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  #1  
Old 04-21-2021, 06:31 PM
DebbieE DebbieE is offline
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Default Rainsong Vintage vs Rainsong Black Ice and others..

I was wondering for those that have experience with the different Rainsong models what the tonal difference is between the vintage models with the spruce in the top vs the Black Ice and the concert series? I had a Rainsong WS a couple of years ago, it's the series they don't make anymore, and it had the shorter scale length. I really love the idea of having a carbon fiber guitar here in AZ where I live but I just found the model Rainsong I had lacking in tone compared to my wood guitars. I guess some of the tonal difference could because of the scale length but also it's because of the carbon fiber. Anyhow, I'm revisiting the idea of a carbon fiber guitar and the vintage model or black ice in a dreadnaught or WS size. What might get me closer to my wood guitar tone?

thanks,

Debbie
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Old 04-21-2021, 08:07 PM
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I love the tone of my Vintage dread but have been especially impressed with the tone of my CO Series OM and Jumbo 12-string...
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Last edited by RP; 04-22-2021 at 05:46 AM.
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Old 04-21-2021, 08:36 PM
rpmguitar rpmguitar is offline
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Hi Debbie,
Here's a comparison video I did with a Black Ice WS1000N2, a WS1000 classic, and a Breedlove Oregon Concert Myrtlewood. Maybe the most interesting thing about this video is how different the 2 similarly constructed Rainsongs sound because of the different strings. I am still really liking the Martin Retros on the Black Ice.
https://youtu.be/d623sSdJqFU
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Old 04-21-2021, 08:46 PM
boneuphtoner boneuphtoner is offline
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I have not personally done a true apples-to-apples of comparison of a RainSong (or any CF for that matter) with and without the veneer that didn’t have some confounding factor. I briefly owned a CO-WS guitar, and my only complaint about it was it seemed rather mid-forward in its EQ when played with my flesh only fingerstyle. My current Nashville jumbo nicely evened out the mids, and in my opinion, it is the most even sounding guitar I’ve ever played. The obvious difference which makes it difficult to form a conclusion here is that I compared a WS sized RainSong without the veneer to a jumbo with the veneer - perhaps the body size alone might have made the difference.

Emerald reports their veneers are so thin so as not to make a difference in the tone - I haven’t played one yet to compare with my plain carbon X30. But my plain carbon X30 is easily as dark and rich as my veneered RainSong. Moreover, Byudazi in his excellent X20 YouTube video reported he did perform an apples-to-apples comparison of 2 X30s and found no difference. An Alastair has said the same thing on record.
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Old 04-25-2021, 07:31 PM
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Reach out to Ted at L.A. Guitars. He's an authority on the Rainsong guitars including the Vintage series and as a dealer (and player) of Rainsong guitars he has an intimate knowledge of the tonal differences between the wood veneer, plain and Ice tops.

www.laguitarsales.com
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Old 04-28-2021, 03:24 AM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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I like the Classic Series RainSongs over any of the other series as to me it's the sound of carbon fiber with all the wonderful crystalline shimmer and fullness of tone. A Black Ice Series RainSong will sound about the same as a corresponding Classic Series model.
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Old 04-28-2021, 05:25 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Methos1979 View Post
Reach out to Ted at L.A. Guitars. He's an authority on the Rainsong guitars including the Vintage series and as a dealer (and player) of Rainsong guitars he has an intimate knowledge of the tonal differences between the wood veneer, plain and Ice tops.

www.laguitarsales.com
Agreed. I don't believe that there's anyone in the business today who has had his hands on more brands and models of carbon fiber guitars...
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Old 04-28-2021, 07:59 PM
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I still prefer my H series (OM) over every other RainSong model I played. I haven’t played the Vintage, however, but I have played most of the others.
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Old 04-28-2021, 08:07 PM
steelvibe steelvibe is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikealpine View Post
I still prefer my H series (OM) over every other RainSong model I played. I haven’t played the Vintage, however, but I have played most of the others.
just curious Mike, what kind of strings do you like to use on that guitar?
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Old 04-29-2021, 06:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by steelvibe View Post
just curious Mike, what kind of strings do you like to use on that guitar?
I know they are Elixirs, but can’t recall what kind. I haven’t changed them in a while. I think the nanoweb in the more purple package.
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