Composite Acoustics 5iM-CE

The features are incredible for this guitar - according to CA, the composite material this is made from is stronger than steel. I believe it... the electronics are good, but not great. But overall, it was a pleasure to be my clumsy self around the guitar and know that it would probably not be easily destroyed.

The sound is very rich and full - pronouced boomy bass with an articulated treble. It is different from a standard wood guitar sound, and CA categorized it as a balanced compressed sound where every string gave off about the same volume. It is an unusual but great strumming sound, and a surreal-ly (word?) great sound for fingerpicking. There can be a tad of dullness that you wouldn't get with a broken-in high-end wood guitar, but overall, it is unusually good.

This was the problem for me... the action. I was getting severe hand pain from playing this thing, and ultimately had to trade it in. Part of the problem was that I wasn't used to a 3/4" neck, but that was entirely it. I've since played 3/4" necks and it hasn't been a problem. According to my luthier, this Composite Acoustics neck is unusually wide and flat, and just plays differently than most standard wood necks. It's a shame, because other than the action and playability, this guitar was a definite must-have. Hopefully, CA will offer some options on this in the future...

This guitar is made from a material stronger than steel. You have to actively work to damage it... I would't recommend running it under an 18-wheeler. Other than that, it is the best in class of dependibility.

Tough to say - I'll leave this category unrated. They responded, and tried to help, but the problem that I was having with the guitar just couldn't be solved.

I wish I'd taken my time before buying this guitar -- it seemd good at first, but the fact that it hurt my hands to play turned out to be more important than the sound. Ultimately, I ended up customizing a Larrivee, and I am happy with that as my main axe. However -- I still wish that the CA guitar had worked out. The Larrivee sounds a bit better -- however, clumsy people such as myself need a holy grail compsoite guitar so that we can keep them for a while. This one came close, and I am sure CA will get it right in the future.

The finish is Satin RT (Road Tough).
Body style is a Grand Auditorium Cutaway
The tuners are Gotoh SG-381
The neck has a relatively thin front to back dimension when compared to the modified V of my Huss and Dalton TDR, but is slightly wider at 1 3/4" nut width. The Scale length is 25 1/2"
It comes in a wonderful TKL gig bag.
It has 14 frets clear of the body, but with no neck heal allows usable access to the 20th fret!
The electronics are Fishman Matrix VT, with the volume and tone control located inside the sound hole
The guitar is Carbon fiber.
I bought it new in July

This is a very versatile guitar. It sounds wonderful strummed, with a full lush sound and excellent string separation. Very detailed, but smooth. I don't play fingerstyle, but I have a friend that does, and he ordered this guitar after having played it for 20 minutes. I'm totally impressed with the sound and have no complaints.
The offset sound hole allows the player to hear much more than with a conventional center hole.

The set-up was as close to perfect as I've ever seen from the. The only complaint MIGHT be it's a hair too low. There are NO buzzes whatsoever, but if you do a lot of string bending, it's difficult to get under the strings if like me, you have big fingers. This is the easiest guitar to play I've even experienced. The frets are flawless, medium stainless polished to perfection and very smooth on the sides of the neck. The finish has a slightly rougher character that some may find a problem, but for 400 more, you can get the gloss finish with upgraded electronics.

This is a VERY well made carbon composite, so it's pretty much guaranteed not to rust, bust, or grow hair. It's immune to climate changes and will be as at home at a 100 degree Georgia Blues festival, as sitting at a campfire in a Vermont winter morning. Everything about it seems to be designed for reliability.

I have NO idea, hopefully, I'll never NEED to know.

I've only been playing about 4 years, but I play quite a bit, jamming with friends, at community college guitar classes, as well as in my living room. My other main guitar is a Huss and Dalton TDR, and I've also owned a Larrivee J09, Taylor 314ce, and a Lowden 035, so I'm no stranger to good guitars. Out of this esteemed group, the 5iM-CE, may be the most versatile. If I could only have one guitar (god forbid) I could easily live with this one. I think it may be the best value in high end guitars out there. If you can get past the Darth Vader looks by all means, play one and see for yourself.