Which "No Wood" guitar is better ? Rainsong or CA Guitars ?

gerardo1000 · #1 07-29-2003, 08:59 AM

Have you played both ?
Which is better ? I was told that Rainsong have better trebles, like
bells, while AC is more mellow and perhaps more similar to a wooden guitar.
I read articles that "compare" Rainsong guitars to Taylors (more
middle range tones) and CA to Martins (more basses and mellow trebles).
I play mostly fingerpicking and sometimes flatpicking.
Thanks for your opinion.

flatpicknut · #2 07-29-2003, 09:11 AM

I've played quite a few Rainsongs. One I hated--some weird frequencies going on in the mid-treble range. The others were all quite satisfactory, especially when factoring in the near bullet-proof durability of the guitar.

I haven't gotten my hands on a CA Guitar, but then the company is still expanding distribution. (Elderly is a good source, if worse comes to worst.) The Flatpicking Guitar Magazine and players on the Flatpick-L list seem to be highly impressed with the CA Guitar product. More than one flatpicker placed an order for one of the guitars immediately after trying a friend's guitar. Price is a little better than the Rainsongs, too.

The main difference between the two companies seems to be that Rainsong extolls the pure sound of the graphite, while CA Guitars sandwiches materials between the graphite layers to try to emulate wood.

Personally, I would love to have either the jumbo Rainsong or any of the CA Guitars models as a tough, durable, go-anywhere, any temperature, any humidity guitar.

(FYI, I have an HD-28 as my primary guitar, and I mainly flatpick.)

TheStugots · #3 07-29-2003, 09:41 AM

Check this out. Its courtsey of Little Brother.
http://littlebrother.nlpd.com/NAMM/caguitars.htm

brooster · #4 07-29-2003, 10:13 AM

I played both at the summer NAMM. I thought the CA was woodier. Not bad.

gerardo1000 · #5 07-29-2003, 10:38 AM

Thanks everybody.
I have a question for Booster: you played bot Rainsong and CA AT NAMM.
WHICH IS THE BEST FOR FINGERPICKING ?

JasonA · #6 07-29-2003, 11:44 AM

The Rainsongs have string spacing that is much too tight for fingerpicking, IMO. I owned an OM1000 for a while but sold it due to that fact.

I have high hopes for the new CA 'X' guitar, but it's not going to be available until 2004.

bradley dr20 · #7 07-29-2003, 11:47 AM

But did you look at those headtocks? They look like the Seagull HS. That's one huge turn-off for me.

flatpicknut · #8 07-29-2003, 02:32 PM

Quote:

The Rainsongs have string spacing that is much too tight for fingerpicking, IMO. I owned an OM1000 for a while but sold it due to that fact.

Rainsong's web site says that the neck width is 1-3/4", even for the OM. Isn't that pretty standard for "fingerpicking" guitars? (I personally prefer 1-11/16", but don't mind the wider neck too much)

flatpicknut · #9 07-29-2003, 02:48 PM

I just double-checked the CA Guitars site; they use 1-11/16" on their guitars. So, if you prefer fingerpicking on 1-3/4", you might be better off with the Rainsongs.

brooster · #10 07-29-2003, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gerardo1000
Thanks everybody.
I have a question for Booster: you played bot Rainsong and CA AT NAMM.
WHICH IS THE BEST FOR FINGERPICKING ?

Avalon Legacy! (formerly know as Lowden)

I would say the CA.

LittleBrother · #11 08-03-2003, 08:40 AM

I loved the Rainsong Parlor size and otherwise some excitement. But when I played all the CA models I was downright blown away. It was like the difference in dating girl next door .vs. super model. The CAs seemed far ahead IMO in width of the product line, features, tone and even the construction seemed cleaner inside and out. Just my opinion. I will take a closer look over and over as time goes by. CA actually made me reconsider composites. Now I would love a blues gig guitar made like that. I was REALLY taken by the baritone CA and the acoustic bass CA. WOW. I also thought the CA dread sounded as good as many many wooden dreads. Dont sell your wooden guitar though. These are nice to own as well.

JasonA · #12 08-03-2003, 10:51 AM

I said string spacing, not nut width. As in, the string spacing at the bridge on a Taylor is 2-3/16", which I find usable but a bit narrow. It's 2-1/4" to 2-3/8" on Martin OMs. I don't know what it is on Rainsongs, but it's narrower than a Taylor.

I wouldn't consider a 1-11/16" nut width either. The CA X guitar has 1-3/4". I have high hopes for it, but we'll see next year when it is released!