Helping the Rainsong N2 work for you

[steelvibe]

Originally Posted by nopicknick

I disagree 100%.....for me the N2 neck is perfect. Even if it didn't though I wouldn't let it bother to this extreme.

It's weird that I agree with you nopick. I used to have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that there would actually be folks who prefer a fat neck found on so many vintage guitars- or at least very old guitars. As to why I agree with you, a little history would be in order, so please forgive me if I bore the death out of you guys.

My first guitar was an electric Applause that had the beefiest neck of any guitar I have ever had. My buddy was playing Ibanez RG series guitars (think 80's metal) and I played his liking the "fast" neck. But really, isn't a fast neck just a thin neck? I bought a Fender Squire with a similar thin neck and then bought an Ovation CC057. The Ovation had a little thicker neck than the previously mentioned apart from the Applause. I now own a Breedlove, and as much as I love the aesthetics and tone of the guitar- the neck is a bit crammed for me. I find myself enjoying Taylors, Seagulls and Yamaha necks better overall. So, the Breedlove is likely going to get sold.

I'm still finding myself in the acoustic market since I was an electric player for so many years. I'm learning with the rest of you guys even if still far behind. With electrics, so much of what you hear is from the amp and the effects loop that I didn't really get all that acoustic chatter about tonewoods, string spacing, finishes and hole-sniffin'. Well, now I do and I love wood guitars. Gassing for a wood guitar that has a beefy neck- I don't even care what it looks like so much.

I find myself kinda missing that old Applause neck. I like the N2 because I think it reminded me of my first love. When I factor in the features that I love about RainSongs and especially the worry free nature of carbon fiber- the neck is not really that much of a deal breaker.

[Mr. Ed]

Originally Posted by nopicknick

I disagree 100%.....for me the N2 neck is perfect. Even if it didn't though I wouldn't let it bother to this extreme.

Please try to understand: I (and some others) have no choice. This is not a matter of preference. Because of old, painful, arthritic hands - I cannot play a guitar with beefy neck. The only choice is: Do I play guitar or not? I choose to continue playing as long as possible. That means a brand with slim neck.

[nopicknick]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ed

Please try to understand: I (and some others) have no choice. This is not a matter of preference. Because of old, painful, arthritic hands - I cannot play a guitar with beefy neck. The only choice is: Do I play guitar or not? I choose to continue playing as long as possible. That means a brand with slim neck.

I understand.....sorry if my post came across harsh. Wasn't the intent, but after re-reading it myself it did seem that way.

[Cambria boy]

When I first got my Rainsong LA2E I loved it. I still like it, but don't play it as much because of the neck. I find my left hand and arm begin to ache after a relatively short time. Definitely a different feeling neck - beefy and rather flat across the fretboard.

[Doubleneck]

I posted way too much on the N2 but it is a very different profile to have settled on now for all their guitars. It's a modified U shape though now they have taken that description off their website. Many love it but I have yet to have anyone name another acoustic guitar that uses a similar profile. Sometimes going on your own path has its advantages. Here I think Rainsong invested so heavily in a mold they have no wiggle room. I think the idea one profile suits all their offerings is just wrong, that neck seems ok for my Jumbo, but continued to feel out of place on my Parlor so I sold it and now have a very small guitar with a slim 1 11/16 neck. I still consider Rainsong one of the class acts of the carbon world, the quality of their product is impeccable.

[Mr. Ed]

Originally Posted by nopicknick

I understand.....sorry if my post came across harsh. Wasn't the intent, but after re-reading it myself it did seem that way.

Certainly no problem at all! Just wish RS understood.

[SpruceTop]

I've had several of each but I prefer the N1 neck.

Regards,

SpruceTop

[Mbroady]

I originally got a rainsong out of necessity. At fist the N2 neck was uncomfortable but once I lowered the saddle (switched to bone) and tweaked the neck I love it. It is amazing how low the action can go without buzz or loss of sound quality. The action is low and tight.

[Doubleneck]

Originally Posted by Mbroady

I originally got a rainsong out of necessity. At fist the N2 neck was uncomfortable but once I lowered the saddle (switched to bone) and tweaked the neck I love it. It is amazing how low the action can go without buzz or loss of sound quality. The action is low and tight.

I totally agree Rainsong precision allows for a very low action. I too have a bone saddle.

[blacknblues]

Originally Posted by Doubleneck

I think the idea one profile suits all their offerings is just wrong, that neck seems ok for my Jumbo, but continued to feel out of place on my Parlor..

I had the same issue, for whatever reason I found the N2 to be too big for the Parlor, but just fine for the H-DR1100N2.

