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Author
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Topic: Any opinions of the "Rains" Guitar?
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Rick Garrett
Member From: Tyler, Texas
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posted 02 May 2005 04:20 AM
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I've had some suggestions that I check out the Rains Steel guitar and I was wondering how many forumites are playing one and what their opinions might be? ThanksRick |
Scott Henderson
Member From: Eldon, Missouri, USA
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posted 02 May 2005 07:25 AM
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I played around on one last week. I was happy with the level of "squeeze" on the pedals. I don't care for flimsey pedal. it had good acion and the tone is great. They are very comparable to a Zum or Mullen which, I think, is the market they need to target.Good solid guitar with a competitive price.------------------
Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com |
Jerry Roller
Member From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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posted 02 May 2005 07:44 AM
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I too tried one out in Siloam Springs last week end and I loved the "Spirit Model", it had beautiful "Dove" fretboard markers. It felt and sounded great. The "Spirit" model is on my wishlist.
Jerry |
Morton Kellas
Member From: Chazy, NY, USA 12921
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posted 02 May 2005 08:00 AM
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I looked them over at the Texas show. They seem to be well constructed and have a good fit and finish. What I did not like,although they may have corrected it by now, were the pedal and knee lever stops. A philps head bolt was being used for a stop,which may be OK, but the head of the bolt was being used as the stop. There was no room to get a screwdriver between the head of the screw and the knee lever. It may be just me, but I like an allen screw with a locknut with easy access. The guitars played well and did have a good sound. They are also great people to speak with.[This message was edited by Morton Kellas on 02 May 2005 at 08:01 AM.] |
Rick Garrett
Member From: Tyler, Texas
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posted 02 May 2005 08:15 AM
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Thanks guys! That spirit model is what I have my eye on. I'll also try to find out if their pedal/knee stop design is fixed. I like a guitar thats easy to work on too. I've heard that they really have a special tone. I love the doves on the neck and front.Rick [This message was edited by Rick Garrett on 02 May 2005 at 08:39 AM.]
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Bill Simmons
Member From: Keller, Texas, USA
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posted 02 May 2005 10:16 AM
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I have a beautiful sounding and playing RAINS SD-10 4+5 "Gospel" model (The Spirit!) that is a killer for tone and playability. (Yes, I still love my '79 Zum and yes, I still believe everyone is making a great steel!)I chose a single coil (17,800 ohm) pickup and it was recently compared side by side to one of the ultimate and classic brands noted for its tone and it was right in the ballpark. My Rains has a clear, sweet tone with great full sounding low end...great tone. Bobby Rains and Gary Carpenter were so open and excited when I asked about producing a Gospel model (The Spirit!). The fret board has a sharp looking 'dove' for fret symbols and on the front. I'm very excited about the Gospel model in addition to the RAINS 'Ultimate' series. The Rains website is being updated...in the meantime, I'd be happy to send some pictures of my Rains "Gospel Model" -- The Spirit! -- or of their "Ultimate" series. By the way, Gary Carpenter has my Rain playing so smooth and it is very quiet regarding the knee levers clicking or pedal slop...check them out or email me for more information. [This message was edited by Bill Simmons on 02 May 2005 at 10:21 AM.] |
Bob Tuttle
Member From: San Angelo, Tx, USA
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posted 02 May 2005 10:34 AM
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Hi Rick,
I've had my Rains SD-10 since last November,and it is, without a doubt, the best sounding guitar I've ever played in my 55 years of playing steel guitar. The sustain is unbelievable.I've never had a problem with the knee lever stops. The stops are very solid and positive. If you need to adjust the travel, just loosen the lock nut, turn the screw with your fingers, and retighten the nut. You won't need a screwdriver. I like mine so well, that I just ordered a new D-10. Whether you're talking about steel guitars or any other product, everyone has their favorite brands. It would be a pretty boring world if everyone liked the same thing. But, in my opinion, you can't go wrong with a Rains. |
Adrienne Clasky
Member From: Florida, USA
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posted 02 May 2005 10:34 AM
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Now you have me curious--though I'd planned to save for a Carter. How much does a Rains cost? Thanks! |
Rick Garrett
Member From: Tyler, Texas
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posted 02 May 2005 11:22 AM
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I just spoke with Mr. Rains this morning and the one I'm looking at is an SD 10 blue birds eye laminate (if they can get it) with 4 pedals and 5 knee levers. I really like the looks of those Doves!!  Thanks for the imput Bill and Bobby! I appreciate the pics too Bill. Great looking guitar. Rick |
Bill Simmons
Member From: Keller, Texas, USA
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posted 02 May 2005 12:20 PM
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Thanks Rick! Glad you checked out the Rains...the blue mica sample I saw at Gary Capenter's was very sharp...Bill |
Fred Justice
Member From: Globe Arizona, Copper Capital Of The World
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posted 02 May 2005 06:46 PM
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Rick,im realy glad I sent you that e-mail about the Rains Steel Guitar.
