Guitar Shootour - Wood Vs Carbon Fiber - Can You Tell the Difference?

[@enonknives5449]

Carbon fiber always sounds brighter to me. Nothing surprising here. On the other hand, they both sound good. One isn't "better" than the other; they're just different good sounding guitars. It's probably a mood thing.

[@countingdaze]

The full sized X3 Pro may be a more fair comparison given that the scale length on the X3 Pro Mini is 1.5" shorter than the Washburn.

[@patrickr979]

Je suis d'accord avec vous, c'est ce qu'il aurait dû faire.

[@jorgelucero4231]

great comparison! Does the top of the CF respond to tapping out percussion? If i wasn't watching the video, I wouldn't know that one of the guitars was actually CF.

[@JTB--]

I'd been searching for a thin line/body Acoustic/electric guitar and tried a few Carbon Fiber Guitars along the way. Tried 2 Enya Carbon fiber and they were decent for the money... just not what i was looking for. Also tried a LAVA ME 4 and found it way overpriced. Software is glitchy and the sound hole doesn't give that much volume if you just want to pick it up and noodle. I finally got a new Fender Highway Series Parlor deal on Reverb for less than what the LAVA ME 4 costs which is pretty mind boggling. Wasn't a fan of the Fender Acoustasonic... but this Highway Series nails it for those looking for a guitar to just pick up and play. The Mahogany Parlor is very loud for a thinline guitar that plays like an electric

[@KennethMarcum-p6p]

Would like to hear it compared to a gs mini

[@josephurso1108]

I tried several GS Minis when I was trying to decide on a travel guitar. I think that the GS Mini sounded better than the X4 Pro Mini. BTW, they are both built to the same exact specs. However I bought the Enya because it was about $300 cheaper and the carbon fiber is more durable for a travel guitar. You don't have to worry about heat/humidity or being in the car on road trips.

[@squidsleap]

SD, olease get your hands on a mcpherson sable. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it as those seem to be the gold standard for sound quality in the CF space.

[@CritterRepairTech]

There is room for both depending on the scenario. Sean has a way of making just about anything sound good. I truly enjoy a nicely crafted wood acoustic guitar. I think they will eventually get the synthetics further engineered to improve sound quality. Definitely a durable choice. Maybe with varied thickness in the body components or air space in the material or even other elements incorporated to the body components.

[@josephurso1108]

The X3 Pro Mini sounded slightly harsh in a couple of chords. Overall I could not tell the difference. I do own an Enya X3 Pro and an X4 Pro Mini (along with two Martins). I love them both and play the X3 Pro more than anything. The top is not indestructible as you say though. I was in a tight space in an RV and banged the top on a table corner. It put a 1-1/2 inch scratch/scar on the top that shows up white on the black top.

[@dcruz55]

This is Sooooo easy! The Carbon Fibre sounds like the back is a cardboard box. Whereas the Washburn has a lovely high end lacking in the Carbon and a real resonance and presence. Wood rules! It is so easy to hear. Brilliant! Go get some more comparisons. Love It!

[@diabloget]

Overall yes, If I had to pick one for recording I would go for the wooden one, but I don't think the Carbon one sounded that bad. Specially in the first section, the fingerstyle was way easier to understand in the Carbon one.

[@TheFeelButton]

The wood has far more depth and nuance in the tones than the CF does. I've always found CF guitars to reside in the "sounds fine" category. Cheers Sean!

[@jamesrowan81]

The wood top sounds crisper to me, but I like the lower end on the carbon top.

[@pburtonartcom1224]

Sean .. I can’t tell a discernable difference .. maybe you’re using Exlir strings on both?

[@jaxchiro]

I think people are missing the point of these Carbon Fiber cheap guitars. They are not intended to sound better than any decent wood guitars. They are intended to be travel/beater guitars that sound pretty good. And, these also have fun onboard sound hole effects that add features and fun to the package. I own one of the Enya Pro Mini guitars and it is a go to for travel and back yard play. And it is bullet proof and weather proof. My Martin is neither.

[@seandaniel23]

Great call!

[@jaxchiro]

Being a Florida Man, it’s great to be able to leave this thing in the trunk of my car and now worry about this Enya. Not so with any of my other guitars. I think you can relate, Sean.

[@josephurso1108]

@@jaxchiro Same here. I took my Enya X3 Pro on a month long road trip to Florida and other places this summer and never worried about the heat/humidity or it getting squished in the back of the car.

[@EatMyBacon000]

just don't drop it guys. it is not a pure carbon fiber. i have seen reddit posts theirs getting crackes because it fell from the guitar case when they forgot to close it. however, this still is weather proof

[@Y0deler]

The first comparison, I couldn't tell any difference. In the strumming one, the CB guitar definitely sounded "brighter" to me. On the palm-muted picking, spruce top seemed to have more low end... more "Oomph". That's just my ovservations through the microphone, the compression from uploading to KZbin, then translated through this little crappy BT speaker I'm using. I've always wanted a CB guitar, because I DO put my instruments through those situations where I've got to clean off the spilled wine/beer from the night before, or get caught in the rain mid-song during a campfire jam at a music festival (I mean... I'm not gonna stop MID-SONG no matter what the weather does!) I also subject my guitar to lots of temp and humidity changes, because I own it to USE it. My wall holds no trophy guitars, no SIR! It's great to see that the prices are finally becomming reasonable. A new guitar may be in my future!!

