Shoreline Music

The new CA guitars are here! Call for availability. Imagine what it would be like to own a guitar that you can leave in your trunk on a hot day, only to pull it out and have it completely in tune, no worse for the wear. Or even better—a guitar you could check at the airport with no anxiety. How about a guitar that you could leave out on a hot, dry stage for that outdoor festival? Or one that you never, ever have to humidify? Or whose action never needs adjusting? While an instrument like this would be just a fantasy in the world of traditional guitars, CA Guitars builds them every day. Their guitars really are this durable because they're not made of traditional tonewoods. In fact, they're not made of wood at all—they are built with carbon fiber composites. CA Guitars was started by an aerospace engineer who found that he could manipulate carbon compounds at the molecular level to mimic the acoustic properties of different tonewoods. The result is a line of guitars that sound great and stand up to the rigors of the road better than any other guitar on the market. Now, if you've never run across these guitars before, I know what you're thinking: "Why on earth would I want to play a guitar cut from the fuselage of an F-15?" Well, aside from the coolness factor of owning a guitar that you can jump up and down on during a gig*, there are lots of reasons to consider: First, although the materials in the guitars are non-traditional, the building process is actually remarkably traditional. The tops are X-braced, and the guitars are, like every other guitar we sell here, made by hand. The tops, backs, and sides are all cut from sheets of carbon fiber—just as traditional guitars are cut from planks of lumber—and then the guitars are assembled using traditional woodworking tools (with minor modifications). There are some construction differences, of course. For instance, the necks on CA Guitars are built without a truss rod because, well, they don't need them. Since the carbon fiber is impervious to changes in humidity and temperature, no changes in setup are needed after the initial build at the factory. And kerfing along the back and side joins is simply unnecessary given the tremendous strength of the carbon composite body. But all this talk about jumping up and down on CA guitars and leaving them in your trunk would be a mere curiosity if they just didn't sound very good. If the guitars had no tone, utility would only count for so much before your ears would demand a better guitar. Well, your ears have nothing to worry about with these guitars, because this is where CA shines: They actually sound really good. Will our customers confuse a CA guitar for a woody Mcilroy AJ20? Of course not. But the tone of these guitars holds its own with any solid-wood guitars in this price range—I daresay even with a few more expensive guitars—and they boast fantastic sustain. They also have a nice bit of ring in the notes that reminds me of a Lakewood D-32. Moreover, the uniformity of the materials used to make CA guitars results in a remarkably even tone, such that many players are taking these guitars into the studio as their preferred recording instruments. This combination of tone and durability is simply unmatched by any guitar at any price, and it becomes especially appealing when you consider that most CA models can be had for right around $2000. You may have read that CA Guitars closed their doors for most of 2005 and the early part of 2006 in order to build a higher-production facililty from scratch. Well, the new models are now rolling off the line, and we're getting more in stock every week. The changes from the original line are modest: 1) All models feature a cool new paint job, and 2) All models now have 1 3/4" necks. CA Guitar Models: Legacy Performer - This dreadnought is the original CA guitar model, and remains at the center of CA's new product line. As with the earlier models, the Legacy still features the Fishman Prefix Premium Blend, which includes a detachable internal microphone and an onboard tuner. Whereas the original Legacy models were available in two voicings (the "enhanced" and the "vintage") the new models are being treated as separate guitars. So, the Legacy Performer features—you guessed it—"legacy" voicing, which is analogous to the old "enhanced" voicing. This voicing is more in the modern, balanced tradition. Includes hardshell case. Also available without electronics. Vintage Performer - The CA Vintage Performer is almost identical to the Legacy, but with the "vintage" voicing and a custom-tuned LR Baggs Imix Onboard in place of the Fishman Premium Blend. Unlike the enhanced voicing of the Legacy models, vintage voicing is reminiscent of a traditional dreadnought tone. Includes hardshell case. Also available without electronics. Bluegrass Standard - The Bluegrass Standard is designed to appeal to bluegrass flatpickers. It's a minor variation on the Legacy theme, with vintage-style open-back Gotohs and no onboard electronics. Crown of Thorns - The COT is CA's top dreadnought. It's basically a Vintage Performer (same specs, same electronics), but it features custom red paua inlays and a custom paint job. Includes hardshell case. X Performer - The X guitar is a departure from CA's traditional designs. With shallower OM-ish dimensions, a cutaway, and svelte curves that are simply impossible to build into wood guitars, this guitar will appeal to all those fingerstyle players who aren't necessarily in the market for a dreadnought. When I first played this guitar at NAMM, I instantly fell in love with both its feel and its tone. I've since sold a bunch to some very satisfied customers. Andy Ellis, writer for Guitar Player magazine, has said that playing the X was one of the 10 great guitar-playing experiences of his life. It includes the LR Baggs Imix, but can be ordered without. Also include harshell case. Please note that, as with many other small-shop guitars we sell, many of our CA Guitars are sold before they show up here, leaving few in stock. It's always a good idea to contact us to confirm inventory, but your best bet to grab the next CA is to put your name on it with a deposit below: CA Guitars Price List Model Description Price** Legacy Performer Dreadnought, legacy voicing, Fishman blender $2249 Vintage Performer Dreadnought, vintage voicing, Baggs Imix $2249 Bluegrass Standard Dreadnought, legacy voicing, open-back tuners $1999 C.O.T. Dreadnought, vintage voicing, Baggs Imix, custom inlays $2249 X Performer OM cutaway, includes Baggs Imix (2 in stock!) $2499 * Do not try this at home. We're just making a point with a little hyperbole. We do not recommend jumping on your guitar, even if it is a CA guitar. Yes, we know that there are pictures of a grown man doing just this. But that was a professional driver on a closed course, so please don't go breaking your ankle on our account. **All CA Guitar prices include hardshell case and free shipping in the US. CO residents add 2.9% sales tax (7.4% in La Plata county). Please see our Shipping page for additional international shipping information.

