Carbon Fiber Guitar Under $700? Enya Music X4 Pro Mini - brief REVIEW

[@SculptyWorks]

We had a little hiatus, but it's good to be back making videos! 😁❤

[@davidlee2822]

Hey Gye, I am the luthier that complimented you on your bridge-tuning paper you have in your workshop. Obviously, watching your presentation on the 9-" Skil Saw was the first I had seen anything on your channel (or I would have known you are a luthier). Since seeing that most helpful presentation, I've had so much fun looking at stuff you've done--how you put in a bass bar on a violin, making new handles for old chisels and gouged, etc., etc. I've had a "blast," and I just want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and tell you that the most unusual thing to me about your channel isn't you talent or knowledge (though these are most impressive), but rather, how FUN you've managed to make the presentations. And, they are interesting because they are helpful. ...Maybe a word of encouragement for you. About this guitar, I have a guess about the bridge problem. I was fixing a cheeper black Ovation (bowl-back) which had the same problem. I did some research on the guitar and read blogs. One knowledgeable guitar luthier said the problem was that they spray paint the whole top before putting on the bridge because it is easier for them. They don't have to tape off the bridge if they put the bridge on after painting the top. But, with the finish being satin, the glue doesn't want to stick to it. They don't prepare a bed for the bridge nor clean off the paint; they just arrempt to glue the bridge directly onto paint. ...This has become acceptable for $500-$700 dollar guitars. Ovation even tried to help this problem by two bolts they put under the white dots on the bridge. This is just sloppy work by people who don't care. So, your guitar is probably not one in a thousand that is faulty. Maybe only 30 to 40 percent of the bridges of this type has bridges that stick well, despite the paint. ...You can find out, obviously, by taking off the bridge! This is an educated guess about your guitar based on what I found with Ovation (the NEWLY formed Ovation, not the older factory that made 1970's guitars. I hope this might be fuel for thought. I love your craftmanship, and your fun, fun channel. You've helped me. Thanks, David Lee

[@SculptyWorks]

Hi again! Thank you for the comments. 😊 I figured it was some sort of manufacture failure such as that. I understand they're saving money by cutting corners. What really disappointed me is that they left me hanging when their cost-saving caused a problem and they didn't step up to fix it.

[@davidlee2822]

Yes, rightfully so. Their refusal to communicate should warn any and all prospective buyers to avoid them at all cost. I understood your justified "greatest offense." I suppose my comment was just an informative one to point out that the poor bridge glueing is an error which is due to an "intentional" disregard for any appropriate craftsmanship so they can save a buck (with no regard for the quality of their product) which matches harmoniously with their "intentional" refusal to communicate with you so they won't have to stand behind their product. If say, 50 percent of this specific factory line of cheaper guitars have bridges which are poorly glued, you are only one of very many buyers trying to contact them because they know they have been stung. How many buyers don't know to do the "paper-under-the-guitar-bridge" test? You are doing all of us the greatest help by informing everyone of their scam! You know how to go about removing the bridge, cleaning up the underlying wood, doing touch-up painting with appropriate high saturated satin paint (or otherwise to match the top), and how to reattach the bridge so it is perfect. Most of your viewers don't know how! You might direct your viewers to a presentation of this or make a presentation yourself. This could accompany your remarkable job of making the present presentation which functions to inform of the scam. Even without vacuum equipment for a bridge glueing, most viewers could probably effect a good result. Standards can't be raised with this company, with Ovation, with others without scams being revealed by you and others. Thank you for doing so. Terrific job! I'm sorry you had the misfortune of making the acquaintance with this company and their guitar. I would be "bummed out" too when then "intentionally" refuse to communicate. You're appreciated! All the best, David Lee

[@davidlee2822]

Sorry: I would be bummed out too due to their "intentional" refusal to communicate. ...Your presentations are worth "gold"! Keep making. David

[@SculptyWorks]

@@davidlee2822 👍

[@shellyfox863]

I have been planning on buying the xp4 with the cutout. This review was very helpful. I will def be buying from amazon because it can be returned if needed. Now that I know about Enya's lack of customer service. 50 bucks. That is nothing compared to what the repairs would cost. I'm sure it holds other problems as well.

[@SculptyWorks]

They are not bad guitars overall, but they do suffer from "factory instrument syndrome", which means the customers are the quality control. 😉

[@justinstew]

Is that your gs mini in the body shape comparison? I’m curious what your opinion on the tone compared to a mini

[@SculptyWorks]

The GS Mini is an absolutely amazing guitar! It is far louder and more resonant and has more overtones than any of the carbon fiber guitars I've tried over the years, except those by Emerald Guitars, but those are $4k. The only reason I would suggest a carbon fiber guitar over a GS Mini is if you are in an environment that is truly unfriendly to a guitar made of wood, and even then the GS Mini is quite a sturdy instrument.

[@Phodis]

I just returned an X4 Pro for the same bridge problem. Sounded good... but I can't trust another one. Going Yamaha transacoustic now :)

[@SculptyWorks]

I hear you! It's sad that seems to be a common problem.

[@AmandaViolinGirl]

Been a while since I last saw a video from you 😊

[@SculptyWorks]

Yeah, life has been unreasonably busy. But with some luck, things should settle down some now. 😊

[@christinashelby6083]

I don't know anything about guitars, but glad you could get a refund and return this one--even if Ash seemed to approve! Glad to see you back:-D

[@SculptyWorks]

Ash is a guitar lover. I haven't found one he doesn't like yet! 🐈❤🎸

[@christinashelby6083]

Lol a guitar-loving cat! That's kind of funny. Good thing he wasn't running the review. ;)

[@Imaxinario]

I bought an Enya Next Gen 2 guitar on Amazon and it didn't work, it wouldn't turn on. For that reason I returned the product.

[@SculptyWorks]

It's sad, it appears their quality control is lacking.

[@clydebermingham121]

That’s reason enough to return it…. They would have had enough time to make things right …. But we’re not contactable … so Tim’s best to send it back And so , after seeing this posting , maybe best not to order a used neither ….

[@SculptyWorks]

Ask the sellers to double-check that all parts are properly attached before buying one of these second-hand. 😉

[@MarcGuttman]

I bought one of these last week on prime day. I found the actions uncomfortably high but was able to adjust it somewhat and I’ve got a friend who’s been playing guitar a whole lot longer than I have who’s going to test it and tell me what he thinks this week. However, I’m going to do that test on mine. Really hope I don’t have this issue as I really like it and can’t afford to spend over $1000 to get a really superb one.