CARBON FIBER vs WOOD - Guitar Tone Comparison!
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- Check out this comparison between a carbon fiber guitar and a traditional wooden instrument!
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This is a comparison between a Stonebridge GS23-CR and a RainSong H-OM1000N2. Enjoy!
Wood - Warm sound
Carbon Fiber - Bright sound
Carbon fiber sound a bit more muffled, there are more mid frequencies than wood, you can hear it on second example, 4:16 vs 4:53
I felt the same.
Like the difference between a Gibson and a Martin.
I would describe the sound of plastic as flat compared to the more "round" sound of wood.
Carbon fibre had almost a chorus sound not at all bad. Wooden was warmer, lovely tones. Surprised by carbon fibre guitar
I closed my eyes and listened to them both.
I think the wooden guitar sounds fuller with the bass frequencies, the mids have more body, and the highs are warmer.
The carbon fiber guitar has clarity, but it lacks depth, and the bass is artificial-sounding. (Not that BOTH guitars aren't artificial.)
I'd also venture to say that if both guitars were played with aggressive strumming, the wooden guitar would have more volume as well. At least more accurate volume. I've played guitars of various materials, and every non-wooden guitar that I've played has been unable to mimic the steady increase in volume that a wooden guitar can accomplish naturally.
well said
Thank you!
Yes I agree. I have the same impression. Wood has more character and every guitar will sound somewhat different, because there are no two the same pieces of wood. It is organic, natural material and it varies widely in density, growth ring distribution and grain structure. So wood selection by a luthier is critical.
Carbon guitar sounded OK and all of them will sound the same. One could take it as an advantage or disadvantage.
Yes, I would agree. For me the biggest difference was in the higher registers with the wood sounding somewhat warmer. I thought the base end was a close run thing though.
It has less reverb which makes the sound definitely more accurate but a lil bit empty. It's a cool guitar that's for sure, good in certain situations, but richness, depth and timber of a well crafted wood one are unbeatable (atm?).
Also harmonics don't seem to resonate as good as on the wooden one.
Wood definitely absorbs some of the harsh tones and resonates mostly in the mid range. The carbon fiber sounds like it sorta resonates all tones without absorbing any, so you get a harsher, more "metallic" sound. Would prob sound best with new age-y kinda music.
But with vocals or for a more pleasing tone, def the wood.
definitely prefer the wood, but I have been owning a number of guitars that really sounded great at the beginning and then unfortunately lost their depth more and more over the years. Maybe it would be interesting to compare these guitars again now.
Pleasa give me one guitar..I like music and play guitar but I don't have enough money to buy guitar.❤️❤️❤️
Carbon resonates much better than its wooden peers, generally sounding deeper and much louder.
Note that the best violins are now made of carbon fiber. Do violinists know something that guitarists don't?
Your strings are dead. Change them, because you're guitars are *_not_* sounding worse with age. It's your strings, or your ears!
@@bellwethertrucking3650 LMAO
@@bellwethertrucking3650 well it could be his guitars aren't taken care of properly.
You should have done a blind test. Inference is too strong in the guitar playing world. People listen with their eyes.
which is why i close mine.
Very true!!
Not me!!...hi!...hi!...and the wood sounds warmer, with more overtones etc...
I didn't watch the video before I saw this comment so I closed my eyes and I liked the acoustic more than carbon fiber
you have eyelids no?
Like them both.... Most of the time it's who ever hold the guitar makes the most difference in an instrument
So, a world-class player will make my $39 Chinese guitar sound like a Martin? Nice.
Bhatt Hole yes eue
@@Bhatt_Hole sometimes.....u cant tell the difference if u r not seeing...nd it is era of processors and amps..those two can change everything
Maybe it's a matter of re-calibrating one's expectations, but I was instantly struck by the beauty of the Stonebridge's sound, distinctly underwhelmed by the boxy, constricted sound of the Rainsong. I assume it's a given that the latter will sound exactly the same for ever more, unlike a wood instrument.
Total opposite for me, the wooden guitar sounded too thin and edgy, while I liked the "boxiness" of the carbon guitar. :-)
I've never liked "hifi" sounding guitars, which is pretty common with expensive instruments. They just drown in a mix because of no mids.
Wood has a better tonal range by far. The CF sounds like someone cut the high and low with an eq and left alot of midrange.
Hai colto la differenza più importante, un suono pieno di medie frequenze nel carbon e una gamma più equilibrata nel legno.
You've caught the most important difference, a full mid-range sound in the carbon and a more balanced range in the wood.
The carbon fiber has this jangly bright tones. The wooden guitar has a more balanced tone, really natural. Good sounds nonetheless.
Almost like a dobro the carbon fiber one.
Exactly what I was thinking. Almost a resophonic quality.
The carbon fiber values more the individual notes, the wood values more the harmonics. The carbon fiber sounded better when he was picking the strings, but the wood sounded better when he was strumming.
carbon fiber almost sounds like a steel guitar
John Francis Caballeda - I thought so too, sometimes. But I thought the brightness and sharpness could be really nice when playing somewhere without great acoustics, like in a park. Also, I didn't feel the CF guitar was tinny or thin sounding, just extra bright.