The new CA guitars are here! Call for availability.

Imagine what it would be like to own a guitar that you can leave in your trunk on a hot day, only to pull it out and have it completely in tune, no worse for the wear. Or even better—a guitar you could check at the airport with no anxiety. How about a guitar that you could leave out on a hot, dry stage for that outdoor festival? Or one that you never, ever have to humidify? Or whose action never needs adjusting? While an instrument like this would be just a fantasy in the world of traditional guitars, CA Guitars builds them every day. Their guitars really are this durable because they're not made of traditional tonewoods. In fact, they're not made of wood at all—they are built with carbon fiber composites. CA Guitars was started by an aerospace engineer who found that he could manipulate carbon compounds at the molecular level to mimic the acoustic properties of different tonewoods. The result is a line of guitars that sound great and stand up to the rigors of the road better than any other guitar on the market.

Now, if you've never run across these guitars before, I know what you're thinking: "Why on earth would I want to play a guitar cut from the fuselage of an F-15?" Well, aside from the coolness factor of owning a guitar that you can jump up and down on during a gig*, there are lots of reasons to consider: First, although the materials in the guitars are non-traditional, the building process is actually remarkably traditional. The tops are X-braced, and the guitars are, like every other guitar we sell here, made by hand. The tops, backs, and sides are all cut from sheets of carbon fiber—just as traditional guitars are cut from planks of lumber—and then the guitars are assembled using traditional woodworking tools (with minor modifications). There are some construction differences, of course. For instance, the necks on CA Guitars are built without a truss rod because, well, they don't need them. Since the carbon fiber is impervious to changes in humidity and temperature, no changes in setup are needed after the initial build at the factory. And kerfing along the back and side joins is simply unnecessary given the tremendous strength of the carbon composite body.

