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  #46  
Old 07-13-2018, 02:47 PM
NoodleFingers NoodleFingers is offline
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Originally Posted by jonfields45 View Post
Similar to corrugated cardboard, Nomex honeycomb in a double topped wooden acoustic, or for that matter even an I-beam; to get maximum strength to weight, you separate the good stuff with a lighter spacer. RainSong's choice is proprietary. That line you see along the top perimeter and soundhole is where the spacer has been deleted and the inner and outer layers of CF are bonded directly together. They do this partly for acoustic reasons, similar to the relief route in a Taylor top, and partly for good design reasons (to prevent delamination and keep moisture out of the spacer).
Fascinating. I'd been wondering lately about the value of double-topping carbon fiber guitars, perhaps with an interior sheet of eKoa. How did you find this out?
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  #47  
Old 07-13-2018, 04:49 PM
jonfields45 jonfields45 is offline
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Originally Posted by NoodleFingers View Post
Fascinating. I'd been wondering lately about the value of double-topping carbon fiber guitars, perhaps with an interior sheet of eKoa. How did you find this out?
A career in semiconductor engineering for background and an inspection mirror. The spacer has got to be light and linen composite (eKoa) would probably not be a good choice. There have been a few damaged CF guitar photos over the years and the spacer material was white in the ones I saw.
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  #48  
Old 07-14-2018, 03:42 PM
DebbieE DebbieE is offline
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So Pax will you be sending your guitar back for a replacement?

I just received my Rainsong CH-WS, which has the shark inlay on the 12th fret, and it has some of the markings like yours but it's more like what a curly maple finish would look like on the top. It does have the lines all around the top where the edges attach to the body and around the sound hole. I can't decide if I'll be returning it to where I bought it or not.
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  #49  
Old 07-15-2018, 07:33 AM
jonfields45 jonfields45 is offline
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I bought one of the first Concert series dreadnoughts. RainSong has come a long way with uni fiber CF visual consistency since that guitar was made (it had streaks, loose fibers, and other imperfections). To my ear I like the Hybrid guitars better. All of the variation being discussed is cosmetic and a matter of personal taste. Nothing spoils a spruce top for me more than a bit of bear claw here and there.
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  #50  
Old 07-15-2018, 09:04 AM
Long Road Home Long Road Home is offline
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Originally Posted by DebbieE View Post
So Pax will you be sending your guitar back for a replacement?
I'm in the process of exchanging mine through the dealer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DebbieE View Post
I just received my Rainsong CH-WS, which has the shark inlay on the 12th fret, and it has some of the markings like yours but it's more like what a curly maple finish would look like on the top. It does have the lines all around the top where the edges attach to the body and around the sound hole. I can't decide if I'll be returning it to where I bought it or not.
I'm trying to visualize what that looks like. Could you please post a photo?
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  #51  
Old 07-15-2018, 09:08 AM
Long Road Home Long Road Home is offline
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Originally Posted by jonfields45 View Post
All of the variation being discussed is cosmetic and a matter of personal taste.
It's never been about anything other than personal taste for me. I like the sound of the CH-OM... a lot, even with the stock strings. This will be my acoustic stage guitar, and I like my guitars to look good under lights. It seems to me that guitar makers would also prefer that, since it might encourage others to take a look at their guitars.

My primary decision criteria are comfort/feel and sound/tone (I wouldn't buy any guitar based on looks alone, and I wouldn't buy one that was uncomfortable to play), but looks are enough to prevent me from buying one (call me shallow ).
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Last edited by Long Road Home; 07-15-2018 at 09:57 AM.
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  #52  
Old 07-15-2018, 12:30 PM
Captain Jim Captain Jim is offline
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I don't see that as shallow. Part of your stage presence is your look and the look of the guitar. What I am seeing with some of these photos is what I was concerned about with a lower price.

When Taylor made the decision to use streaked ebony on their fretboards, they explained why it was a good decision (environmental and business). It will be interesting to hear from RainSong regarding this change in the look of the top. I liked the look of the SG-FLE Shorty I had, although I wasn't crazy about "the line" where the top joined the sides. What I am seeing here would dissuade me from buying another.

The ekoa tops on Blackbird's offerings have "irregularities" in them, but it just looks like "grain;" no turn off at all. I'm not seeing this pocked-mark look from any of the other manufactures... understanding that they all have their own way of finishing. If this is RainSong's "new look" on their lower priced models, it is an interesting choice - not for me.
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  #53  
Old 07-15-2018, 12:55 PM
Braindead Braindead is offline
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If I ordered a Rainsong guitar and it arrived with a finish that looks like cold lava and a rim around the perimeter, there is NO way I would keep it!
Rainsong is not cheap. Why would anyone accept that level of quality?

No one would be happy after receiving an acoustic wooden guitar finished like a shipping pallet. Why should we give any carbon fiber guitar a pass?
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  #54  
Old 07-15-2018, 02:05 PM
AZLiberty AZLiberty is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DebbieE View Post
So Pax will you be sending your guitar back for a replacement?

I just received my Rainsong CH-WS, which has the shark inlay on the 12th fret, and it has some of the markings like yours but it's more like what a curly maple finish would look like on the top
I still haven't seen a picture of the CH with the shark at the 12-th fret.

(hint hint)
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  #55  
Old 07-15-2018, 02:56 PM
Long Road Home Long Road Home is offline
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Originally Posted by AZLiberty View Post
I still haven't seen a picture of the CH with the shark at the 12-th fret.

(hint hint)
Here's one from an expired Reverb listing (not mine).

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  #56  
Old 07-15-2018, 03:28 PM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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A Carbon-Fiber Stop Over-Analyzing Moment: Buy a Classic Series RainSong guitar and enjoy the tone of unadulterated carbon fiber. If not, buy an all-wood guitar and enjoy its tone.
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  #57  
Old 07-15-2018, 04:53 PM
AZLiberty AZLiberty is offline
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Originally Posted by pax238 View Post
Here's one from an expired Reverb listing (not mine).
Ohh, classy.
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  #58  
Old 07-15-2018, 06:44 PM
Long Road Home Long Road Home is offline
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Ohh, classy.
I agree, and it looks even better live (this from a guy who is pretty much a minimalist).
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  #59  
Old 07-15-2018, 08:30 PM
AZLiberty AZLiberty is offline
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My CH-PA is from an earlier batch:

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  #60  
Old 08-08-2018, 11:38 AM
Long Road Home Long Road Home is offline
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Smile UPDATE: Happy ending!

I thought that I would post a quick update about how this all turned out.

I worked with Dave at Rainsong and Cassie at Musicians Friend to exchange the guitar (both were completely committed to customer satisfaction, and two of the nicest people that I've dealt with in any companies), and my new CH-OM was delivered today. The fit and finish on this one are what I would expect from a top caliber CF guitar. Yes, some the underlying weave is visible under some light angles, but even then it is uniform and much more than acceptable, and the seams around the outside and the sound hole are smooth and pretty much invisible.

All's well. My thanks to my fellow AGFers who supported me and offered encouragement through this.

NGD to come after I get some Retro Monels on it and have a chance to play it a while.
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