No personal experience here - but I would point out since both Rainsongs and CAs are made of carbon fiber and epoxy resin, the much touted lighness of Rainsongs vs CAs would suggest that Rainsongs have to be less robust than CAs.  Whether they are not robust enough is hard to say.  They certainly are as immune to humidity as any carbon guitar.  But whether they would survive being dropped from several feet unscathed - the way CAs have been seen to do - is another question.

They certainly aren't cardboard?  I think the weak link in any carbon guitar is the epoxy that hold the parts together.  That is if that is really a weak link?  I have seen lots of used rainsongs and though they may have some marks etc I have not seen one cracked.  CA's have more mass so I assum they would be tuffer but I would rather have a lighter guitar like rainsong that sounds like a CA.  I would think both are tuff enough.

Steve

I wouldn't call the epoxy the weak link, since the guitar is probably about 50% epoxy afterall.  The "weak link" for any of these is really more a function of just how they are "laid up" (to use boat building speak) in the construction process.  That is, how heavy the cloth and how many layers they choose to use in each location.  More layers will give more strength, but also be more expensive and may eventually muffle the tone.  So it's a real trade off in design.

Rainsongs are known for having a brighter tone and being lighter than CAs - both of which suggest that the Rainsong designers chose a lighter lay up for their instruments - at least the top.  It has also been pointed out previously that part of what makes CAs sound a bit more wood-like than Rainsongs is that CA adds (well, added....) braces to the tops to affect the tone, even though the braces are not actually required structurally.

I have really liked the couple of Rainsongs I have tried for their playability and tone, but I found the body shape and thickness to be kind of uncomfortable.  Also they don't have stainless frets, which is a bit of a disappointment.  On the other hand the new versions (N2) DO have a truss rod, which is a MAJOR plus.  I wish one of my local shops had one of their Js or Ds to give a try.

Hmm, first post in this new forum - almost clicked on "Flag as offensive" by accident, since it's where "Reply" should be for the OP.  Glad I didn't.

Anyway, I haven't owned a CA, but my RainSong JM1000 has endured some bumps that I'm sure would have damaged wooden guitars.  A few months ago the bottom side a few inches from the endpin smacked hard into the corner of a metal table (I was hurrying to turn around and didn't see the table).  I expected to see a finish ding, but I couldn't find anything.  I've never had anything hit the top however.  I have one small scratch on the edge of the fretboard, which doesn't have the same gloss finish as the body.  I'm pretty sure I can't dent or disfigure the top with my fingers or even fingernails.

My guess is that Emeralds would be the most durable structurally because of the one-piece body.  But the gloss finish of RainSongs is pretty durable.  I have a tiny finish chip on my Emerald X5 from a small collision with the metal shelf for a computer keyboard - a much milder impact than the one my RainSong experienced.

I'd sure like to know more about that RainSong JM1000, as I'm thinking I'd like to get one.  Right now I have two Cargos and one Legacy (which I play on stage).  Since I'm part of an acoustic country-bluegrass duo, I'd like a guitar with more power...

Preview	Attachment	Size
	Baptist.jpg	105.96 KB

I can't comment on Rainsong vs CA, Emerald or Blackbird, but I can assure you that Rainsongs are not fragile.  My WS-1000 dropped off of a patio chair (2 1/2 feet or so) on to a concrete patio and hit the corner above the strap hole.  It left a small scuff on the corner, but there was no separation or crack.  I took my wife's fingernail file and filed down the scuff a little until it was smooth. 

There have been many other times where I hit the top against a table corner or something that would've definitely left a ding in my D-28 without leaving a mark at all.  I've also played my Rainsong in a light rain a couple of times; something I'd never do with a wood guitar.

rickb

This one poster who claims fragility of the Rainsong top keeps getting cited in various areas.  So far no one else has ever had a problem.  I suspect something fishy.  At any rate--- I own a Rainsong AWS-1000, CA Ox, and Emerald X5.  None of these guitars are fragile.  Pushing on the top does no harm.  Don't worry about it.

I'm tired of seeing this one post getting so much credence in the face of unanimous contrary comments.

No offense.

I agree that the posts that denigrate the durability of RainSong guitars are suspect and it should also be noted--if I'm not mistaken--that these posts are several years old. Perhaps, there were some issues with some guitars early on but I'm on my fifth RainSong, a WS1000, and I've never had any durability issues with these guitars but, then again, I treat all my guitars, whether carbon or wood, with the same care with the only difference being that I don't have to humidify my RainSong. The actual finish on a RainSong can ding if hit with enough force just as any UV-cured polyester finish will ding whether on a wood or carbon guitar. I once accidently dropped a Fast Fret from about two-feet, after it slipped out of my fingers, onto one of the tops of one my RainSongs and it left a very small ding in the finish.

One of the main reasons RainSong guitars are very light is that the company uses a resin pre-impregnated carbon-fiber cloth for constructing the guitars. The "pre-preg" comes from a supplier and is very uniform and is kept refrigerated until used in the guitar's lay-up. Other companies use dry carbon-fiber cloth and slather and spread the resin on the dry carbon-fiber pieces during lay-up and then scrape or wipe away the excess resin. This tends to leave more resin weight in the guitar compared to RainSong's pre-preg process. Using pre-preg is more expensive and adds more cost to the finished guitar and is one of the reasons RainSong guitar are more expensive.

Regards,

RainDance

I've owned my WS-1000 about a year.  It is my "go to" guitar.  Even though I try to be careful with all my guitars - sadly I've bumped, whacked and smacked my Rainsong.  Amazingly, there are no dents or scratches.  It is a very tough guitar!

Yeah, you can never really tell with those Harmony Central reviews anyway.  People love to talk gib on there.  With forum posts, people will call you on BS pretty quick usually.  :)

I've been wondering myself if a WS1000 (or the new, less-expensive version) would be an analogue to a GX.  I'd like to try one sometime.  Probably won't, though, unless I find myself somewhere that sells them... far from here.