[sonicland]

Originally Posted by Robbypad

Sorry Rainsong, but you got it right with the original neck. Don't mess with success. Why would you go backwards to the 50's? Maybe there were inherent engineering issues that demanded you make changes and forced you to build a more cumbersome, beefier neck with the potential to be adjusted.

My vote is for the WS1100 with an N1 neck and NO electronics (add in after market)............can't order them, can't find them...........and forget the barn door.........talk about archaic and ugly. While I'm at it, the sharks are great on the fret board........keep them, but the m.o.p. rosette is a major design clash.

Been bothering me for a while. N1 necks play just fine thank you.

I'm also very disappointed that Rainsong no longer produces the N1 neck. I have a WS1100N2 and like it quite a bit for much of my playing. But.... I have small hands and it just doesn't work well for some of my fingerstyle playing. I'd also like an OM, so I'd buy an OM1100N1 if they still made them and since I really don't like barn door electronics, it's doubtful I'll ever find one used.

I thought a Composite Acoustics GX Narrow Neck might fit the bill but sadly, CA doesn't offer that guitar without electronics. I'd like to consider a wooden guitar (I hear they can be pretty good) but my day job keeps me on the road weeks at a time and my guitar has to spend time in a vehicle so wood is out.

So here I am, money set aside for a new guitar but I can't find one.

[Doubleneck]

Originally Posted by sonicland

I'm also very disappointed that Rainsong no longer produces the N1 neck. I have a WS1100N2 and like it quite a bit for much of my playing. But.... I have small hands and it just doesn't work well for some of my fingerstyle playing. I'd also like an OM, so I'd buy an OM1100N1 if they still made them and since I really don't like barn door electronics, it's doubtful I'll ever find one used.

I thought a Composite Acoustics GX Narrow Neck might fit the bill but sadly, CA doesn't offer that guitar witàhout electronics. I'd like to consider a wooden guitar (I hear they can be pretty good) but my day job keeps me on the road weeks at a time and my guitar has to spend time in a vehicle so wood is out.

So here I am, money set aside for a new guitar but I can't find one.

Have two ideas for you. Emerald and Blackbird. I have them both. Both have necks with profiles that I like better than than the N2 and the original CA ( have not tried the slimmer CA). The Emerald I just call a great normal neck, normal is not a bad thing! The Blackbird Lucky 13 I just acquired has a neck very similar to the N2 but a little more C shaped, a little less fullness out on the edge. Only had the Blackbird for a week so still settling down with it.

[sonicland]

Thanks Doubleneck, always appreciated your experience and knowledge about CF guitars. I've done some research on Blackbird and Emerald, unfortunately there are none to be demo'd anywhere near where I live and I don't like the aesthetics of either as much RS or CA. I am more interested in Blackbird, wish there was one to try out nearby.

FWIW, I'm surprised CA won't make a GX without electronics! Don't they make the guitar, then cut a hole for the electronics, install the box, and then ship it off? Couldn't they not cut the hole and then ship it to me?

Also, while searching for a GX Narrow Neck before I found out that CA didn't offer them without electronics, I could only find 1 (really, just 1) for sale in the entire country. I realize CF guitars are not that common but it is so hard to demo them.

I'm not in a huge rush to find what could be my last acoustic guitar purchase, just very disappointed that the guitar I want may not exist anymore. Still holding out a very small hope that Rainsong will re-issue the N1 neck (can you get one more neck out of the worn-out N1 neck mold, I'll order it today!!!).

[futboljim]

Hi sonicland - if you get to the MSP area, Willie's has a Blacbird Lucky 13. I think you would like that neck.

I liked the guitar, but decided on the RS APLE, because the neck works for me. I will say that I preferred the BB neck, it was very comfortable, but not s big a deal for me as it is for many.

[Doubleneck]

I was at the CA booth at the Sweetwater festival and they had a quite a few CA's there but not one with the narrower neck? Its the neck that they just don't make. Most players are fixated on a 1 3/4, its the new norm. I understand the esthetics, I simply love the retro Lucky 13, like the more compact size, and the tone. The Lucky also has a nice matt finish on the neck. Time will tell where it ranks in my herd. I really am the most comfortable with a 1 11/16, got a koa 1/2 size wood guitar with that size slim neck that I have kind of fallen for right now.

I feel your pain on the lack of CF guitars to try. I took a vacation and went into Chicago to help cure that once. I have found the best cure for me is to buy CF guitars used. If you get them at the right price you can have them for a while and give them a good try and move on with little expense as they hold their value very well in the used market. I did that with the Rainsong Parlor, which is a awesome guitar but the N2 and a audition of the Lucky 13 finally had me moving on.