Voicing carbon fiber top

[SonofJud]

How consistent is carbon fiber? If someone has voiced a top once, can they repeat the formula again in terms of using exact same bracing, and get exact same sound?

[bsman]

I believe carbon fiber is much more consistent than wood. Also, neither my Emerald or my Rainsong have ANY bracing on the top!

[Earl49]

I have often used the phrase, "They literally come out of the same mold". I've found very little difference between examples of the same model. By this winter, I will be able to report directly on a 2016 stock X20 versus a custom short-scale 2020 upgraded version of the X20.

My biggest direct experience was almost 20 years ago. We were at Elderly Instruments and were buying a Rainsong WS-1000. They had five in stock, along with several CA examples. We spent about 90 minutes trying them all. There were subtle differences in set up, and one had a minor fold (visible but not feelable and under the clear coat) in a tight corner. But I cannot recall any of them sounding "better" than the others. We picked the one that felt the best and it is still with us.