" R A I N S "

Thomas Cepek · Post by **Thomas Cepek** » 24 Nov 2007 10:17 am

Hi all of you "Rains" players !

I want to order a new "Rains" and I´m not sure about the color and the pickups I want yet.

So I´ll please you to show me pics of your "Rains" and tell me your opinion about your choice of pickups.

Thanks and regards... Thomas

Bill Simmons · Post by **Bill Simmons** » 24 Nov 2007 1:21 pm

Hi Thomas...send me your private email to my personal email and I will send you a number of beautiful pictures for you to choose..

Bill Simmons simmonslw@aol.com

Regarding pickups, a lot of the Rains players use the BL 710 -- GL 10-1 -- PF-2 -- Tonealigner (Bob Hoffnar) -- Emmons single coils etc. Personally, I like the BL 710, Tonealigner and PF-2 pickups.
=====================================================
Bill Simmons
Rains Steel Guitar Rep
simmonslw@aol.com

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 24 Nov 2007 4:43 pm

You can't go wrong with basic black. I don't have a Rains but I sure do like those Tone Aligner pickups. I can tell you this, Gary Carpenter is a stand up guy and is building a very nice guitar. I got to spend some time with him a couple weeks ago and had a blast visiting with he and Corky Owens. Junior Knight happened to be there the same day, it was like old home day.

John Walden · Post by **John Walden** » 25 Nov 2007 5:50 am

Hi Thomas, basic black..... not quite. Thanks to Mark Guiles and Gary Carpenter, I got exactly what I wanted. And she now has a Tonealigner PU in her. I'm a happy man. Peace-out. J. W.

Tim Bridges · Post by **Tim Bridges** » 25 Nov 2007 6:35 am

Thomas,

I'm partial to single coils and had Gary & Corky install TT pu's; 20.5 kohm on the E9th and 21.5 kohms on the C6th. This axe growls! Regardless of the pu choice, I have been extremely happy with my Rains. Great guitars and people at Rains. I know at the Dallas show a few years back (Hal Rugg's last Dallas show), Paul Franklin, Jr. and Hal wore out a couple of Rains for about 1.5 hrs in the Rains booth. I also saw Paul Franklin, Sr. under the hood of the Rains talking to Gary and Bobby about their product. From what I hear, he was quite impressed. I would buy another one in a heart beat (if I needed it).

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Nov 2007 7:31 am

Mark Giles body with Jerry Wallace TruTones:

Bill Lowe · Post by **Bill Lowe** » 25 Nov 2007 7:55 am

Pecan

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 25 Nov 2007 8:23 am

Here is a couple pics. One is my mica D10. I'm not sure what the color is called. Maybe mahogany. The other steels are Mark Giles classic Fender sunburst that a friend of mine had made.

Thomas Cepek · Post by **Thomas Cepek** » 25 Nov 2007 11:27 am

Hi all of you !

Wowwww... thank you much for your replies, pics and opinions.

Okay, I´ll take all of them and everyone with another pickup in it

That makes my decision not easier

Will send some of you a personal e-mail the next days.

Warmest regards to all of you... Thomas

Bill Simmons · Post by **Bill Simmons** » 25 Nov 2007 2:35 pm

Hi Thomas...incredible steel guitars that Gary Carpenter makes! I feel they sound and play equally as they look!

Did you get the emails I sent with pictures of the different Rains finishes and colors OK? Let me know and I will send more...

By the way, check out Bob's Tonealigner pickups...great pickups. http://www.bobhoffnar.net/index.html
.....................................................
Rains Steel Guitar Rep
817.929.8063 simmonslw@aol.com

Randall Palmore · Post by **Randall Palmore** » 25 Nov 2007 3:15 pm

Thomas- I have played a D10, 8&8, for over 3 years now. It can be seen on the Rains site, it is a Black beauty equipped with E66 pickups on both necks with the multi colored raindrop fretboard. I use a touch of delay (DD3) and about any Peavey steel amp. A great steel guitar with super tone! Call Gary, for incredible service!