First of all, that was some great playing. You are multi talented, sir. I'm fascinated by the tone and clarity coming out of that carbon fiber! Yes, the wood sounds warmer but I really like the tone and clarity of the carbon fiber.
+Brad Coleman Thanks Brad!
What Brad said.
sounds like the wooden one is much more deep and complete, but the carbon fiber does a really great job, they sound different so its good to have tge opportunity to play both
I think the CF makers should try for a different body style. Take advantage of it's tonal qualities. That said I preferred the strumming sound of the wood and the picking sound of the CF :)
Indeed Brad,seems the carbon has a higher pitch more clear sound ,il like it ! just depends on personal taste and the music thats played. Ofcourse the carbon u can play it on a rainy day.... outside hahaha tnxs u play well!
Im an old geezer that's been playing since 7 years old. Like someone previously suggested, after hearing both guitars with eyes closed, the carbon guitar sounds brighter and lighter than the smoother, deeper base tones and natural reverb produced by the wood. Like someone also said, carbon for studio and wood for all around live playing. Great Job!
Well said
I go live carbon, and wood recording where, for me, it really counts. Live is loud, other instruments, outdoor elements. Studio is where it’s more serious, wood.
Woooow, Darren has come such a long way. This is a good video itself but he just kept getting better and better. It’s nice to see a video where’s he’s a little nervous in front of the camera. Gives me hope. lol
the carbon fiber sounds pretty amazing for what it is, but the wood guitar has more warmth, and nicer overtones...
I thought the same thing
i agree with you! the wood guitar has a better acoustic, no doubt, and the harmonics are clearer... but if you live in extreme temperature regions, the carbon fiber seems just awesome to use!
I thought the same, but to be fair I'd bet if he just did 2 different wood ones you'd come to a similar conclusion.
My Rainsong is constructed with old growth Brazilian carbon fiber.
Love it! That's a good come-back!
Que brasil oque crl aqui e guitarra feita de madeira de maconha envelheçida hahahaahaha
My CF Strat is made with UDR carbon fibers laid out like wood grain . Fabric is pretty but the udr is very much more like real wood. It's painted. UDR is ugly (mine is).
@@jaoojoao5361 madeira de maconha é foda....vc nem sabe q porra fuma
The way rain forests are being cut down to make way for plantations of fast-growing carbon fibre trees is an absolute scandal though...
Great comparison, thank you! Man, they are closer than I expected. I live in Central America (near the ocean which is even worse from a humidity perspective) and I LOVE the idea of having a CF guitar that I don’t have to constantly have adjusted. I played some years ago and just wasn’t sold on the tone. I’m visiting the Atlanta area next week and I think I’ll go have another look and listen.
The wooden guitar produced higher frequencies compared to the carbon guitar. The sound was much more pleasing to the ear.
I prefer the lower frequencies of the carbon fiber. Seemed like it projects the sound longer too.
I have always been interested to hear what a brass guitar would sound like
It is not true. In this comparison, you can hear that the medium and high frequencies of carbon are clearly better. I was listening in pro headphones.
Carbon resonates much better than its wooden peers, generally sounding deeper and much louder.
Note that the best violins are now made of carbon fiber. Do violinists know something that guitarists don't?
@@IlllIlIIllIll
The lower frequencies came through more for me on the carbon fiber. Regardless I agree it resonates better.
to my old ears, the wood had more going on a warmer tone
@@JulieWendele I like the sun you have reminds of klaatu
You wouldn't need to hear anything to know that. Wood has more pores and its surface is softer, so it will obviously be warmer than carbon fiber. Carbon fiber has more projection and natural brightness.
@@JulieWendele yeah I thought that the carbon fiber sounded abit tinny too
Frank Olsen are u going to publish this??
Warmer tone, cleaner tone and more sustain.
I'd say the Carbon Fiber Guitar sound very crisp, clean and sharp, and the Wooden Guitar has a much deeper, warmer sound to it. I think they'd sound great together, as it would have a sort of balance of two different tones then. Personally, I think the sound of the Carbon Fiber Guitar would go best with a few other stringed instruments, maybe a piano, Bass Guitar and throw in a wind instrument for good measure. For an instrumental track or something. Whereas I think the wooden one would sound best with only one or two other instruments, like maybe with the Carbon Fiber one and one or two vocals. Maybe I overanalyzed it, but that's what I think of when I hear the sounds.
I'm tryna detect a difference and I can't stop listening to you play.. I know those riffs weren't anything crazy but you killed it.. Bravo 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Beautifully played on both guitars. They both sound terrific. To my ears the wooden guitar sounds more vibrant and expansive while the carbon fiber guitar has more modern touch to it.
The carbon fibre has a much clearer projection of individual notes. The bass and harmonics sound really good but to me it sounds quieter because I can't hear the mids. The wood guitar protects fuller sounds.
Projects*
i know that youtube compresses sound so i'm guessing thats why the bass on the carbon sounds tighter. the wood like you said is more full but it's still hard to hear a perfect reference on youtube.