[@shadowminister4090]

I've heard a few CF vs Wooden comparisons and always felt I preferred the Wooden guitar's tone. That said, I love the resilience of CF and for me, I choose the CF.

[@josephcasey322]

Loved the drone from the CF during/around the 4:00. Both are quite suitable for playing all sorts of music.

[@toddshepard3592]

They both sound great

[@saddle8bag]

I thought the CF sounded a little boxier. Not a bad thing and not drastic. Probably better for bluesy stuff, though both sounded fine. The palm muting is probably where I preferred the wood the most.

[@ralph0808z]

SD, so what's the difference between the Enya X3 and the Enya X4 Pro (you did a video about a year ago on the Pro)?...please don't say one has a hole in it unless of course that's the only major difference. 🕳Ty

[@ralph0808z]

I think I got it. I'm just confused. I believe the major difference with these Enyas, besides the obvious placement of the hole and control style, is the scale. A detail I missed until I went back and reviewed your Enya X4 video from last year. Here's the link if anyone's interested in taking another look at that vid. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o56pn41rYsanrMU I promise to pay more attention while watching your videos in the future. 😉

[@jcburger733]

I think the wood was. Righter tan the carbon fiber. The fiber would be the guitar I would use when traveling since it does sound good. It would also be better while traveling since it can withstand heat and abuse than wood.

[@cathydartnall810]

I like the deeper tone of the wood guitar

[@moisesperez4605]

I prefer the wood guitar I think as a better sound it’s just my opinion.

[@midcon077]

I could only hear a difference when you were strumming, the carbon fiber sounded a little tinny, sort of toy like. No difference in the finger pick and palm mute. I would like to see you do the same strumming test using the good ‘ol’ open 6, 5 and 4 string chords.

[@flpmlks5181]

wood was overall better. it was difference like after changing a very old strings. better in all aspects. especially in chords. carbon sounded like a mess. :D but. if you like to take guitar somewhere with you, it makes sense, you can´t damage it by humidity or temperature.

[@timesurfingalien]

There's just a warmth to wood the cf just doesn't have

[@shaniell.mathur6372]

Wood sounds full and warm which is what I prefer , carbon sounds sharp and bright

[@theoryaminute]

The wood is clearly more resonant and round sounding. The notes on the carbon sounds somehow restricted and and brittle.

[@loooopeytunes]

The enya sounds brighter than washburn, very rich high tones, but bland and muted low mid tones. Bright tone is good but when accompanied with proper low mid tones. The washburn has that balance.

[@BigBadBad2336]

The carbon fiber guitar has the same problem that my ovation guitar had, it sounds like plastic. I love the ovation neck, but I just cannot stand that plastic sound. The wood sounded warmer. It had more shimmer. Ann just sounded better overall.

[@lebe220]

I prefer my ovation 12-string over the Washburn 12-string I had 30 years ago

[@garethmurphy8235]

There 100% is a massive difference in sound.. I think you have to acknowledge that Sean. These guitars sound nothing alike. I am not saying one is good or bad or better.. that is all opinion but my goodness they sound nothing alike.. The open chords in the second song really highlighted this difference... The wood guitar is much deeper with a massive increase in clarity.. If that is better or worse is a matter of choice. I know what my choice is...

[@GuitarsPedals]

They do sound different ! 🙂

[@alanmcdonald7390]

Honestly, both guitars sound a bit thin to me. The wood definitely has more warmth. CF sounds really LIKE a guitar. The Washburn IS a guitar.

[@ExtremePlantGrowing]

I’d rather get a rubber bridge guitar than carbon fiber

[@The..Butterfly..Effect]

I'm in Wood team

[@gregg1842]

I actually like the carbon fiber better.

[@leelossi1257]

The wood guitar sounded far more resonant......cf sounded muted...

[@gaberox1]

The regular guitar sounds more woodsy 😂

[@TheNeonRabbit]

Sounds like a parlor guitar

[@BarneysBullit]

i miss drea.

[@fattohead]

So, no rockstar will able to break guitars on stage anymore =' (

[@jaythizzle1969]

Wood > Carbon

[@gearhead4005]

wood guitar is king

[@derekdavisson8995]

What guitar plays easiest

[@trusarmor4957]

imho the wood sounds better.

[@DarrenPaul1971]

they both sound like $300 guitars- but if that's what you're looking for, then knock yourself out. Probably good for kids learning how to play

[@kenfriedland4603]

The plastic guitar sounds flat to me and it lacks the depth and warmth of the Washburn. It is more than obvious that the carbon fiber sound board lacks the resonant characteristics of a quality solid wood top sound board. The plastic guitar sounds dead when you palm mute.

[@geohaber]

He said it was a Washburn, not Taylor.

[@NDFlyFisher]

They have different sounds but that doesn’t bother me. My choice would be based on use. For a travel/campfire guitar I’d pick the Enya for the durability. Good comparison. Thanks Sean.

[@mklnm]

Wood all the way.. Cf sounds like a box of shoos

[@bazilbrushrocks]

If you can’t tell the difference then you should consider moving to another instrument.

[@LearningGilmour]

The carbon fiber sounds flat and dull, you can tell the difference big time. Eyes closed.. the wood is so much brighter