As a guy barreling down on half-a-century, I have had the pleasure of playing some mighty fine wooden guitars. There are a few that stand out: a golden-topped 1976 Martin D-35, a 1965 Gibson cherry-sunburst J-45 (my first vintage guitar!), and a 1942 Gibson L-00 (that to this day, I regret selling). In the past year, I splurged on a Collings OM-1 that is sublimely intoxicating.
But there’s an unlikely addition to this list of stand-outs: my 2007 Composite Acoustics Performer GX. To me, it’s a guitar that does it all. It’s an amazing rhythm guitar. It’s balanced enough to play finger-style. It sounds great plugged in. It has the best intonation of any guitar I’ve ever owned. It takes well to aggressive capo-use and alternate tunings. It’s also virtually indestructible because it’s made entirely out of carbon fiber.
Carbon fiber has been around since the late 1950’s, but its use in stringed instruments has been fairly recent. If one considers that we, humans were putting strings on wood many, many centuries ago (the Chinese gugin dates back 3000 years), the carbon guitar is a veritable infant.
What makes a carbon fiber instrument so unique? There are several things, from a structural and practical perspective. Humidity has no effect on it. The tensile strength of carbon fiber allows luthiers to do things that wooden makers simply cannot fathom (no bulky neck-body joint, reduced soundboard braces and no need for a truss rod to name a few).
But surely carbon fiber can’t sound as good as wood, right? Well, I’ve been that guy. I’ve said those words. I’m seriously reconsidering that notion today. The present market gives us several options to settle the debate for ourselves. The longest standing carbon fiber instrument makers, Rainsong (www.rainsong.com) has been producing guitars since 1991. Composite Acoustics (www.compositeacoustics.com), which began making very fine instruments in 2001, is now run by Peavey.
Other companies like Ireland’s Emerald Guitars (www.emeraldguitars.com) and San Francisco’s Blackbird Guitars (www.blackbirdguitar.com) have also entered the fray within the past 10 years. Each has a viable niche in the market, including some unique designs and features to impact tone and projection.
Check out MacNichol Guitars and Mandolins (www.macnichol.com) if you’re interested in learning more. This relatively small instrument dealer based out of Salt Lake City, Utah has become a trusted resource in the carbon fiber world. They specialize in carbon fiber instruments, custom set-up and pick-up installation, and host a well-populated forum that connects you to a ton of valuable information. Also, keep checking with us at www.carbonguitar.blogspot.com. The aim is to deliver informed opinions about carbon fiber instruments, breaking industry news, audio and video clips of carbon instruments and more.
The brave new world of carbon fiber is upon us. Do yourself a favor, take a few steps forward and look around. I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised.
Rick Spreitzer is an award-winning songwriter and Americana artist from piedmont region of North Carolina. He cites Woody Guthrie, Nick Drake, Loudon Wainwright III, Townes Van Zandt, Carl Sandburg and first three pages of the Mel Bay chord book among his influences. Rick currently lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife, four furry kids and a small trove of well-loved instruments. You can check him out at www.rickspreitzer.com.
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