The carbon fiber guitar sounds better than I anticipated but it lacks character. I think the wood guitar definitely wins this comparison.
ugh character.. thats something i often hear when somone tries something new and others prefer the status quo and don't like change.
I'm completely open to new. I just prefer what sounds best to my ear. There's a depth that's lacking for me in the carbon fiber guitar as heard here. That's all.
Totally agree. I came here hoping the carbon fibre guitar would win this but I felt that the wooden guitar had more expression. The carbon fibre guitar seemed to lack highs and lows.
The wooden guitar has a really nice low end response.
I heard a lot of highs in the carbon fiber one, also a good deal of mids, but it really lacks that sweet low end that makes it kinda sweet
Hard decision for me sound wise. I think the wood has more of a ring tone to it but I like the fact that temperature change doesn’t affect the carbon fibre guitar. Hard choice for me and I think price would definitely make the choice easier.
That playing was truly great man! Thanks for doing such a thorough and clean comparison. It is clear that the tone of the wood is better to anyone with an ear-- however the CF still sounds good and there are numerous reasons as to why you would choose CF and none of them are tone.
But does it djent
Needs more strings
Aaru umm yea does anyone know where I can get 8 string acoustic
dafuk, djent still exists ?
Youngens..
Daveyboy lol
Just learned that guitars can be made from carbon fiber.
Ditty C ukuleles as well
Not one that is any good! The CF was pathetic sounding with little sustain.
i just learned that you just learned
The carbon fiber one sounded like it's card board. No richness in sound at all and not even any treble. Amazing so bad. I did not expect that.
The best part about carbon fiber is being impervious to temp and humidity. No doubt the Stoneridge sounds great. It would be interesting doing a blindfold (listening only) test between my sons' '56 Martin D-28 and the Stoneridge,
The wood, to my ears, noticeably better. Clearer richer, could hear more note separation with the wood. The carbon had a slight muffled sound compared to the wood. Wondering if the same type of strings were used for both?
There is a very significant difference between the two instruments.
The carbon fiber guitar has a more opaque, trapped sound!
The wood guitar has a wider, more stereo sound.
So I choose the wooden guitar
nobody asked so stfu
@@westerling8436 wtf is wrong with you!? He is just stating his opinion and you should learn to respect opinion of others.
@@benchplayz4944 this doesn't concern you, soab
@@westerling8436 This may not concern me but, you are THE PROBLEM! You could've made an apology but you are worst cancer as hell. I don't have time for you, good bye. One more thing, if you continue doing this... I'll make sure you "can't" continue anymore. Good day, sir.
@@benchplayz4944 wow, so much hate in you, let it all out go ahead
In a survival situation the wood would burn better than the carbon fiber.
In a survival situation I'd better whack a bear's head with the CF one...
true
Robert - I laughed good on that one
Actually carbon would make a better fuel.
Hahahahaha
just as you woould expect, the wood guitar sounds warmer and fuller and the carbon sharper and cleaner
Really? I find the wood to be a lot brighter and crisper. The carbon fiber sounds mellow and more percussive.
I really like it, really drone-y
+Kyle Lewis the carbon fiber is cleaner. The wood slightly dampens the tone giving it that warm sound.
The carbon guitar is NOT cleaner BUT it sounds louder because of the tinniness given by the accentuated mids around 800Hz which is the beginning of the "sensitive" range on the Fletcher-Munson's curves. I personally didn't like it because of that. The wooden guitar doesn't have that tinniness, however it gives warmth with the freq range around 200-300Hz and more crisp highs. It sounds better this way, although without so much obtrusive presence as the carbon one.
It's very hard to decide, the both sound lovely and I think each is better suited to different scenarios. I like how the carbon sounds while strumming more than the wood because individual strings are not fighting for supremacy. But I also love the wood for the harmonics. If it came down to choosing one I'd go for the carbon out of sheer curiosity.
Wood is love.
Carbon fiber is one night stand.
I'm impotent, and I'm only 34
@@westerling8436 you came to wrong place. You should go to an urologist man.
@@westerling8436 nobody cared at least you wont repopulate yourself
🤣🤣🤣
You “wood” lol
Wood for the studio and carbon fiber for the road.
And for the sauna...
Bo88y Beretta wood for the soul and carbon for the eyes)
Bo88y Beretta I agreee 😊
I agree
Wood for everything
For gigs & paying the bills the carbon fiber will more than hold its own without being noticed. But for serious business, concert, stage production or recording work the wood, hands down, mic drop.
I go for the warmth and sustain. Wood wins for me, though wood is carbon with resins the CF doesn't have. Both are hard to tell apart, especially if one could not see them. Both are great sounding guitars
Interesting to hear this, I thought the CF would be richer and warmer after listening to a vid of someone playing a CF Cello but it's quite the opposite with an Acoustic guitar
I really wanted to like the carbon fiber one. I really liked the wooden one.
+eloann i agree. The wooden one had more depth and richness. The carbon fiber was a bit brighter. In 50 years though it will be hard to find a wooden one. Carbon fiber guitars are just getting started and I believe sound quality will improve. I have a few ideas and will be making one this summer.
