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#1
09-07-2014, 09:57 PM
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A break... (RainSong Shorty content)
We have completed our time (and contracts) in the Pacific Northwest - we head south tomorrow. The RainSong Shorty (SG-FLE) came with us, living on our boat for the summer.
My birthday is in July - around that time, I was looking at Ted's site (LA Guitar Sales) and saw a gorgeous Taylor 522ce 12-fret. One phone call is all it took, and the all mahogany beauty was on its way. The GC Taylor is very close in size to the Shorty - and I find that size very comfortable. The conundrum: there is only room for one guitar on the boat. Well, that is my wife's rule... I could toss out a bunch of her shoes and there would be plenty of room, but I digress. I'm also a big talker, knowing she doesn't read here.  So, the Shorty went into storage while the new Taylor enjoyed all the playing time for the last 7 weeks. As we pack to head south, I pulled out the Shorty today... still perfectly in tune. The tone is crisp compared to the mellow mahogany Taylor. The Shorty is louder (unplugged, but most of my playing - when we're off the boat - is plugged in). So different sounding, but both are great guitars. For the past year, the Shorty has been played the most of all my guitars. I almost feel guilty (almost), having let it sit for the past 7 weeks. That won't happen again, though. The Shorty got to take a break, but it is back in the line-up. I'm looking forward to having the time to share the love with all the guitars. Best wishes, Captain Jim 
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#2
09-08-2014, 05:27 AM
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Darn, when I saw you put it away, I was going to offer to take it off your hands for awhile!
How do you like the neck on the shorty compared to the Taylor? Is it the N2 neck?
__________________
Emerald X20 woody (Pao Ferro), Journey OF660, RainSong APLE, Martin 0-15sm - LA Guitar custom, Recording King RO-06M, Gretsch 5422TG, Epiphone Elitist Casino, G&L ASAT Tribute, Pono cedar/macassar tenor uke, Lanikai SMP-TC tenor uke - and a level of ability that lets each of these down oh so often... but loving it every time I play!
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#3
09-08-2014, 05:38 AM
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Yeah, I'm not a big taylor fan but the 522 12 fret was my favorite at the last Road Show. So I understand why you grabbed that one!
I do the same thing with my Shorty (but not for 7 months), it won't get played as much when I have the others out, then I go back to it and (as you said) the comfort, tone and fun of playing it makes it the main player again. I have a Collings coming, so one of the others will likely have to go, That will be a difficult decision, but it won't be the Shorty! There's something special about it for sure.
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John
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#4
09-08-2014, 05:32 PM
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I have been considering a shorty or a parlor for awhile now, I am currently playing a 412. How do you like the shorty neck as compared to the 522? The Taylor neck is probably one of my favorite neck shapes.
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#5
09-08-2014, 09:54 PM
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The neck on the Shorty (NS neck, with the truss rod) is thicker than the typical Taylor. The Taylor neck is my favorite, but the Shorty is very comfortable to play.
Just for clarification, it was 7 weeks, not 7 months, that the Shorty got to rest.  And the Shorty vs the 522? Both 12-frets; same 24.875" scale; very similar body size. Very different sound, but both make me smile. When I first picked up the Shorty, I thought, "That sounds great for a 'non-wood' guitar." Which soon became just, "That sounds great!" When I first picked up the 522, I thought, "Oh my goodness - sweet and mellow!" If I had to pick one over the other... nahhhhhh - I don't have to! I like that all my guitars sound different. I generally haven't used different guitars for different songs - when playing out, I generally go with the same guitar for the whole gig (but bring a "back-up").I was just feeling a bit guilty that I hadn't played the Shorty for a while... just circumstances, not because I didn't want to.  I knew the carbon fiber fans here would understand.
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#6
09-09-2014, 09:21 PM
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We were rolling south through Utah today... I suggested a "side trip" to stop at MacNichol Guitars and Mandolins. The Blonde said, "Sure."
I got to meet Michael and check out the shop. He asked if I had tried a bone saddle on my Shorty... no. He offered to put one on while I waited. "Deal!" We visited while he worked (it was pouring rain - no one else was going to be out in that downpour). He also asked what I thought of the action on the Shorty... "Plays great. Not as low as my Taylors, but still very nice." Since he was changing out the saddle anyway, he lowered the action a bit. I don't hear a lot of difference in the sound, but the Shorty now plays as sweet as any of my Taylors. Nice! At the hotel tonight, I spent some more time with the Shorty... making up for that time off she had, I guess. Jim http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2014/09/rain-much.html
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#8
09-09-2014, 10:56 PM
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Quote:
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#9
09-10-2014, 03:11 PM
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Nothing wrong with letting things sit and adding to the rotation. A new instrument usually adds a quality that can increase creativity and give a different wrinkle to your technique. Just added a 1/2 size Koa wonder similar in size to a Cargo. Blows the Rainsong neck away. Its slim and 1 11/16 nut. Perfect. But I know I will get back to old friends.
__________________
Steve 2020 McKnight Grand Recording - Cedar Top 2005 McKnight SS Dred 2001 Michael Keller Koa Baby 2014 Godin Inuk 2012 Deering B6 Openback Banjo 2012 Emerald Acoustic Doubleneck 2012 Rainsong JM1000 Black Ice 2009 Wechter Pathmaker 9600 LTD 1982 Yairi D-87 Doubleneck 1987 Ovation Collectors 1993 Ovation Collectors 1967 J-45 Gibson 1974 20th Annivers. Les Paul Custom
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#10
09-10-2014, 10:25 PM
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Another long travel day. The Blonde said, "Bring one of the guitars into the motel tonight."
I haven't played the 522 in a few days, so... I have come to a conclusion on which guitar is my favorite... The one I am playing right now! Jim
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#11
09-11-2014, 03:58 AM
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Quote:
__________________
Steve 2020 McKnight Grand Recording - Cedar Top 2005 McKnight SS Dred 2001 Michael Keller Koa Baby 2014 Godin Inuk 2012 Deering B6 Openback Banjo 2012 Emerald Acoustic Doubleneck 2012 Rainsong JM1000 Black Ice 2009 Wechter Pathmaker 9600 LTD 1982 Yairi D-87 Doubleneck 1987 Ovation Collectors 1993 Ovation Collectors 1967 J-45 Gibson 1974 20th Annivers. Les Paul Custom
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#12
09-11-2014, 07:43 AM
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Quote:
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#13
09-12-2014, 02:15 PM
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I like the way you tell your story Capt....Makes for good read...guitar read
__________________
YUP.... Emerald: X-20, Center hole X-10 (Maple) and X-7 (redwood), Spalted Chen Chen X 10 level 3, CA: Early OX and Cargo McPherson: Early Kevin Michael Proto Some wood things by Epi, Harmony, Takamine, Good Time, PRS, Slick, Gypsy Music, keyboards, wind controllers.. etc
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#14
09-22-2014, 09:00 PM
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I've been thinking of getting a small body 1 3/4" neck guitar to augment my Martin M 36 and Guild D 35 to use as a finger picking instrument. Put some time in with a Taylor 322 today which I thought was a whole lot of bang for the buck, and the only Taylor I really like, but then I saw the Rainsong parlor online and got intrigued. Has a whole different sound but ironically might be a bigger sound than I want. I kind of like the hog top compressed tone.
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#15
09-23-2014, 08:28 AM
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Quote:
I do like the sound of the RainSong Parlor - surprising how much sound that smaller body produces. Kinda between the Shorty and the Taylor GSmini.
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