I've had this guitar for a week and it's hard to put it down. It sounds incredible, full range, clear and well balanced. Add the on-board FX and it's even MORE fantastic. I'm gonna sell some of my acoustics now because I know I will never play then again.
A "quality acoustic" is one that plays well and doesn't fall apart. I can buy great used acoustics for 300-800 all day every day. 3500 for a guitar is just bragging rights or maybe they are compensating for something....
(3) really good wooden acoustics for $3600....it's hard to say I'd turn down 3 killer wood axes for the Sable..but, my Enya 4x pro plus comes tomorrow before 7 pm..I'll let u know what I find out !
Sorry to say this but I actually prefer the sound of the Enya. The Enya sounds darker than the McPherson. The McPherson would probably punch through a busy mix better. For solo acoustic and vocal, I would choose the Enya.
I kind of agree with you. The McPherson has the “modern” treble heavy sound, whereas the Enya is far mor traditional sounding to my ears. I don’t think anyone who’s splashed more than $3.5k is going to admit to a cheap guitar sounding better. What is an absolute deal breaker for me is the bendy neck. I had an Ovation like that and it was bloody dreadful to play, especially when jamming with any amount of gusto. It’s a shame because at the price it’s a tempting proposition but the neck just shouldn’t do that, period! A very interesting video though.
@@gunscratch Yeah so if you were for example recording with a very quiet/weak vocalist, the Enya might be the better candidate. For a strong vocalist and cutting through a mix, the McPherson is probably the ticket.
Yes, but the lack of articulation in the Enya would eventually drive you nuts. Neither of these guitars sound right yet. The McPherson is closer, even if you don't like it's voice.
I think I actually liked the Enya tone better, but that's just me. Your playing was fine by the way. BUT... I really wanted you to do some serious strumming with a pick! I do some finger picking, but when playing with my band there's a lot of power strumming involved, would have liked to hear it!
I own one and after getting it setup how I wanted I absolutely love this thing. I have many guitars including my baby a Taylor 716ce, but I play this thing more than any of them. Main reason is it’s always on a stand at hand reach. The neck is very stiff so your tuning issue your having is part of this guitars setup and takes a min to stop moving and settle. But once it finally does I’ve yet to have to tune mine and I’m in the south and it sits on a stand in my foyer always. Even when the windows in the house are all open and the humidity is 80% it’s yet to move. I love the electronics onboard and for a $899 guitar it’s quite impressive. I can’t knock this guitar I’ve had it awhile and it’s yet to fail me. But like I said setup is time consuming but worth the wait. Thanks for the review ✌🏼
I have had my Enya for a week now and I'm impressed with how good it was for the money since we know these things are relative, though I didn't have 3500 to spend anyway but I would say they worth getting if you want a cheaper carbon fibre guitar, I also would add I tried some other brand which I forget the brand about the same price range it wasn't as good
Yeah have had mine for a few months and I love it. The 3500 guitar sounds better of course, I can tell the difference in this video through my crappy phone audio, but the value for what I paid for my Enya was well worth it. Definitely punches above it's price tag.
I bought one for my summer camp because I wanted a guitar I didn't have to worry about humidity & heat etc. I love it. Sounds great, plays great, and looks great.
I have demo'ed several CF guitars, and have owned an Ovation acoustic for about 20 years, and it has the 'Ovation' sound, which I can hear a similarity to in these the CF guitars I have played and heard on You Tube. I also have several very good wooden acoustics, and if I play a wooden guitar for a while and then grab my Ovation, it sounds awfully tinny, bright and crispy, but after a while you acclimatize to the sound it and it sounds fantastic. I put this down to the fact that the Ovation has a plastic back, so the note is more pure without all the overtones, resonance and warmth that the wood brings, my point is that CF guitars, like Ovations sound different, and if you want a CF guitar to replicate a wooden guitars sound, you are out of luck, BUT, if you play, (a good one) for a while, the sound can really get to you, and wooden guitars sound muffled and complex in comparison, but then you get used to the 'woody' sound and start to love it, and the circle goes around and around..... The issue is that, with my Ovation, I have friends that absolutely hate the sound of it, so it's a bit of a love it or hate thing, if you are a died in the wool wooden acoustic lover and don't want to deviate from that sound signature, you are not going to like CF guitars or Ovations, but if you like a little variety and have a bit of patience, a good CF guitar, or an Ovation can be very rewarding.
@@adrianlee3497 Years ago when Ovation first came out as a new thing, I played one sitting in a chair. It felt like a greased pig in my lap. I couldn't keep the thing from sliding out at the bottom because of the round back. Difficult to get used to if you like playing riffs. There is nothing like a living thing made into a musical instrument. I'll take wood over any plastic any day of the week.
I have always wanted a good (affordable) acoustic guitar ever since I was a teenager back in the 1960s. Back then my father worked for a guitar company in Kalamazoo and would bring home beautiful and wonderful sounding acoustic guitars he was working on. This review and several others convinced me to buy the x4 because it sounds like the guitars I heard way back then as a boy. My x4 arrives Monday from Amazon. Can't wait to get back to playing classical guitar with this instrument.
Shoutout to Darrell Braun!! I just came from his channel checking out the PRS vs Fender. 😁 Nice comparison, Dylan! Love that McPherson! Thanks for the wisdom!! 🙏
To me, the Enya sounds like a real guitar. The expensive one sounded tinny. I have expensive guitars, but I have never considered construction or material. I just listen to how it sounds and how it plays.
I agree with you the the MacPherson sounded tinny on the recording. I find the Enya sounded fatter & richer. The sustain was much longer even without the reverb or being plugged in.
Fun video, it was really cool to see the side by side comparison and it was well done! BUT, I definitely disagree with the notion of the Enya copying the McPherson for several reasons: #1: The honeycomb carbon fiber weave isn't in any shape, way or form exclusive to McPherson, it's simply one of many patterns you can get carbon fiber in, McPherson in no way has any rights or claims to the pattern whatsoever. #2: Aside from both guitars being all carbon fiber/carbon fiber composite and being grand auditoriums in body shape, the guitars have very little in common. Different headstock shapes, different bridge shapes, different tuners, different soundhole placements, different scale lengths (McPherson is 25 1/2, Enya is 25 3/4), different electronics entirely, different nut width, different cutaway design, different neck attachment, the list honestly goes on and on. Saying the Enya is a copy of the McPherson just because of materials and body shape, neither of which either company can even claim as their own, is like saying Yamaha is copying Martin because they use the same woods and both favor dreadnoughts. #3: The guitars are priced towards two entirely different markets, with the McPherson being more of a high end, possibly even boutique option, competing with Martin, Taylor, Bourgeois, Larivee, and so on, primarily for a western market. The Enya is budget priced, made to compete more with Yamaha, Epiphone Masterbilt, Lava and Ovation from the Western market, and Merida, Natasha and Hsienmo in the Eastern market, and it aimed much more at the Asian market, typically sold to Chinese, Malaysian and Singaporean consumers, they just have a small presence in the US market more recently thanks to Amazon. I can appreciate guitars having similarities, but it takes ALOT more overlap than this, to qualify as a copy, otherwise every dreadnought made of a spruce top and mahogany back and sides is a Martin D-18 copy, and I think we can both agree that's just silly lol.
The Enya is a different animal from the McPherson. The Enya is a composite guitar with both carbon fiber (for the top) and carbon fiber composite (with fiber glass?) for the back and sides. The McPherson is all carbon fiber. The McPherson definitely is tuned to bring out bell like clarity of the trebles while the Enya is darker sounding with rounder sounding trebles. Because of the lack of crispness to the notes, the Enya does not bring out the high frequency scratching sound when sliding your fingers over the strings like the McPherson. Both have a very similar sounding bass and lower mid-range. I assume that you put the same strings on both instruments when you played them side by side. I agree with the poster below that the Enya is not particularly a copy of the McPherson. They are made from different materials, elevated fingerboard is common on may instruments, and the off set sound hole is in a different position. In addition, the Enya has built in effects that run off a rechargeable battery. Also, I believe the McPherson does not use a bolt on neck or a truss rod like the Enya. So other than the fact they both have a carbon fiber top, they are different in every other way. I agree, the Enya is a decent composite guitar for the money. It has a really big voice (loud), a big bass, and internal effects. Add to that it comes with a leather strap and hardshell case, it is not a bad deal for under $1000.