+eloann Agree.
+tvoy batya Valves are still used by Audiophiles for music playback. And different types of valves are still used in Radio Broadcast and X-ray imaging.
+tvoy batya
Industrial equipment and device programmers will always use DB-9 and it being unpopular with home users doesn't affect that. By Radio Broadcast, I meant valves are used for sheer power in broadcast transmission towers, not music playback in the radio DJ booth. Consumers are affected by fads or anti-fads but Industrial applications and pro users will always use the best tool for the job. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
what is db-9? you didnt know about xrays? wtf
I've owned a Rainsong for about 10 yrs and I love it, but that Stonebridge is exceptional. The mids and highs are spectacular, the Rainsong sounds muted in comparison.
Fred Garvin
There is a difference between the two but It is VERY subtle !!
I found the differences quite obvious. The Stonebridge sounds miles better.
Alcovitch
Not saying I dont believe your statement...But it is interesting that I am a guitar player of close to 30 years and I hear very little difference...That is quite a phenomenon !
To be honest 30 years or 2 years is irrelevant. The tone was much richer in the Stonebridge. The Rainsong felt flat and somewhat muted. They aren't even comparable to my ears.
Alcovitch
I was attempting to establish myself as a seasoned and highly experienced player as opposed to a casual person that has been fiddling around for nearly 30 years..In my experience both personal and observational, a two year player could have little time on the instrument inside of that time frame...I have known many.
Personally, over the years and many hours of playing, my ears became much much more sensitive, progressively to tonal changes or differences.
I have had this very discussion with a couple of my fellow musicians and they have shared my experience...But it is of little importance..I just thought I would expound on what my intentions and experiences have been.
Funny thing is that if you're a chemistry student you'll realize both guitars are made of carbon 😂😂
There’s still time to delete this
Oof
Hahahahahh
Its too late 😔😔
big brain moment
I've played for over 50 yrs. Love carbon sound
For this style of playing, definitely wood. I could totally see an acoustic metal player wanting a carbon fiber one though. Would sound sweet with rock music/metal.
It was brilliant thank you! I 'd have love to hear sustain comparison. I'd bet the CF holds longer the note.
Keep in mind too, RainSong makes 3 different models.
The one you show with the 3k weave, a model with a UD soundboard (Unidirectional carbon fiber), and a "Black Ice" model.
They all have different tonality and sound quality to them.
Kind of like using different woods for the soundboard.
Humidity proof is a selling point for me, I could get use to the carbon fiber gitter
to my totally untrained, and rock-n-roll abused ears, the wood has more depth and warmth than the carbon fiber, but seems to lack the crispness and brightness of the carbon fiber.
it looks like you'll need to drop over 1,000 to find one ):
Huh? I'm not in the market for a guitar, or any other instrument. Admittedly, my musical ability is on the same level as a golf tee.
I was just Sad cause I wanted to get one. . but they are like 2 months of work for me and I don't play guitar outside enough to drop that kinda money
..
I wasn't certain
just based off your comment I responded with my saddnes
oh.. well I guess I responded to the wrong comment! ops my bad
Randy She I didnt get the same result. I play alot, and used to build for Gibson in Nashville. I found that the Carbon guitar had all the "warmth" as the wood did. I wouldn't even call it "warmth". Wood , like the carbon fiber, has rigidity and resonates. The carbon fiber one, IMHO, did as well or better.
This man can play an acoustic like nobody's business...
Thanks for the this comparison video. The wooden guitar sounds way better as it reflects more than hundred years of Luther's experience on how to make the best sound of the wood such as the thickness of the wood, how to align the grains of wood, and of course what type of wood. I am hopeful that with science we'll able to have affordable guitars that sound great and are friendly to the environment.
I think I prefer the carbon fiber. It sounds bright but light. The wood sounds warmer and fuller. Both amazing.
I have listened to both guitars carefully and I almost couldn't pick the difference, but to my ear the slight difference is the wood guitar just has a bit more tone, still the carbon fiber guitar looks and sounds great.
Very nice. 👌👍
Considering that there's hundreds of years of experience with wood that led to the modern guitar I think the carbon Fibre one held its own pretty well here. It might need some bracing tests and thickness tests to achieve the same results but that's only if you want it to sound like wood.
Darrell, you rock. Just spending time with us, making the comparison..that's cool. Regardless the purpose of the video. By the way, you're a very good musician. Thank you
Playing for 8 years.
Carbon fibre is a beautiful girl I will hang out, party and get drunk with.
Wood is the one I will marry.
Lit
Simp
But wouldn’t that be cheating if you play both......................no?
Josh Singleton 😂
@@chamade166 absolute simp with bad guitar tastes, i add
Would be perhaps a better idea to find the sweet spot for each guitar rather than using the same mic position for both tests. Clearly they both have very different characteristics. The carbon guitar seems to be much more present in the upper-Mid, compared to the wooden guitar. But in a live environment that's actually much more preferable than it would be in a studio setting, and visa versa. On the sound quality of this particular video the wooden guitar seems to come out on top, but on a bright stage you actually want very different characteristics from a guitar than you do in the relative isolation of a furnished and carpeted room. Would be nice to hear the carbon guitar close mic'd with a 57.
