Healdsburg Guitar Festival Brings Top Guitar-Makers from Around the Globe: Blackbird Presents Carbon-fiber, Hollow-Neck, Instruments

Every other summer for some time now, the Healdsburg Guitar Festival has brought together players, performers and 100 or so of the worlds greatest guitar-makers. Amongst the nearly 100 mostly traditional wood guitars at this year's festival, a line of shimmering black guitars from Blackbird will stand out. Sans old-growth wood, the ultra-light construction of Blackbird's carbon fiber guitars features the signature hollow neck with head sound hole for superior resonance as well as heirloom quality with unmatched durability. 

The Healdsburg Guitar Festival is a great place to see and hear hundreds of exceptional instruments at the pinnacle of craftsmanship and tone. "Having long admired the work of the many great guitar-makers in attendance, we are honored to be participating in this year's festival. Our avant-guarde carbon fiber guitars evoke master-built wooden acoustics tonally - like many of the guitars being shown - but is like an insurance policy for them. With a Blackbird, now you can leave your delicate guitar safely at home and in its case - even if you took a Blackbird on the road regularly, it would last for generations" says founder Joe Luttwak. 

Blackbird Guitars are made in San Francisco by a small team of luthiers by the bay. The Blackbird family includes three models: the Super OM (Orchestra Model), Rider steel-string, and Rider nylon. The Blackbird Rider models are professional-level guitars that are compact enough to get on as carry-on for travel, but with a unlikely full-size sound from a small body. As Michael Ross from GuitarPlayer magazine put it in the August issue, 'a highly portable and efficient acoustic for gigs, practice, or sessions, the Rider...a small miracle.' The Super-OM, a full-size acoustic, adds to the design innovation of its smaller siblings with a resonance-boosting asymmetric design. It is amongst the loudest and lightest available; with a voice reminiscent of the larger dreadnought, the relaxed size of the Super-OM is easy-playing. All Blackbirds feature comfort-contoured backs made to enhance the playing experience. The carbon fiber uni-body of all Blackbirds is nearly indestructible and offers a lifetime of worry-free playing and inspiration. Blackbird Super-OM with high-gloss carbon fiber finish starts at $1899 with ultra-light case.

The world's best travel guitars, the Rider steel and Rider Nylon now start at $1499. Blackbird is thrilled to have Bay Area fingerstyle guitarist and songwriter Nate Cooper performing on a Blackbird at the festival on Sunday August 16th.

• Exceptional Carbon Fiber strength and environmental stability
• Hollow neck with Stereo Sound Port® in head of the guitar
• Asymmetric Acoustic Design® with off-set sound-hole 
• Ultralight for enhanced sound, comfort and balance
• 3D sculpted back for improved comfort, access and strength
• Optional Fishman electronics

For more on guitarist/songwriter Nate Cooper see www.natecoopermusic.com