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Location: Wayne, NJ | -Rainsong. I went to a local used, vintage guy to play of these guitars, In all honesty not inmpressed. Now where near as nice as an "O". In fact right next to these guitars was a signed Al Di Meola Legend. A great sounding guitar, ( besides beinga liitle heavy for my tastes) which was much better than the Rainsong. IMO, the Rainsong at $2600.00, is no better than the Martin X series. I also posted some (I know, pretty bad ) pics. Here the blurb from the shop - *RAINSONG WS-1000 Black Ice, 2015, New, cutaway with electronics, all-graphite "patchwork" soundboard crafted using RainSong's Projection Tuned Layering™ technique, no soundboard braces, Abalone rosette, all-graphite body, all-graphite N2 neck and composite fingerboard fabricated using RainSong's Performance Shape Casting™ as a single piece, adjustable truss rod, c ustom shark inlays, Tusq™ Nut, saddle and bridgepins, Fishman Prefix+T, 1 3/4" at nut, ohsc...$3466 list............$2599  *RAINSONG Parlor guitar, NEW, 2015, All-graphite Unidirectional
Carbon soundboard crafted using Projection Tuned Layering technique, no soundboard braces, pinstripe rosette, Carbon/Glass hybrid body, no body braces, 12-fret all-graphite NS neck and composite fingerboard fabricated using RainSong's Performance Shape Casting as a single piece, Adjustable truss rod cutaway, Fishman Prefix+T in-the-side pickup system, 1 3/4" at nut, 24.875" scale, amazingly loud little guitar (Oh the name of the shop is Lark Street Music in Teaneck, NJ)
Edited by Peanut Butter 2015-07-27 12:07 PM
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Location: Canada | I tried one at my luthiers shop a while ago and it didn't do anything for me either, kinda a like a plastic taylor. |
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Location: south east Michigan | I was gonna comment but "plastic Taylor" says it all. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Check out Blackbird. I have two of their CF ukuleles and I'm very intrigued by the El Capitan guitar. The video on their website is dreadful but I heard one of these in person and was very impressed. |
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| They have their place. I bought a Cargo Raw and it really has a lot of volume for such a small guitar. They are every bit as sturdy and impervious to elements as people say.
The sound is OK. Carbon fiber has an incredible amount of sustain. It's a nice guitar for finger picking and for playing acoustic lead. I'm not all that crazy about its sound when strumming.
It makes a great backpack and traveling guitar. |
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Location: Indiana | +2 on the Cargo. Big voice for such a little guy. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Rainsnot. Plastic Taylor. Nuff said. |
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Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | What are your thoughts on the Emerald X20 Opus? |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Jonmark Stone - 2015-07-28 5:24 PM
+2 on the Cargo. Big voice for such a little guy.
And you can play it out in the Cold. 
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Location: Jet City | naellis58 - 2015-07-29 2:19 PM What are your thoughts on the Emerald X20 Opus? Looks like they kinda ripped off the CA design... or should I say 'improved upon'? I like the little CA Cargo. The local dealer here used to carry a bunch of them and I did notice I liked some over others. The consistency seemed a bit suspect. I haven't tried one since Peavey took over. |
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Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | I still think Arthur is just Adorable!
Just look at that happy smile!  |
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Location: Right now? | <p>, Gang! Long time no post. I hope everyone is having a great summer.</p><p>I think Arthur is adorable also, and I think that the CA Cargo is a GREAT guitar for dragging around with you wherever you go. I want one BAD. I have a CA Legacy in road tough, tribal finish which was a DELIGHTFUL surprise when I played it for the first time. It sounds AWESOME and absolutely holds its own against my Taylors and Martins! I am not kidding! Once one can get past the look and feel of those guitars and just focus on the sound and playability, you'll appreciate these 'surprises'. I never thought the Rainsongs were as good as the Composite Acoustics, but that's just my opinion. I think the Rainsongs are kind of ugly, too. I've had a few really good guitar players I know play it and they all loved the CA Legacy! I am hoping to get a Cargo someday. Arthur scored when he got that Cargo guitar IMHO.  As for my Ovations and Adamases, well, I don't have an Ovation or an Adamas guitar that doesn't sound GREAT! If this damn link works, here's a nice example of a CA Legacy for those who may be unfamiliar with them: </p><p><img class="mceItem" src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/FWiZ5sjGU0Y/0.jpg" border="0" alt="FWiZ5sjGU0Y" /></p>
Edited by WillaMuse 2015-07-31 11:30 AM
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Location: Jet City | Hi Willa! Here's your pic. 