+Jim Gardner True, but for a comparison video I had to do it exactly the same, otherwise the comparison would lose its meaning.
I agree, In a mix (live or recorded), a lot of frequencies und up being cut by the sound engeneer. For solo guitar, a more round and natural tone can be kept.
I should mention that the RainSong has a fantastic preamp too :)
Darrell Braun Guitar Ahh, nice. Could you record the rainsong direct with flat EQ? It's rare to see a guitar reviewed by someone who can actually play. Thanks.
+Jim Gardner If I get the chance, I could do a mini review of the RainSong including direct recording :)
Epic. Thanks.
The carbon fiber sounds 'dead' off the E and A strings. Listen during the introduction when the wood box is sympathetic to Darrell's voice . . . certainly some work needs to be done constructing, bracing carbon fiber . . . perhaps with thin honeycomb to support the carbon fiber. Lovely material and construction . . .
Bought and used the WS1000N2. I loved the sound for the strumming style I often use. I moved to the Philippines and started a band over there. Musicians are wonderful there. My two guitar players could put the Rainsong Down.
We did gigs all over the southern parts of Cebu Philippines, turned boys on to Seger, Miller, Lightfoot, Brooks and Dunn, Petty, you name it, they learned and I sang it. The guitar never let use down as our main instrument.
When I left a year latter, I left the guitar there so my super talented guitarist could keep on Rocking!
Getting ready to buy another so I can start playing again in the states. Weather, no problem. Leave it in the trunk, no problem. Always ready.
+Richard Coffey Nice! Great story 👍
I like mine a lot too!
What are the names of both the guitars?
+Antoine Davis You can check the information in the video description :)
Okay, thanks :)
Hi im from cebu philipines :)
Both guitars have beautiful music in them, each in its place. I wish I had the skill to deliver such beauty. Thanks for this demo. I’ve never heard a carbon fiber guitar. In your hands they both produced the language of the world. Please sir, may I have some more. Thank you, Texas
I thought the wood was warmer & more harmonically responsive.
The subtle nuances rang out better on the wood.
Both outstanding instruments.
Thank you !
Is he Cana-
Aboot
-Ah ok
LibertyStudios you mean like Newfoundland eastern Canada right? cause I'm around the Toronto area and I've never heard anybody besides the far eastern Canadians say "aboot". with their lovely, goofy accents. lol
I'm not so sure. I spent a few weeks in Vancouver and heard "aboat" a lot. Not all that close to about, and not quite aboot.
Karen .-. Wrong, we don't say aboot either.
I thought I heard aboot, I had to restart the intro to make sure I heard him right.
Unlike what most people here have to say, I don't think the wooden guitar has a "fuller" sound and the CF doesn't have a "sparkly" sound.
The CF guitar is representing the full spectrum of frequencies in a very balanced manner, while the wooden has rolled off highs.. It only creates an illusion of being richer by being toned down on the upper end.
4:45 (E string on wooden)
5:23 (E string on CF)
The CF actually has better bass representation.
Well said, my dood
Epsilon's Dilemma i
agreed
This is only an amateur opinion but, I did feel like the CF one had much clearer sound on the lower frequencies and the wooden one had more of a higher frequency dominance. I had the feeling that the mids were much clearer on the CF than other frequencies, but that may be a illusion from the fact that, in comparaison to the wooden one, the CF is more balanced so the lesser high and clearer low in comparaison makes it sound like the mids are stronger.
But the wood one sounded nicer
I closed my eyes and listened twice before watching. The wood was brighter but lost some clarity. I couldn't hear each string as well. The carbon was less bright but I could hear each note much clearer. It seemed very balanced. Of course, change which wooden guitar you compare it to and you would get different results.
Agree 100%
I agree. I'm a wood lover and I was really expecting the wood to be warmer and fuller sounding but instead I found myself hearing individual notes more clearly on the carbon and with greater integrity of tone as he moved down the neck. Sadly I felt the wood sounded clipped like the strings were stretched. I guess the flexing of the natural wood allows for colouration whereas the carbon fiber has greater torsional and structural rigidity which is reflected in cleaner sounding notes. I think a lot of people become used to seeking familiarity 'as in warm sound' rather than objective accuracy.
I think you need to review it and hear it more. cause the way you’re saying is the opposite of what the results are.
Wood=fuller
Carbon=brighter
The carbon is similar to the spruce top guitar it has a sharp tone and brighter sound.
You need to practice more of your hearing it is really helpful when you enter the World of Music.
Donald Trump Its not about preferring which sound he like. My Comment is about correcting him that the way he listened and observed the sound is wrong and is the opposite of what he commented.
It’s better to criticize someone that he is wrong and correcting it rather than letting him go not knowing he is wrong.
They both sound really nice when you play them :)
We're also all listening to a recording--which means nobody's gonna hear what they sound like 'live'. The microphone and our speakers/headphones add lots of tonal coloration.