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 25 Nov 2007 8:16 pm

I've had a Rains (D-10, 9/8, Black of course) since July of this year.
Bottom line -
"The search is over for me. I finally found what I have been looking for." For me - I use an amp, volume pedal and my guitar and have had more compliments on the tone of this guitar than any other that I have played. People are so surprised to note, there are no effects or gadgets needed to get "that tone". The guitar has the often sought after "tone to the bone". My opinion only! When I'm ready to order another guitar, it will be another Rains.
Gary Carpenter - "walks his talk and talks his walk!" He has a lifetime customer here.

John Buffington, Pres. Oklahoma Steel Guitar Association.

Junior Knight · Post by **Junior Knight** » 26 Nov 2007 5:19 am

I have owned and played many guitars in my muscial life..but now...like JB...I have found what I have been searching for! I have had my Gibson 335 since 1964...now my Black Rains will be beside it till the end! I know...you have heard me say that before...all I can say is..like John Buffington said...the search is over! Hey John,where did you get your Rains from? LOL!!!!!!!

Dave Goodman · Post by **Dave Goodman** » 26 Nov 2007 8:42 am

For Bill Simmons.
I see metal and wood necks, so do you think that makes much difference as to what pick up does better according to which type of neck is on the guitar?

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 26 Nov 2007 10:13 am

Dave,
I have been checking out both wood and steel necks on the Rains. They have a slightly different sound but I don't think you would need a different pickup to compensate for anything. If you like how an E66 (or whatever pickup) sounds it will work fine and have just about the same effect on either type neck. The best playing, sounding and looking Rains I have played is the D10 wood with the Fender burst finish in the picture I posted. I have a wood one on order now and I will use the same pickups I like on my mica Rains. I like the Tonaligners I make wound around 17.9 K for the Rains.

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 26 Nov 2007 10:59 am

JK - one day not too long ago, July, I think it was, I got "Rained On" by a Texas Super Picker, have been the same since, he,he, he!!!!!

JB

Thomas Cepek · Post by **Thomas Cepek** » 27 Nov 2007 3:53 am

Hi and thank´s a lot for your additional replies and opinons about your "Rains".

I visited Mr. Carpenter during my Texas trip in june this year and there I fell in love with those steels. And Mr. Carpenter was such a great, friendly and hospitality guy. He let me play his personal "Rains" and played for me. That was great.

I think, there are only satisfied "Rains" owners outside ?!?!

Mr. Junior Knight, when I saw you in june in the Red River club you played a Mullen. Could you send me a pic of your new Rains. Would be nice.

Mr. Johnny Cox, I saw you play your "MSA" at "Pearls" in Fort Worth this year. It was great. Thanks for your opinion about those "Rains" steels.

Warmest regards... Thomas

Gary Steele · Post by **Gary Steele** » 27 Nov 2007 4:24 pm

What is the difference in the Tone Alighner pickup and the 10-1 GEO-L My 10-1 sounds fantastic.
Your opinion,
Thanks, Gary.

Ward Skinner · Post by **Ward Skinner** » 1 Jan 2008 8:03 pm

Thomas, did you ever make a decision on a Rains? E 66s on mine. Sounds great, plays great, and easy on the eyes.

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 1 Jan 2008 8:29 pm

Thomas, Don't forget, the Rains comes with a whole bunch of super licks built right into it! Just go on youtube and listen to David Hartley.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 1 Jan 2008 9:12 pm

bob h....do you make the tonealigner pickups yourself? do you use them on your own steels? does that david h. use them?

Marlin Gengenbach · Post by **Marlin Gengenbach** » 1 Jan 2008 11:56 pm

I sure do like my Rains...best I have ever owned. Also have my ear tuned to the E66. Gary is one super person and builds one heck of a guitar.

Junior Knight · Post by **Junior Knight** » 2 Jan 2008 6:17 am

Here is mine...

Ernie Pollock · Post by **Ernie Pollock** » 2 Jan 2008 6:46 am

Does Rains make a 12 string universal model??

Ernie Pollock

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 2 Jan 2008 6:50 am

Gary makes a very good bar too. I still play a Mullen, but I play it with a Carp bar sometimes. I've been thinking about a Rains sd-10, I wonder how the weight of those are.
Hey Junior, you keep a Mustang in your studio?

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