It looks like your in good hands there in Texas.
The Rains Steel Guitar is a fast growing family of steel players that is growing every week.You won't go wrong with one of their Steel Guitars.------------------
Fred Justice
Rains Steel Guitars
[This message was edited by Fred Justice on 02 May 2005 at 07:45 PM.]
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Ken Higgins
Member From: Weatherford, Texas, USA
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posted 03 May 2005 04:47 AM
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Great guitars...... |
Randall Palmore
Member From: Albany,TX USA 76430
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posted 03 May 2005 04:34 PM
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Rick-I'm happy to report that I took delivery on a new Rains D10 about 3 weeks ago and so far, I couldn't be happier! This is a beautiful shiny black guitar that plays and sounds terrific(in my opinion). Even though the principals of this new steel guitar building company have been friends for mine for many years and I personally observed the developement of the Rains from the beginning, I was somewhat apprehensive at first to make a purchase. I thought "Why would Bobby get in the arena with the great builders of today!" I've always known that he was perfectionist on pushpull setups,a great player of many guitars, etc.I also have known James Foster(who was initially involved) to be a master craftsman,player and knitpicker of any steel guitar! And finally, you put Gary in the mix who I believe to be one of the most talented humans that I know of either making music, working on a guitar or remodeling a house or anything else and BAM! you have one outstanding instrument!Bobby has taken all the features of all the different guitars that I have owned and kind of wrapped them up into one guitar! I've only played a couple jobs with our regular group,but I'm pretty sure I turned their heads with the TONE. There are so many great guitars being built today,but right now I'm a Rains guy. I like the colored rain drop fretboard! Bobby, Gary and the Rains Gang-as my kids say-Awesome!RP [This message was edited by Randall Palmore on 03 May 2005 at 05:46 PM.] [This message was edited by Randall Palmore on 03 May 2005 at 05:48 PM.] |
Larry Toliver
Member From: Merkel, Texas, USA
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posted 03 May 2005 11:09 PM
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Hey, I have to put my 2 cents in also. I have had my Rains Double 10 with 9 pedals and 8 knees for 15 months now. The tone is absolutely the best I have been able to emit from a guitar. It stays in tune, and plays like soft butter! (to me that'excellent) I onw the 3rd guitar Bobby made, and it's staying in my possession. You won't regret it if you get one! Bobby is a long time friend who knows what he is talking about in reference to steels, and Gary Carpenter is Top Notch in playing and probably even more so at the building end. He impresses me!
They are here to stay!
Good Luck in your choosing.
Larry Toliver |
Charlie Shifflett
Member From: Colorado City, Texas, USA
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posted 05 May 2005 09:03 AM
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Hi all you steelers
I played a rains steel two or three times an
man that a great guitar I play a emmons p/p
a great guitar but that rains cought my eye
and my next guitar. you can't find a better guitar.
Charlie |
GARYPHILLIPS
Member From: SOMERSET, OHIO ,PERRY
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posted 05 May 2005 06:40 PM
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hey Guys, I have a new red D-10 Rains coming next week, I'm building the cases for the Rains Steels, I think this is a great steel also,------------------
Gary Phillips
JUST-N-CASE PLUS
D-10 8/5 Desert Rose Steel Guitar
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John Cook
Member From: Sarasota, Florida, USA
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posted 05 May 2005 07:48 PM
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Can anybody please post pix of the Spirit model? They don't show it on their website. thanx jc------------------
Derby D10
Fender Steel King |
Fred Justice
Member From: Globe Arizona, Copper Capital Of The World
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posted 06 May 2005 06:04 AM
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John,the Spirit model is on the website under Players Guitars,I think its the first one up.