It's hard to notice at first, but the wood has a richer sound!!! I like both very much! The C. F. Guitar seems to have a constant mid-range sound. I suppose it could be likened to feeling sound vibrations through steel and then the same sound vibrations through Polystyrene foam! I am not a puritan, by any means, but after listening to that, I believe thaat the sound resinates better through wood and would now definitely go for the Wooddie!
Nice playing, by the way!
Thanks for Sharing and God Bless!!!
You said the cf has a midrange sound. I agree. The lower midrange warm resonance is missing in the cf, leaving the mid and upper midrange to predominate. This takes away a lot of warmth.
To me, personally, in my humble opinion, the carbon one sounds as if it's a guitar done by a computer. Almost like it has no emotion, no depth, no warm sustain, .. something is .. missing. Weather affecting the wood guitar? That's ok, gives it character
I agree !!
That cold, dead feel would fit perfectly with a few songs id like to play on it. haha
+Josh Linder edgy
+Ryan Compton It was a joke, but sure.. haha
I fully agree with your opinion.
Wood sounds richer, warmer, more than tonality. I'll take that. They'll eventually figured out with alternative, but right now, carbon fiber mrs. Good wood provides or more emotional connection with sound and music.
Can't beat wood!! Carbon fiber may be strong but it sounds "tinny" and sound not "rich" as wood!! Sorry...gonna have to say WOOD!!
wood all the way
Sounds like someone who made their mind up before they even watched the video! :p
+Luke Wren nah dude. I watched and listened. The sound comparison in the video is very telling. The Stonebridge has much more detail and warmth then the Rain Song.
+Luke Wren I'm impartial and heard a distinct difference. The wood is much warmer. The carbon finer is brighter and slightly more bell like and tinny with a bit of a reverb like effect. Both sound very good and have their uses for different songs.
+Nanner Hammock fiber*
Agreed. Metallic sounding
Thanks for the show. The Stonebridge is a GREAT sounding guitar. Not many of ANY other brand are going to top the overall tone of it. You can hear the wood in the notes. I've played Rainsongs and they ARE nice, BUT different. They have wide flat EQs and are generally louder and clearer than most wooden guitars. For me, they do have just a SLIGHTLY boxy tone, which you don't have as much with most solid top well made and broken in wooden ones. Then again you have fewer maintenance worries with carbon fiber. So to each their own. Again, NICE playing.
They both sound good to me. The wooden one is more resonant in the lower freqs which is more pleasing to the ear imo. Great playing too!
I wish someone makes a vid of blind test, many ones might be so surprise to humiliated themselves here.
"I'm excited aboot..." Bam. Canadian.
+Keith Walker 😄 It's true!
"Very hot in the summer & very cold in the winter!" Yup thats Canada!
Keith Walker it's more like 'a boat' 😂
Both are spetacular instruments but the wooden guitars has a sparkly ringing tone the carbon does not match. Very nice demo.
The CF has a Diaper Tone. The wood is the way to go. The Graphite does not resonate well they should have used Ebony or some kind of tonewood on CF the bridge and fretboard.
Wood wins in all sound counts. Warmer, deeper and richer sound. However, the carbon fiber is not bad at all!
Cyclo Hexane carbon fiber win in durability
This is a great video, Darrell. The tonewood debate has taken a new turn as a result of Jim Lill’s tonewood video.
You are an awesome artist...your skill is amazing!!!
The carbon fiber guitar has a brittle sound to me, whereas the Stonebridge has a warmer fuller sound with more definition. The "mids" seem to stand out with fairly good bright sound on the carbon fiber guitar but again, brittle, not much tonality. I'll take the wood guitar anyday over a carbon fiber one. Just my opinion...
I’ve tried to get into Rainsong because they check a lot of boxes for me, but then I played a McPhearson and HOLY... those guitars are incredible. So loud, clear, resonate.
I have a carbon composite guitar. I immediately noticed that the strings seemed just wrong. So, Ernie Ball Cobalt strings for electric guitars were put on. Immediate richness. Still not great, but an improvement for sure.
Nice video. I liked both guitars.
The carbon fiber looks good and it sounds more like metallic and the wood sounds like there is some 3d effect on it..i dont know..im not an expert but i prefer wood😁
I think the people saying that the wooden guitar has more bottom end might either need better listenning devices, or learn what having more bottom end actually means, because on my end the carbon fiber has a very booming bass to it, more distinction between notes, and very clear harmonics.
However
The main difference in sound is the body's resonance frequency, which is what more noticeably gives acoustic systems their characteristic sound.
In the wooden guitar, it seems to be placed around the mids, and on the carbon fiber one is at a lower frequency, which causes it to not project chords as well as the wooden one, but gives single notes a good bass response.
In other words, the carbon fiber might "be happier" as a baritone guitar.
yep, I agree the carbon fibre has a good bass and treble but less mids than the wood, but personally i prefer that sound because you appreciate each end more as opposed to being stuck with hearing mostly mids and not a lot of bass
Agreed, would love to hear a carbon fiber baritone
youtube compresses sound man. have to consider that.
