Emerald X20 or Rainsong CO-JM1100N1?
 

I recently located a used Rainsong CO-JM1100 with an N1 neck and a used X20 for roughly the same price... as a fingerstyle player which would you choose and why? Normally I would be looking for a Grand auditorium or OM size guitar. But I am curious about these two.

Are these anywhere you can, hands-on, give them a try? I believe either would provide a good sound, but they will feel quite different. If it matters to you, the N1 neck does not have a truss rod. Necks on carbon fiber guitars aren't going to move, but some of us feel better about having a truss rod to make small tweaks for individual preference.

Good luck with the search.

Unfortunately, no... I will have to buy, try and keep or resell
Has anyone actually had to tweak the truss rod in the N2 neck? Just curious.

Buy both, keep the one you like the best.

Ha! Sounds easy, but I’m not in a position to do that financially.

I have tweaked my JM1000N2 but I’m not sure it was necessary. It is nice to have the option. That decision is tuff but I would grab the Rainsong given the N1 is no longer available, I like the less chunky profile and it’s a CO without electronics? I think thats what the 1100 means? No barn door N1, CO. It would be the Rainsong I would order and its no longer available. If you decide on the Emerald give the info on the Rainsong. I think that Rainsong would be an easy sell if you decide you don’t want it.

Hi Randy,
I have posted elsewhere, and just my opinion and experience but I find for my flesh only fingerstyle, which is my primary focus at this point in life, the X20 sounds great but not as loud as my Shorty, FWIW. With harder playing with a pick it really lights up and is more powerful, so it would really depend on your style.
I would have sold the X20 but it is my wife’s favorite CF guitar...I may end up selling and ordering one with a short scale and 12fret to see if that would help, but that is a ways off.
If it’s me, get the Rainsong, you wouldn’t have a hard time selling, and X20’s do pop up for sale from time to time used if you decide to go that way later.

I personally would not buy another Rainsong with the N1 neck. (at least not without playing it in person)

If you like the relief they can be great, if you don't you are pretty much stuck.

I'd probably shop for a CH-WS before either if playing fingerstyle.

Randy, I'm OK playing either the N1 neck (which I own on my 2001 made WS-1000) or the N2 neck (test played in stores). Also, I have never missed having a truss rod on my N1 neck -- it's relief has not moved perceptibly from light to medium gauge strings, or through several alternate tunings -- lots of tension changes on the neck. Some folks prefer the slightly fuller feel of the N2 neck, more of a "D" shape than a "C" shape. I play finger style about 70-75% of the time, with bare natural nails.

AZ has had issues with the preferred relief on his WS-3000 twelve string, which is why he wants a truss rod. I don't have any direct experience there. My new Emerald X20-12 has a truss rod, but I removed the factory supplied EJ37 HEAVY strings (!!) and put on a standard light gauge set (EJ38) and see no real difference in neck relief. It did lose a little in overall volume and perhaps bass resoonse, with the top not being driven so hard, but it was SO much easier to play.

The Rainsong Jumbo is a BIG and bold guitar, much bigger in feel and actual size than an Emerald X20.

FWIW, as part of my string change I took the octaves off first and played my X20-12 as a six string for about an hour. The volume diminished and was noticeably quieter compared to my WS-1000, but the tone became very warm and mellow -- much like the difference between a cedar top and a spruce topped guitar. So now my X20-12 has been played with a heavy set of twelve strings, the equivalent of a light gauge six string set, and now light gauge twelve strings -- all without perceptible changes in neck relief. Maybe it changed a bit, but I did not get out feeler gauges or a micrometer to measure the relief.

Hope this helps......

Just bringing this back to see if RandyOK has found his carbon fiber ideal... or if the CF GAS attack has passed?