The McPherson carbon series is a bolt on neck and does have a truss rod (just one you can't adjust) and it is a carbon fiber composite. McPhersons are made 1 by 1 with love though.
Well stated Dr. Guitar. Do you own both per chance? Your description reminds me of a Taylor vs Martin type characterization. Is this a valid observation? Pure acoustic, I wonder if the McPherson is considerably louder or not. But with electronics added in, the Enya does get louder.
@@2musiclover534 no. I have not had the pleasure of a McPherson in my hands. But I know the specs of your standard McPherson (not the cheaper bolt-on instruments). They are a different instrument; even more so than a Martin-Taylor comparison. At least Martins and Taylors are made from the same materials.
I live in Thailand and there is a great deal of humidity here so i'm seriously thinking of buying either this model or the mini. Any suggestions on the model i should purchase? How is the is the pre set up action? Thanks for the video❤
I've read a couple of other reviews on this guitar where they initially had tuning and/or intonation issues but found that the problems were resolved when they tightened the neck bolts/screws (it is a bolt-on neck). Granted, a bolt-on guitar shouldn't ship with loose neck bolts so it is certainly a reflection on Enya's quality control even though it's an easily resolved issue. Did you happen to check the tightness of the neck bolts? If not, you might pass this information on to the guitar's new owner, see if it improves things. Could very well affect the tone as well.
Just spotted this post, see sorry for the late response. I was aware of the neck bolt issue before purchasing the Enya. When I received the instrument, it was the first thing I checked and the bolts indeed needed a small amount of snugging down. They are very easy to get to and it took me all of 30 seconds to accomplish. In the year+ I have owned the instrument, there has not been any additional need to tighten the bolts. I have set up the action myself and cut the nut slots. The playing feel is nothing short of amazing.
Although there are different types of weave, the hex pattern offers a bit of flexibility that translates into resonance. As apposed to something like houndstooth that is know for it's stiffness. So, just because they both use the hex weave doesn't necessarily mean that Enya is copying from McPherson. Not having the neck rest on the soundboard to create more surface area to resonate is not exclusive to McPherson either. I've seen the soundboard suspended so that it does not touch the sides of the guitar, so I get the concept. The sound hole is more like the Rainbird, so bits and pieces of different guitars to make your own is not really unheard of. Like making a tele-style guitar and only changing the headstock is really a "unique" guitar. So, the Enya is not copying the McPherson. The end result being the the McPherson sounds better and is more expensive, which indicates the Enya is not a carbon copy (pun intended).
Lol, anything that the Chinese didn't come up with, they always copy it and make it cheaper. Heck anything the Chinese comes up with, they copy it and make a cheaper version. I bet that the Enyas top is the only thing that's Carbon Fiber. I'll save up for both a Emerald carbon fiber guitar & a McPherson carbon fiber guitar.
Cool! So happy to see more and more affordable CF guitars coming to market. I loved Composite Acoustics and was so sad when Peavy bought them up and shut them down. I wouldn't trade my Cargo or Blade for the world. How is it for percussion on the body? For me that was a major disappointment with Rainsong WS. Sounds great strummed but few usable spots to strike it and get a good sound.
If you don't like guitar companies that "borrow" from other guitar companies, you wouldn't like PRS, with the Silver Sky, or just about any guitar company that isn't Fender, Gibson or Martin.
Honestly I’m blown away by how rich and soulful that guitar sounds that said when you picked up the 3500$ version you can hear the extra money immediately it’s clear first strum i was looking into one of these but after this I think I’ll save up for the McPherson
The upside is Enya are competent, economical instruments. The biggest downside for me is appearance. I wanted something not only good to play & but have wall worthy looks. Such beauty however always demands a premium. The "Acoustic" of my collection is a CSP topped Emerald X20 with a HyVibe... and the "Hollow Body Electric" spot is filled a gorgeous Redwood Burl topped Emerald Virtuo.
Would have helped to hear it strummed, maybe with a standard Fender medium pick. At least half the acoustic guitar owners out there use a pick rather than their thumb. Good discussion otherwise.
A great demo. No guitar is affordable if you don't have the money. I don't think it's a rip-off of another brand, it's just the way things are going tech-wise. We live in exciting times as guitarists. I imagine lots of other companies will have similar guitars in the future. No guitar is perfect, and no player. These are still early days in this modern tech. I was tempted to buy, a Lava carbon fibre, but reviews report issues. That put me off. Not all that glitters is gold. I have been looking at Lagg guitars, real acoustics with effects built in. The only thing is, getting one. With only one supplier in the UK, too far for me to try. Then it struck me, do I really need a new guitar like this?. I have three small practice amps, a Nux, a Yamaha, and a Spark, with all I need built-in, very light and portable. I also own several guitars. What drew me most, was the looks and onboard effects, as well as a built-in amp. I liked your honest review and opinion. I look forward to seeing more of your videos. Thank you, but I'll be keeping my money in my pants, let's see what the future holds.
I got a deal for the same price on a Yamaha FSX3, bets guitar I've ever owned, I'm convinced it's the most well made mass produced guitar out of China. It's ridiculous, every bit as good as the Japanese counterpart FSX5, should literally cost twice as much, no I'm not exaggerating. It doesn't have effects but does have a knob to blend between mic and piezo.
I just gifted my grandson my 1969 Yamaha FG-300 red label, it was so hard to let it go. I currently have a Eastman E-8-D and it’s a wonderful guitar. But the FG was head and shoulders above the Eastman, I’m thinking very hard about getting one of the new red labels from Yamaha, trouble is I can’t find one locally, and I really need to play it before I buy it.
I don't know that it matters much but I think that these are Guyker brand tuning machines that are made in Korea. To clarify, the brand itself is Chinese but I do believe that they source some of there tuners from Korea, these 21:1 ratio tuners being one of those.
Typically, when you play a guitar yourself, you also feel how it vibrates through direct contact, which can interfere with the end-goal perception, whatever that may be.. Recording etc.. Also, your perspective in relation to the instrument's position and direction shifts. This is a big reason that some producers record with a sort of overhead mic kinda drroped low, to simulate what the player is hearing. You should probably do a blind test in an unfamiliar room and even outside, with someone else playing the guitar. You probably already know the comparative difference between the two frequency-wise so it isn't an entirely fair blind test, but your results could change.. Either switching, becoming more narrow, or even more far apart. This phenomenon doesn't only happen with accousticsx but electrics too, just at a lesser rate. It's why so many people think they sound great until they hear playback of their recording... Even with digital. This is why I have someone else play or use a DI and adjust tones afterwards, if I'm going to record me playing. Anyhow, I know that you said that you didn't know if you were accurately conveying what you were hearing in your room, but I was surprised with how good the cheap one sounded. In a quick listen, the cheaper one sounded more modern, punchy, and well balanced, while the expensive one sounded like an older school, Martin-style guitar, with overly bright, squeaky strings. To me, price also means nothing. I played an $800 Yamaha vs a bunch of $3k+ acoustics in an acoustic room, and the Yamaha blew them all away. However.. I also didn't record.
I purchased the Enya X3 Pro just for a "travel guitar". Compared to my Rainsongs - it is a piece of garbage. I can see that the Enya you review is equally inferior. Thanks for the honest review!
thanks, on darrells review, i could tell it didn't the "stock" or "vanilla" sound (as good as the mcpherson you'd previewed), but he didn't cover that it can bend, for some its either a bug or a feature . . . I want mcpherson, but a national and a mule come before that . . . but eftx is a nice touch. It also as a piezo that gives that fart buzz efx (most of them do).
On your video the Enya sounded as good or better. Enya is the best deal in Carbon fiber right now. If you want a fancier guitar with a redwood burl top, the Emeralds are gorgeous. But Enya doesn't suck either.
great review. I think the mcpherson is a bit overly bright in the video. actually liked the tone balance on the enya. but as you mention might just be the video. thanks for doing this.