I know nothing will sound like a wooden guitar, but I look forward to carbon fibre guitar as we have lost many trees already to wildfire last year and if there is a safe option which is as good as wood , we may put some vinyl of wrap or something and play it , ultimately music matters and I guess we seek satisfaction from our music , so if we save some trees in the process nothing better than that.
They have about 6 of the Rainsong guitars hanging in my local music store. I played the 12 string and also a 6 string. If a person can see past the pricetag they are a beautiful, playable tone rich guitar. In December of 21 they were 3-5 thousand dollar guitars new... I can get a lot of really nice musical stuff for that kind of money.
Yes, but you’ll never actually NEED another acoustic guitar…. That doesn’t mean I won’t buy another, but I definitely won’t need another… that’s a money saver in itself!
@@jed1166 that's all great but I've had the same old acoustic guitar since 1995 and it still holds time and has quite a bit of tone for an affordable Gibson. I certainly can understand why a carbon fiber guitar has a lot of value solely based on what it takes to keep a guitar in tune as the weather changes. Humidity from a home furnace can be frustrating at times. The 12 string I played was beautiful for many reasons. I just look at it like a person purchasing a hunting scope for their rifle. Personally, I dont need a guitar that cost 3-4 thousand dollars. I dont need a 1000 dollar scope either. If I cant hit the target with a 50 dollar scope it's probably not the scope. I can keep my Gibson tuned and play along with Wanted Dead Or Alive does it really sound 3500.oo dollars better on a carbon fiber guitar?
@@welder062 don’t get me wrong, I love the feel and tone of wooden guitars. But, I also love getting on any stage, knowing I have a great sounding amplified guitar, that is in tune, and will stay that way for the entire show! Being an excellent electrical conductor, graphite guitars sound really good plugged in! I have an LR Baggs Stagepro Anthem in my RainSong, and with the mic / piezo blend set at 50%-50% , it sounds great! The RainSong is by far the best gigging guitar that I have played in my 30+ years on stage… it is my #1,(now only), 6 string stage guitar.
However, my #1 living room guitar is an inexpensive cedar topped Seagull S6 Slim dreadnought! The feel, smell and tone of this $500 cedar, wild cherry and maple guitar are simply wonderful! I love this guitar, and have an emotional connection to it… I don’t any emotional connection to the RainSong, it is strictly a working relationship… I recognize the RainSong as possibly the finest professional tool that an acoustic stage performer could ask for… I guess I love the Seagull, because I don’t have to share it with others, so it only needs to sound good to me… rather selfish! So, depends on the use! On stage, the RainSong, no contest! On the couch, the Seagull, no contest! Keep strummin’!
For a non professional the carbon fibre is ok, but if guitar is your profession, the wood is still superior. The quality of the carbon fibre is not that good. But for playing with friends, or take it to the beach, both sound great. For studio quality recording i wouldn't choose the carbon fibre.
It really depends on what you're playing on it. haha I always believe the song should fit the guitar ^.^ Sadly I only have an SG... I wish so badly I could learn acoustic styled songs..
(Replying to yours since it seems to be topically related in some sense) It seems like the carbon fiber's decay on the harmonics (at least for the 'picking' rendition - the others may have been somewhat improved) renders it nearly unusable. Seconding the wood for that reason and the ones you listed. However, like you I wonder about the mic placement and maybe even switching out the strings as an experiment with the carbon fiber's own timbre.
it does not matter what you learn on (you should probably learn everything on an acoustic first then go to an electric, just for the sake of training your fingers) the notes are the same. I started with electric and I knew what notes to hit but did not have to correct positing since an acoustic is harder to play.
+Dylan Ross Of course it matters! I can't explain the factors that are in play... a guitar is your landscape for your fingers to pull together melodies stringed together from your heart and you think what guitar you learn on doesn't matter? Each one has their own personality... almost a soul haha If I were to ever have the luxury of owning multiple guitars... Nothing could ever replace my SG for a good old punk song. haha
Guys i have heard the video, and i can clearly say that the carbon fibre doesn't produce equally good sound. Of course the tests in this video are for few individuals who are experts and probably record in a studio. Well just from the sound comparison, i wouldn't go for the carbon fibre. Me personally if i had to choose and could find the carbon fibre in a good price i would buy it because i dont need the perfect sound. But for me its clear. If the normal guitar produces 100%, the carbon fibre is losing 30-40% of the full sound. The sound the carbon fibre makes is missing things. The sound is not complete, not full.
the two guitars sounds equally nice although the carbon fiber one may have a tiny bit of a sharper/ less absorbed sound. But im going with the wood guitar because the carbon fiber one made that scratch noise when you slide from chord to chord and the stonebridge was flawless
the scratch noise is due to the wound lower strings, it has nothing to wood with the guitar material
Like others have said, a blind test would have been fun, but I found this very informative. I love an A/B comparison. I felt the wood was still warmer, but to my ear, and in this video, they were surprisingly close. The carbon fiber sounds much better than it when I first heard it, which was a number of years back.
