Hi there!
I am so so excited because I received my ordered railboard!
This is sick, I have been waiting 15 years to get a new stick!

First I don't have a proper amp, so I used my tube fender Princeton reverb. At low level, it's very sweet sounding, maybe a tad brighter than I want.

The instrument is very heavy, i need to explore with a seating solution or a special belt.

The playability of this stick is sick!
I used to have an oak stick with old hardware saddles (naked wooden screws) and the playability was bad, and it was maybe a little bit warped. Anyway I resold it soon after lefting my stick needs asleep. That was 15 years ago, and I haven't come across another used stick avail from France.

the sound is distinctly the sound of the stick I'm used to hear so much from Levin and Greg.
But there is something to it that is different.

I have the MRR tuning and I like it a lot. Though lots of tunes from Levin seems to be played with the bass side in classic tuning as I cannot reach a low C.

One thing I find is that the bass side seems to have more tension that the melody side. Actually this is surprising at first, but I like it because it gives the bass such a resonance, and left the melody with lots of expression capability.

The sound I would describe different from the records I heards of the stick is that it's a clear sound, lots of sparkle and definition. The bass lines, especially hammering a low E is very agressive and cool. The sustain of the bass side is incredible. I don't have a compressor yet, but I feel that I can attain such a beautiful sound only with natural resonance when I play on top of Discipline (Crimson) that I don't know if a compressor will be needed for regular playing.
The expression of the melody side is very nice. I can play light rapid touch, tough I still am Learning, it's been only two days (or nights to be precise). I mean the playing feeling is very nice, the best I have ever had, and I used to tweak some guitars to have the most sickest low action for tapping, but the railboard is a dream tap machine!

In a word, the sound is :
Bass : gnarly attacks if wanted, and even soft attach with the right touch (soft tap near the fret), and a meaty rich infinite sustain that makes you think you have a compressor on!

Melody : very expressive, though some notes are not good for vibrati because the fret on the bass string relief make a grinding notes when you try to make the vibrato. it's the case for the first string of the melody group.

Conclusion. I love it. the anodizing on the frets are the Mirror like finish that I understand is the revised finish for the anodizing (or was it like that originally?)
I am not a fan of the raw finish on the beam. It's not smooth and you see the CNC cut on the neck. But well, it's industrial look and you don't feel it so no real issue, only cosmetics.
I am not a fan too about the side finish of the frets. I read that it was meant for duty as fret markers, and it is perfect for that. But a little bit of hand Rolling the side would have been nice.
I am not a fan of the finish of the frets, because I would have like some crowning prior to the anodizing. That would have made I guess a better feel to the touch when you make vibrati.

Oh and I love the serial number placement! It's on the top of the neck, near the nut, and not on the head! Purely aesthically, I saw images of the earlier railboards, and I didn't like the slanted serial with the R on the headstock. With the naked headstock, it's a gazillions times more sexy.

other thing I would like to mention for this early review is that with the hardcase it weights a lot, and while I took the train from work with it, it's a hell of a big heavy case to walk casually.

All in all, all those notes doesn't detract from the main selling point of the railboard. For me, this is the ultimate tapping machine! Such a low action (and I imagine for a infinite time due to the massive construction) makes it the best, the most modern, the most innovative, bold design, easiest playing, lightest touch, sexy tap machine ever.

Thanks a bunch Emmett to have made this possible.

Tap on

PS: Learning Elephant talk and this tune is a hell of a fun!

I'm literally on the train on my way to the office to pick up my new plum Railboard while listening to Discipline, front to back.

Glamour shots to come.

Congratulations, both of you! You're going to love them. Pics, please!

As for a way to play it sitting down, might I recommend the DBro holder? It allows one to play in what I call "Cello style."

Here's the thread for making one (I made three and stained and shellacked them.)

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9532

Cheers!

3? From your picture it looks like you have only 1 lap... It is a useful tool, though.

Stickwait = over = Joy

1st was a prototype, then I made one for each of my Sticks. I do only have one lap (you're funny!), but I have family members with laps and theoretically, we could play Sticks together. Also, there's a monthly Stick meeting among Michigan Stickists, and I bring an extra one for others to use or try.

But really, I had so much fun making the first that I kept making them until I had three. One was gelstained with a thick coating and the other is just stained. One I wrapped in cords just because. I like to play with wood and wood products when I get the chance but I'm not very good at it! Cheers!

Good thoughts, so you dig it more than your old Sticks? The pickups do sound great, at first I was a little skeptical as Im a stickup guy now, but I grew to like it.

-Oh and I think that fret grind sound will go away, It did on my wood stick anyway. Something to do with fret crowning I think?

Congrats

Congrats Edo!

cheers,
kev

As promised!

Beautiful pics...