Blackbird Guitars
| File:Blackbird guitars logo.png | |
| Industry | Musical instrument |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 in San Francisco |
| Founder | Joe Luttwak and Kyle Wolf |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Acoustic guitars, ukuleles |
| Website | blackbirdguitar.com |
Blackbird Guitars is a manufacturer specializing in acoustic guitars and ukuleles crafted from advanced composite materials like carbon fiber and ekoa, a flax linen-based reinforcement fabric combined with a bio-epoxy resin. The brand is distinguished for its pioneering work in both guitar making and composite engineering, particularly through its unique composite all-hollow unibody design that improves sound projection and structural resilience.[1] Headquartered in the Mission District, San Francisco, Blackbird produced around 400 instruments annually as of 2015.[2]
History
Established in 2005 by Joe Luttwak and Kyle Wolf in San Francisco, Blackbird set out to develop rugged travel guitars using composite technologies. Their inaugural model, the Rider (2007), was the first-ever all-hollow unibody travel guitar made from carbon fiber, notable for its enhanced loudness.[3] The company expanded its lineup with a nylon-string version of the Rider in 2008, followed by the carbon fiber OM-sized Super Om in 2009, and released a tenor ukulele in 2010. In 2011, they unveiled the Lucky 13, a carbon fiber guitar sized OO.[4]
In 2013, Blackbird debuted The Clara, a concert-sized ukulele crafted from Ekoa, marking the first use of this plant-based composite in a musical instrument.[5] This breakthrough was recognized with several design accolades at The Composites And Advanced Material Expo (CAMX),[6] JEC Americas,[7] and from the Industrial Designers Society of America.[8]
The following year, in 2014, Blackbird introduced El Capitan, a jumbo-sized steel-string guitar constructed from Ekoa—the first guitar to incorporate this innovative material.[9]
Patents Owned
- United States Patent 7,763,784
- United States Patent 7,795,513
External links
- ↑ "Taking Guitars Where Guitars Have Never Been Before".
- ↑ "Folsom St. Company Builds Carbon Fiber Guitars".
- ↑ "Taking Guitars Where Guitars Have Never Been Before".
- ↑ "Blackbird Lucky 13".
- ↑ "Blackbird launches plant fiber-based composite musical instrument".
- ↑ "Check Out the Competition: Visit the Awards Pavilion at The Composites And Advanced Material Expo (CAMX)".
- ↑ "Highlights from JEC Americas".
- ↑ "2014 IDSA IDEA Award - Bronze - Entertainment - Blackbird Clara Ukulele".
- ↑ "And Now, the Linen Guitar".