I'd love to see a guitar made out of basalt fiber. That would really rock 🎸
Funny
i own a Rainsong guitar and a traditional wooden guitar, and i must say, my preference is always the Rainsong. the point of a guitar is for the strings to resonate and with the carbon fibre being stiffer, the notes and chords are significantly clearer in person than over the video. Darrel did an amazing job of showcasing the similarities and differences, however it surely is a personal decision which you prefer in regard to the tone you are looking for. searching youtube videos of the guitars in my opinion doesnt do the most in regards to truly understanding the tonal differences of the guitar. good video
Wood wins.
depends on the wood ^^
+SpectralChicken 😏
6:22 is the only one where I order carbon, but wood wins the rest.
HI. Really great video and amazing sounding of both guitars! I have decided to start learning guitars after watching that, so much i was impressed with a stone bridge. Piano playing is not enough for me no more) What is the model of that Stonebridge? It has really really great sounding. And how do you compare that to the Taylor guitar - academy 12 e?
I would like to see more acoustic comparisons as I am planning on selling my LP and buying an acoustic to have handy in the living room. I'm getting too old to drag out my amp every time I want to pick a little. Love your videos.
Both Guitars were strung up with the same brand and gauge of strings the day before recording :)
Enjoy the comparison!
hey Darrell, thanks for the video. can you tell us the strings brand and gauge? thanks in advance :]
What kind of strings were they?
Michael Nakabayashi Sure, they were Elixer, light gauge strings :)
+Darrell Braun Guitar cool thanks!
I know wood guitars sound better as they age would a carbon guitar be the same way
The wooden guitar sounds much sweeter to my ear. The carbon fiber is pretty in its own way, but it sounds brighter and kind of metallic. I think the Stonebridge is more suitable for the kind of music you played here.
But where would the RainSong shine, acoustic rock? I don't know.
+DwightMS1 or any music in general, my friend. :p
+DwightMS1 I would love to see you take a blind test. The black guitar sounds a little darker, barely noticeable. Otherwise the sounds were identical.
Saqib Saqib
I am blind.
DwightMS1 That still doesn't disqualify you from a blind test. You must not know which sound coming from which source. In this case you knew.
DwightMS1 Also I hope I did not use the word blind cruelly or insensitively.
I didn't know what to expect, but I was impressed. The Stonebridge is of course, amazing as I would expect, but the Rainsong sounded great as well. It reminded me of an all Mahogany or all Koa hardwood guitar, the way it all brought it out of the center. It also helps me understand why Ovation uses a composite back with a spruce top. Being in the Southwest, I can understand wanting a guitar that is impervious to heat and dry climate.
The wood guitar definitely had more of a warmer sound. The carbon fiber one had more of the higher ..slightly twangy sound to it, but it would probably be a fun one to play.
To me the carbon sounds flat the wood is more rich sounding
no the wood is difrent only because the deformation of the wood with the time and wether... the carbon fiber is more precise exact and with alittle bit of chours if you like imperfection the wood is perfect for you if you like somthing more near to the perfection acustic guitar chours is the fiber carbon, or you are just a fandboy of the wood and that´s it...
@@manueldirecto No. Also, you're opinion isn't so profound that you need to post it everywhere.
i hope people can have opinions in 2020 -.-
@@jtownes8970 You can but if you post it on every comment it makes you look self important.
@@jackgrflunkin3764 I think you misunderstood me, I'm saying that @Manu el should chill and not trip over the main comment saying "I like the wood better"
Thanks! what a beautiful sound guitar！I love wood sound!
The carbon fiber has a brighter midrange that jumps out a bit more, the bass and treble on the wood is more pronounced to my ears....
Agreed. The high frequencies are alive on the wood and dead or flat on the carbon fiber
Stonebridge sounds gorgeous; if I’d heard the rain song without the comparison I might have thought the tone was acceptable but back to back it sounds deader than a Carbonified woolly mammoth :) fantastic demoing btw, thank you for this video.
I really wanted to like the carbon fiber guitar, but it just flat out sounded lifeless to me.
I could see myself using it for a few songs that would play very well on the carbon fiber ^.^ I love both haha
just as youd expect wood is a little warmer, but both sound pretty good... definitely hear a brighter side with carbon fiber
Hi Darrel, thanks for the comparison. I have to say that I feel a very subtle difference in the sound in favor of the stonebridge, not to say that the Carbon Rainsong sounds bad, but there is something about the sound of the wood guitar that I feel embraces me. I thank you.
They are very similar. I've heard more differences with changing string types or same type new versus somewhat used. Also tenp and humidity changes sound. As to ease of play, would need to try in person.
Picked up a couple Rain Song concert series guitars, 6 and 12 string, richer sound than the one demonstrated. Compared to high end wood, found no difference in sound quality. Due to shallower neck, found them much easier to play than the wood. The concert series changed the fiber orientation to match than of solid spuce making it sound the same.
I'm heavily considering getting a carbon fiber guitar just for durability. The sound compared to a wood one is my main concern. I live in an apartment and I think the humidity is what ended up making the neck of my original wood guitar to crack and I don't wanna do that all over again.