Raines 7-String Nylon

I just got his master7 classical. It's all solid wood-cedar top and rosewood back and sides. Looks like a nice french polish finish. Nice gold/wood tuners.

This guitar isn't nearly as loud as others I've owned but it's my 1st 7 string. I can only describe the sound as beautiful. Maybe it's the fatter neck,I don't know. But the note's have a roundness that is just gorgeous. And the tone/projection is even on all strings. I was worried about the 7th string being too dull but it's not.

everything on this guitar is immaculately done. the binding is flawless. I even took a mirror to the inside and it's clean-no glue anywhere. The tuners are nice,great thin finish. the action was good,but too high for me. But I still give it a 10 since I like my action 'too low'.

I haven't performed yet-need to get used to the extra string. But I'm sure it will be fine. It is solidly built.

I searched the internet for months looking for a 7 str classical. I spoke to every builder and store I found. I was not too inhibited by cost but was trying not to spend over $3500 if possible. After a few emails and a tele conversation I knew this was the guitar for me. Matt took the time to answer my questions and even recommended some other builders to check out. But his specs seemed to fit my needs-and the cost was 1/3 of my other choice, which would have taken 18 months.

I play mostly Brazilian music with a taste of jazz. This guitar is a perfect fit. I hope someday he makes them with a pickup. I will buy another even if this is not stolen. I would change the strings and use very high tension-for the best sound.

Basic cutaway nylon with cheap tuners, cheap pickup (w/ equalizer), etc. Comes with awful strings that must be changed immediately. The top is solid spruce with laminate rosewood back and sides. It has all the features and parts, but they really are bad.

The sound is the problem. Sounds thin and "papery". Balance is awful. This may be cured by adjusting the guage of the seventh string. I don't think the back of this guitar was properly engineered for seven string. Seems to have the frequency response of a six-string. Sounds like a cheap student guitar.

The fit and finish of this guitar is that of a cheap Chinese-made, mass-produced instrument. The pickup wire is even stabilized with a "sticky foam strip." There is too much glue on the seams. The frets don't feel good.

The hardware is cheap, especially the tuners.

Did not respond to my questions on eBay. Sold me a case with the guitar that didn't really fit.

I have been playing for 30 years, have music degrees (in classical guitar performance), have played professionally, etc. I would not buy this guitar again. Basically, it was helpful to me in deciding if I was interested in 7-string. When I found out I was, I quickly bought a different instrument because the tone of this guitar is not good. It's a good "first" instrument if you don't want to invest in a decent guitar, but anyone that plays halfway decently will get frustrated. I understand that Raines sometimes sells better instruments with the same designation, so my comments only apply to mine, which is the Chinese-made, laminated sides and back. Also, if I was going to get this guitar, I would only buy one used for cheap, because that way I could sell it quickly after I decided whether 7-string was for me. On the other hand, it is inexpensive, and a good starter instrument. In all fairness to Raines, I am used to playing an expensive concert instrument costing more than 20 times as much as this guitar. However, I also have played $700 Japanese 6 strings that blow this guitar away.

7 String USA mad-looks nice-plays nicer. NIce case and extra strings which is very convenient. Cutaway with piezo. Spruce top and rosewood.

I love this guitar. I was bervous about the passive electronics as they are low output. These are no exception but better than most. The sound is very natural. I will use an EQ pedal though;the same one I use with my old Martin.

Classicals are supposed to have higher action than most guitars and this one didn't. But the tone does not suffer at all. I am able to play all of my chord melody and single lines effortlessly. Plus the neck is to die for.

This is very light and beautiful but also feels rock solid. I wouldn't drop it or bumb it since the woods are carved so thin to achieve great tone.

This is my 2nd guitar from Matt. I traded in his older import for this-or "towards" this rather. It was ok but rather dull acoustically. I think I prefer those active pickups though. BUt they do add a lot of weight. So I paid a bit of $$ and got A MUCH BETTER us MADE BEAUTY-NO COMPLAINTS HERE.

After 35+ years of playing, the hop to 7 string was a blessing. So many more options. I like this guitar and will most like buy a few more different models over the next year or so. I'm not a pro but know my way around the instrument. I just wish it had a built in EQ.

