#46
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I'll take the tone of a Classic Series RainSong WS-1000 over the other available recipes in the WS model. This IS the sound of a carbon guitar! The Black Ice WS is nice too if a lightshow is desired.
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |
#47
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I don't have an "in", but I know the Opus model is going away. Makes good sense.
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John |
#48
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Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone. I've probably read every single Rainsong, Emerald, Blackbird and CA thread here on AGF, so I feel like I already kinda know all of you from your posts.
I don't know about all those new models (though I'm intrigued), but I'm definitely eager for more details about the redesigned 12th-fret X7. Quote:
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Good to know that the H-OM actually has great volume! Quote:
As I mentioned earlier, I live in Southeast Asia - Singapore, specifically. There's one Rainsong dealer, who has decent pricing. Another dealer has a Journey OF660 and Klos, but no full-sized composites. One used dealer has a pre-Peavey CA GXi that I want to try even though it's red (not low key enough for me) and pricey. And I even gave a Mcpherson dealer that I fear approaching, because even though I'm really curious about a Sable... I can't actually afford a Sable. It's great that some manufacturers now ship direct to consumers, so Emerald and Blackbird are options, but they'd be leaps of faith, and the Savoy is both on the small and pricey size for my needs and wallet. Quote:
I only recently discovered bevelled tops, and since I can't justify buying guitars often, I'd really like my next guitar to have bevelled edges and stainless steel frets if possible, so that it will be both comfortable and truly maintenance free. I've been an Ovation guy for... 24 years. I love the neck of my Ovation '94 Collector's Series, but have grown really irritated with the body sliding down my thigh, especially when I'm trying to play ("try" being the operative word here) some modern percussive pieces with tapped harmonics that don't allow me to grip the body securely. That and the fact that my (usually unwilling) audiences can hear me very well, but I can hardly hear myself play since the composite back hardly resonates. Quote:
Thanks, kramster! I do indeed want to go beyond musing, and get around to actually using. The GAS is real. General consensus seeks to be that the WS adds bass and/or richness but not much extra volume. Interesting, considering the big difference in body depth. I would have expected the WS to be way louder than the OM. |
#49
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Muser, did you play the CO-WS1000N2? Would love to hear your impression. Re volume on my H-OM, mine seems pretty loud. However when I was comparing in the store, I played one of their H-OM models and it was decidedly weaker than the WS models I played. When I got I played mine, seemed much louder than the one in the store. I don’t know why. Who knows, maybe one of the WS would sound even louder in my home? Or the one at the store had dull strings? Re beveled tips, while I’m ok without them, I have two guitars with them and love them. If that’s a factor, the X20 is great!
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--------------------------------------- 2013 Joel Stehr Dreadnought - Carpathian/Malaysian BW 2014 RainSong H-OM1000N2 2017 Rainsong BI-WS1000N2 2013 Chris Ensor Concert - Port Orford Cedar/Wenge 1980ish Takamine EF363 complete with irreplaceable memories A bunch of electrics (too many!!) |
#50
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When I auditioned the guitars, the Classic was the winner. Barely edged out the Black Ice. Just trying to an idea of where the CO falls in terms of warmth and clarity in comparison to both the H and the Classic. It might split the difference. I wish there was a graph that would show the expected tonal qualities of each model within each body shape. That would be very helpful.
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--------------------------------------- 2013 Joel Stehr Dreadnought - Carpathian/Malaysian BW 2014 RainSong H-OM1000N2 2017 Rainsong BI-WS1000N2 2013 Chris Ensor Concert - Port Orford Cedar/Wenge 1980ish Takamine EF363 complete with irreplaceable memories A bunch of electrics (too many!!) |
#51
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My bad, I just double-checked what my local Rainsong dealer had (past tense; they’ve since sold it) and it was a S-WS1000N2, not a CO-WS1000N2, and no, I didn’t play it. Darn, I was hoping to play it. I’ll have to be faster the next time their Rainsong stock comes in. The only Rainsong’s I’ve actually played is a Classic WS about 20 years ago at a dealer in Redwood City (can’t remember the name). I assume it had an N1 neck (no truss rod). I remember being impressed with the volume, sparkling clarity and immediate response. I wanted it but couldn’t afford it back then. Who am I kidding, I can’t really afford one now, though that might not stop me actually buying one. I’ve found that rooms can really affect one’s perception of volume. I have an old Fender F-1000 (aka Harmony H-929) parlour that seems perfectly loud in my home but is barely audible when I bring it to my brother’s house. Go figure. I’ve never owned any guitars with beveled edges but they just seem like a great ergonomic idea. |
#52
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I know on my CF guitars, that strings, whether old, new or a different brand can have a big effect on volume. Not sure that was the case here, but something to consider.
