#1
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I Auditioned A New RainSong CO-WS1000N1 Yesterday
First of all, let me state I'm a long-time RainSong fan. Yesterday, my dealer just got in a new RainSong CO-WS1000N1 (Serial#20,079) and I was the first customer to audition it (later the dealer played it for me and I could listen from an audience position). For his asking price of $2499, let's just say what I heard didn't turn me on in the least! Having owned about a dozen RainSongs, some CO Series models but mainly Classic Series models, this new CO-WS1000N1 is the worst-sounding RainSong I've ever heard! It sounded rather dead and mellow without the nice bass-response my CO and Classic WS1000 models had. The best thing about this new CO-WS1000N1 is that its unidirectional top was the least sunken I've ever seen on a CO model and wouldn't cosmetically stop me from considering it as a purchase. The guitar's tone, however, is a non-starter for me. I'm enjoying my Emerald X20 Transparent Green and it'll be my only carbon guitar for a long time to come.
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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 |
#2
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Hey Sprucetop, interesting post. Why do you think this is?
This guitar in question is the worst sounding RainSong you've ever heard (and is prefixed with "CO"), while you've previously owned a "CO" that you enjoyed? I'm just confused at the statement and hoping you will elaborate a bit. Do you think it is the neck? RainSong themselves claim that one of the reasons for updating the neck is because the claim it enhanced the tone of the newer models. |
#3
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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; 01-23-2021 at 01:02 PM. |
#4
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You are talking about the "Smokey". I bet you those guitars do sound better without the terrible DR Black Beauty strings- LOL. I know they were going for a "look" but, come on man!
So your initial guitar was also sporting an N1 neck, that's interesting. Having never owned a RainSong with the original N1 neck, I can't qualify RainSong's claim about the N2/NS necks enhancing the tone of their newer offerings (never heard them side-by-side). That would be a good comparison for someone to post if they have both styles. I did have a Shorty and actually loved the tone once I found strings that really suited it well. However the NS neck was lukewarm for me; loved the scale but the profile not so much. Maybe you are just getting spoiled by the tone of the X20? |
#5
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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 |
#6
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Had I not been fortunate to play several Rainsongs prior to ordering my Shorty, I never would have bought mine either. The Elixir strings it was shipped with were dreadful. An in person audition would have had me running
Strings is the likely issue. |
#7
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Mine had been a B-stock. It had no blemishes though. I guess the person who returned the guitar did not know that a string change could have easily fixed their disappointment!
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Emerald X30 Emerald X20 Nylon Emerald X7 Nylon Rainsong Smokey SMH Outdoor Guitalele Taylor 522e 12-fret ✝ Gitane DG-560 nylon ✝ Alhambra 3C CW Eastman AR910CE Recording King RM-991 tricone resonator Recording King RK-G25 6-string banjo Thomann Irish Bouzouki M1089 |
#8
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Everyone is different - a week and a half ago I auditioned a nearly identically spec’d guitar (mine has the N2 neck) - and it blew away 2 of the 3 Nazareth made Martins I had at the time (I sold them both in less than 48 hours) - I love the mellow tone and trying to get more of a mellow tone is what I struggle with. In the store I was immediately struck by how thick the treble tone was. Upon getting it home, putting Martin phosphor bronze mediums on it and tuning to Eb, and I was really blown away. This is my first ever CF experience and I’m really impressed.
Oh and bass? This is the bass a Taylor GA should have! NCFGD coming up.
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Larrivees: SD-40R Moonwood, SD-40 All-Hog, SD-40, D-03 Eastmans: E2OM, PCH1-OM Yamahas: F310, FS820 (kid’s guitar) PRS SE P20E Parlor Martin Backpacker Last edited by boneuphtoner; 01-23-2021 at 09:44 PM. |
#9
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Rainsong does themselves zero favors by shipping with 80/20 strings.
Even Taylor finally figured it out and started used PB Elixirs a few years ago.
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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 |