#1
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Rainsong 12 strings are back!!!
LA Guitars just announced the following:
The RainSong Graphite Guitars 12-Strings are back baby! And for those who prefer the older low profile N1 necks, they are back as well. For those who missed there JM3000.. you can now get a NEW one.... every exciting!!! Looks like you can get in BOTH N1 or N2 neck and all the new styles.... https://www.facebook.com/LA-Guitar-Sales-191341065790 |
#2
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That's great news for people wanting a carbon 12 string!
I've been lucky enough to own a few Rainsong 12's over the years as well as one of the elusive Composite Acoustics 12 strings. They were all great guitars but I will say for me the Emerald 12 string was the cream of the crop. At least people will now have a choice and possibly be able to play one in a shop once they start showing up.
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Emerald X20 Cocobolo Woody Emerald X20 Opus 6 String Baritone Iris ND-200 Hand Painted By Sarah Ryan Iris Smeck Slope Shoulder Dread Iris AB Model Many Takamine Pro series Godin A8 Mandolin |
#3
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Both items are great news. Many people like the original N1 neck better than N2, even though it did not have a truss rod. The twelve strings (-3000 models) went away entirely when they changed the lay-up process and went with the N2 neck about five years (?) past.
I waited a long time, but finally went for a custom X20-12 about two years ago. So I'm set for twelve string guitars for this lifetime. But I wish Rainsong well. |
#4
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Cool! I'm not a 12-string guy but do wonder if the N1 could be had in a short scale, like an NS1? I'm guessing it depends demand, but the 12 fret design initially came from Ted's prodding and it turned out to be a success for RainSong.
Last edited by steelvibe; 07-23-2020 at 09:48 AM. |
#5
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Oh drat. Just when I thought I'd reached my quotient of carbon fiber guitars. However, if it's only available as a Nashville model, I'd guess that the list price is going to be at least $4,000 considering that Nashville Jumbo six-strings list at $3499....
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Emerald X20 Emerald X20-12 Martin D18 Martin 000-15sm |
#6
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Yeah, an RS vintage twelve string likely won't be cheap. And they probably cannot do custom scale lengths like Emerald did for mine (24.6" for easy playability). You might be able to do an NS1 in shorter scale like steelvibe suggested. I like that shorter scale so much that I ordered its six string twin in 24.6" scale -- still being built. While I can play 25.5" just fine, shorter is easier for the more intricate fingerstyle playing that I often do. Someone will have to discuss the options with Ted and report back.
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#7
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I also saw that the N1 and 12-string necks are back in production, very exciting news!
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#8
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I've constantly regretted letting mine go, and they haven't really been available for love or money on the used market.
I'm very excited about this. Even better, I've spent the intervening years approaching the 12-string using ideas from Michel Gentils and Ted Greene. (Greene wasn't using a 12-string, but has lots of work on broken scales combined with harmonics to get harp arpeggios on a normal 6-string.) Now I'll again be able to take out a 12-string which laughs at weather concerns. Yay! |
#9
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The N1 12-string neck is very thin. Much thinner than my Taylor or Larrivee.
The new G7 compensated capo won't even close enough to work on that neck. A proper neck on a Rainsong 12, and back in production? This is very exciting news.
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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 |
#10
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Now, if RainSong were to also offer an N1.5 Neck option on all their models I'd likely be in heaven.
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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 |
#11
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Second that!
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#12
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Not only do I prefer the comfort of a 24.9" scale (or somewhere around there), I think it makes for a better sounding RS guitar. The unidirectional top paired with the shorter scale makes for a sweet sounding RS and I found that to be true for both fingerstyle and strumming.
Having said that, I just heard back from Dave at RS and he has confirmed that the N1 is not being offered in a short scale Below is the exchange Hello Sean, Thank you for contacting us. The N1 neck was only available in the 14 fret, 25.4" scale and we're using the original mold so unfortunately there won't be a 12 fret option. We don't get many requests for the N1 neck but since we were able to come up with a way to use the 12 string neck mold, which used the same process as the N1 neck, we decided to make it available as an option. I'm sorry that's not the answer you were looking for. Kind regards, Dave Last edited by steelvibe; 07-24-2020 at 12:21 PM. |
#13
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Quote:
__________________
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 |
#14
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I know that we don't have much information about Rainsong's new 12-string yet, but I've got to wonder if it will unwittingly help sell Emerald 12-string guitars...
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Emerald X20 Emerald X20-12 Martin D18 Martin 000-15sm |
#15
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I just got back an e-mail from Dave,
Yes, they are reusing the old 12-String mold. No, there will not be an N2 12-string neck No, there will not be a truss rod. I did send another e-mail asking if they could put the 12-string neck on the OM body though.
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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 |