Edited by Damon67 2015-07-31 11:28 AM
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Location: SW Mintsoda | Linky no worky... |
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Location: Right now? | <p>Thanks Damon. I was trying to insert a link to the video, but it won't work, even though I clicked n the Youtube thingy in the interface, dammit: Here's the link if anyone wants to listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWiZ5sjGU0Y</p>
Edited by WillaMuse 2015-07-31 11:32 AM
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Location: Right now? | 360Ovation, See the post below yours. I inserted the link again. I think it works.
Willa
Edited by WillaMuse 2015-07-31 11:32 AM
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Location: SW Mintsoda | Great picking - and it sounded fantastic, too. |
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Location: Wayne, NJ | 360Ovation - 2015-07-31 12:33 PM Great picking - and it sounded fantastic, too. +1 on the guitar playing and the guitar. Thanks for the heads up on the Composite Acoustics - sounds awesome! Just to clarify - Arthur and Willa are talking about Composite Acoustics - but different models? |
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Location: Jet City | Yes different models
But to be perfectly clear, Composite Acoustics went under, outta biz, caput.
Peavey bought the rights and now they're made in the Peavey factories. Who knows how much longer those factories will be open. They've moved almost everything offshore, and the company has't been on the upside lately.
So really it's no longer a CA, it's a Peavey, built by different folks in a different facility. |
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Location: Wayne, NJ | Hey - Thanks Damon. Too bad about CA. Their "about" statement references being "the brainchild of an rocket scientist" and "roots in the south". I guess that all gone bye-bye. Here the text from the page in case your curious:
Composite Acoustics guitars are the brainchild of a proverbial rocket scientist: a former aerospace engineer and guitar aficionado with a vision and a lot of experience with composites. To this day, our team consists mostly of guitar lovers and dedicated players. We work every day to make the best guitars in the world. With the implementation of modern technology such as CNC machining, CAD design, laser cutting devices and a nitrogen assisted paint system, we can control the tolerances of our instruments through every stage of the process, assuring a finished guitar that is as consistently perfect as it is beautiful. As with any high-end guitar, our process still requires much precision hand work and is complex and labor intensive. There really are no shortcuts to greatness! At Composite Acoustics, we stand behind our product. Our customer service and care is exemplary and our quality standards are the highest in the industry. While we're constantly working on pushing the envelope, we'll always put sound and quality first. At Composite Acoustics we know our roots: located in the heart of the south, with its great acoustical music culture, the development of our guitars is steeped in everything ranging from Blues to Cajun, Zydeco to Jazz, Country to Bluegrass. Grounded in our tradition, we have our ears to the world, creating guitars that have started a revolution. Great sound, cool innovation and hip design: Composite Acoustics — Fine Carbon Guitars. |
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Location: SW Mintsoda | Peanut Butter, I see you're also a Larrivee owner. Those are my first choice in all wood guitars (I have 3 currently, have owned several others over the years). Love 'em.
(Sorry to hijack a thread about non-wood guitars - both have their place and can sound fantastic, as this thread demonstrates.) |
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Location: Wayne, NJ | Yup. When it comes to value - Quality/Price - nothing beats a Larrivee. To make a long story short, I had sent in a OM-04 to Oxnard for warranty repair ( now I sit at home every day watching the hygrometer stay at 45%), and it was rejected. However, I was offered an unfinished OM-03 (which I suspect is B-Stock, because because it has a big brown stripe down the soundboard) for cost - including shipping and a case - I'm embarrassed to say - a nice chunk less than a Grand. Let's just say that this guitar sounds as good as any $2500.00 Martin.  |
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Location: Wayne, NJ | I meant to say in a wood guitar. My "O" is still my favorite guitar to play. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | There are people who have posted online that the Peavey Mississippi Composite Acoustics are better than the original Louisiana CA's.
I cannot find any way to determine if my Cargo is pre- or post- Peavey... But I think it is newer.
I also own a CA "X-Performer" with a Two-way LR Baggs pickup system... Undersaddle and soundboard.
That one is an SSB, designed to be plugged-in.
Many have said that the Cargo is in a class of it's own as a Travel Guitar.
Pretty Loud, much Bass, and pretty small. And impervious to the elements.
(plus, mine plugs-in)
I am taking it outside with me today because it is light and forecast to be 103°.
So I want something that is light and small to carry and that doesn't care about the heat.
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Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | Hi Willa!!! Nice to meet you!!! |
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Location: Jet City | Larrivee is the only wood box I seem to get along with. I have an LV-09 |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | "Composite Acoustics guitars are the brainchild of a proverbial rocket scientist: a former aerospace engineer and guitar aficionado with a vision and a lot of experience with composites."
