Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on March 17, 2011 at 3:25pm

They call carbon fiber the Achilles of product design, without even catching the flaw in the reference. Almost makes me wish I had my hands on one of these things, just to find out what the HEEL of this Achilles is.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on March 18, 2011 at 4:08am

I haven't played one myself, but we had a thread on 'em on the Acoustic Guitar Forum, and all the owners thought highly of them.   Immune to humidity and weather, as you'd imagine.  

 

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Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on March 18, 2011 at 6:10am

Harmony Central's reviews by owners were also very favorable.

Don

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Permalink Reply by colin mcgrath on March 18, 2011 at 8:52am

I also have not played one before. It seems to be along the same lines as a non-skin drum head. To me the depth of the Djembe comes from the dead animal skin stretched over the top. Of course the elements are a major factor (which I learned 1st hand), and yes a talented player will make the synthetic head a non-issue. To me however, the feel, strength, and sound are gone, that goes along with this too.

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Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on March 18, 2011 at 9:50am

Colin, I agree with where you are coming from, carbon fiber will never "improve" in tone as a wood guitar would, but that's not it's selling point. It's designer was shooting for a loud small bodied travel guitar. Folks that can afford one most likely also have a nice organic wood guitar in their stable.

Don

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Permalink Reply by David L. on March 18, 2011 at 10:22am

There are several clips on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5us27IhfHU

Personal choice I know but to me it sure looks ugly. Sounds good though. I guess in all these promotional clips they will all be excellent players who could make an elastic band sound good.

 I discovered last year when I got to play a £2,500 guitar - I have the ability to make a £2,500 guitar sound as bad as a £20 cigar box guitar - personal favourite at present is an ebay specal at £4- a 3/4 size classical. I think I'll stick to that unless these carbon fibre ones turn up on ebay for £4 as well.

 

David 

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Permalink Reply by Ben on March 18, 2011 at 6:35pm

So I was killing a bit of time the other day and stopped by my local GC when I realized I hadn't played a 6-string guitar in standard tuning in recent memory. While it was not this travel version (which I remember being reviewed along with other travel guitars in Acoustic Guitar), I did pick up one of the Rainsong Carbons. It lacked the rich overtones of a soft-top (like spruce) but had a similar sound to an all mahogany box (please note that I would still choose the mahogany). Not too bad all around and a great neck. I had a lot of fun there that day.

 

Rainsong Specs

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on March 18, 2011 at 8:33pm

There will always be a market for this sort of thing...people with more money than is good for them...so why not take if off them? It's a marketing strategy that works for some companies, and the guitar market has lots of potential customers to sell this sort of thing to, people who are more interested in the guitar rather than the music.

Yes it's a great little hi-tec guitar but it costs a lot of money for something to take on holiday. If I had that much spare money I'd book myself a nice holiday and take a $20 ukulele to while away a few hours under the palm trees.

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Permalink Reply by colin mcgrath on March 19, 2011 at 6:52pm

I know that was the selling point, it is just a mute point to me. I am not equipped with a mind that can wrap around that price tag for a guitar. Small or not, carbon f. or not. Even full electrics w/bells and whistles I have a hard time with. But, that is part of capitalism.

Don Thompson said:

Colin, I agree with where you are coming from, carbon fiber will never "improve" in tone as a wood guitar would, but that's not it's selling point. It's designer was shooting for a loud small bodied travel guitar. Folks that can afford one most likely also have a nice organic wood guitar in their stable.

Don

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on March 20, 2011 at 1:36am

I believe the company Rainsong has been making carbon fiber (graphite) guitars for years now. http://www.rainsong.com/

I've never played one. Although by my experience, I have found I cannot judge any guitar without actually playing it. If it really plays well and has superior tone, $1600 is not that outrageous. Enjoy.

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Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on March 20, 2011 at 8:52am

Rainsong makes an acoustic/electric dreadnought version, with a $3,295.00 selling price...although its usually marked down.

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Permalink Reply by Ben on March 20, 2011 at 6:51pm

You're right about $1600 not being that outrageous. I've often thought that guitarists are way too spoiled by a low price-point on professional quality instruments. As a trumpet player, my main horn lists for about $2000 and I picked it up at $1300 about 12 years ago. Trumpets are CHEAP compared to other pro-level instruments. I was playing my friend's viola the other day...$7000 axe with a $3000 bow...of course she didn't tell me that until AFTER I handed it back to her. I work with the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra and in all of our orchestras we have 7 harpists (tuning nightmare) with harps ranging from $15,000 - $42,000 (I know because I had to do insurance paperwork on them)...and a harp will literally pull itself apart in 20 years. And just for the record, I've played the Rainsongs at all of their price-points and find VERY little difference between them other than the carbon patterns.  

Keni Lee Burgess said:

I believe the company Rainsong has been making carbon fiber (graphite) guitars for years now. http://www.rainsong.com/

I've never played one. Although by my experience, I have found I cannot judge any guitar without actually playing it. If it really plays well and has superior tone, $1600 is not that outrageous. Enjoy.

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