Call me crazy but...NGD...Rainsong SMHX Hybrid

[llew]

Who knew a carbon fiber guitar could sound so good? I was absolutely amazed when I played my new SMHX that arrived a day early from Ted & Helene at LA Guitar Sales. (Thanks Ted for all your help!) Had a Pre-Peavey CA-GXi and never really bonded with it. With the SMHX it was immediate! Incredibly light, loud, and resonant. Setup was perfect for me right out of the box. Not overly fond of the DR black coated strings but that's easily enough changed. They're not horrible I just know it will sound even better with different strings. All this with no hot/cold/humidity issues...what a find! My wooden guitars are gonna be lonely for a while. And that says a lot! I will try to post up some pics shortly when I can manage to put this thing down long enough. Anyone considering a Smokey and on the fence...jump on it. The carbon/glass fiber hybrid is the ticket. And it's less expensive than the all carbon fiber model to boot?!? I know the honeymoon is just starting but I don't think my feelings about this one are gonna change.

[teleamp]

Congrats liew, RainSongs are great guitars. Pics?

[rosborn]

Just watched a video where one of these was played. Amazing sound!

I don't know, pretty much seems like the perfect guitar - no worries about proper humidity, no worries about leaving it in your car on a hot/cold day, no worries about getting caught in a rain storm with it out of its case, all that and it sounds great too!

Congratulations on a fine guitar!

[Glennwillow]

Hi Jim,

Congratulations!

I didn't know what a hybrid guitar was, so I did a little looking. It uses carbon fiber combined with some fiberglass to mellow out the more brittle tone of all carbon fiber. The Rainsong Smokey SMHX Hybrid is a 12-fret design and also includes the LR Baggs Anthem pickup system. I found some You Tube demonstrations of your model; it sounds quite good. Here is one with Al Pettaway...


- Glenn

[brencat]

Oh, no you didn't Jim...

Congrats!

[llew]

After the original Composite Acoustics I didn't think I'd ever own another carbon fiber guitar. And I'd played the occasional Rainsong when in larger cities visiting guitar stores and though...meh...same old same old. But this new Hybrid with carbon/glass fiber is the real deal. Combined with a short scale 12 fret cutaway (only reason I could ever see a need for a cutaway?) this thing is truly amazing. Both unplugged and plugged in. Not a huge fan of Baggs (or anyone's) UST's but combined with the Anthem (is that the same as the Lyric?) in a dual source it's pretty darned sweet. And I can't stand it when someone says "it plays like butter" but I have to say...well...it does?!? It's ridiculous really. I mean...I didn't think a CF guitar could sound and play this way. I am the non believer when it comes to the whole CF thing but this one guitar has turned me around. If you live near a Rainsong dealer and they have one in stock do yourself a favor and go check it out. I really didn't think I'd like it this much. Figured it would be a great outside/campfire/outdoor gig guitar (and it is!) but I'd play it along side and maybe before some of my high end wooden models. It's an oxymoron...a great sounding/playing CF guitar. Go see for yourself? And in total disclosure...I have no relationship to Rainsong what-so-ever. For those of you my age or there about..."try it...you'll like it"!

[TBman]

That sounds great, but Al can make a ball of string and a cardboard box sound good.

[llew]

So true...but even Al has his own LE Carbon/Glass Fiber Raison. (APLE) He's a believer too!

[TBman]

Originally Posted by llew

So true...but even Al has his own LE Carbon/Glass Fiber Raison. (APLE) He's a believer too!

It really sounded excellent. Enjoy it!