Author Topic: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars  (Read 2470 times)

jdrnd

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Hi,
I live in New Hampshire.
I have heard Rainsong guitars being compared to Taylor guitars.
Does anybody have any insights?
2008 Taylor 814CE
2005 Takamine TF341DLX
2006 Hamer Artist Korina
1966 Fender Mustang

Strumming Fool

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Re: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2015, 07:14:43 AM »
I've played a few...they sound great, and they play well. I personally think they could improve the aesthetics, but they are legitimate instruments.
My Taylor Grand Auditoriums:

1997 Cujo14 - old growth cedar/black walnut
2014 K24e - master grade koa
2018 Custom GA - bear claw sitka spruce/mahogany
2019 614 - torrified sitka spruce/flamed maple
2020 714 - lutz spruce/rosewood

Earl

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Re: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2015, 10:15:21 AM »
I am such a big fan that if the house ever caught fire - assuming the kitties and wife escaped safely - the only guitar I would carry out when I left would be the Rainsong and maybe her CA Cargo.  The rest of the list would have to take their chances.  The WS-1000 plays like butter, sounds nice and loud (but admittedly different from wood guitars) and then there is the whole "no longer have to humidify" thing.  So put me in the +1 column.

I happen to like the aesthetics.  Clear coat showing the carbon weave is cool to see.  Having been scuba diving with sharks in Hawaii and abalone diving in California, I like the sharks on the fretboard and the abalone rosette too.  But I understand that may not be the scheme that everyone would choose.
Taylors:  424-LTD (all koa) and a 114ce that lives with friends in Alaska.  Low maintenance carbon fiber guitars are my "thing" these days, but I will always keep the koa 424.  Several ukulele and bass guitars too. 
*Gone but not forgotten:  a 2001 414ce, 410, 354-LTD twelve string, 314-N, 416-LTD baritone, T5 Classic, 615ce, 2006 GS-K, 1996 (first year) Baby

jdrnd

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Re: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2015, 02:30:51 PM »
I haven't been able to find a store that has it in stock so I haven't been able to play one.

I was thinking of taking a risk and ordering  a Black Ice WS1000N2 on line.
my wife thinks I should play one before ordering.  She points out that I have no reason to own yet another guitar.

Seeing the long lists of guitars that UTGF members own, I feel impoverished.
2008 Taylor 814CE
2005 Takamine TF341DLX
2006 Hamer Artist Korina
1966 Fender Mustang

Earl

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Re: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2015, 07:16:16 PM »
Not many stores keep Rainsong guitars in stock, which is a shame.  I was already very interested, and happened to be passing through and stopped into Elderly music in Lansing, MI several years ago and got to try several.  (I found them to be remarkably consistent from one to another, BTW).  It would help to know roughly where you are.  Elderly has a pretty good return policy if you don't happen to like it, but you'll have to pay the shipping.

There are basically three options these days:  black ice (random patchwork pattern of CF), the regular CF weave pattern, and the Concert Series with Uni-directional CF fabric (which reportedly has a warmer more woody tone).   www.rainsong.com/models

Quote
Seeing the long lists of guitars that UTGF members own, I feel impoverished
If you really want to feel impoverished, just try to keep up with this group of GAS-aholics.    8)   
Hi, my name is Earl, and I have GAS.....
Taylors:  424-LTD (all koa) and a 114ce that lives with friends in Alaska.  Low maintenance carbon fiber guitars are my "thing" these days, but I will always keep the koa 424.  Several ukulele and bass guitars too. 
*Gone but not forgotten:  a 2001 414ce, 410, 354-LTD twelve string, 314-N, 416-LTD baritone, T5 Classic, 615ce, 2006 GS-K, 1996 (first year) Baby

jdrnd

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Re: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2015, 08:33:48 PM »
I would like to compare a black ice to the concert series.
I have checked many stores in the New Hampshire/Massachusetts area.
They can get these guitars, but none are in stock.


2008 Taylor 814CE
2005 Takamine TF341DLX
2006 Hamer Artist Korina
1966 Fender Mustang

jdrnd

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Re: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars
« Reply #6 on: April 23, 2015, 08:42:25 PM »
You are going to laugh, but when I bought the 814CE I was comparing it to a comparable Martin... 5 years later I can't remember what model Martin it wasI thought the Taylor sounded better.  Maybe "better" is the wrong word.  They each sounded different, but I preferred the sound of the 814CE. I thought the Martin had a bland sound.  Despite this, I tend to play my Takamine, its Mahogany body and spruce top is louder than the Taylor... So maybe I would prefer the black ice?
2008 Taylor 814CE
2005 Takamine TF341DLX
2006 Hamer Artist Korina
1966 Fender Mustang

Jersey tuning

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Re: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars
« Reply #7 on: May 05, 2015, 11:29:54 PM »
NH isn't the same since the Old Man fell.  He wouldn't have condoned a carbon fiber guitar.

Seriously, I know an accomplished violinist who loves her carbon fiber fiddle.
CURRENTLY PLAYING

'30 Martin 2-17 solid Mahogany
'97 Tacoma PK-30 Sitka/koa
'99 Alhambra 11C classical cedar/EIR
'05 TAYLOR 614ce 
'07 Breedlove Atlas 12-string Sitka/Mahogany
'10 Froggy Bottom "C" Adi/Brazilian   
'11 TAYLOR BTO GC 12-fret sinker/EIR.  
'14 Alvarez Baritone Sitka/Mahogany
'18 Cordoba hybrid Flamenco Euro Spruce/Ziricote
'23 M. Colbert Baritone Alaskan Sitka/Black Limba multiscale with Manzer wedge

milo_otis

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Re: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars
« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2015, 11:40:11 PM »
I'm a huge fan of Rainsong's offerings regarding tone and aesthetics. The tone is clean and chimey with great note separation. If you haven't looked in Worcester, MA check out Union Music. They have a fine selection of Rainsongs from Black Ice to the Concert Series to the Studio and the Hybrids.

Frettingflyer

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Re: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars
« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2015, 12:21:13 PM »
Thanks Milo,
I am also in NH and am somewhat curious about Rainsong so I will go there someday(not soon though) to check them out. GAS is in remission for now.
Dave
2014 Koa GS Mini-e FLTD (for the wife)
2004 314ce,
2014 custom GC Coco/Euro spruce
2015 Wildwood 812ce 12 fret
2016 522ce 12 fret
2019 K24ce BE
2021 322e
2017 Blackbird Lucky 13
2019 Mcpherson Sable

dcasey1

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Re: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars
« Reply #10 on: July 01, 2015, 12:53:03 AM »
I played one for the first time the other day, surprisingly good, much warmer than I envisioned.
Taylor 512ce 12 fret mahog/Cedar 2015
Taylor 714-BRZ Brazilian/Cedar 1997
Taylor 812ce 12 fret EIR/Sitka 2014
Taylor 916ce EIR/Sitka 2012
R. Taylor Style 1 Coco/Swiss Alpine Spruce 2006
Huss and Dalton 00-SP 12 fret EIR/Engelmann 2013
Huss and Dalton TOM-R EIR/Sitka 2013
Bourgeois CB Adi/Mahog 2008

jdrnd

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Re: Hello and what does anybody think of Rainsong carbon fiber guitars
« Reply #11 on: July 01, 2015, 07:39:31 AM »
what model was it?
2008 Taylor 814CE
2005 Takamine TF341DLX
2006 Hamer Artist Korina
1966 Fender Mustang