New Rainsong Model

Kindness · #1 12-21-2010, 01:41 PM

I have recently taken an interest in the carbon fiber guitars as I travel a lot and do not want to worry about humidifying. I contacted Rainsong, and they are releasing a new model at NAMM. Also some comments below in the email they sent me around producing a travel sized guitar:

Hi Lisa:

We have a new series that we are going to introduce at NAMM. The Studio Series is based on the Hybrid Series. It has a fine textured finish and comes with a gig bag to be priced a bit lower. Photos and specifications will be on our web site mid January.

We still talk about a short scale travel like guitar but have not taken any action at this point. It is a rather expensive project and must be considered thoroughly. I will mention your request.

Thanks again for your continued interest.

Warm Holiday wishes,
Jeane

RP · #2 12-21-2010, 06:15 PM

Is this the HS series that Ted @ LA Guitar Sales has been selling for several months or something else? I really love my HS OM1100N2, especially since I had a Fishman Matrix Infinity installed. The OM has a wonderful and very full sound despite being the smallest sibling in the Rainsong family. You might want to touch base with Ted & Helene at LA Guitar Sales for great selection and price....

rolleiguy54 · #3 12-21-2010, 07:13 PM

I would second praise for the om.
It was purchased from la guitar. Plays and sounds great.
Rivals any wooden om at twice the price .

chistrummer · #4 12-22-2010, 12:34 AM

This is the same model Tarpman introduced here over the summer.

See link below...

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=188741

Someone must have forgot to tell Ted these are not out yet because has every version in stock with and without electronics. I played them all and the new studio OM is a bona fied CA OX killer! Light as a feather with the usual Rainsong clarity, and playability few CA's ever had.

There are some excellent pictures of the guitars here..

RP · #5 12-22-2010, 04:47 AM

If you're in the market for one with electronics but don't like a barndoor amp system, I'd strongly suggest getting one w/o electronics and adding the Fishman Matrix Infinity. This produces a great clean, natural sound played through Fishman's Loudbox Mini....

Kindness · #6 12-22-2010, 07:21 AM

Huh, the customer service person who sent the email to me must have meant that the NAMM show was a "formal" introduction of that model. Sorry for the repeat info!!

Ashvin · #7 12-22-2010, 09:31 AM

At NAMM we will be "formally" introducing The Studio Series which we have been test marketing for the last 6 months.

The only difference from the test market is the name. It will be called The Studio Series (as opposed to Hybrid Studio Series) and will have a prefix of S- (as opposed to HS-). This change was made based on customer feedback about confusion with The Hybrid Series.

I also invite anyone that is at NAMM to stop by our booth (Hall E, #1618).

Ashvin

jricc · #8 12-22-2010, 09:56 AM

ITSELF, I have an Advanced Series Rainsong (no longer made), it is a workhorse and I play outdoors with it all summer without a worry.
Jeanne at Rainsong is awesome and their customer service is stellar.
I will be looking into this new model as well.

RP · #9 12-22-2010, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jricc

Jeanne at Rainsong is awesome and their customer service is stellar.

Ditto to that....

kramster · #10 12-22-2010, 02:15 PM

Yes it is the formal intro at NAMM and yes I am going... yippy... that "new model" has been around awhile and one is touring the country on a road trip... my turn soon I think or I'll just have to wait to play a couple at the show.

Oops.. just read what Ashvin wrote...Missed is somehow

Kindness · #11 12-22-2010, 03:06 PM

Ashvin,

On the Rainsong website, you describe the WS1000N2 as such:

"These are the lightest soundboards built by RainSong using unidirectional carbon. Unidirectional carbon mimics the tight grain of a fine spruce soundboard. Thus, it is not surprising that this line produces a warmer tone."

Is this true of all the Rainsong models? Does it apply to the new Studio model?

Thanks!

Ashvin · #12 12-22-2010, 03:28 PM

itself:

The quote is a description specific to the Concert Series CO-WS1000N2 that features a unidirectional soundboard. This is indeed our lightest soundboard.

The Studio series features a woven soundboard, the same top (actually the same overall construction) as the Hybrid Series (see H-WS1000N2). The body construction uses a combination of Carbon and Glass fiber. Glass is not as stiff as Carbon and tends to mellow the brightness of the Carbon tone.

Having said this, I would also like to state that RainSongs share a signature tone and each Series tends to emphasize a different attribute of this tone.

SpruceTop · #13 12-22-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itself

Ashvin,

On the Rainsong website, you describe the WS1000N2 as such:

"These are the lightest soundboards built by RainSong using unidirectional carbon. Unidirectional carbon mimics the tight grain of a fine spruce soundboard. Thus, it is not surprising that this line produces a warmer tone."

Is this true of all the Rainsong models? Does it apply to the new Studio model?

Thanks!

The Unidirectional soundboard is designated by the addition of the "CO" prefix to the model number. Thus, my new RainSong CO-DR1000N2 is a RainSong DR1000 dreadnought with a unidirectional carbon fiber top, CO, and it also has the no additional cost optional N2 neck which has an adjustable truss rod.

The new Studio Series guitars don't have a unidirectional carbon fiber top.

Regards,

SpruceTop

Kindness · #14 12-22-2010, 03:35 PM

Ashvin,

Thanks for the response. Makes sense.

Two other things:

1. Your website is frustrating as it does not list the "total length" of the guitars. It would be great if you folks could include this.

2. Enter the travel guitar market! You folks do not seem to have a model that would fit nicely in an overhead of an airplane!

Ashvin · #15 12-22-2010, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itself

Ashvin,

Thanks for the response. Makes sense.

Two other things:

1. Your website is frustrating as it does not list the "total length" of the guitars. It would be great if you folks could include this.

OK.

2. Enter the travel guitar market! You folks do not seem to have a model that would fit nicely in an overhead of an airplane!

... We have determined that we cannot build a travel guitar as cheaply as our competitors seem to be able to. I am not sure how big the market for "relatively expensive" travel guitars is...

Anyway, we will continue to consider this ...