Carbon Fiber and Wood Guitars
Building guitars from alternative materials is nothing new . Charles Kaman , a musician and aeronautical engineer , had this idea back in the mid-1960s . He eventually founded Ovation Instruments , and in 1976 released the first guitar with a fiberglass back .
Advantages of Carbon fiber guitars
Using carbon fiber instead of wood has several advantages . Carbon fiber guitars are highly resistant to changes in temperature and humidity compared to traditional wooden guitars . They do not deform or change under the influence of rain , humidity , and sudden temperature changes . It turns out that carbon fiber necks and fiberglass bodies have been around for a long time . But just how much the use of such materials affects the tone of electric guitars and basses is a hotly debated topic in the guitar world .
You can ’ t discuss comparisons between carbon fiber and wood guitars without touching on the topic of resonance . Resonance is the way the body of the guitar vibrates in response to the vibration of the strings . Depending on the species , the resonating properties of wood also change . Accordingly , the better the type of wood , the better the resonance and sound of the instrument as a whole .
Carbon fiber makes it possible to achieve increased strength with the same dimensions and thickness of the deck and shells . At the same time , the thickness of the material can be changed without compromising strength , which will allow you to experiment with sound much more flexibly than in the case of wood .
When it comes to volume , many carbon fiber guitars are louder than wood guitars . This makes carbon fiber a good choice for musicians playing small gigs without a microphone or amplifier .
As for acoustic guitars , there is no debate : the materials used radically change the timbre of the instrument .
Environmental Impact
Let ’ s not forget that deforestation is a real-world problem . In recent years , a series of laws have forced guitar makers to stop using some of their favorite traditional woods .
One example is the use of rosewood for the necks of both acoustic and electric guitars . Fender is known to have switched to using Pau Ferro wood for a number of its instruments . Despite changes in legislation , rosewood remains a popular material for acoustic guitar bodies .
Many producers have been forced to change their policies to ensure they purchase wood from responsible suppliers who replant the wood they harvest . For decades , expensive guitars have used rare and sometimes endangered woods .
The emergence of the possibility of producing guitars from other materials ( including carbon fiber ) allows us to look at musical instruments from a different perspective . Perhaps , if such guitars are now outlandish , then in the foreseeable future we will certainly see mass production of carbon fiber guitars from famous manufacturers .
Carbon fiber is cheaper , hence high-quality tool production can be achieved while reducing the cost of tools , which in turn allows for easy entry into the market . The bottom line , carbon fiber guitars are great instruments for traveling , playing outdoors , or camping . When comparing guitars in the mid to low-price segment , carbon fiber guitars will sound about the same , plus or minus , and are perfect for starting your guitar journey .
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