I own a Rainsong WS-1000, CA GX Performer (pre-peavy), McPherson Sable, and recently picked up the Enya a few months ago. The Enya is heavier than my other CF guitars which leads me to believe that yes technically it's made of carbon fiber, but most likely of other materials as well. Tonally, it's not as loud as my other CF guitars and sounds compressed and not as airy or open as my other guitars. All my CF guitars have that mid rangy CF tone except my CA which sounds the most like a wood guitar (and the best pickup system to my ears LR Baggs imix). I think Dylan you nailed it, it's a good guitar and it's definitely worth the money you pay for. I've played plenty of other sub $1k guitars that I would in an instant take the Enya other those other guitars mainly because, like you, I prefer CF guitars (no maintenance). I will say the onboard effects in my opinion are worthless, they don't sound good and I think it's just a marketing gimmick that a lot of guitars now a days are trying to sell you something that isn't very good and you definitely don't need. If you're in the market I say pick one up. The reason I bought despite my 3 other very nice CF guitars, is because this is the guitar I'll take out of town with me, fly with, not feel bad if I get a ding or scratch on it.
@@walterlane99 Unfortunately no, they sold the rights to Peavy and then Peavy ended up shutting it down. Which is too bad, because it's the best sounding CF guitar I own/ Although the original owner that started CA guitars worked with McPherson to create the sable, but fit and finish and quality of my CA is still superior to the McPherson IMO.
Greetings Dylan! Thanks for the review! One thing that I consider in purchasing a graphite composite guitar is how well it would hold up in an outdoor environments where I would not feel comfortable playing any of my other acoustic guitars because they do not tolerate the elements well, however, this should not be an issue with a good graphite composite instrument. Frequently, people ruin perfectly good guitars by playing them outdoors in extreme weather conditions and while sitting around a campfire as well. An inexpensive graphite composite instrument is a good candidate for the musician who frequently plays outside in adverse weather conditions, and the Enya guitar may be perfectly suitable for this use, and where I would be hesitant to take a more expensive instrument. Thank you for posting these videos! Please have an excellent and awesome day! ☀️✨
I also live in a hostile environment. Summers get to 120 degrees Fahrenheit with almost zero humidity. I bought a cheap Yamaha a couple of years ago and going from the store to my car in 100 degree "dry heat" caused the neck to bend. I noticed that I kept getting buzzing on 1st through 12th frets so I took it back to the stores where they told me that the neck was bowed in so badly the guitar was beyond repair. That is when I decided never to waste money on a wooden guitar 🎸 again. I bought an x4 last week and will get it delivered Monday.
I checked out a TH-cam demo for Emerald last night, and I want to say here that I'm all for innovation, but when the guy played it against a 40 year old played Martin and a relatively new Gibson I have to say that the Emerald sounded dead compared to the wood guitars plus carbon fiber will not age to give it character compared to the wood guitars.
It would be nice to see a comparison to a Rainsong CF Guitar, to my knowledge one of the original carbon fiber guitars, then Composite Acoustics came out. Both quality brands but more expensive yet less than a McPherson.
Frankly, I like Enya's sound much more. It is, for my taste, rounder and with more body. Tuning problems? I constantly hear those things when you want to justify the difference in price between an expensive instrument and a cheaper one, as if to say....Hey, this instrument is fine, but if you want a really good one, buy this one made in USA. But there is no magic in the tuning, it is pure simple mechanics. The nut of the Enya guitar is from Tusk, as is the saddle. If it is a problem with the pins, you change them for good ones and the problem is fixed .For me a 10. It seems like a magnificent guitar. But not for the price, this is in absolute terms.
My main acoustic these days is a Rainsong "shorty" (OM size, 24.9" 12-fret). Rainsong's don't use any internal bracing. Mine was a custom order that cost $1600 about 10 years ago. These days I think an equivalent would be about $2500. I have been really curious to try the Enya, especially given the price. One thing I have noticed about CF instruments, they can really bring out differences in strings, far more than wooden instruments, so changing string composition or manufacturer can make a very noticeable difference in how they sound. If a guitar ships with 80/20s I almost always rip them off and install PBs immediately. My Rainsong I can go weeks without tuning. If the Enya needs constant tuning, then I suspect the neck is not actually CF, but something cheaper.
Regarding the "honeycomb" weave pattern, that's just a standard carbon fiber cloth that is available to anyone for purchase, it's not something that McPherson makes themselves. It's common in carbon fiber product construction to use a "pretty" CF cloth pattern on the top/visible layer with different CF cloth layers underneath that are chosen more specifically for their structural properties. So Enya certainly could have chosen a different pattern if they wanted to stand apart from McPherson, but McPherson certainly doesn't hold any kind of claim to that pattern as their own brand, trademark, etc. An earlier version of the Enya had a more common basketweave CF top pattern. A more egregious example of one CF guitar company stealing another CF guitar company's trademark look is Rainsong's "Black Ice" - it's slightly different, but very, very similar to Modulus Graphite's "KLD" random CF pattern you see on the their necks (it is optional as a top, but very rare). Modulus started using KLD in the late 1980's and has a trademark for it. I don't know, maybe they gave Rainsong permission to do their thing since Modulus isn't in the acoustic guitar business at all. "KLD" refers to a comment by a Modulus employee when they first discovered it and figured out how to do it; he said "it looks like a thousand ladies dancing". In my opinion, KLD is way more elegant than Black Ice, more understated yet more complex at the same time.
I wish you could combine the sound characteristics of both, the Enya has some sound characteristics I prefer. Tho I can tell there is no comparison overall, I like the fuller Enya
Hey man, I’m commenting without seeing your review to the end .. great work great style in presentation.. just wanted to let you know .. appreciate you 🤗🤗🤗🕺✅
There's another really good CF Guitar company named Emerald Guitars.... They're based in Ireland.... Check them out.... Emeralds will blow you away with their Aesthetic Options... And quite a different variety of body styles too...
Can't decide on this one. Being an electric guy, all I am really looking for in an acoustic is a workable sound which the Enya has. That being said, if I were to buy a carbon fiber guitar, I would like a good one and not one I would have to struggle to keep in tune. I think I would save up for the McPherson.
I own the Enya just like the one shown here and I’ve had no issues with tuning like he speaks of and I live in Alabama where you can see all 4 seasons in 24hrs. These carbon fiber guitars don’t react like traditional wood when adjusting the neck. It’s a process but once it’s settled I’ve have yet to have it move. Love the guitar no doubt it’s cheaper, sounds awesome, looks awesome, and weather proof. Can’t knock it and I have plenty of high end guitars. It’s my main work horse for gigs, campfires, camping, you name it.👍🏼
I have an Emerald Virtuo. The body, neck, and fretboard are all carbon fibre. It is thinner than a normal acoustic, so acoustic volume is more comparable to an arch top. It has two humbuckers with coil splits, and is an excellent electric guitar. It also has Graphtec Ghost pickups for acoustic output (which can be separate via split TRS jack), and it sounds like a pretty good acoustic plugged in. It also has a 13 pin GK output for a synth. Very well made instrument, and very versatile. There is none of the usual compromise of "is it primarily an acoustic or an electric" - it is seamlessly both. Justin Johnson did a review demo on his channel if you want a look.
It’s definitely cool. I bought a $500 Fender Acoustic it was unplayable out of the box. But after a full set up at $150 it plays really well. And like you’re saying my Fender can be left for days and not need to be tuned.
@@juffurey no need, it stays in tune well. It wasn’t playable out of the box though! I do my own set ups on electric guitars but an acoustic I had to have it done.
Been wondering about this one, but I can't find anything about Enya herself having anything to do with this. Good or not, I am hesitant to purchase a guitar from a company that is blatantly ripping off another guitar maker's design, AND a well known musician by not only using her name but even emulating her style of cursive for the logo. It isn't a _direct_ copy of her autograph but the font is so stylistically similar, there's no doubt they are doing it on purpose.
Really surprised not to hear anything about the set up and action, as the overwhelming majority of user reviews I’ve read on Amazon and many on TH-cam, say the action is WAY too high and for many, unplayable. Some people said the bolts on the neck joint needed tightening and that helped with the action.
Cracks me how reviews compare different price points then rather stating conclusions from same price point comparisons they compare the very similar items pointing out what the lower priced item doesn't have what the significantly higher priced item has, in a manner in which the lower priced item is so friggin lacking ...... Versus, compared to similar price point items this is what I, the reviewer thinks and which of the similar priced items is the best value, in the reviewers opinion. The, stating the improved features you can get for 3.5x the price, what you get for the additional $$$. This $ to $$$$ item comparisons only serve to $ potential buyers anyway, as the $$$$ buyers aren't even considering the $ item. But keep up the good work, I enjoy your channel.
I think many of the commenters are missing the point. This is a guitar that you can leave in a car in 100 degree weather without damaging it. Doing that with wooden guitar would be plain stupid and disastrous.
