Rainsong Jazz Archtop

This is a follow-up on my previous review; it seems that I am the only one who had the chance to get this rare Jazz Guitar!

Now this update is to tell you about the best Jazz sound you can get with it; I just sold my Mesa boogie, which was a little too trebly and mid for this Jazz guitar. Instead, I bought a Hot-rod Deluxe Fender and a Yamaha DG-80 2x10. I have to tell you that , surprising as it may be, the best sound has been achieved with te digital Yamaha. Very warm into the 10<s and not as boomy or bassy as with a 12. I tought about selling the guitar , but now, with this great amp, forget it!Into the Deluxe, it is great but it is not the perfect match.

This guitar was built in 1998; I contacted Rainsong in Hawaii and they said that only 30 were built. Everything is graphite , no wood at all. It is dark grey almost anthracite/black. It has F-holes and one EMG custom 91 pick-up and a Mike Christian Piezo bridge. Active electronic; I plan to go with passive as I was told that it sounds warmer.

This guitar sounds very good accoustically, which you don't expect from a graphite guitar. The sound is even with unbelievable sustain. No dead spot at all. I use an old caliber 22 Boogie (1986). I also tried it in a Fender deluxe and Blues Deville. The sound is full and is more on the bright side. I compared with wooden jazz guitar like es-175; the sound is brighter; it is closer to an amplified accoustic arch-top .

This is the strongest point. Perfect set-up and stays in tune. The finish is perfect and this guitar sure gets the attention. The action was too low but it did not buzz. I tried round wound strings and you get the real accoustic/electric sound because of the harmonic content and the volume. I use flat wound string now to have a meelower sound.

This thing will be found in the year 3500 and is indestructable. I was told by a chemist that graphite lives forever but not the glue that holds the layer of graphite together. Neither you or me will live long enough to see that.

At the time Rainsong had 800 line; very kind and responsive. I requested the procedure to refret a graphite guitar which they mailed to me. Excellent Thanks Jeane.

If this guitar were stolen, I would buy a L5 which is more elctric than accoustic. They don't make this model which was short live; at the time the retail price was $4899.00 US. Rainsong were awfully expensive; they revised them and also revised their manufacturing process to come up with more affordable guitars. Mine is very unique since it is an archtop, which is very hard to find.