But all this talk about jumping up and down on CA guitars and leaving them in your trunk would be a mere curiosity if they just didn't sound very good. If the guitars had no tone, utility would only count for so much before your ears would demand a better guitar. Well, your ears have nothing to worry about with these guitars, because this is where CA shines: They actually sound really good. Will our customers confuse a CA guitar for a woody Mcilroy AJ20? Of course not. But the tone of these guitars holds its own with any solid-wood guitars in this price range—I daresay even with a few more expensive guitars—and they boast fantastic sustain. They also have a nice bit of ring in the notes that reminds me of a Lakewood D-32. Moreover, the uniformity of the materials used to make CA guitars results in a remarkably even tone, such that many players are taking these guitars into the studio as their preferred recording instruments. This combination of tone and durability is simply unmatched by any guitar at any price, and it becomes especially appealing when you consider that most CA models can be had for right around $2000.

You may have read that CA Guitars closed their doors for most of 2005 and the early part of 2006 in order to build a higher-production facililty from scratch. Well, the new models are now rolling off the line, and we're getting more in stock every week. The changes from the original line are modest: 1) All models feature a cool new paint job, and 2) All models now have 1 3/4" necks.

CA Guitar Models:

Legacy Performer - This dreadnought is the original CA guitar model, and remains at the center of CA's new product line. As with the earlier models, the Legacy still features the Fishman Prefix Premium Blend, which includes a detachable internal microphone and an onboard tuner. Whereas the original Legacy models were available in two voicings (the "enhanced" and the "vintage") the new models are being treated as separate guitars. So, the Legacy Performer features—you guessed it—"legacy" voicing, which is analogous to the old "enhanced" voicing. This voicing is more in the modern, balanced tradition. Includes hardshell case. Also available without electronics.

Vintage Performer - The CA Vintage Performer is almost identical to the Legacy, but with the "vintage" voicing and a custom-tuned LR Baggs Imix Onboard in place of the Fishman Premium Blend. Unlike the enhanced voicing of the Legacy models, vintage voicing is reminiscent of a traditional dreadnought tone. Includes hardshell case. Also available without electronics.

Bluegrass Standard - The Bluegrass Standard is designed to appeal to bluegrass flatpickers. It's a minor variation on the Legacy theme, with vintage-style open-back Gotohs and no onboard electronics.

Crown of Thorns - The COT is CA's top dreadnought. It's basically a Vintage Performer (same specs, same electronics), but it features custom red paua inlays and a custom paint job. Includes hardshell case.

X Performer - The X guitar is a departure from CA's traditional designs. With shallower OM-ish dimensions, a cutaway, and svelte curves that are simply impossible to build into wood guitars, this guitar will appeal to all those fingerstyle players who aren't necessarily in the market for a dreadnought. When I first played this guitar at NAMM, I instantly fell in love with both its feel and its tone. I've since sold a bunch to some very satisfied customers. Andy Ellis, writer for Guitar Player magazine, has said that playing the X was one of the 10 great guitar-playing experiences of his life. It includes the LR Baggs Imix, but can be ordered without. Also include harshell case.

Please note that, as with many other small-shop guitars we sell, many of our CA Guitars are sold before they show up here, leaving few in stock. It's always a good idea to contact us to confirm inventory, but your best bet to grab the next CA is to put your name on it with a deposit below:

CA Guitars Price List
Model	Description	Price**
Legacy Performer	Dreadnought, legacy voicing, Fishman blender	$2249
Vintage Performer	Dreadnought, vintage voicing, Baggs Imix	$2249
Bluegrass Standard	Dreadnought, legacy voicing, open-back tuners	$1999
C.O.T.	Dreadnought, vintage voicing, Baggs Imix, custom inlays	$2249
X Performer	OM cutaway, includes Baggs Imix (2 in stock!)	$2499

* Do not try this at home. We're just making a point with a little hyperbole. We do not recommend jumping on your guitar, even if it is a CA guitar. Yes, we know that there are pictures of a grown man doing just this. But that was a professional driver on a closed course, so please don't go breaking your ankle on our account.

**All CA Guitar prices include hardshell case and free shipping in the US. CO residents add 2.9% sales tax (7.4% in La Plata county). Please see our Shipping page for additional international shipping information.