If they are not stainless steel frets they won't last very long! and a total refret could be costly. Sounds pretty good though but the McPherson Sable is a much better guitar.
After playing a friend’s collection of Carbon fiber guitars I agree that this is okay and you are on point about the tuning. Of the x4, he has the Nova Go and it was about the same except raw tone was as expected much less. His Rainsong (model unknown claimed cost a few years back 1200-1500) was by far in every way better. He also a had a KLOS I think he said was about the same in price as the Rainsong but acquired more recently. Same assessment. When he told me he payed roughly $900 for the x4 I was shocked. I felt it was a right at $500 by comparison. Was relieved to hear he only paid around $300 for the Nova Go with the similar (maybe same) pic’up/mic/affects processor. Didn’t care for them by comparison but they were really decent before he broke out the others. Was looking at them for a long time. Thoughts on the KLOS guitars and others would go a long way. I hate retuning mid play and that is a huge reason I was even looking at cf guitars. You put out great information. I’d rather spend the extra $500+ for the better guitar. Not sure the Rainsongs are at that price range anymore, but the KLOS guitars definitely are still. No research done but what was put in Hand and told.
I don't know what he's doing that it is always out of tune. I got mine and put on a new set of Stringjoy Brights. I played a few days in a row without it going out of tune. I let it sit for over a week and 3 strings were very slightly flat.
I can’t really hear the difference between the guitar itself mic’ed and the internal microphone and effects, as far as levels go. Im really curious to hear what it would sound like without being professionally mic’ed. Im wondering if it could be used for a small gig without a need for an AMP or PA, beyond my microphone for vocals. Thanks!
I've wondered about this guitar. Living in good ole dry AZ I worry about wood warping. I have a cheap travel guitar that the neck tweaked on and ruined it. I have a gsmini, a beauty, that I worry about and a new Fender Newporter. Again, worry.... When you lived here did you use humidifiers in your cases?
The reason I'm asking about this is that I wondered if you keep the case humidified and then pull it out to play wouldn't that make a more drastic change in the way the humidity in the air affects the wood? Cuz we're like 10% humidity so often and I'm thinking in my mind that that would be worse for it to go quickly from one extreme to the other.
I'm also in Phoenix. I have to keep humidifiers in all the wooden guitar cases, but I can leave my Carbon Fiber ones out on the stand. They get a lot more play that way.
Everyone is saying the enya sounded better, but the McPherson definitely sounded significantly better in my opinion. There really is no comparison. The McPherson blows this out of the water and justifies its price easily. I won't say $3700 isn't expensive because it is, but what you get with a McPherson is so worth it in my opinion! Id also definitely give up the gimmicky pickup effects for my McPhersons anthem pickup any day! If i had both, i just couldn't ever bring myself to choose a cheap copy full of gimmicks and poor craftsmanship over something built with love from top to bottom. McPherson guitars are just on a whole other level.
$899 and they still slap the super tiny made in china gold sticker on it like it's a $.50 plastic toy lol. Come on, they should at least be proud of the manufacturing and stamp some information onto the back of the headstock. Not a huge deal, but some attention to detail would be nice. I really don't like when sellers use the buzzword of stainless steel frets either, and then on top of it aren't truthful about it. It's a prevalent trend of these direct from China guitars. To me, advertising stainless steel frets on a sub $1,000 guitar is actually a bad thing if they aren't a big name brand that could back it up. Fretwork is one of the areas that jack up prices on guitars because it takes a lot of hand work and finishing, especially real stainless, so I'm supposed to feel confident that a $400 guitar with "stainless steel" frets was properly levelled and dressed at that price point? Also if it does wind up being real stainless steel, it means the end user is stuck not able to fix any frets that came crappy from the factory. It's a lose, lose and I hope manufacturers stop claiming their guitars have them and just be honest it's nickel silver, because nickel silver is actually better in most cases with mass produced affordable instruments. Now that the rant is over, it did sound pretty good and the case looked great. In the acoustic world $899 isn't too expensive, so the negatives aside, it might be worth considering for those who want something unique and are intrigued by wood alternatives.
$3,500 sounds like a lot of money and for some people it is, however I see people taking out $40,000 loans at high interest rates for a Harley Davidson motorcycle, at least you can be creative with the guitar and it won't get you killed, it will also last a lifetime, buy one and your done, all at once $3,500 doesn't sound like a lot of money 👍.
@@DylanTalksTone i dunno like does it make it a must buy or screaming hot deal etc? Just curious? Plus wanted others to see the lower price while available.
@@michaelhines1891 I mean, A cheaper price does not make the guitar better. If cheapness means value to a person, that's different, I would still rather have the Mcpherson
Dude go with Yamaha for that price range, though the Mexican made Taylors and Martins can be pretty dang good, I owned a GPCRSGT for a while, good sound, played amazingly, but I really never fell in love with it and didn't have that "Martin" tone.
They are but not in the same league as CF, the Enya is an absolute steal for how good it is! If it were me I would save up a bit longer and get one. Enya also do a less expensive one than the Pro, always worth considering!
@DylanTalksTone What if i hust want to upgrade from my 150$ yamaha and want to buy an intermediate guitar in the 8-900$ range. Being carbon finber is not a priority but would appreciate the cool looks. What guitars would you recommend ?
The Enya has a better and deeper sound than the McPherson! AND the sound effects variations you can do on the Enya is amazing! The price of the McPherson is NOT worth the money!
I like these. The sky is the limit with paint jobs and good sound. But they don't cost that much to make. They are new so they cost way to much. Can't tell me Carbon Fiber cost more than real wood.
I think the McPherson is a much better guitar. When people ask me how much they should spend on a guitar I always tell them to get the highest quality guitar that they can afford. So, if money was no object, I would buy he McPherson 100 out of 100 times. In my opinion it's not even close. That being, said, the Enya is a respectable alternative if you are on a guitar purchasing budget.
I KNEW IIIIT! I almost bought one based on the first half of the video. Then you got to the second half made in China that’s all I needed to hear. I also saw the made in China sticker and that’s when I paused also. Great video thank you.
Thanks for this vid. I've been a carbon fibre convert for several years, having a Rainsong dreadnought, I love. I actually bought to fight back, in a way, against Canada's anti carbon yahoos. 👍
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I've had this guitar for a week and it's hard to put it down. It sounds incredible, full range, clear and well balanced. Add the on-board FX and it's even MORE fantastic. I'm gonna sell some of my acoustics now because I know I will never play then again.
"$3,500 is not expensive for a quality acoustic guitar..."
* me wiping off the mac and cheese I just spit out all over my screen *
Check out the price for lowden f50 then.
A "quality acoustic" is one that plays well and doesn't fall apart. I can buy great used acoustics for 300-800 all day every day. 3500 for a guitar is just bragging rights or maybe they are compensating for something....
(3) really good wooden acoustics for $3600....it's hard to say I'd turn down 3 killer wood axes for the Sable..but, my Enya 4x pro plus comes tomorrow before 7 pm..I'll let u know what I find out !
@@amanthatthinks Better yet, check out some pre-war Martins, Froggy Bottoms, James Olsons, etc.... hahahaha
Cool guitar. I kinda hope Driftwood cuts one of these in half - I'd like to see not only the inside, but a cross section of the materials.
Sorry to say this but I actually prefer the sound of the Enya. The Enya sounds darker than the McPherson. The McPherson would probably punch through a busy mix better. For solo acoustic and vocal, I would choose the Enya.
Why apologize for having an opinion?? Im glad you dig it.
I kind of agree with you. The McPherson has the “modern” treble heavy sound, whereas the Enya is far mor traditional sounding to my ears. I don’t think anyone who’s splashed more than $3.5k is going to admit to a cheap guitar sounding better. What is an absolute deal breaker for me is the bendy neck. I had an Ovation like that and it was bloody dreadful to play, especially when jamming with any amount of gusto. It’s a shame because at the price it’s a tempting proposition but the neck just shouldn’t do that, period! A very interesting video though.
@@gunscratch Yeah so if you were for example recording with a very quiet/weak vocalist, the Enya might be the better candidate. For a strong vocalist and cutting through a mix, the McPherson is probably the ticket.
Yes, but the lack of articulation in the Enya would eventually drive you nuts. Neither of these guitars sound right yet. The McPherson is closer, even if you don't like it's voice.
