Official Luthiers Forum!

I have been seeing a lot of talk these days about carbon fiber guitars, just wondering what you guys/gals thought about the future of carbon fiber guitars, and how it might affect the market for wood guitars.

Cheers,
Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

I think that CF guitars have their place, but I doubt they'll make a huge dent in the sales of wooden guitars whatsoever.  I remember when the composite Steinbergers came out...I doubt that Fender or Gibson were shaking in their boots.
I've only known one person that owns an all-CF acoustic and it DOES sound pretty nice and all, but his favorite thing about it is that he can leave it in his trunk and not worry about the weather.

CF soundboards are a neat idea, this page is pretty interesting.
 

I don't know about CF guitars, but I have played the original Loughborough University all polymer guitar and it is without doubt one of the very best sounding guitars I have ever played.

But here's the thing aesthetically it's just not me. For sound, though very good, it just lacked that bit of character, you know the sort of thing that makes a George Lowden sound like a George Lowden. However, I wouldn't like to say what the future will bring, as tonewood quality timber, especially top wood becomes harder to find. Won't be in my lifetime, but synthetics, CF or polymers, will eventually have to find there place.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

One of the local instrument dealers here in town tried to handle RainSongs. He is no longer a RainSong dealer I believe. not sure on that. But he was unable to sell 2 in two years. I can tell you the problem was purely esthetic

You never said if you wanted to buy my vintige one piece aluminum neck/FB/fret Applause or not

       I've heard a CF Raintree and I wasn't really impressed! The synthetics have more of a pure tone which means the overtones harmonics are not there. They seem louder/harsh! Kind of like an Abomovation only more so! They are loud though!

    I like the look of CF but in this case it looks like your playing a polyester impregnated back pack!

   Oddly... cheap looking, noisy and obnoxious is what I seem to find for my girlfriends, it just doesn't appeal to me in a guitar!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)