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John |
#53
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Thanks John. That is also what I think. My guitar has brand new strings, I have no idea how old they were on the OM I played at the store, or what brand. The acoustics of my den VS those of the store would have an impact.
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--------------------------------------- 2013 Joel Stehr Dreadnought - Carpathian/Malaysian BW 2014 RainSong H-OM1000N2 2017 Rainsong BI-WS1000N2 2013 Chris Ensor Concert - Port Orford Cedar/Wenge 1980ish Takamine EF363 complete with irreplaceable memories A bunch of electrics (too many!!) |
#54
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I tend to agree. for whatever reason, CF guitars tend to bring out some sonic differences between strings that I simply can't hear on wooden guitars.
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Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01 Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking Breedlove American Series C20/SR Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212 https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music |
#55
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#56
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*For whatever reason, most RainSong owners have either never noticed or won't admit to seeing the slight concaveness of the RainSong tops. Being a machinist/tool maker, my eye and curiosity tends to notice everything I find not quite right in a product with the way I would manufacture that product if it were my company. This doesn't mean the product isn't functional, it just means that from my perspective it isn't what I would strive for in delivering my product.
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 Last edited by SpruceTop; 05-27-2018 at 05:06 PM. |
#57
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Thanks for that suggestion. I have never noticed any kind of concave look to my H-OM, but will sure look!
Most likely I will end up with a Black Ice. There are more of those available and I can get a better deal on that one, making it less expensive than the Classic. As I said, when I played both, it was a toss-up as to which I preferred so if I can get a good deal, that’s the way I’ll go.
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--------------------------------------- 2013 Joel Stehr Dreadnought - Carpathian/Malaysian BW 2014 RainSong H-OM1000N2 2017 Rainsong BI-WS1000N2 2013 Chris Ensor Concert - Port Orford Cedar/Wenge 1980ish Takamine EF363 complete with irreplaceable memories A bunch of electrics (too many!!) |
#58
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The basic "architecture" of a RainSong makes this as unavoidable as the bulge behind the bridge of a scalloped top Martin (due to heavy braces scalloped at the bridge making that the weakest point). I think it contributes strongly to the tone and projection of their guitars. I've not played every CF guitar out there, but for the ones I've tried, only the RainSongs seem to be as loud as an equivalent sized best-in-class wood guitar. For those of us who have trained ourselves to look for early signs of trouble in a wooden X-braced guitar, we need some retraining to set expectations for different designs, and in particular CF which won't creep over time.
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jf45ir Free DIY Acoustic Guitar IR Generator .wav file, 30 seconds, pickup left, mic right, open position strumming best...send to direct email below I'll send you 100/0, 75/25, 50/50 & 0/100 IR/Bypass IRs IR Demo, read the description too: https://youtu.be/SELEE4yugjE My duo's website and my email... [email protected] Jon Fields Last edited by jonfields45; 05-28-2018 at 11:43 AM. |
#59
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I've found the concaveness to be there in the top of a RainSong even when strings are removed, especially in the CO unidirectional models. As you've mentioned, this concaveness is likely due to the RainSong braceless construction method. I'm not sure how he does it but Alistair of Emerald has mentioned that he imparts a slight convex shape to his Emerald tops. This is something I wish RainSong would try to incorporate in their build process. In comparison, I've noticed Composite Acoustic tops are usually very flat across the top.
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |
#60
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Funny, but when I first got my Emerald X7 I was concerned because of the visible bulge in the top in back of the bridge. About five years hence, it hasn’t moved and I’ve begun to realize that C.F. guitars can’t really be judged by the same standards as wood guitars. C.F. is a different material that responds differently than wood. FYI, my Rainsong’s top is perfectly flat. Perhaps the unidirectional top on mine responds differently than the other Rainsong construction? |