I think I actually liked the Enya tone better, but that's just me. Your playing was fine by the way. BUT... I really wanted you to do some serious strumming with a pick! I do some finger picking, but when playing with my band there's a lot of power strumming involved, would have liked to hear it!
I own one and after getting it setup how I wanted I absolutely love this thing. I have many guitars including my baby a Taylor 716ce, but I play this thing more than any of them. Main reason is it’s always on a stand at hand reach. The neck is very stiff so your tuning issue your having is part of this guitars setup and takes a min to stop moving and settle. But once it finally does I’ve yet to have to tune mine and I’m in the south and it sits on a stand in my foyer always. Even when the windows in the house are all open and the humidity is 80% it’s yet to move. I love the electronics onboard and for a $899 guitar it’s quite impressive. I can’t knock this guitar I’ve had it awhile and it’s yet to fail me. But like I said setup is time consuming but worth the wait. Thanks for the review ✌🏼
I have had my Enya for a week now and I'm impressed with how good it was for the money since we know these things are relative, though I didn't have 3500 to spend anyway but I would say they worth getting if you want a cheaper carbon fibre guitar, I also would add I tried some other brand which I forget the brand about the same price range it wasn't as good
Yeah have had mine for a few months and I love it. The 3500 guitar sounds better of course, I can tell the difference in this video through my crappy phone audio, but the value for what I paid for my Enya was well worth it. Definitely punches above it's price tag.
I bought one for my summer camp because I wanted a guitar I didn't have to worry about humidity & heat etc. I love it. Sounds great, plays great, and looks great.
I have demo'ed several CF guitars, and have owned an Ovation acoustic for about 20 years, and it has the 'Ovation' sound, which I can hear a similarity to in these the CF guitars I have played and heard on You Tube.
I also have several very good wooden acoustics, and if I play a wooden guitar for a while and then grab my Ovation, it sounds awfully tinny, bright and crispy, but after a while you acclimatize to the sound it and it sounds fantastic.
I put this down to the fact that the Ovation has a plastic back, so the note is more pure without all the overtones, resonance and warmth that the wood brings, my point is that CF guitars, like Ovations sound different, and if you want a CF guitar to replicate a wooden guitars sound, you are out of luck, BUT, if you play, (a good one) for a while, the sound can really get to you, and wooden guitars sound muffled and complex in comparison, but then you get used to the 'woody' sound and start to love it, and the circle goes around and around.....
The issue is that, with my Ovation, I have friends that absolutely hate the sound of it, so it's a bit of a love it or hate thing, if you are a died in the wool wooden acoustic lover and don't want to deviate from that sound signature, you are not going to like CF guitars or Ovations, but if you like a little variety and have a bit of patience, a good CF guitar, or an Ovation can be very rewarding.
Thank you, there's nothing like aged wood.
@@adrianlee3497
Years ago when Ovation first came out as a new thing, I played one sitting in a chair. It felt like a greased pig in my lap. I couldn't keep the thing from sliding out at the bottom because of the round back. Difficult to get used to if you like playing riffs. There is nothing like a living thing made into a musical instrument. I'll take wood over any plastic any day of the week.
I have always wanted a good (affordable) acoustic guitar ever since I was a teenager back in the 1960s. Back then my father worked for a guitar company in Kalamazoo and would bring home beautiful and wonderful sounding acoustic guitars he was working on. This review and several others convinced me to buy the x4 because it sounds like the guitars I heard way back then as a boy. My x4 arrives Monday from Amazon. Can't wait to get back to playing classical guitar with this instrument.
Really impressed dude, I've been very curious about this one.
Shoutout to Darrell Braun!! I just came from his channel checking out the PRS vs Fender. 😁 Nice comparison, Dylan! Love that McPherson! Thanks for the wisdom!! 🙏
To me, the Enya sounds like a real guitar. The expensive one sounded tinny. I have expensive guitars, but I have never considered construction or material. I just listen to how it sounds and how it plays.
I agree with you the the MacPherson sounded tinny on the recording. I find the Enya sounded fatter & richer. The sustain was much longer even without the reverb or being plugged in.
Fun video, it was really cool to see the side by side comparison and it was well done! BUT, I definitely disagree with the notion of the Enya copying the McPherson for several reasons:
#1: The honeycomb carbon fiber weave isn't in any shape, way or form exclusive to McPherson, it's simply one of many patterns you can get carbon fiber in, McPherson in no way has any rights or claims to the pattern whatsoever.
#2: Aside from both guitars being all carbon fiber/carbon fiber composite and being grand auditoriums in body shape, the guitars have very little in common. Different headstock shapes, different bridge shapes, different tuners, different soundhole placements, different scale lengths (McPherson is 25 1/2, Enya is 25 3/4), different electronics entirely, different nut width, different cutaway design, different neck attachment, the list honestly goes on and on. Saying the Enya is a copy of the McPherson just because of materials and body shape, neither of which either company can even claim as their own, is like saying Yamaha is copying Martin because they use the same woods and both favor dreadnoughts.
#3: The guitars are priced towards two entirely different markets, with the McPherson being more of a high end, possibly even boutique option, competing with Martin, Taylor, Bourgeois, Larivee, and so on, primarily for a western market. The Enya is budget priced, made to compete more with Yamaha, Epiphone Masterbilt, Lava and Ovation from the Western market, and Merida, Natasha and Hsienmo in the Eastern market, and it aimed much more at the Asian market, typically sold to Chinese, Malaysian and Singaporean consumers, they just have a small presence in the US market more recently thanks to Amazon.
I can appreciate guitars having similarities, but it takes ALOT more overlap than this, to qualify as a copy, otherwise every dreadnought made of a spruce top and mahogany back and sides is a Martin D-18 copy, and I think we can both agree that's just silly lol.
The Enya is a different animal from the McPherson. The Enya is a composite guitar with both carbon fiber (for the top) and carbon fiber composite (with fiber glass?) for the back and sides. The McPherson is all carbon fiber. The McPherson definitely is tuned to bring out bell like clarity of the trebles while the Enya is darker sounding with rounder sounding trebles. Because of the lack of crispness to the notes, the Enya does not bring out the high frequency scratching sound when sliding your fingers over the strings like the McPherson. Both have a very similar sounding bass and lower mid-range. I assume that you put the same strings on both instruments when you played them side by side. I agree with the poster below that the Enya is not particularly a copy of the McPherson. They are made from different materials, elevated fingerboard is common on may instruments, and the off set sound hole is in a different position. In addition, the Enya has built in effects that run off a rechargeable battery. Also, I believe the McPherson does not use a bolt on neck or a truss rod like the Enya. So other than the fact they both have a carbon fiber top, they are different in every other way. I agree, the Enya is a decent composite guitar for the money. It has a really big voice (loud), a big bass, and internal effects. Add to that it comes with a leather strap and hardshell case, it is not a bad deal for under $1000.
The McPherson carbon series is a bolt on neck and does have a truss rod (just one you can't adjust) and it is a carbon fiber composite. McPhersons are made 1 by 1 with love though.
Well stated Dr. Guitar. Do you own both per chance? Your description reminds me of a Taylor vs Martin type characterization. Is this a valid observation? Pure acoustic, I wonder if the McPherson is considerably louder or not. But with electronics added in, the Enya does get louder.
@@2musiclover534 no. I have not had the pleasure of a McPherson in my hands. But I know the specs of your standard McPherson (not the cheaper bolt-on instruments). They are a different instrument; even more so than a Martin-Taylor comparison. At least Martins and Taylors are made from the same materials.
@@drguitar9532 Thanks.
I live in Thailand and there is a great deal of humidity here so i'm seriously thinking of buying either this model or the mini. Any suggestions on the model i should purchase? How is the is the pre set up action?
Thanks for the video❤
Had to watch it again from the start. It sounds like something I should get at some point
I've read a couple of other reviews on this guitar where they initially had tuning and/or intonation issues but found that the problems were resolved when they tightened the neck bolts/screws (it is a bolt-on neck). Granted, a bolt-on guitar shouldn't ship with loose neck bolts so it is certainly a reflection on Enya's quality control even though it's an easily resolved issue. Did you happen to check the tightness of the neck bolts? If not, you might pass this information on to the guitar's new owner, see if it improves things. Could very well affect the tone as well.
