Composite Acoustics

Klatu · #1 08-26-2011, 11:11 AM

After reading the article, Guitar Frets: Environmental Enforcement Leaves Musicians in Fear | Postmodern Times - WSJ.com I've become curious about carbon fiber guitars for my trips overseas. Does anyone have any experience with the Composite Acoustics GX or the OX?

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #2 08-26-2011, 11:20 AM

I've never been worried about getting a guitar through customs. At least, those aren't the cavity searches I worry about!

Klatu · #3 08-26-2011, 11:58 AM

It's not easy to get a guitar into one of your cavities.

Vihar · #4 08-26-2011, 12:54 PM

Touché! lol

I have no experience with those ones, but I think the Rainsongs are awesome.

hot ford coupe · #5 08-26-2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klatu

It's not easy to get a guitar into one of your cavities.

Very true. Then again, what about a replacement ebony bridge? I think they should search every luthier and look for smuggled ebony in cavities. Yeah, that's what I would want on my guitar.

bob32069 · #6 08-26-2011, 08:59 PM

I have a Composite Acoustics GX. Great sounding resonant guitar. You can leave it in the trunk of the car to bake all day in the sun and it's as good as new or play it in a snow storm. They are damn near indestructible. The neck is a little thin and tends to fatigue my fret hand. Other than that it's great. The onboard fishman preamp sounds great when you plug the guitar into an amp. It is not a jazz guitar however, it's basically an acoustic flat top guitar.

Klatu · #7 08-27-2011, 09:39 AM

So you're happy with it, but it wouldn't replace any of your wood guitars with it?

jzucker · #8 08-27-2011, 10:19 AM

they are not indestructible. The neck on my bowed and as their is no adjustment I had to have the frets leveled to compensate. My luthier said it was a hair from having to have the fingerboard planed flat which would have been a huge hassle with the material. Also, the material does not grip the frets very well and many frets and came loose and had to be reglued

Peavey bought them recently but i'm not sure if they're making the cargo yet. Also, the cargo is still big enough that if the airplane is crowded, you many not get it onboard. A better bet is the voyage-air line of guitars IMO.

bob32069 · #9 08-27-2011, 01:51 PM

"So you're happy with it, but it wouldn't replace any of your wood guitars with it?

I would have no problem replacing a flat-top acoustic strung with phosphor bronze strings with a Composite Acoustics. I don't think the CA replaces an archtop with flatwounds, though. Pretty much two different animals. Having said that, I am sure any good jazz guitarist could play great jazz with a CA. Also, I have read a testimonial on the CA website about somebody who flew to Russia and checked their CA at the gate - it went in with all the strollers and baby carriers and slightly too large carryons that they make you check in the jet bridge before you board the plane. Apparently all the airline folks thought he was crazy but of course it came out unscathed at the end. Definitely wouldn't do that with a wood guitar.