Rainsong A-WS1000

The A in this model number stands for Advanced, which relates to the manufacturing technique used. I called Rainsong and heard from Jeane about how the older models were constructed with a lot of manual steps, while the newer "advanced" models had a much more automated manufacturing process. The advanced series only has a piezo with a Fishman preamp, whereas the older models come with an L.R. Baggs (a piezo/mic blender, I believe). However, the big difference for me was the neck profile. The advanced series feels like my beloeved strat plus, only completely rigid and invulnerable to environmental stresses. The other model, which I was told was the same for all other models, has a slightly square feel to the neck.

Being constructed totally of carbon graphite (no wood at all, anywhere) shows up in the sound. The sound response seems quicker or punchier than wood to me. Particularly in the mid registers, this thing just sings with a really cool attack. The highs are nice, too. I'm not completely happy with the bottom end, though. You can be playing around on the A string and just grooving, then the sound drops off fairly noticeably as soon as you go for that G note on the low E string. That's the biggest reservation I have with this guitar. As I recall, the lighter louder model didn't have this shortcoming.

This guitar is a lot quieter than almost any acoustic I've every played, but the sound is solid and tight in a way that very much makes up for it, in my opinion. I got complements on it just last night in a little unplugged session I found myself in, particularly when I strummed it pretty hard. Usually, strumming like that gets noisy and muddy on a louder guitar (say, my Martin jumbo), but it sounded good and tight on this Rainsong! I'd been playing it for several days and I still thought "Whoa! That sounded GOOD!".

The Fishman piezo is very nice once you EQ that so-called "quack" out (I usually go overboard with pulling mids out and modestly boosting the lows for warmth). Amplification is very clear and even on this guitar. I didn't feel that way about the LR Baggs on the other rainsong I was able to play. I play mostly a fingerstyle with a very light touch, and this things sounds really good amplified. I'm still playing it through my mixer and headphones, but I would imagine, particularly with a soundhole cover, I'm going to be able to get louder than I'm used to getting without having feedback or unwanted resonance issues on stage. I think this because it's response is so tight.

Back in the day, when I used to play with a rock band, I had a Takamine that was my favorite (of course, they were IT then) and I've been playing it ever since. Nowadays, after frustrating myself with finding another pickup system that I liked better for creating a warm and natural sound (Taylor's Expressions sytem, internal mic blenders, etc.), I'm coming to the conclusion that a well processed output from a good piezo can be almost that warm and natural, but with a brightness and clarity you just can't get elsewhere. I think I might just end my search with this Rainsong and this Fishman piezo system. I've even used this piezo output to support a signal from a good studio mic. Maybe I'm an old-school idiot, but piezos can be your best friend in a live situation if you process the signal well, particularly if you want clarity and definition. This Fishman is every bit as good as my ol' favorite Takamine with it's palethetic pickup system.

That's where this guitar shines! If you like a slim fast neck, you gotta try one of these A-WS1000 guitars. I fell in love, and everyone who's picked it up to try it agrees it's got KILLER action. The thinner neck seems to allow you to make barre chords with less effort which means I can play heavier strings longer, which is pretty cool to me. I'm still going to lower the nut a bit since they always come a bit high for my light playing style, but it's really nice right off the rack. The intonation is good -- better than any other acoustic I own. You also have the comfort of knowing that, wherever you set the action on this guitar, it's going to stay there because this bad boy is STABLE! I'm getting a kick out of not having to tune it much at all regardless of my dragging it around with me.

The guitar seems very well constructed (it's practically molded, anyway) and these advanced series have an opaque finish on them that I like better than the others with that transparent finish that shows the carbon fibers on the face of the guitar. Mine's black, but I've seen they also have red and blue, if that's what grabs you. I can't say I'm completely at ease with this guitar not being that "singing chunk o' wood" I've come to know acoustic guitars to be, but I'm quickly getting used to it. Full disclosure: I've never liked Ovation guitars, but I really like this Rainsong.

One small thing: I don't like the location of the top strap button. It's too far forward and it presses the guitar against your ribs when you play - and the guitar is a little heavy to allow that. I plan to drill another hole ASAP and resolve that problem. Then again, the slightly rounded edges of the one-piece molded back and sides makes it more comfortable against your body without being rounded so much that it won't stay put like those Ovations.

I can only imagine that this guitar is going to outlive me and still play like a dream long after I'm able to take advantage of it. I'm even envisioning the day when wooden guitars will be relics, thinking Rainsong has made the first dramatic step toward making a better product with man-made materials (remember, I never liked Ovations).

I can't help but like having the padded gig bag that came with it. I can strap it over my shoulder and toss it around without worrying about damaging anything inside or outside the bag. With all of the zippered pockets on this thing, it really simplifies the traveling-with-guitar-and-other-stuff ordeal. I wouldn't have thought this would have impressed me so much a couple of weeks ago, but it's really liberating! I could leave this thing out in the car on hot summer days or cold winter nights without worry. I probably won't even have to tune it, still!

I was very pleasantly surprised at how friendly and accommodating Jeane was when I called their 1-800 number to babble on (and I did) about my chances of getting one of their lighter, louder models with this neck profile (they don't make them, and they may never, in case you were wondering the same thing). She seemed genuinely interested in making sure I understood the answers to my questions, which were a bit convoluted the way I asked them, and was in no way dismissive or terse. I give them a 10 for this alone. Thanks again, Jeane.

As I put only an 9 on this overall rating, I'm thinking this will likely be somewhere between my favorite and only guitar going forward. It's just plays so nice and sounds so . . . clean and precise. The shortcomings as I see them are mostly based upon prejudices against a composite guitar -- I mean they're just supposed to be made from wood! Aren't they?

I'm looking forward to getting that Aphex 204 Aural Exciter with the Big Bottom feature in to see if I can get that low end to come out a bit more and finally get the last obvious bit of that piezo "quack" out of the mix. Having spent a lot of time looking for the perfect guitar for gigging in this duo I'm working on, I think this is probably it. I looked at a lot of stuff, so that's no small statement. If you're serious about playability, I think you owe it to yourself to at least try this advanced series Rainsong.