Just spotted this post, see sorry for the late response. I was aware of the neck bolt issue before purchasing the Enya. When I received the instrument, it was the first thing I checked and the bolts indeed needed a small amount of snugging down. They are very easy to get to and it took me all of 30 seconds to accomplish. In the year+ I have owned the instrument, there has not been any additional need to tighten the bolts. I have set up the action myself and cut the nut slots. The playing feel is nothing short of amazing.
Although there are different types of weave, the hex pattern offers a bit of flexibility that translates into resonance. As apposed to something like houndstooth that is know for it's stiffness. So, just because they both use the hex weave doesn't necessarily mean that Enya is copying from McPherson. Not having the neck rest on the soundboard to create more surface area to resonate is not exclusive to McPherson either. I've seen the soundboard suspended so that it does not touch the sides of the guitar, so I get the concept. The sound hole is more like the Rainbird, so bits and pieces of different guitars to make your own is not really unheard of. Like making a tele-style guitar and only changing the headstock is really a "unique" guitar. So, the Enya is not copying the McPherson. The end result being the the McPherson sounds better and is more expensive, which indicates the Enya is not a carbon copy (pun intended).
Lol, anything that the Chinese didn't come up with, they always copy it and make it cheaper. Heck anything the Chinese comes up with, they copy it and make a cheaper version.
I bet that the Enyas top is the only thing that's Carbon Fiber.
I'll save up for both a Emerald carbon fiber guitar & a McPherson carbon fiber guitar.
Cool! So happy to see more and more affordable CF guitars coming to market. I loved Composite Acoustics and was so sad when Peavy bought them up and shut them down. I wouldn't trade my Cargo or Blade for the world.
How is it for percussion on the body? For me that was a major disappointment with Rainsong WS. Sounds great strummed but few usable spots to strike it and get a good sound.
The (pre peavy) CA Cargo guitars are astonishingly good. I hear you about never letting it go.
If you don't like guitar companies that "borrow" from other guitar companies, you wouldn't like PRS, with the Silver Sky, or just about any guitar company that isn't Fender, Gibson or Martin.
Honestly I’m blown away by how rich and soulful that guitar sounds that said when you picked up the 3500$ version you can hear the extra money immediately it’s clear first strum i was looking into one of these but after this I think I’ll save up for the McPherson
Would have liked to hear it with a pick - some strumming and cross picking, especially plugged in.
You could really SAIL AWAY with this CF guitar! (I'll show myself out! )
I have one for about a month now and in no way am I disappointed with it mine seems to hold tune very well
The upside is Enya are competent, economical instruments.
The biggest downside for me is appearance.
I wanted something not only good to play & but have wall worthy looks.
Such beauty however always demands a premium.
The "Acoustic" of my collection is a CSP topped Emerald X20 with a HyVibe...
and the "Hollow Body Electric" spot is filled a gorgeous Redwood Burl topped Emerald Virtuo.
Probably easier to get you pick out if you drop it in the sound hole!
I heard back from Enya, and the frets are not Stainless. "Thank you for contacting us. The X4 guitar comes with a nickel silver frets."
For a second I thought you was about to break into more than words by extreme. lol
Would have helped to hear it strummed, maybe with a standard Fender medium pick. At least half the acoustic guitar owners out there use a pick rather than their thumb.
Good discussion otherwise.
A great demo. No guitar is affordable if you don't have the money. I don't think it's a rip-off of another brand, it's just the way things are going tech-wise. We live in exciting times as guitarists. I imagine lots of other companies will have similar guitars in the future. No guitar is perfect, and no player. These are still early days in this modern tech. I was tempted to buy, a Lava carbon fibre, but reviews report issues. That put me off. Not all that glitters is gold. I have been looking at Lagg guitars, real acoustics with effects built in. The only thing is, getting one. With only one supplier in the UK, too far for me to try. Then it struck me, do I really need a new guitar like this?. I have three small practice amps, a Nux, a Yamaha, and a Spark, with all I need built-in, very light and portable. I also own several guitars. What drew me most, was the looks and onboard effects, as well as a built-in amp. I liked your honest review and opinion. I look forward to seeing more of your videos. Thank you, but I'll be keeping my money in my pants, let's see what the future holds.
I got a deal for the same price on a Yamaha FSX3, bets guitar I've ever owned, I'm convinced it's the most well made mass produced guitar out of China. It's ridiculous, every bit as good as the Japanese counterpart FSX5, should literally cost twice as much, no I'm not exaggerating. It doesn't have effects but does have a knob to blend between mic and piezo.
I just gifted my grandson my 1969 Yamaha FG-300 red label, it was so hard to let it go. I currently have a Eastman E-8-D and it’s a wonderful guitar. But the FG was head and shoulders above the Eastman, I’m thinking very hard about getting one of the new red labels from Yamaha, trouble is I can’t find one locally, and I really need to play it before I buy it.
I don't know that it matters much but I think that these are Guyker brand tuning machines that are made in Korea.
To clarify, the brand itself is Chinese but I do believe that they source some of there tuners from Korea, these 21:1 ratio tuners being one of those.
Typically, when you play a guitar yourself, you also feel how it vibrates through direct contact, which can interfere with the end-goal perception, whatever that may be.. Recording etc..
Also, your perspective in relation to the instrument's position and direction shifts. This is a big reason that some producers record with a sort of overhead mic kinda drroped low, to simulate what the player is hearing.
You should probably do a blind test in an unfamiliar room and even outside, with someone else playing the guitar. You probably already know the comparative difference between the two frequency-wise so it isn't an entirely fair blind test, but your results could change.. Either switching, becoming more narrow, or even more far apart.
This phenomenon doesn't only happen with accousticsx but electrics too, just at a lesser rate. It's why so many people think they sound great until they hear playback of their recording... Even with digital. This is why I have someone else play or use a DI and adjust tones afterwards, if I'm going to record me playing.
Anyhow, I know that you said that you didn't know if you were accurately conveying what you were hearing in your room, but I was surprised with how good the cheap one sounded. In a quick listen, the cheaper one sounded more modern, punchy, and well balanced, while the expensive one sounded like an older school, Martin-style guitar, with overly bright, squeaky strings.
To me, price also means nothing. I played an $800 Yamaha vs a bunch of $3k+ acoustics in an acoustic room, and the Yamaha blew them all away. However.. I also didn't record.
I purchased the Enya X3 Pro just for a "travel guitar". Compared to my Rainsongs - it is a piece of garbage. I can see that the Enya you review is equally inferior. Thanks for the honest review!
Liked the sound of the Enya better. Maybe in person it would be different but it would be really low in my list for that price range.
thanks, on darrells review, i could tell it didn't the "stock" or "vanilla" sound (as good as the mcpherson you'd previewed), but he didn't cover that it can bend, for some its either a bug or a feature . . .
I want mcpherson, but a national and a mule come before that . . . but eftx is a nice touch. It also as a piezo that gives that fart buzz efx (most of them do).
On your video the Enya sounded as good or better. Enya is the best deal in Carbon fiber right now. If you want a fancier guitar with a redwood burl top, the Emeralds are gorgeous. But Enya doesn't suck either.
great review. I think the mcpherson is a bit overly bright in the video. actually liked the tone balance on the enya. but as you mention might just be the video. thanks for doing this.
I own a Rainsong WS-1000, CA GX Performer (pre-peavy), McPherson Sable, and recently picked up the Enya a few months ago. The Enya is heavier than my other CF guitars which leads me to believe that yes technically it's made of carbon fiber, but most likely of other materials as well. Tonally, it's not as loud as my other CF guitars and sounds compressed and not as airy or open as my other guitars. All my CF guitars have that mid rangy CF tone except my CA which sounds the most like a wood guitar (and the best pickup system to my ears LR Baggs imix). I think Dylan you nailed it, it's a good guitar and it's definitely worth the money you pay for. I've played plenty of other sub $1k guitars that I would in an instant take the Enya other those other guitars mainly because, like you, I prefer CF guitars (no maintenance). I will say the onboard effects in my opinion are worthless, they don't sound good and I think it's just a marketing gimmick that a lot of guitars now a days are trying to sell you something that isn't very good and you definitely don't need. If you're in the market I say pick one up. The reason I bought despite my 3 other very nice CF guitars, is because this is the guitar I'll take out of town with me, fly with, not feel bad if I get a ding or scratch on it.
Is CA still in business?
@@walterlane99 Unfortunately no, they sold the rights to Peavy and then Peavy ended up shutting it down. Which is too bad, because it's the best sounding CF guitar I own/ Although the original owner that started CA guitars worked with McPherson to create the sable, but fit and finish and quality of my CA is still superior to the McPherson IMO.
