For what it's worth, I'd start with the Ox for several reasons. First, it is an inexpensive dip into a pretty nice piece of carbon fiber. Second, the guitar sells well on the used market--if you didn't like it or thought you could do better with something else, you could get most of your money back. That's one way to look at it.

Another way of looking at it is that you won't be happy until you've tried both (and I'd throw in the Blackird Super OM as yet a third choice). Rather than spend the time and money going through all three guitars, it would be cheaper to take a nice field trip to Michael's and play all three guitars--then you'd know.

Don't know if that helps. You have some nice choices ahead of you. Enjoy!

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your interest in CF Guitars. While I am not a CA expert by any means, I do know that the GX is an astounding sounding guitar. I will leave the GX/OX comparison questions to the CA owners on the forum.
I can perhaps help you out with the RainSong questions. The Studio and Hybrid series are made from a combination of glass and carbon fiber. The main difference between those 2 series' are the finishes (the Studio is a Fine Texture while the Hybrid is a High Gloss texture. The Hybrid series also comes with a hardshell case while the Studio has a gig bag). There is a difference in sound between these and their higher end series'- Classic, Concert, and Black Ice. The Studio and Hybrids, while having the projection and "punchiness", in my opinion don't have as much of the warmth and fullness that their higher end brothers have (others may chime in here to disagree). Also, of course, they don't have the shark fret markers nor the abalone rosette.
The Classic Series has been RainSong's main line for some time now and the WS1000 has been their bread and butter. Made of all carbon fiber with choice of the N1 neck (smaller, no truss rod) or the N2 neck (beefier with truss rod).
The Black Ice series is similar to the Classic except the top is made from different pieces of carbon fiber sheeting put together at different angles, creating a brilliant and beautiful effect. No 2 of these are quite the same. I have not had the chance to play a Black Ice, but I hear it sounds similar to the Classic.
The Concert Series (my favorite) has a top made of unidirectional carbon fiber sheeting which is lighter, looks more like wood grain, and is more responsive, creating a warmer tone, but still maintaining the RainSong sound.
All of these can be ordered in OM,WS, Dreadnought, and Jumbo styles.

There is also the new Shorty which is 12 frets to the OM body and has a unidirectional top on a Hybrid body. These do not have sharks or abalone rosette (though I have heard they can be special ordered) and are available in Fine Texture or High Gloss.

If you can afford it, I would definitely recommend one of the higher end lines for sound, not just for looks. You will be able to find many a thread on this forum extolling the virtues and sound of the Concert Series with the unidirectional top. The differences are definitely more than cosmetic.

However, in any case, if there is any way to try to play some of these to hear them on your own, you owe it to yourself to do so. You might check out some of MacNichols' Road Trips, a great and inexpensive way to try out a guitar for a week. If not, I would say an 8 hour trip to MacNichol's on your own would be well worth it.

If you ask my opinion, you can't go wrong with a RainSong from Studio to Concert series. But that is all it is, my opinion.

Good luck on you quest and I hope I have been able to help. Now it's time for the CA owners to chime in.

And, by the way, don't forget the third phenomenal American Made CF Guitar manufacturer - Blackbird Guitars made in San Francisco (I know, I just made it more complicated. ROAD TRIP!!!)

Hey Rich, do consider Blackbird, too. Their guitars are made in San Francisco.

I love my Rider, and others on this forum will testify to the excellent workmanship of the Blackbirds.

You need to play them, what I did was waited till I took a vacation and during the vacation, I went through Chicago and I had a chance to take a few hours and play them all. Both CA and Rainsong make excellent instruments, I own one of each but it will come done to intangibles that will only be experience when you put it in your hands. Example the neck are different.
Steve

My guess is the lower OX price was mostly a marketing decision. CA developed its raw finish on this model, which started out truly raw with some wax, later changed to a minimal flat black finishing of the back/sides/neck, and made available on all their models. The OX does have somewhat gentler curves which might make it cheaper to manufacture and more prone to slide out your leg when played seated (a little adhesive felt will fix this problem, if it bothers you). If you are interested in an OM sized guitar CA guitar, there is nothing about an OX that is compromised to hit the lower price point. Jon

both CA guitars are truly amazing. i really can't decide myself with one i prefer

main price difference is the finish (High Gloss on the GX and raw on the OX). the OX sounds really well balanced while the tone of the GX has more depth, while being more balanced.

if money really matters you, i'd say go for the OX without even blinking your eyes. you won't be disappointed at all (and you can resell it at almost the same price surely if it doesn't fit you)

i HIGHLY encourage you to visit the carbon fiber guitar nirvana at Macnichol. phone him to make sure that he will have guitars available at the shop because it is really hard to keep carbon fiber guitars in stock as they sell really quickly and there are long backorder lists. he has just now a GX and some rainsongs, but i am not sure about the OX. phone him asap!

One thing I would add is that if you are considering a CA in the RT (road tuff) or Rainsong in the FT (Fine Texture) finish to save some money, you really do need to try these first. They are both great for not showing marks or fingerprints, but I absolutely HATE how they sound when you brush against them. If your right hand pinky never touches the top, or if it stays planted in one place, then it's not problem. But if like me you brush your pinky across the top as you play the noise will drive you crazy.

I would agree. I'm not a fan of fine textures for that reason.

Listen to Gleneff--he's a Rainsong fanatic and knows his stuff. Steve, too, knows what he's talking about. And hey, you might want to take a look at the CA guitars MacNichol got from the MAMM show. Those are primo--those are the demonstration models and they are state of the art.

Hi and welcome... I toe dipped and never looked back...still have some "wood" around ...a nice novelty and all ....but play CFs all the time