David Eastwood

What CF guitars have you tried and rejected so far?

How many wood guitars have you let go because you were disappointed with them?

I really can’t answer your question, as I don’t know what wood sounds like. I do know what I like in an acoustic guitar, though, and my Emerald X20 delivers it in spades.

so much all of this

[tbeltrans]

Well, it sounds like ... something!

Tony

[brainfertilizer]

In my opinion, the smaller guitars, like the Enya Nova Go, LavaMe, and Joytar sound plasticky, like a toy guitar.
Rainsongs sound like wooden guitars, but admittedly do have a more full EQ response, resulting in some people saying it sounds more piano-like. But that's really a subtle thing.

I have owned a few Rainsongs, have cycled through them as the model I owned raised in value and I was able to buy a newer model for cheap and put $300 in my pocket.

But I finally settled on a Composite Acoustics GXi because *to me*, it sounded like I remembered my friend's extremely expensive Guild acoustic sounded like, with a boomy low-end and rich mid-range. The last time I heard his guitar was nearly 30 years ago, and memory is fickle.

Still, I like it. I really like playing soft and then hitting it hard. It responds the way *I* would want a wooden acoustic guitar to respond.

The Composite Acoustic Cargo is fun, too, because although it is the size of an Enya Nova Go, it sounds much bigger. Sounds basically like a wooden dreadnought to me.

And then I have an Enya NexG 2. And that one is so much fun on both the Dreadnought and Jumbo settings. The Jumbo really rings out. I forget I'm not playing an actual wooden guitar sometimes.

But try before you buy...ear mileage can vary.

[Chipotle]

Originally Posted by brainfertilizer

In my opinion, the smaller guitars, like the Enya Nova Go, LavaMe, and Joytar sound plasticky, like a toy guitar.

I have a Nova Go, but any guitar that size (roughly half size and less than 3" thick) would sound "small" and boxy, regardless of materials. I didn't buy it for the tone, though, it's a travel/camping guitar.

But I finally settled on a Composite Acoustics GXi because *to me*, it sounded like I remembered my friend's extremely expensive Guild acoustic sounded like, with a boomy low-end and rich mid-range.

...But my main gigging guitar is a CA GX. It's roughly the size of a Taylor GA (which is actually what I did a "shoot out" against when I was buying) and does sound a lot like a wood guitar; less piano-like than some CF guitars IMO. It also sound fantastic amplified with the built-in Fishman Aura.

Of course, those go alongside my Martin HD28 and my luthier-built spruce over Tasmanian blackwood 00. It doesn't have to be either/or.

[Mbroady]

Once you let go of wanting a CF guitar to sound like a wood guitar, they become a lot more fun to play.....and to travel with

However, I had a Lucky 13 that had a woody vibe.

[Gtopp]

I agree with most comments here . . . guitar choice is largely subjective.
Through the years I’ve found experienced guitarists to be a very conservative group of people.
On acoustic, you’ve got your Martin people (I was one of these), your Taylor people and the others.
On electric, you’ve got your Gibson tribe and your Fender tribe. And the others.

I’ve owned a ton of guitars in the last 45 years. Some high end, most not.
I now own a carbon fibre Emerald double neck (the Chimaera).
IMHO, it sounds as good/better as any higher end 12 string and 6 string and it has the following happy characteristics:
- no worries about climate (how many 12 string guitars have I dumped because the action made it almost impossible to play . . . )
- it stays in tune (how much time have I wasted in stage tuning my guitars . . . )
- it always sounds great live or recording

I understand that CF is a relatively new idea but to me, there’s no going back.

[RP]

Originally Posted by Mbroady

Once you let go of wanting a CF guitar to sound like a wood guitar, they become a lot more fun to play......

I think that's true. One can fail to appreciate the tone if always chasing after a desired tone in their head...

[DavidE]

I've had several CF guitars that didn't sound like wood at all. Once was an all CF Rainsong... dread I think. It was a nice guitar, but sorta thin and bright sounding and I didn't care for the N2 neck on that one. I had an original Emerald X20 that was great but again didn't really sound like a wood guitar. Sold it when I got my Sable. My McPherson Sable sounds most like a wood guitar to my ears, but my Rainsong Shorty with the unidirectional top sounds pretty close to a wood guitar as well. Those are the ones that remain in my stable.

[Captain Jim]

I'm thinking I might be in the market for a wood guitar that sounds like a high end carbon fiber guitar. And if it could be impervious to humidity changes, that would be a big plus. Also, it would be nice to not have to mess with all that pesky frequent tuning stuff. And while we're looking, maybe make the ergonomics designed to eliminate all those hard edges, with some smart bevels that fit the human form.

Yeah, I'm kidding. I like my guitars to sound like guitars... it is fortunate that, to this point, that is the way it has played out. My favorite guitars happen to be made of carbon fiber, but I'm not biased against wood... I'm an equal opportunity guitar player. If I could just play up to the talent these guitars deserve.

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by DavidE

I've had several CF guitars that didn't sound like wood at all. Once was an all CF Rainsong... dread I think. It was a nice guitar, but sorta thin and bright sounding and I didn't care for the N2 neck on that one. I had an original Emerald X20 that was great but again didn't really sound like a wood guitar. Sold it when I got my Sable. My McPherson Sable sounds most like a wood guitar to my ears, but my Rainsong Shorty with the unidirectional top sounds pretty close to a wood guitar as well. Those are the ones that remain in my stable.

“I've had several wood guitars that didn't sound like CF at all. One was an all wood Taylor... dread I think. It was a nice guitar, but sorta thin and bright sounding and I didn't care for the neck on that one. I had an original Martin D-18 that was great but again didn't really sound like a CF guitar. Sold it when I got my Guild. My Guild D40 sounds most like a CF guitar to my ears, but my Jasmine with the torrefied top sounds pretty close to a CF guitar as well.”

All in good fun, of course - but seriously, trying to ascribe a common sound to all wood (or CF) guitars ever made is like saying all wine tastes the same.