Greetings Dylan!
Thanks for the review!
One thing that I consider in purchasing a graphite composite guitar is how well it would hold up in an outdoor environments where I would not feel comfortable playing any of my other acoustic guitars because they do not tolerate the elements well, however, this should not be an issue with a good graphite composite instrument. Frequently, people ruin perfectly good guitars by playing them outdoors in extreme weather conditions and while sitting around a campfire as well. An inexpensive graphite composite instrument is a good candidate for the musician who frequently plays outside in adverse weather conditions, and the Enya guitar may be perfectly suitable for this use, and where I would be hesitant to take a more expensive instrument.
Thank you for posting these videos!
Please have an excellent and awesome day! ☀️✨
I also live in a hostile environment. Summers get to 120 degrees Fahrenheit with almost zero humidity. I bought a cheap Yamaha a couple of years ago and going from the store to my car in 100 degree "dry heat" caused the neck to bend. I noticed that I kept getting buzzing on 1st through 12th frets so I took it back to the stores where they told me that the neck was bowed in so badly the guitar was beyond repair. That is when I decided never to waste money on a wooden guitar 🎸 again. I bought an x4 last week and will get it delivered Monday.
Wonder if he's compared either/both of these guitars to an Emerald (X20)?
for some reason he seems to be ignoring Emeralds. i have nothing but good things to say about my x20.
I checked out a TH-cam demo for Emerald last night, and I want to say here that I'm all for innovation, but when the guy played it against a 40 year old played Martin and a relatively new Gibson I have to say that the Emerald sounded dead compared to the wood guitars plus carbon fiber will not age to give it character compared to the wood guitars.
It would be nice to see a comparison to a Rainsong CF Guitar, to my knowledge one of the original carbon fiber guitars, then Composite Acoustics came out. Both quality brands but more expensive yet less than a McPherson.
I believe they advertise the back and sides to be a carbon fiber composite, meaning the fiber is mixed with something else....probably the neck also,.
Wow, the Enya sound is better to my ear than the $3500 one it is copied from! lol I ordered an Enya today. Thanks for the review.
Frankly, I like Enya's sound much more. It is, for my taste, rounder and with more body.
Tuning problems? I constantly hear those things when you want to justify the difference in price between an expensive instrument and a cheaper one, as if to say....Hey, this instrument is fine, but if you want a really good one, buy this one made in USA. But there is no magic in the tuning, it is pure simple mechanics. The nut of the Enya guitar is from Tusk, as is the saddle. If it is a problem with the pins, you change them for good ones and the problem is fixed .For me a 10. It seems like a magnificent guitar. But not for the price, this is in absolute terms.
My main acoustic these days is a Rainsong "shorty" (OM size, 24.9" 12-fret). Rainsong's don't use any internal bracing. Mine was a custom order that cost $1600 about 10 years ago. These days I think an equivalent would be about $2500.
I have been really curious to try the Enya, especially given the price.
One thing I have noticed about CF instruments, they can really bring out differences in strings, far more than wooden instruments, so changing string composition or manufacturer can make a very noticeable difference in how they sound. If a guitar ships with 80/20s I almost always rip them off and install PBs immediately.
My Rainsong I can go weeks without tuning. If the Enya needs constant tuning, then I suspect the neck is not actually CF, but something cheaper.
The Enya actually sounds better. Acoustics need some flex to resonate.
McPherson sounds better pure acoustic....but what about when you add in Chorus and Reverb? That changes things electronically... Wondering.
Regarding the "honeycomb" weave pattern, that's just a standard carbon fiber cloth that is available to anyone for purchase, it's not something that McPherson makes themselves. It's common in carbon fiber product construction to use a "pretty" CF cloth pattern on the top/visible layer with different CF cloth layers underneath that are chosen more specifically for their structural properties. So Enya certainly could have chosen a different pattern if they wanted to stand apart from McPherson, but McPherson certainly doesn't hold any kind of claim to that pattern as their own brand, trademark, etc.
An earlier version of the Enya had a more common basketweave CF top pattern.
A more egregious example of one CF guitar company stealing another CF guitar company's trademark look is Rainsong's "Black Ice" - it's slightly different, but very, very similar to Modulus Graphite's "KLD" random CF pattern you see on the their necks (it is optional as a top, but very rare). Modulus started using KLD in the late 1980's and has a trademark for it. I don't know, maybe they gave Rainsong permission to do their thing since Modulus isn't in the acoustic guitar business at all. "KLD" refers to a comment by a Modulus employee when they first discovered it and figured out how to do it; he said "it looks like a thousand ladies dancing". In my opinion, KLD is way more elegant than Black Ice, more understated yet more complex at the same time.
I wish you could combine the sound characteristics of both, the Enya has some sound characteristics I prefer. Tho I can tell there is no comparison overall, I like the fuller Enya
Hey man, I’m commenting without seeing your review to the end .. great work great style in presentation.. just wanted to let you know .. appreciate you 🤗🤗🤗🕺✅
Right now the Enya X4 Pro Mini is around 3 Grand Cheaper than the McPherson so those on a budget are def going Enya
McPherson is better but it does not have the internal effects when playing acoustically. It seems that would add some significant advantages.
I always love your reviews and I'll probably save for a Mcpherson.
There's another really good CF Guitar company named Emerald Guitars.... They're based in Ireland.... Check them out....
Emeralds will blow you away with their Aesthetic Options...
And quite a different variety of body styles too...
Can't decide on this one. Being an electric guy, all I am really looking for in an acoustic is a workable sound which the Enya has. That being said, if I were to buy a carbon fiber guitar, I would like a good one and not one I would have to struggle to keep in tune. I think I would save up for the McPherson.
I’ve got the McPherson. Only carbon fiber guitar I’ve found that isn’t a compromise. Worth it!
I own the Enya just like the one shown here and I’ve had no issues with tuning like he speaks of and I live in Alabama where you can see all 4 seasons in 24hrs. These carbon fiber guitars don’t react like traditional wood when adjusting the neck. It’s a process but once it’s settled I’ve have yet to have it move. Love the guitar no doubt it’s cheaper, sounds awesome, looks awesome, and weather proof. Can’t knock it and I have plenty of high end guitars. It’s my main work horse for gigs, campfires, camping, you name it.👍🏼
I have an Emerald Virtuo. The body, neck, and fretboard are all carbon fibre. It is thinner than a normal acoustic, so acoustic volume is more comparable to an arch top. It has two humbuckers with coil splits, and is an excellent electric guitar. It also has Graphtec Ghost pickups for acoustic output (which can be separate via split TRS jack), and it sounds like a pretty good acoustic plugged in. It also has a 13 pin GK output for a synth. Very well made instrument, and very versatile. There is none of the usual compromise of "is it primarily an acoustic or an electric" - it is seamlessly both. Justin Johnson did a review demo on his channel if you want a look.
The majority of X4 owners don't have problems with tuning stability. Maybe the strings weren't properly broken in on this new one.
It’s definitely cool. I bought a $500 Fender Acoustic it was unplayable out of the box. But after a full set up at $150 it plays really well. And like you’re saying my Fender can be left for days and not need to be tuned.
Get a Tusq XL nut and learn a locking string wrap, problem solved. And stretch your strings properly!
@@juffurey no need, it stays in tune well. It wasn’t playable out of the box though! I do my own set ups on electric guitars but an acoustic I had to have it done.
Been wondering about this one, but I can't find anything about Enya herself having anything to do with this. Good or not, I am hesitant to purchase a guitar from a company that is blatantly ripping off another guitar maker's design, AND a well known musician by not only using her name but even emulating her style of cursive for the logo. It isn't a _direct_ copy of her autograph but the font is so stylistically similar, there's no doubt they are doing it on purpose.
Really surprised not to hear anything about the set up and action, as the overwhelming majority of user reviews I’ve read on Amazon and many on TH-cam, say the action is WAY too high and for many, unplayable. Some people said the bolts on the neck joint needed tightening and that helped with the action.
Mine was fine
The Enya sounds better than the McPherson with your side by side sound comparison.
