Bring ity on.  I really like the looks of this guitar and it looks really comfortable.  I believe that one of the 1st rules of work is, make yourself comfortable.  I'm going from foot to foot in anticipation.  Hurry up!

This is the one guitar that I wanted to try very cool, never played a blackbird and this is the model that I would consider. 

Steve

I just signed up. I can't wait to try the guitar. I owned several carbon fiber guitars, the first one - a Rainsong - nine years ago.

These are the cb guitars that have seen my home: Rainsong dread, WS, OM, Advanced Series, CA Legacy, GX, X, and Emerald X 10.

I can't wait to try the Blackbird !

Im on board, cant wait to try a blackbird, finally!

I just got a chance to try my first Super OM at the Highwood Music Gallery In Illinois.  Very interesting ax.  When you play it, you are getting a ton of Ear Candy from three separate ports that are close to the players ear - the top of the fingerboard, the rear port and the front port, which is at the top of the guitar .  The result is a pretty amazingly complex stereo effect that's just unlike anything out there.  It's just delicious.

But now the bad news.  if you stand in front of it or a Rainsong HWS1000 OM, the Rainsong sounds much better to the listener BUT the Blackboard sounds MUCH better to the player.  In front of a Blackbird OM, you hear clear sharp attack, but a little nasally charactor and that totally cool stereo delay effect from the three ports just goes away.   In front of the Rainsong, you hear more resonance and complexity.

So, playing by yourself, the Blackbird is the hands down winner, but take the Rainsong out to play for other people.  I'll be interested to know if others find that same impression.

dave_elliott

good to hear some new impressions about those guitars. i'm a bit bored to read the same impressions all the time XD the most interesting insights are the comparisons between models and brands. well done. it'd be great comparing them in a recording

The road trip Super OM arrived today.  I haven't had it long enough to report fully, but here are my initial thoughts.

First, the guitar is truely beautiful.  The workmanship is superb, the carbon fiber is gorgeous.  The road trip OM does not have the red flash in the sound hole; probably because some of you didn't like it in earlier renditions.  I liked it  and miss it.   Other than the lack of contrasting color, the only visual thing I find somewhat bothersome are the wooden fret markers--from a distance they look like someone took a felt tip pen to the fretboard.  The idea is nice, but the result does not, in my book, add to either function or beauty.

Sound wise, the guitar is incredible.  It has some of the nicest bass I've ever heard on a guitar.  I don't think the trebles are quite as pronounced, but they offer clear, clean tones that blend nicely with the bass.  Keep in mind that I am not a steel string player, so subsequent road trippers may explain the sound qualities better than I can.  Also keep in mind that I use fingers rather than a pick.

In terms of playability, the neck is easy and smooth.

As you can probably tell, I think Joe has made a stunning carbon fiber instrument.  That does not mean that it is my perfect guitar.  I like a small guitar and find the Super OM to be an armfull.  At first I was uncomfortable with the fit.  After an hour of play I found my body adapting to the OM form and I'm thinking that tomorrow I might find the guitar to be a good fit--maybe.

Until then...

I'm back.  I cruised the village today, did some work in the park,  got the mail &  took the Super OM along for the ride.  Met three village players who all took a run at the guitar--they were all astounded.

As in my first impression, they all were first impressed by the beauty of the instrument.  One person who is familiar with the Luis & Clark site, said he thought the Blackbird to a concert level instrument, in line with the violins and cellos being made by Luis & Clark--high praise indeed.

The three players also agreed on the tonal and projection qualities.

When I stopped by Mike's house, nothing would do but that he take the guitar inside and plug it in--awesome.  I was the one who had to end his play time, and he indicated that he wanted another run with it, whenever I had time.

The Super OM  is a hit here.  I'll giving it more time tomorrow and get back with further impressions.

The SuperOM I played (fingerstyle) at the Music Gallery had a very fast, sharp responsive attack, very strong fundamentals and excellent sustain, particularly at the low end.   I tuned it down to a C tuning CDGDCD with no loss of playability.  The neck is slightly flatter than the H model Rainsong; not as thin as the original WS1000, though.  The only downside to the SuperOM was from the listener's perspective, where its tone sounded less complex than the HWS-1000.  I also had Steve Hicks, an incredible fingerstyle musician from England try it out and his impressions were similar to mine.  We didn't plug it in.  Impressions are from acoustic playing only. 

For the people who are playing it now, I'd be very interested in the "listener vs. player" impressions.

dave_elliott

Dave;

My friends and I have not noted the distinction you are making.  But I will start paying closer attention.  It certainly makes sense; I tend to lean over the guitar a bit and so I'm really close to the origin of sound--it would make sense that other listeners would not have the same sound impression.  As I listened to my friends play it seemed to me that what I was hearing depended a lot on the attack of the player.  Anyway, interesting observation, one that I'll be listening for.