List of CF/Composite Guitar Builders - Page 3

ac · #31 10-08-2019, 03:32 AM

Additional info.

There were plastic ukes from Mattel in 1947, but they were designed to be only toys. Maccaferri's were designed to be real instruments from the start. A big difference. Even his early wood guitars were considered radical at the time, but now are copied and sought after. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Selmer_guitar

The plastic guitar was produced from 1953 on.

https://www.ukulelemag.com/stories/p...-the-uke-scene
http://collections.nmmusd.org/Plucke...G40Guitar.html
http://www.lutherie.net/mario_en.html
http://www.lutherie.net/is_a_mac.htm
https://tonefiend.com/guitar/a-high-...-50-years-ago/

mountainmaster · #32 10-08-2019, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonics

Steinberger later sold his company to Gibson who eventually discontinued production of these instruments.

Actually Gibson is producing Steinberger guitars again, but they are now made of... wood!

Song · #33 10-10-2019, 07:50 AM

Cabela's

"Carbon fiber products are also a natural extension for today's outdoorsman, seeking the comforts normally found at home to go with the outdoors experience. A carbon fiber mandolin will easily withstand the brutal cold of a winter ice fishing outing or a 100+ degree hike into the Grand Canyon with back pack and fishing gear without the worry of damage to the instrument. Plus, it looks great next to a plate of fried trout."

tdq · #34 10-10-2019, 06:17 PM

Anyone mentioned Beltona? They made (still make?) cf-ish Resonators, I think originally New Zealand but moved to the UK.
I seem to remember another composite reso maker in the UK too somewhere but cant remember who - they had a youtube clip with some naked women on the wall behind them. Sculptures, that is.

Res Ipsa · #35 10-10-2019, 08:55 PM

More makers than I would have guessed. Thanks for compiling this list, it’s great.

CA could be added to the electric list. They made the Blade CF electric. Perhaps less than 200 were made - before Peavy took over CA in 2009 at which point the acoustics line continued, but not the Blade. I have one. Awesome electric guitar.

ac · #36 10-11-2019, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdq

Anyone mentioned Beltona? They made (still make?) cf-ish Resonators, I think originally New Zealand but moved to the UK.
I seem to remember another composite reso maker in the UK too somewhere but cant remember who - they had a youtube clip with some naked women on the wall behind them. Sculptures, that is.

Added. Checked and they are still hand making them, fiberglass and CF mostly. Thanks.

ac · #37 10-11-2019, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Res Ipsa

More makers than I would have guessed. Thanks for compiling this list, it’s great.

CA could be added to the electric list. They made the Blade CF electric. Perhaps less than 200 were made - before Peavy took over CA in 2009 at which point the acoustics line continued, but not the Blade. I have one. Awesome electric guitar.

Added. Many people really liked that guitar, but sales must have been slow. A lot more competition in the electric world, I think. Thanks.

David Eastwood · #38 10-11-2019, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac

Added. Many people really liked that guitar, but sales must have been slow. A lot more competition in the electric world, I think. Thanks.

That's an impressive list, and bodes well for bona-fide alternatives to wood for guitar construction.

Thanks for putting this together!

#39 10-11-2019, 06:13 PM

What we have here is The Torturous Creation of Composite Guitars.

A time-line would be really interesting.

And then, brief explanations of the failed attempts and essays on the companies that have made it. With pictures, of course.

Michael would be a perfect honcho for such a book--he is an historian. AC could do the time-line and/or honcho (since he's bored). Mr. K could do the pictures. Other forum members could contribute work about specific guitars.

So, there it is, The Torturous Creation of Composite Guitars. Coffee table edition in print, on-line for paperless folks. Wicked could also make this work, once she's finished with the Emerald book.

mountainmaster · #40 10-12-2019, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac

Added. Checked and they are still hand making them, fiberglass and CF mostly. Thanks.

Hmm, a resonator... *examines his collection* Nope, haven't got one.
I think that Beltona Electro is calling out to me.

albirw · #41 10-28-2019, 03:52 PM

Do Sydow guitars count?

http://www.sydowguitars.com/Sydow_Gu...a_Guitars.html
https://m.facebook.com/pages/categor...0481045/posts/

They have some carbon fiber products.

#42 10-28-2019, 05:48 PM

Albi;

I'd be tempted to count them--and they are just beautiful! Thanks for the introduction.

David Eastwood · #43 10-28-2019, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albirw

Do Sydow guitars count?

http://www.sydowguitars.com/Sydow_Gu...a_Guitars.html
https://m.facebook.com/pages/categor...0481045/posts/

They have some carbon fiber products.

Don't see why not - they are as qualified as many others on the list.

ac · #44 10-29-2019, 04:36 AM

Love their design and look and the super thinness.

Not much detail at all on their site or elsewhere regarding build specifics, but it appears they are all CF--except for what we would normally think are the most critical areas where CF excels.

The most fragile part of the guitar and most susceptible to moisture changes, the soundboard, is wood. So is the fretboard, though the neck appears all CF.

The thinking is reversed for what most composite fans would think CF is valuable for. So it would be nice to hear from them and understand what prompted them build just the body and neck with CF since they make the same guitars totally of wood anyway.

What advantage or purpose did they envision building this combination of wood and CF? Some guesses:

Maybe overall stability yet with the least change to the sound properties from their other line of guitars. Consistency in sound quality a priority?

Or, they just like the aesthetics of CF and possibly the decreased weight. Super thin seems to be one of their main feature attractions for their guitars. Weight reduction might be in line with their thinking. Maybe this was part of the driving factor.

Maybe someone who owns one or knows the builders can chime in with some insight to their philosophy.
==================================
UPDATE:
Did some more digging around on their Facebook and found a video showing they make both guitars and ukes with CF tops, although I didn't see CF fretboards. So similar to Brunner builds.

Added. Thanks.

mot · #45 10-30-2019, 08:13 PM

This Andersen guitar is billed as a "double-top" which means it has nomex in the top with a veneer on both sides so it looks like wood to the casual observer. I would call this more of a hybrid instrument, but then again aren't all instruments somewhere on the hybrid spectrum?

https://www.archtop.com/ac_13andersen_vanguard.html