Helping the Rainsong N2 work for you

Doubleneck · #1 04-01-2014, 06:23 AM

I know many like the fuller feel of the N2. It has never been my favorite but it is well executed like most things Rainsong. I do like its consistent feel up the neck. Obviously now the N2 is going to be it. I own two guitars with the N2 so it has not been a deal breaker for me. This week I looked at the setup of my JM1000. It was good at 6/64 at the 12th. But I thought it could be better. I flattened out the relief to just a slight slap above the frets. Almost flat. I then saw the 6/64 was just slightly above that really. I sanded it to slightly below 6/64 to .90. This made more difference that you would think. Beefier neck but less finger effort, makes it work better for me.

rwskaggs · #2 04-01-2014, 09:13 AM

I also found that flattening and lowering my Rainsong action was needed. 0.90 / 0.65" for me works! Anyone who has tried it is amazed at the buzz free easy fretting nature of this dread....I use stabilized giraffe bone (gray in color) for saddle material....

Acousticado · #3 04-01-2014, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwskaggs

I also found that flattening and lowering my Rainsong action was needed. 0.90 / 0.65" for me works! Anyone who has tried it is amazed at the buzz free easy fretting nature of this dread....I use stabilized giraffe bone (gray in color) for saddle material....

Does the neck of the guitar have a longer scale length?

rwskaggs · #4 04-01-2014, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acousticado

Does the neck of the guitar have a longer scale length?

It depends on your model Rainsong - the dread has a 25.4" scale.

http://www.rainsong.com/specs/

Acousticado · #5 04-01-2014, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwskaggs

It depends on your model Rainsong - the dread has a 25.4" scale.

http://www.rainsong.com/specs/

Ha-ha, I was referring to the effect of the 'giraffe' bone saddle.

rwskaggs · #6 04-01-2014, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acousticado

Ha-ha, I was referring to the effect of the 'giraffe' bone saddle.

'Tis the day for it, eh? I totally missed the reference but love it!

Captain Jim · #7 04-01-2014, 05:16 PM

The RS Shorty 12-fret has 24.875" scale. The neck is thicker than I prefer (my other guitars are Taylors and a Gibson), but it doesn't take any adjustment... although I do notice my hand cramps up a bit after 3+hours of playing on the Shorty.

Mr. Ed · #8 04-02-2014, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doubleneck

I know many like the fuller feel of the N2. It has never been my favorite but it is well executed like most things Rainsong. I do like its consistent feel up the neck. Obviously now the N2 is going to be it. I own two guitars with the N2 so it has not been a deal breaker for me. This week I looked at the setup of my JM1000. It was good at 6/64 at the 12th. But I thought it could be better. I flattened out the relief to just a slight slap above the frets. Almost flat. I then saw the 6/64 was just slightly above that really. I sanded it to slightly below 6/64 to .90. This made more difference that you would think. Beefier neck but less finger effort, makes it work better for me.

Actually, since I have old pain-filled hands, in order to play the N1 neck I took it to 5/64". In my case, the beefer N2 neck is totally out of the question. Of course, I'm the only person finding this to be true.

Doubleneck · #9 04-02-2014, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Ed

Actually, since I have old pain-filled hands, in order to play the N1 neck I took it to 5/64". In my case, the beefer N2 neck is totally out of the question. Of course, I'm the only person finding this to be true.

My Emerald is at 5/64, on both sides. It really helps to make the 12 comfy. 12 strings aren't easy on us older guys.

Mr. Ed · #10 04-02-2014, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doubleneck

My Emerald is at 5/64, on both sides. It really helps to make the 12 comfy. 12 strings aren't easy on us older guys.

I'm guessing you are a young whippersnapper in comparison to me!

billder99 · #11 09-23-2014, 06:00 PM

I purchased a Rainsong BI WS-1000N2 a few weeks ago. I am trying to learn to love the N2 neck, it's a beefy sucker. As for lowering action... I play melodic rhythm, sometimes aggressively... most guitars will start buzzing or "mudding up" when I lower the action. Any thoughts on how the RS will react to my style of play?

Robbypad · #12 09-23-2014, 07:22 PM

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.

Olson, Ryan, Stehr, Petros, Cervantes, Martin, Taylor, Takamine, Parkwood, Fender owner..........

Mr. Ed · #13 09-23-2014, 07:56 PM

Quote:

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...

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

I agree 100%! And, I've shared my thoughts on this issue. However, no one at RS seems to care. So, I've resigned myself to playing wooden guitars with N1-like necks.

nopicknick · #14 09-23-2014, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Ed

I agree 100%! And, I've shared my thoughts on this issue. However, no one at RS seems to care. So, I've resigned myself to playing wooden guitars with N1-like necks.

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.

Earl49 · #15 09-23-2014, 10:01 PM

I agree completely that they got it just right with the N1 neck.

N1 versus N2 necks have been discussed at length here over the last month or two. My understanding is that the original N1 neck molds were wearing out and had to be replaced soon. Since Rainsong was getting so many requests (and more than a little grief) about not having truss rods, they went for the truss rod, hence the N2 neck was born. It had to be a chunkier shape to have room for the truss rod. Making a new mold is an expensive proposition (my guess - $50K or more) so they could not reasonably do both. The end of the N1 neck also spelled doom for their 12-string, another casualty. Wish I had laid in a WS-3000 while it was still possible.