The new Al Petteway Model has been announced

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Rainsong just announced the new "Special Edition" Al Petteway model, the APSE.

http://www.rainsong.com/shorty/alpetteway.html

https://www.facebook.com/RainSongGui...3567794026721/

[Methos1979]

Not surprised at all. The APLE was a fantastic guitar! Any idea what street prices are going to be?

[ukejon]

Mmmmmmmmm.......nice!

[ac]

With no gloss anywhere, I would thinkg the price might be . . . $300 less?

[PeteCady]

I'm confused. I thought they just started making an "Al Pettaway" model, then discontinued it quite quickly. Are they reviving it already, or am I caught in a time warp?

[Earl49]

My guess is that the APLE (limited edition) was a test run, and it turned out to be a real winner. Now we get the SE special edition as a regular production guitar. I have no problem with that. There was already some chatter around here about missing out on the Limited's during their run.

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Originally Posted by Methos1979

Not surprised at all. The APLE was a fantastic guitar! Any idea what street prices are going to be?

It really was one of the most popular LTD's Rainsong had. As to price, I actually had to email Dave for it, $2599 MAP

[MCDEMO1]

Nice looking guitar with a lot of cool features. Wish it had wider string spacing at the saddle.

I really wanted to like the APLE model, but to my ears it sounds quacky - no matter who played it on YouTube. Unfortunately I have not had a chance to ever play any Rainsong or carbon fiber guitar. Maybe they sound better in hand.

The recorded tones from the larger bodied CO models sound best to me.

EDIT: I thought the YouTube clip above was one I had seen before of the APLE, but it is of the new APSE.
Sounds much better, if still a little compressed. Maybe it is just a better recording.

Mark

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by MCDEMO1

Nice looking guitar with a lot of cool features. Wish it had wider string spacing at the saddle.

I really wanted to like this model, but to my ears it sounds quacky - no matter who plays it on YouTube. Unfortunately I have not had a chance to ever play any Rainsong or carbon fiber guitar. Maybe they sound better in hand.

The recorded tones from the larger bodied CO models sound best to me.

Mark

I've read a lot of descriptions of sounds of guitars, I have to say Quacky is a new one for me...I listened again because I thought it sounded really nice. What do you mean by quacky?

[steelvibe]

Keep in mind that when Al records these videos he plays the guitar 3 different ways both the original Fishman Premium Blend on the APLE or the LR Baggs StagePro Anthem found on the new APSE

1 acoustic with the external mic only (the truest sound of the guitar without electronics)

2 the pickup from the UST only

3 the internal mic blended in with the UST

Nothing should be "quacky" except maybe number 2.

[J.R. Rogers]

Thanks, Ted. I really liked the previous gloss version but this one looks and sounds pretty good! Glad to see them continuing to evolve this configuration.

JR

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Originally Posted by J.R. Rogers

Thanks, Ted. I really liked the previous gloss version but this one looks and sounds pretty good! Glad to see them continuing to evolve this configuration.

JR

Just got our first one, and while tonally it is very similar to the gloss model recently discontinued, perhaps a bit warmer, the finish is nothing like any of the satin finishes on other models. It is a very attractive, high quality satin finish over the tobacco burst, so attractive in fact that folks will no doubt be asking me if they can have it on other models.

I will post some pictures tomorrow.

[AsianGuy]

@Ted - Am I correct to say that one can order "custom" Rainsongs through you? Other than finishes, what can one request? I assume anything body or neck dimension wise is off limits since these things are molded, but what about minor things like bridge spacing?

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Originally Posted by AsianGuy

@Ted - Am I correct to say that one can order "custom" Rainsongs through you? Other than finishes, what can one request? I assume anything body or neck dimension wise is off limits since these things are molded, but what about minor things like bridge spacing?

Rainsong does not offer custom services, so no string spacing changes, but most of the features can be combined to produce a non cataloged model. For instance you can order a Shorty without electronics, in tobacco burst, and you can order any model with a 12-fret NS neck. You cannot have the satin finish on anything but the Smokey, Shorty, or Parlor, and you definitely cannot have the new satin burst on anything but the Al Petteway model. Speaking of which, here are some pictures of the new APSE.

[jdinco]

And there's only certain models you can get the shark inlays on...dang it!