Rainsong Original 1999 WS1000 Classic Reissue Review

[@georgeseaton4160]

Just an FYI: My WS-1000 was made in April 2000 and I bought it in May of that year. Mine has a blank headstock and the Rainsong logo on the 12th fret. According to Dave Coram at Rainsong, mine was among an early batch of WS1000s. The Rainsong logo was added to the headstock and the dueling sharks to the 12th fret, LATER than the batch like mine. The "1999 Reissue" is really a "Late 2000 Reissue!"

[@dcallan1]

That's a pleasing sounding RainSong. Well done Aaron!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks David. It’s a great guitar!

[@patsysmith8030]

Great video Aaron, love the sound of this guitar too.

[@sassycat]

I'll have to check these out.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks SC, happy new year!

[@davidbelcher2805]

Nice review Aaron.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you David!

[@kellyharrison1081]

Nice and balanced review! I ordered a RainSong Vintage Jumbo with Anthem pickup (your videos must be rubbing off on me). Dave, at RainSong, is nice to work with when ordering a guitar. When it gets here, I will let you know if it's louder than my Martin HD-28. I'm hoping it's a loud cannon and a little less trembly than the RainSong dreadnought I had a few years ago.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Congrats. That should be a loud guitar. I feel like the Black Ice would be louder but the Vintage guitars look really nice. Let us know!

[@kellyharrison1081]

Thanks, Aaron for all the work you do to keep your channel going. As far as the new RainSong, I have a different expectation that a RainSong is not a wood guitar. It is what it is. And at least it won't be a "case queen" that requires humidity packs (like you said).

[@falcongunner33]

Very cool guitar. Love the sound.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you. I’m very impressed with it!

[@jameshill2015]

Stainless frets? The guitar is not bright enough already? I love my RS Jumbo but even with the uni-directional top and jumbo body it's still quite bright! Stainless will likely increase the already rediculous sustain these guitars have.. it's a super constructed guitar, it's really a visual work of art, l find the intonation is perfect on the Jumbo, l think lm going to try Martin Ti cores which are surprisingly warm and do not stretch so tune up and there will be very very lil need to tune up as it will stay tuned for FAR longer than the phosphor strings you would normally use it being they do "break in", the ti's are actually nickle coated. I love them on my Martin HD28 and lm thinking they may well be the logical choice for my Jumbo. Thanks for your time and video!

[@markcarleton6647]

Great review Aaron! I’ve been very happy with my WS1000 reissue also. What gig bag are you using for yours? I’m using an Access Stage One small body gig bag for my OM guitars. The WS1000 barely fits in that gig bag.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I use my Mooradian bag for everything. Sadly they are now discontinued. Rainsong tell me the Access cases are good…

[@beejetay]

How do these handle drop tunings? I tuned my Martin 000-14 a full step down, and I needed to increase the string gauge from light to medium and adjust the truss rod to compensate for the lessened tension. I've heard these solid carbon fiber guitar necks do not move regardless of strings...

[@aaronshortmusic]

VERY well. Like you said they don’t move so the tuning doesn’t upset the other strings like on a wooden guitar.

[@beejetay]

@@aaronshortmusic I found a S-OM1000N2 at a local shop and tested the de-tuning. I swear it's some kind of witchcraft .. action/intonation/playability stayed the same from standard all the way down to a full step down. I noticed that one had the Fishman Prefix Plus-T pickup, which has tuner, bass, treble, and a SWEEPABLE mid & a notch filter ... Does the pickup in the 1999 re-issue have a sweepable mid?

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@beejetay It has a notch and a fixed mid control.

[@vt500ft]

Hi! Where is the string comparison you mentioned in this video?

[@aaronshortmusic]

I haven’t made that video yet but I am now using these strings on most of my guitars: sweetwater.sjv.io/rQ2Edy

[@StigPrice]

Saw these on insta! Love the inlays but I just can't get my head around carbon fibre instead of wood.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I think that’s probably the same for a lot of people but in time you will see (and hear) the benefits. It’s why I’ve made so many videos about these.

[@StigPrice]

@@aaronshortmusic I'm one of those who's a sucker for that typical martin tone. If martin can make one out of carbon that sounds like a martin. I'd probably be sold on it lol

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@StigPrice In the ‘blind’ test I did a couple of weeks ago the Martin was the least favorite…

[@jonberry2021]

Aaron will this be a gig guitar or a “stay at home” guitar? It seems like a good deal, but 2K is still a lot for most folks. I’m a bit jealous…You seem to have lots of fun money :) Good for you! Rock On!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Don’t be jealous Jon. I’m selling a guitar to pay for this one. As for a gig guitar it certainly could be. It sounds excellent unplugged and plugged (Anthem upgrade). I will probably use it for gigs where I will be playing outside. I am still enjoying the Cole Clark for my weekly shows.

[@jameshill2015]

It's a very bright tone from the factory, stainless would be far to bright for this guitar, it may be compensated by going with a bone saddle vs the factory Tusq which is also adding bright highs to the guitar.. l am about to put a Nubone Graph tech saddle in my CO JM 1000 to give it a more warm tone hopefully letting it be strummed firmer without the brittle tone. Great video .thanks. btw, go with the new Titanium Core Martin strings! Sure they are $40 a pack but so what? It's a $2k plus guitar..it's worth it! Very warm strings that work amazing on this guitar!!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks! I like Elixirs on this guitar and I don’t know if stainless frets add brightness for me. I have a Suhr with them and actually feel it’s a little on the dull side but that may just be the pickups.

[@bryanfishkind5857]

And...now that you are entering the carbon fiber rabbit hole, look forward to the folks at Emerald and McPherson sending you some stock for you to opine...

[@aaronshortmusic]

I wouldn’t say no but this guitar has set the standard for me.

[@markprunty8644]

why would you speak of bright in a guitar as negative.

[@aaronshortmusic]

It depends on the brightness. It can be good or bad.