#1
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Taming some of the brightness on a Rainsong CH-OM
I recently bought a Rainsong CH-OM (and like it a lot). I am a strummer, and realize that some of the brightness is due to the materials and design. Based on advice on this subforum, I have changed to Retro strings, and that helps a little. I'm wondering if there are other things that might mellow it out more, especially in the treble strings.
Based on some looking around, I am considering swapping out the tusq saddle for a micarta one. I'm wondering if you think that would help, and have any other suggestions.
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Barry |
#2
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Hey Barry. Michael (McNichols fame) installed a bone saddle on the Shorty I had at the time. While the set-up really improved the playability, the tone was minorly less bright. Strings and the pick will make a difference, but that crispness that RS builds into that guitar will always be there.
I tried Retros (and others) on the Shorty, but felt they just didn't have the punch of the Elixirs I keep coming back to. |
#3
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In my experience, Rainsongs really reflect string changes more than woden gutiars.
I thought the stock 80/20 Elixirs were harsh and trebbly. Switched to D'Addario EXPs and thought they were too dark Switched back to Elixirs, but in Phosphor Bronze instead of 80/20. So, I recommend you keep trying different strings. Maybe some Martin Marquis. Those seem to suck the life out of everything.
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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 |
#4
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You're right about the picks making a big difference. I've tried Dunlop Primetone, Flow (also Ultex) and Nylon; Charmed Life brown and black; Goat Whiskey's new black pick, among others. I'm going to keep experimenting.
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Barry |
#5
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Barry |
#6
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Hi Pax,
I have a Shorty. The Elixirs were too bright for my taste. I really liked the Retros but, as a solo strummer, I felt they were lacking a certain punch I was looking for, and found the Martin SP phosphor bronze 12's my best match. Overall, the guitar responded to string changes for me more than anything else. Incidentally, I use a tortex 1.35 Brett |
#7
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RainSong's are bright. No way around that regardless of body style. Some have more of that inherent chimey CF tone more than others but the CH-OM/ Shorty are the best sounding RainSongs to my ears (I play fingerstyle so that body shape and short scale make lots of sense for dynamics and the "sweet spot").
I've tried Tusq, bone and MOP. The MOP is what is on my Shorty now but I think saddle material makes more of a difference in wood guitars than CF. On the other hand, string choice makes huge differences on CF- and from what I'm reading this is true across all makes and manufacture. I've tried about every string out there and if they didn't work after a couple days I would take them off the Shorty and put them on my even shorter scale Martin- so I wasn't afraid to spend some money and time on strings. IMHO it is hard to beat Retros, Martin PB SP Lifespans and GHS Bronze and Silk. Those where the best to my ear.
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Don't chase tone. Make tone. |
#8
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My CH parlor has a lot of power, tried a micarta saddle to mellow it - bass came on big time, as distracting in its way as the TUSQ had been in its. I tune quite low, so, if you're tuning at standard, the bass may not be as pervasive. Went to bone to limit the sonic excesses. I went from Polywebs to Thomastik KR116, a less bright string, but I can't say as to their durability with a pick and strumming.
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#9
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You are on the right track. It is just a case of experimenting to get what your ears consider "best tone". I've played with different string types and can confirm that CF guitars are more sensitive than wood to string type. I can also honestly say that I've never swapped out a saddle or nut on any guitar - unless it was worn and needed to be replaced. Then my inclination as to stay with the type it had originally.
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#10
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Give those Monel Retros at least a week to break in before you make a final decision. They're not my favorite (probably second), but they do sound good to me and are quite popular here.
My favorites are phosphor bronze Ernie Ball Paradigms, but the EXPs are good, too. Elixir phosphor bronze strings sound great, too, but I can't handle that first-week slipperiness. One type of string I love for cedar-topped guitars--Ernie Ball aluminum bronze--just sound too "jangly" on my RainSong. Not recommended (for CF). Good luck, man, and enjoy that guitar! I love mine. It plays my mistakes loud and in HD, but when I get in the groove, it's like the guitar can read my mind. P.S. Please let us know how it works out if you switch to Micarta. I've been thinking about going with bone. |
#11
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I'm thinking about trying nylon strings on my Lucky13. It's arguably not as bright as your guitar, but I've had a few sets of jangly/bluesy sounding strings and I want something a little more mellow for quiet finger picking and strumming. Nylons will probably be a bust for me, but curiosity, experimentation and thinking outside of the box are all traits that keep life interesting so I will likely try them sooner than later.
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Cheers, Tom PS If you don't want to invest in yourself, why should anyone else even bother to try? |
#12
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Thanks for chiming in, everyone (sorry, I've been accused of having a bizarre sense of humor). Lots to think about. So far...
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Barry |
#13
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Barry |
#14
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I hear no tonal differences. They were all thrown in to sweeten the deal when I bought the Shorty from now closed MacNicol G&M. The MOP is softer than the TUSQ and bone so I’ve found it to be inferior in that respect . Strings make the biggest impact on tone. If you seriously are considering nylon strings any of the steel string options with silk in them will that feel and mellow the tone. I really like GHS Bronze and Silk. Good luck
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Don't chase tone. Make tone. |
#15
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I currently use Hannabach goldins, which are fantastic strings. Quote:
I added some ebony pins to my previous CF acoustic, which I believe mellowed the tone a slight bit. Playing with saddles is something you can do, and something I did, but honestly didn't find that much difference between bone and tusq. Another thing you can try is going up a gauge on the trebles only (or maybe just the high E), if you think it is worth it. I tend to think that it's not worth it. Do you strum with a pick? Maybe try different picks?
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Christian Guitar: Camps Primera Negra A (a flamenco guitar) Strings: Aquila SugarAquila Rubino, Knobloch CX, Aquila Alchemia I play: Acoustic blues & folk Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/sirwhale28/videos |