Also,drum-roll please*************************
"Russ Hicks" will be playing his new Rains Spirit model this weekend at the Gospel Steel Guitar Show in Indy,a shinny black SD-10,go gettem Russ.  ------------------
Fred Justice
Rains Steel Guitars
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Fred Justice
Member From: Globe Arizona, Copper Capital Of The World
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posted 06 May 2005 06:19 AM
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up please |
John Cook
Member From: Sarasota, Florida, USA
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posted 06 May 2005 08:13 AM
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Thanks Fred. jc |
Roger Crawford
Member From: Locust Grove, GA USA
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posted 06 May 2005 10:41 AM
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Fred,
Russ told me a few weeks back he was considering a Rains. I'd like to check yours out in Chattanooga. See you there.
Roger |
Doyle Mitchell
Member From: Loraine,Texas 79532
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posted 06 May 2005 12:10 PM
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I have the third guitar Rains built. I got it one year ago . I love the way it sounds and plays but foremost of all I love the way it stays in tune! What a pleasure to sit down and play without having to tune every few songs. Also a great convience for me that Rains is only a few miles from me if I should have any kind of problem down the line. I thought this would be the last guitar I would need to buy before retiring but they are coming up with so many more styles and such that I may have to have another........ probably followed closely by a divorce....... others out there probably understand where I am coming from!!! Last week we did some recording for Claude Gray's upcoming TV show in Dallas, Boo Miller was playing steel, he has a truly great sounding Mullens, there are many great guitars out there, I think it is a personal preference, but the Rains has everything I am looking for in a steel. Theres only one way to find out if its right for you, take one for a test drive...... Happy hunting!! |
Chris Schlotzhauer
Member From: Colleyville, Tx. USA
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posted 06 May 2005 05:40 PM
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Doyle, what show with Claude are you talking about? |
Klaus Caprani
Member From: Copenhagen, Denmark
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posted 07 May 2005 04:08 AM
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I wonder where our Dutch friend Cor is? Didn't he just got a Rains?------------------
Klaus Caprani MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com
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Doyle Mitchell
Member From: Loraine,Texas 79532
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posted 07 May 2005 07:11 AM
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Chris, Claude is working on a TV show that he hopes to have ready to go by Sept. I believe it will be called "Claude Gray's music USA". They shot some footage in Dallas last week. Lets hope he can get this going his way because he will bring true country music back to the airways with the steel shinning like a diamond. He had some Ft. Worth and Dallas musicians there that played our music like it was meant to be played. He came to see us Thursday and stayed over and sang on a little Opry show we do here in Colorado City twice a month and we made plans to film one of the shows in our old movie theatre that we do our opry show in. I will let you know the date when I know myself, maybe you would like to come to the filming. |
Fred Justice
Member From: Globe Arizona, Copper Capital Of The World
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posted 08 May 2005 08:15 AM
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Now Doyle M. and Larry T.you are both stateing that you have the third Rains guitar built if im reading this right.
There can't be two # 3's,so will the real # 3 please stand up.(hee hee)------------------
Fred Justice
Rains Steel Guitars
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Cor Muizer Jr
Member From: The Netherlands/europe
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posted 08 May 2005 10:45 AM
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hi guys here i am i can tell you honestly this is the best and incredible steelguitar i have ever have and play and hear. the sound is full rich warm clear like a bell have a lot of sustain aswell as far over the 24 fret it has almost no cabinet drop for everybody who is interested in mine has a quarter hertz on the meter so that is nothing.
no compensators needed because everything is going back to pitch. i can tell you i never heard a guitar like this before. and i am somebody who mostly qualify a guitar about his sound ( i am a true soundengineer aswell) so order yours and you will be probally much as happy i am keep pickin' and almost forgot to mention,
don't forget the top steelers like Paul Franklin and Hal Rugg had played these guitars on the Dallas show and were very impressed after the over 90 minutes session they did.
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Cor
soundengineer/steelplayer Rains D10 8×5 RED Goodrich LDR2
[This message was edited by Cor Muizer Jr on 08 May 2005 at 11:04 AM.] [This message was edited by Cor Muizer Jr on 08 May 2005 at 11:05 AM.]
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Cor Muizer Jr
Member From: The Netherlands/europe
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posted 09 May 2005 12:52 PM
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well looks like there are no more Rains owners here on the forum.
