There is a wide array of options available that offer numerous advantages over traditional guitars. However, what factors should be prioritized when selecting a carbon fiber guitar?
This review will assess the leading choices in the market, taking into account factors such as tone, playability, price, and feedback from fellow guitarists who have used each model mentioned.
Furthermore, we will touch upon the exceptional qualities of carbon fiber for guitar construction, highlighting why purchasing one would be a wise decision.
Let us commence!
Editor’s choice
LAVA ME 2
This guitar sports light string gauge with Elixir Nanoweb 012 phosphor bronze strings.
Best value
Journey Instruments OB660M
In terms of its specifications, it boasts Journey under-saddle transducer pickup electronics.
Best Carbon Fiber Guitars Reviews
1. KLOS Carbon Fiber Travel Acoustic Guitar
The KLOS Black Carbon Fiber Travel Acoustic Guitar is widely recognized as one of the most popular choices among carbon fiber guitars.
Constructed with carbon fiber on the back, body, and top, this guitar boasts a Brazilian Cherry fretboard, magnetic-double-coil guitar pickup configuration, 24″ 3/4 scale length, and custom light string gauge with D’Addario EJ26 string material.
Featuring a Mahogany neck and a hardtail bridge system, this instrument is praised for its rich, loud, and resonant sound according to various product descriptions on guitar retail websites.
Weighing only 2.88 pounds, this guitar is ideal for travel purposes, and it also offers the convenience of a removable neck that can be detached in seconds by removing 4 screws.
2. LAVA ME 2 Acoustic-Electric Carbon Fiber Guitar
The LAVA ME 2 Acoustic-Electric Travel Guitar stands out as a fantastic choice for many guitarists.
Equipped with an L2 pickup system featuring FreeBoost capabilities, this guitar boasts a Super Airsonic (carbon fiber composite) top, carbon fiber back, and Airsonic body materials, along with an HPL (High Pressure Laminate) neck, fretboard, and bridge.
A notable distinction between Super AirSonic and AirSonic is that, despite having the same weight, Super AirSonic is 20% stronger.
Weighing around 3.7 pounds, the company humorously promotes it as “lighter than a kitten” and most laptops.
This guitar sports light string gauge with Elixir Nanoweb 012 phosphor bronze strings, a double guitar bridge system, and 21:1 ratio aluminum alloy tuning machine heads.
The standout feature of this guitar is the ability to play with effects without needing to plug in. Thanks to the FreeBoost Technology on the L2 pickups, the rear surface of the LAVA ME acts as a speaker, allowing you to enjoy playing with delay, chorus, and reverb effects without an amplifier.
3. Journey Instruments OB660M Carbon Fiber Travel Guitar
This particular guitar, the Journey Instruments Carbon Fiber Travel Guitar, stands out as a fascinating choice among the options listed. It is a right-handed black guitar with a Matte Polyurethane finish. The top wood is made of unidirectional carbon fiber, while the back and sides wood are reinforced with fiberglass. The neck shape is traditional C, and it is equipped with Grover Mini Chrome 18:1 ratio tuning machines.
What sets this guitar apart is its patented removable neck system, allowing it to collapse into a size suitable for airline carry-on compartments. This feature makes it an excellent option for travelers, as it can be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily.
In terms of its specifications, it boasts Journey under-saddle transducer pickup electronics, a carbon fiber fingerboard and bridge material. The guitar has a 24.5″ scale length, 1.75″ nut width, and 18″ body length, resulting in an overall length of 35.5″.
Despite its compact size, this guitar delivers a clear and resonant tone with surprising volume and projection. The offset soundhole design maximizes the resonance of the soundboard, while the carbon fiber construction ensures resistance to cracking and warping, even with extensive use.
4. Enya Carbon Fiber X3 Pro Travel Guitar
This Enya Carbon Fiber Acoustic-Electric Guitar features a combination of carbon fiber and polycarbonate for its back and sides, providing strength and stability. The composite body material ensures durability and resilience. The fretboard is made of Richlite and Silicon Crystal Inlay, offering a unique and visually appealing design. The guitar is equipped with a tremolo bridge system and black die-cast tuning pegs.
Similar to the other guitars in its class, the graphite construction allows this guitar to withstand changes in temperature while maintaining its tuning stability. This makes it a reliable choice for musicians who perform in various environments.
The elevated neck design of this guitar is a notable feature. By removing pressure from the soundboard below the 14th fret, it reduces strain on the instrument and enhances intonation transmission. As a result, the guitar produces a rich and well-balanced tone with ease.
Additionally, the offset sound holes on this guitar are strategically positioned to project the sound towards the player, without compromising the sound for the audience. This design element enhances the guitar’s mid-range response, contributing to a more dynamic and expressive playing experience.
One of the standout features of this guitar is the AcousticPlus system. With a built-in actuator, it captures the string vibrations and enhances them to create chorus and reverb effects directly from the instrument itself. This means you can enjoy guitar effects without the need to connect to an amplifier.
Furthermore, the body of this full-size (41″) guitar is cut away at the neck, allowing for better access to the higher frets and ensuring a more comfortable playing experience.
5. Peavey Composite Acoustics Cargo Carbon Fiber Guitar
This particular model of the Composite Acoustics Cargo Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar is designed for right-handed players. It boasts a carbon fiber top, back, and sides, as well as a “C” neck shape.
In terms of hardware, it features black chrome components, a reinforced Polymer fingerboard, a proprietary carbon composite bridge, an L.R. Baggs Active Element pickup, a high gloss body finish, and aluminum dot inlays.
Composite Acoustics has successfully demonstrated with this guitar that it is indeed possible to achieve the sound quality of a full-size guitar in a travel-size instrument.
With a scale length of 22.75 inches, highly precise tuning machines with an 18:1 ratio, and a proprietary carbon fiber bridge and saddle materials that maximize sound transfer, this guitar is undeniably a fantastic option that deserves recognition.
It is worth noting that many carbon fiber guitar manufacturers, including Composite Acoustics, prefer to incorporate offset soundholes into their instruments. The Cargo Carbon Fiber Acoustic Guitar follows this trend and features an offset soundhole with integrated top bracing technology.
The purpose of this unique soundhole design is to provide a more accurate representation of how your guitar sounds to others when you play, allowing you to hear what your audience hears.
Which carbon fiber guitar would be the most suitable choice for your purchase?
I often receive this question frequently, and I understand why people ask it because I used to do the same thing before purchasing any instrument.
If you carefully read the descriptions of the guitars we mentioned earlier, you will notice that most of them have similar features with a few variations here and there.
All carbon fiber guitars are incredibly lightweight, resistant to extreme temperature and humidity changes, louder than wooden acoustic guitars, and ultimately very durable and powerful.
Therefore, essentially, you will enjoy all these advantages with any carbon fiber guitar. However, it is worth noting that some brands are better than others and construct their guitars differently.
After considering these factors, evaluate what you are specifically looking for in a guitar and ask yourself why you want to buy a carbon fiber guitar. Based on your answer, choose the one that resonates with you the most.
You have various options to consider. You can simply select one that appeals to you aesthetically or delve into more advanced aspects such as the type of pickups they come with or whether you prefer built-in effects or not.
Consider the tone you desire and watch numerous demos on YouTube. By doing all this, you will be in a better position to make an informed decision.
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