Cracks me how reviews compare different price points then rather stating conclusions from same price point comparisons they compare the very similar items pointing out what the lower priced item doesn't have what the significantly higher priced item has, in a manner in which the lower priced item is so friggin lacking ...... Versus, compared to similar price point items this is what I, the reviewer thinks and which of the similar priced items is the best value, in the reviewers opinion. The, stating the improved features you can get for 3.5x the price, what you get for the additional $$$. This $ to $$$$ item comparisons only serve to $ potential buyers anyway, as the $$$$ buyers aren't even considering the $ item. But keep up the good work, I enjoy your channel.
The McPherson is bright very bright
I think many of the commenters are missing the point. This is a guitar that you can leave in a car in 100 degree weather without damaging it. Doing that with wooden guitar would be plain stupid and disastrous.
I wish they made a smaller version of this. A 34/36 inc.
If they are not stainless steel frets they won't last very long! and a total refret could be costly. Sounds pretty good though but the McPherson Sable is a much better guitar.
Interesting. After 25 guitars I decided to stop buying another one....Until now...Maybe
The enia has a warmer sound no ringing, I’m worried about the tuning, probably the recording
After playing a friend’s collection of Carbon fiber guitars I agree that this is okay and you are on point about the tuning. Of the x4, he has the Nova Go and it was about the same except raw tone was as expected much less. His Rainsong (model unknown claimed cost a few years back 1200-1500) was by far in every way better. He also a had a KLOS I think he said was about the same in price as the Rainsong but acquired more recently. Same assessment. When he told me he payed roughly $900 for the x4 I was shocked. I felt it was a right at $500 by comparison. Was relieved to hear he only paid around $300 for the Nova Go with the similar (maybe same) pic’up/mic/affects processor. Didn’t care for them by comparison but they were really decent before he broke out the others. Was looking at them for a long time. Thoughts on the KLOS guitars and others would go a long way. I hate retuning mid play and that is a huge reason I was even looking at cf guitars. You put out great information. I’d rather spend the extra $500+ for the better guitar. Not sure the Rainsongs are at that price range anymore, but the KLOS guitars definitely are still. No research done but what was put in Hand and told.
You should deff check out aristides guitars none of it is made out of wood and it sounds unreal! I been dying to get one but they are very expensive
I bought one and the fit and finish and features are impressive.
But it was just dead to me audibly.
I don't know what he's doing that it is always out of tune. I got mine and put on a new set of Stringjoy Brights. I played a few days in a row without it going out of tune. I let it sit for over a week and 3 strings were very slightly flat.
I can’t really hear the difference between the guitar itself mic’ed and the internal microphone and effects, as far as levels go.
Im really curious to hear what it would sound like without being professionally mic’ed.
Im wondering if it could be used for a small gig without a need for an AMP or PA, beyond my microphone for vocals.
Thanks!
Very impressive!
It’s 510.00 when Amazon puts 20% coupons on it. Which they do every 2 weeks
I've wondered about this guitar. Living in good ole dry AZ I worry about wood warping. I have a cheap travel guitar that the neck tweaked on and ruined it. I have a gsmini, a beauty, that I worry about and a new Fender Newporter. Again, worry....
When you lived here did you use humidifiers in your cases?
The reason I'm asking about this is that I wondered if you keep the case humidified and then pull it out to play wouldn't that make a more drastic change in the way the humidity in the air affects the wood? Cuz we're like 10% humidity so often and I'm thinking in my mind that that would be worse for it to go quickly from one extreme to the other.
I'm also in Phoenix. I have to keep humidifiers in all the wooden guitar cases, but I can leave my Carbon Fiber ones out on the stand. They get a lot more play that way.
What do you use?
Moving to Phoenix soon… bought a RainSong carbon fiber Jumbo, and sold all my wooden guitars. Probably will buy an Enya for Nashville tuning.
I've had an x4 for a few years. Its great
The plain looking parts are made with 65℅plastic with 35% carbon fiber.
Everyone is saying the enya sounded better, but the McPherson definitely sounded significantly better in my opinion. There really is no comparison. The McPherson blows this out of the water and justifies its price easily. I won't say $3700 isn't expensive because it is, but what you get with a McPherson is so worth it in my opinion! Id also definitely give up the gimmicky pickup effects for my McPhersons anthem pickup any day! If i had both, i just couldn't ever bring myself to choose a cheap copy full of gimmicks and poor craftsmanship over something built with love from top to bottom. McPherson guitars are just on a whole other level.
$899 and they still slap the super tiny made in china gold sticker on it like it's a $.50 plastic toy lol. Come on, they should at least be proud of the manufacturing and stamp some information onto the back of the headstock. Not a huge deal, but some attention to detail would be nice. I really don't like when sellers use the buzzword of stainless steel frets either, and then on top of it aren't truthful about it. It's a prevalent trend of these direct from China guitars. To me, advertising stainless steel frets on a sub $1,000 guitar is actually a bad thing if they aren't a big name brand that could back it up. Fretwork is one of the areas that jack up prices on guitars because it takes a lot of hand work and finishing, especially real stainless, so I'm supposed to feel confident that a $400 guitar with "stainless steel" frets was properly levelled and dressed at that price point? Also if it does wind up being real stainless steel, it means the end user is stuck not able to fix any frets that came crappy from the factory. It's a lose, lose and I hope manufacturers stop claiming their guitars have them and just be honest it's nickel silver, because nickel silver is actually better in most cases with mass produced affordable instruments.
Now that the rant is over, it did sound pretty good and the case looked great. In the acoustic world $899 isn't too expensive, so the negatives aside, it might be worth considering for those who want something unique and are intrigued by wood alternatives.
I’m glad Enya exists
$3,500 sounds like a lot of money and for some people it is, however I see people taking out $40,000 loans at high interest rates for a Harley Davidson motorcycle, at least you can be creative with the guitar and it won't get you killed, it will also last a lifetime, buy one and your done, all at once $3,500 doesn't sound like a lot of money 👍.
599 today does that change your thoughts?
Why would it change my thoughts? The guitar was already a good value
@@DylanTalksTone i dunno like does it make it a must buy or screaming hot deal etc? Just curious? Plus wanted others to see the lower price while available.
@@michaelhines1891 I mean, A cheaper price does not make the guitar better. If cheapness means value to a person, that's different, I would still rather have the Mcpherson
Hey Dylan, How do you think Enya compares to a similarly priced wood acoustic from Tayler/Martin/Breedlove?
Dude go with Yamaha for that price range, though the Mexican made Taylors and Martins can be pretty dang good, I owned a GPCRSGT for a while, good sound, played amazingly, but I really never fell in love with it and didn't have that "Martin" tone.
Do you think HPL guitars are an affordable alternative to composite guitars in terms of resistance to temperature and humidity?
They are but not in the same league as CF, the Enya is an absolute steal for how good it is! If it were me I would save up a bit longer and get one. Enya also do a less expensive one than the Pro, always worth considering!
How does it play straight from the manufacturer? Is the action set up or does it need to be set up?
@DylanTalksTone What if i hust want to upgrade from my 150$ yamaha and want to buy an intermediate guitar in the 8-900$ range.
Being carbon finber is not a priority but would appreciate the cool looks.
What guitars would you recommend ?
The Enya has a better and deeper sound than the McPherson! AND the sound effects variations you can do on the Enya is amazing! The price of the McPherson is NOT worth the money!
I'll buy the Enya from you. What price would you suggest?
do they smell the same tho?
I like these. The sky is the limit with paint jobs and good sound. But they don't cost that much to make. They are new so they cost way to much. Can't tell me Carbon Fiber cost more than real wood.
Doesn't have the software of the lava, but looks light years better
try a magnet on the frets.
Thanks - the McPherson Sable won to my ear (in about 10 seconds)
Love the hat. Guitar is nice too.
I think the McPherson is a much better guitar. When people ask me how much they should spend on a guitar I always tell them to get the highest quality guitar that they can afford. So, if money was no object, I would buy he McPherson 100 out of 100 times. In my opinion it's not even close. That being, said, the Enya is a respectable alternative if you are on a guitar purchasing budget.
I KNEW IIIIT! I almost bought one based on the first half of the video. Then you got to the second half made in China that’s all I needed to hear. I also saw the made in China sticker and that’s when I paused also. Great video thank you.
The Enya isn't real woven carbon. It's injection molded plastic with carbon dust in it.
Can I plug headphones directly into the guitar and hear it through the headphones?
Thanks for this vid. I've been a carbon fibre convert for several years, having a Rainsong dreadnought, I love. I actually bought to fight back, in a way, against Canada's anti carbon yahoos. 👍
I prefer the Enya