Hmm...I think it was almost 50 years ago that the ORIGINAL composite guitar was born to an aerospace engineerand guitar adicionado. But hey, what do I know? |
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Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | CanterburyStrings - 2015-08-01 11:28 AM
"Composite Acoustics guitars are the brainchild of a proverbial rocket scientist: a former aerospace engineer and guitar aficionado with a vision and a lot of experience with composites."
Hmm...I think it was almost 50 years ago that the ORIGINAL composite guitar was born to an aerospace engineerand guitar adicionado. But hey, what do I know?
+1 |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Yeah, Ovation never gets the respect it deserves, ..........I heard that somewhere |
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Location: Wayne, NJ | naellis58 - 2015-08-01 12:30 PM CanterburyStrings - 2015-08-01 11:28 AM "Composite Acoustics guitars are the brainchild of a proverbial rocket scientist: a former aerospace engineer and guitar aficionado with a vision and a lot of experience with composites." Hmm...I think it was almost 50 years ago that the ORIGINAL composite guitar was born to an aerospace engineerand guitar adicionado. But hey, what do I know? +1 Exactly my point. But they seem to highly thought of around here. I'm going to have to find one to play. |
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Location: Jet City | jondr72 - 2015-08-01 11:13 AM Exactly my point. But they seem to highly thought of around here. I'm going to have to find one to play. They're nice, but they're not in the same league as a textured top Adamas.
Edited by Damon67 2015-08-01 5:13 PM
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Location: Wayne, NJ | damon67 - 2015-08-01 6:11 PM jondr72 - 2015-08-01 11:13 AM Exactly my point. But they seem to highly thought of around here. I'm going to have to find one to play. They're nice, but they're not in the same league as a textured top Adamas. I'm sure just that's the case. Being the new guy, I only recently played my first Adamas (when I saw Al at the Philly guitar show). It was really nice. It just didn't have time to sink in, though. And, being the curious person I am, I like to try new 'things". I'll be in the city (NYC) on Tuesday, so hopefully I can find one in stock there. |
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Location: Indiana | Just to add a few more thoughts... I didn't buy the Cargo because it was CF. I broke my left hand last spring and the short scale was really helpful in the rehab. Still, as I said, it has a big, resonant voice... something I never heard in any Rainsong, and I've played quite a few. And, unlike other short scales, it can be a serious working guitar. The Baggs system sounds great plugged in for shows. And I've done some recording with it.
I've also taken it camping twice
What I don't like is the chunky C neck profile. Too many decades playing Ovation V's. And, no, there's no comparison to a textured top Adamas. |
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| Same here Arthur, I'm not sure if mine is a pre or post Peavey. I will say that the workmanship is very good. The tuners on my Cargo have the nicest feel of any guitar that I own even though they're on the small side. They're smooth and accurate. Intonation is also quite good. I wasn't sure when I bought it if I was going to like the shorter scale but I got used to it pretty quickly. Overall, the guitar is pretty easy to play.
I went to a dealer and played on a Rainsong 6 string and 12 string. Their base was better than the Cargo as you would expect and I thought they were pretty nice guitars. But I still think the sound of the guitar strummed isn't as sweet as I'm used to with wood or even an Adamas.
I could see Ovation designing a guitar with a composite neck and bowl and an Adamas sandwiched type top. Not quite impervious to the elements but pretty close and the sound might be better for strumming than a 100% composite. |
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Location: Minden, Nebraska | Belated jumping in on this, but I've owned three Rainsongs. I liked the way they played and sounded, but simply did not justify the price difference from one of my good Ovations. Caveat emptor: I received a Rainsong that had gotten hot and the neck warped. When a graphite neck warps, it warps, and there is no fixing one of these. The factory was no help at all.
David Wilcox, a great player, has toured with a Rainsong when he doesn't take his Olson out on the road. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | My biggest issue with the "Other" CF guitars is that for the most part they are attempting to sound like a wood box guitar. I think that is the their flaw. Guitars started out with ROUND BACKS !!!! Look it up. I think it was someone in Spain who came up with what has been programmed to the masses as the "standard" box shape mainly because it's easier to make. Then came other materials like CF and Plastic and FiberGlass and Ovation put it all together as a Proper guitar which is... if you read your history... a ROUND back !!!! and by the way... rather than having a "wood" tone, which I never saw as a compliment, it had it's OWN balanced tone... Like a Piano. Low lows, high highs and even volume up and down the scale.
Sorry, it may sound pompous, but a proper guitar has a ROUND back, consistent volume all along the scale, and doesn't have a nasal sounding wood tone. |
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