Why no one has made a 'normal' Carbon Fiber Classical Guitar

I regularly get asked why Blackbird hasn't made a 'normal' classical guitar. The Carbon fiber classical guitar question is an interesting one indeed. The Blackbird Rider Nylon is obviously not a conventional classical as described in this discussion, but is instead designed to appeal to a wide range of players both acoustically and amplified and be a great worry-free companion on the road. A 'normal' classical guitar is something else entirely and a bizarre world I've been exploring for years but two events stand out in particular.

My first major dose of classical guitar culture came was while studing at a conservatory where I learned to love nylon strings for the warm sound they can lend to anything from Bach to Jazz (or wannabe jazz in my case). Which is why when I started Blackbird, I always knew we were going to make a nylon string.

My second was when Blackbird brought our second and third Rider Nylon prototypes to the Guitar Foundation of America Conference (2008- in our hometown San Francisco)- which is full of serious classical players, teachers and luthiers. They were very receptive given how radical it was, and ultimately deemed the Rider to be a great travel and amplified performance guitar- not a carbon fiber version of what they're used to. The thing about classical players is that they are self-selecting traditionalists- any minor change to the bridge is considered radical. As with the superior but unusual looking Gilbert tuners that we use. Famed and now retired Luthier John Gilbert designed them in addition to being one of the great American classical guitar builders and our friend/mentor and they just work better. So as noted earlier in this discussion, aesthetics are one problem with carbon classical guitars. But Blackbird has not been traditionally oriented in the past- especially when traditional shapes get in the way of maximizing resonance.

Which brings me to problem two: resonance- or the lack there of in a nylon string. Classical players generally loath to play with amplification, which means they can't play well with a violin say and even have trouble being heard in small halls playing solo. This is where I am interested in making progress- and our main M.O. at Blackbird- namely maximizing resonance. The Rider is pretty darn loud for a small guitar... so imagine the possibilities. Note that I didn't say carbon fiber is the solution to making a classical guitar louder- I think its actually the radical shape, hollow neck, off-set sound hole that would make the most gains. The reason is because the wood tops or better yet double tops (wood veneer with kevlar honeycomb in the middle) is actually stiffer and lighter than carbon fiber. Thats right folks you heard it here, buried deep in a discussion, from a carbon fiber guitar company. That is why the other CF folks have not pulled it off yet I think... suffice it to say, its a hard one but we're working on it. The Rider nylon is designed to be resonant, but not so resonant that it feedsback when amplified. Our very light and stiff carbon fiber tops with hollow carbon tubes work very well attaining the balance. That said a concert grade classical (acoustic only) would be a different guitar entirely.

Which brings me to problem three (why do you always need three...) the market is small, the clientele very particular and did I mention its a tough one... Well we are working on it but it will take some time...

Here are some random pictures from the GFA. http://www.blackbirdguitars.com/gfa.html.