VERY POORLY MADE. I was so surprised!! Must be made by amateur luthier or something. I guess these solid wood materials are pretty good though, the construction itself... oh... just a headache. The way they put the machine head was: just mounting the regular machine head for 6-string and THEN, they ADDED PIECE OF CUT MACHINE HEAD ON IT. It's just IMPOSSIBLE... The nut is unfinished, I guess, and mounted on an unstable position. There is even a small space between the nut and the fingerboard. Glues for the frets are still on the fingerboard and never wiped or sanded out- looks AWFUL!!

The sound itself is actually pretty good. But the higher register is little weaker- hey it's a FLAMENCO!! Has to have a gorgeous high frequency!!

I just don't like this feeling of lacquer finish... And it's got a few rough finish areas on the top. It's just so pitty, though, it's got pretty good woods. They put the 6th string(046 or something) on the 7th string(should be 056) position so kind of feels strange... Or they were just out of the 7th string???

It doesn't have a truss-rod. Matt said it's not necessary though, it's just so scarely!! Plus the hardwares are so cheap and not sure how long they can stay there.

Well, I would give 2 because he "was" nice BEFORE I paid. He turned to a irresponsible and rude guy once I paid. I sent him tons of emails, but he only replyed once for 3 emails with only one sentence. It's so FRUSTRATING!! I actually sent him an email for exchange or refund but haven't gotten a reply. Oh, plus the packaging was VERY poor even though I asked him TWICE to pack it well.

Again this guitar is VERY CHEAP!! SO DO NOT BUY THIS GUITAR. Just go for Giannini handmade series for $500 less. He took my $1400 and sent me a real CRAP. Hope I can get any refund or discount on it.

I give this guitar a 9 for features because of the price. Solid woods, beautiful inlay and great electronics-albeit that I've never heard of the brand of piezo-xph ( but who cares?). I play mostly jazz and this thing transformed my gigs. We now incorporate more latin stuff-bossas, and my singer loves the warmth. Plus I like that Matt is a musician and is offering a great guitar-impossible to find-at such a nice price.

The sound is great but it needed new strings. Matt warned me that for some reason the maker uses really cheap strings. He should probably restring them as the Labellas he sent me added a whole new dimension to the sound. PLus, who wants to buy a guitar and restring it? BUt I can't complain-even direct recording into my pro tools sounded stellar!!!!

Again-the string thing bothered me a bit, but the set up was nice and low. Great intonation. The 7th string gets a hair sharp on higher frets-but so does my Ibanez universe. There were a few frets which felt a bit rough on the neck but Matt explained it is due to shrinkage of the wood-and my tech agreed. A quick file and things were fine.

I'm a bit nervous w/the solid woods and the Florida humidity-but all seems good! I got a model with no truss rod, but maybe should have taken his advice and had the truss model. We'll see!!!! He didn't include a case which scared me-but he packaged it quite well.

Matt was really cool with me so far. He gave me a free set of strings and I bought one-at a good price ($12).They make a huge dofference-which is why I keep saying it. He wasn't as helpful finding a case, but I managed :) He even offered me a great deal on a steel string so maybe you'll see a review of that when I get the bread.

I've been playing for about 14 years-mostly jazz. I play a Universe, Brian Moore and an American Archtop 7 string. This guitar would definitely be replaced if stolen-no doubt. I haven't played many classicals, but try to find another 7 string for $1000!!

I had been playing a converted 6 string for about 3 years and it never felt right. I saw one of Matt's guitars on Ebay but it was damaged. He set me up with a new one at a great price. All i can say is WOW! The set up was great. The fretwork was ok, and the neck took some getting used to since it is spaced like a standard classical-with 7 strings! But the tone is just buttery and warm.Very nice electric system built in too.

The sound is wonderful! It sounds very good unplugged but really shines through my PA system.

The guitar is beautiful. The frets wer good and played great, but a few of them seemed a bit scuffed. The woods are gorgeous!

hmmmmm. I don't know but I'm being very careful with it!

I don't know if Matt makes these or what, but he's been great. I had a problem with strings and he sent me a great set for free. I haven't had a problem yet so we'll see!

Overall I'm tickled friggin pink. I've been playing 7 string for about 4 years. I have an Ibanez Prestige, Ibanez acoustic and now this Raines classical. I play a bit of everything. Now I need a hollowbody 7 string!