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Cor
soundengineer/steelplayer Rains D10 8×5 RED Goodrich LDR2
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Burton Lee
Member From: Denton, Texas, USA
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posted 09 May 2005 01:20 PM
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Well, I don't own a Rains, but I've heard and played a few of them now and I'm definitely impressed.There are two things I've noticed about them: First, they are very precisely constructed. Each one I've seen has been flawless and put together with a lot of care and attention. After looking over the Rains, I decided to give my push/pull a careful look. I love my guitar, but it looks like a blind person built it. Second, they have a unique, recognizable tone. That's not something I would say about most modern guitars today, including some premium brands. I'm not sure what it is on the Rains that does it, but it has a very distinctive high-end that really soars without going shrill. I put a Rains back to back with my Emmons going through the same volume pedal and same amp and they have a lot in common, but the Rains really made my guitar sound old and fuzzy when I went up the fretboard.
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Doyle Mitchell
Member From: Loraine,Texas 79532
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posted 09 May 2005 02:58 PM
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Fred J. you have an interesting thought there!! We will have to ask Bobby for sure, but we talked about serial numbers on the steels and he said they were working on a system to start numbering them. I suggested that the number needs to keep record of the month, and year and what number steel was being made. I made the serial number 3- 03 - 04 for mine, repesenting steel number 3 in March of 2004. You have heard of odd ball coins and such getting double produced and become extremly valuable with time???? Maybe Larry T. and i are planning this for our retirement!! Ha |
J PARKER
Member From: Meridian Miss
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posted 09 May 2005 05:27 PM
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I bought a new Rains at the Dallas show in March. I had always been a Emmons die hard fan but this new Rains sounds better to me than it did. It feels kinda mushy on the pedals but i hope this gets better in time.Other than that a great guitar all the way around. I played a steel show a couple of weeks ago and had several interested in the guitar and talked about the sound it had. Theres my two cents worth. Jim |
Tim Harr
Member From: East Peoria, Illinois
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posted 09 May 2005 05:34 PM
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I heard Russ Hicks play one straight through a Hilton VP into his WEBB 6-14E in Indianapolis. After his set, John Hughey came rushing up to the stage and stated "Russ, that is the SOUND... Don't change a thing that is a great sound....it was beautiful.." Now, if ears like John Hughey's approve then there has to be something to these Rains Guitars! Tim |
Russ Hicks
Member From: Pegram, Tennessee, USA
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posted 09 May 2005 08:07 PM
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I've had this guitar for two weeks now and have used it on four sessions and four live shows with a Webb amp only, and it sounds and plays great. I know they's a lot of good guitars being made today, and I've commited to try a couple of more, namely Del's Mullin and Jerry's Performance, and I'm anxious to experience any differences, knowing all three are top of the line....I think it's just a matter of what you get used to; what you get comfortable with....for example, Mike Sigler makes his GFI sound like a million, I like the way my old Super Pro sounds, but getting back to the Rains, as was mentioned in an earlier post, it got an awful nice compliment this past weekend in Indianapolis from a guy who knows the difference. It's a good guitar. |
Fred Justice
Member From: Globe Arizona, Copper Capital Of The World
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posted 11 May 2005 06:46 AM
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up please |
Rick Garrett
Member From: Tyler, Texas
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posted 11 May 2005 08:49 AM
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I settled on an Emmons 66 Bolt on for now. Thanks for all the emails though fred and I'll take another look at Rains when I decide to buy a brand new horn.
Rick
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Fred Justice
Member From: Globe Arizona, Copper Capital Of The World
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posted 11 May 2005 06:46 PM
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Hey Rick that's ok buddy,Rains has had a good run of outstanding compliments and positive statements in this thread and that's important as well.
With its tone,looks,price and craftsmanship,
this PSG is headen up to be the lead horse in the race IMO.------------------
Fred Justice
www.fredjusticemusic.com
Rains Steel Guitars
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Barry Westerfield
Member From: Missouri, USA
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posted 12 May 2005 07:43 AM
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Having trouble locating Rains Steel guitar website. Could someone help and post it?? |
Ron Steenwijk
Member From: Greensburg,PA
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posted 12 May 2005 07:52 AM
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http://www.rainssteelguitars.com |
Cor Muizer Jr
Member From: The Netherlands/europe
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posted 13 May 2005 03:02 AM
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bumperupskee!!!! |
Barry Westerfield
Member From: Missouri, USA
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posted 13 May 2005 12:36 PM
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Thank you the correct website...I didn't add the word STEEL....------------------
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