I have watched your videos several times. They were well done and helped me with my buying decision. Although I own too many guitars, I'm seriously considering ordering the X30 with the Ghost/K&K pickup combination. I installed a K&K into my X20 - sound terrific !
At home I play my X20 a lot more. For my solo gigging the X30 has an amplified sound and fullness that makes it my number one. fYI- I have the Graphtech Ghost/K&K mini pickups in both my X20 and X30.
@@gair1944 My X20 didn't have a pickup so I installed a K&K Pure Western Mini (I'm a dealer installer). Amplified it sounds really good, although I do have to drop quite a bit of low's when using my Bose S1. I tune a full-step down and the intonation needs to be tweaked, thus my interest in the Graphtect Ghost/K&K version.
@@toddcwalker4208 yeah the K&k is very prone to feedback in my emeralds. I would not opt for it as a stand alone pickup personally. I even have a parametric eq on my pedal board. The K&k mini is woofy and challenging.
You really should have gotten the ghost piezo w/ k &k and you would have loved it more. I out heavy strings on mine and it rivals my Martin. Then when I got my X30, I sold my Martin - because the X30 sounded so much better. Also, please know that black is not the only non-vivid color. They have 5 non-vivid colors and then all the vivid colors along with the choose of hundreds of veneers that are so thin and integrated so well you cannot tell they are there and they aren’t affected by any weather.
Enya Go Nova guitar is ALSO a carbon fiber guitar and costs 10 TIMES less! ( that’s for all of the musicians who aren’t stupid wealthy enough ) most musicians don’t have a hundred guitars but more than likely one or two! 😢
I've had an Emerald X20 for over 4 years, and I've been very happy with it. Very comfortable to play. No regrets at all. But it's great to know that there are inexpensive alternatives for people who don't have much cash and want a guitar that will last a lifetime without warping from temperature & humidity changes.
Totally understand what you're saying & why. Enya are a great choice for those reasons. 2 points I'll add though: Personally I find the ergonomic features of the Emerald make it more comfortable to hold. the 2nd would be that the old saying "ya get what ya pay for" still holds true. When I could ($), I wasn't just out just buy a CF guitar... it was personal. Using Emerald's online 3D builder, I chose the specific dimension options I wanted. Then via phone convos with reps like Kevin, I locked in the specific 1 of a kind wood veneer sample for the top of each of them... and finalized it all with a couple of very custom changes on the fretboard inlays. LOL! I won't say my BA doesn't give me "WTF we're ya thinking!!!" every once in while, but these instruments are also works of art on my walls when not in use and they have factory features absolutely unique to *me*. So yeah, I'm satisfied. 😉
What do you mean with alternate tuning systems? In my understanding alternate tuning systems mean f.e. 1/4-comma-meantone, well-tempered or microtonal tunings etc., i.e. tunings that aren’t available with frets?
@@toddcwalker4208 Do you mean f.e. 390, 409, 423, 430,5, or 452 instead of 440 Hz for an a? But this kind of correlation is totally arbitrary, while alternate tuning systems mean different interval correlations.
Nice review. I currently own a fan-fret X20, which is my third. It’s a guitar which continually inspires me, and will probably be with me the rest of my life.
Todd, thanks for a great video. The tone is the best I've heard so far on the X20 ! I'm considering an X20 or X30. I had a chance to try an X30. I liked it but it left me wondering what the X20 would sound and feel like.
And I'm curious about the X30. I have been pleasantly surprised at the full sound of the X20. For most players, the smaller body size of the X20 is probably better for the average player. Thanks for watching the video.
Perhaps you missed the part where Todd said, "I'm wearing a Lavalier microphone, and the reason for that is... when I play guitar, my ears are up here (points to his ears). So, I'm hearing it coming up at me. So many of the guitar reviews that I watch on UA-cam, they stick nice microphones out in front, which is terrific. So, you get a beautiful sound. It's what someone would hear if they sat 3 or 4 feet in front of the guitar, but I play guitar at home, mainly so that I can enjoy it and hear the guitar. When I play out, I use a pickup, and then I dial everything in to make sure that the sound coming out of the speakers is what I want. The... So, I wear a Lavalier microphone. They're omnidirectional. They pick up sound top, bottom, sides, everything, and since the sound of the guitar is coming up to my ears, this is probably the best way I can reproduce the sound so you can hear the guitar the way I'm hearing the guitar." Todd also mentions that he tuned the guitar a half step down, which the Emerald Guitars videos typically do not do. A couple of things to note: A typical microphone placement is about a foot away or sometimes a couple of feet away depending on the microphone and the desired amount of ambient room sound. So, they pick up what someone might hear if they sat about a foot (or two) away from the guitar, not 3-4 feet away. If you take a closer look at the Emerald Guitars videos, they tend to place a microphone about a foot away from the fretboard. That picks up the sound of the fingers scraping the round wound strings and sounding a little bit like a slide guitar.
Have been pondering to get this model, searching for an acoustic carbon fiber guitar. I have one of ther Virtuo (thin bodied humbucker and piezo hybrid) and am very pleased with the stage aspect, but really want to cover for the at home acoustic enjoyment. This gas me drawn.
The Virtuo seems to be a fantastic stage guitar for a player who needs to switch from acoustic to electric. The X20 has a beautiful acoustic sound - balanced and full. Amplified, I would EQ the mid's down to accommodate your voice if you're singing. That being said, I'm very pleased with mine. Thanks for watching.
Worth listening to as he has vast experience of playing guitars over many many years … there are countless people who can make a guitar sound sweet but this guy has the vocabulary to impart sound knowledge & advice…
Excellent review! How do you only have
So glad you are still enjoying your X20. Thanks to you and many others, I'm slowly increasing subscriber numbers.
Nice review. My X20 and X30 have the Graphtech Ghost Piezo bridge with individual saddles and they intonate SOOOO incredibly well.
I have watched your videos several times. They were well done and helped me with my buying decision. Although I own too many guitars, I'm seriously considering ordering the X30 with the Ghost/K&K pickup combination. I installed a K&K into my X20 - sound terrific !
Which of the two do you find yourself playing more ?
At home I play my X20 a lot more. For my solo gigging the X30 has an amplified sound and fullness that makes it my number one. fYI- I have the Graphtech Ghost/K&K mini pickups in both my X20 and X30.
@@gair1944 My X20 didn't have a pickup so I installed a K&K Pure Western Mini (I'm a dealer installer). Amplified it sounds really good, although I do have to drop quite a bit of low's when using my Bose S1. I tune a full-step down and the intonation needs to be tweaked, thus my interest in the Graphtect Ghost/K&K version.
@@toddcwalker4208 yeah the K&k is very prone to feedback in my emeralds. I would not opt for it as a stand alone pickup personally. I even have a parametric eq on my pedal board. The K&k mini is woofy and challenging.
I just Google it 😬😬😬$$$$$
Great review!
You really should have gotten the ghost piezo w/ k &k and you would have loved it more. I out heavy strings on mine and it rivals my Martin. Then when I got my X30, I sold my Martin - because the X30 sounded so much better.
Also, please know that black is not the only non-vivid color. They have 5 non-vivid colors and then all the vivid colors along with the choose of hundreds of veneers that are so thin and integrated so well you cannot tell they are there and they aren’t affected by any weather.
No use describing a guitar no one can afford
Really great review! Hands down the best one I've seen yet. Thank you, Todd!
Thank you ! Working on getting better.
Just ordered an X10, can’t wait to give it a spin
So cool ! Enjoy your new X10.
Enya Go Nova guitar is ALSO a carbon fiber guitar and costs 10 TIMES less! ( that’s for all of the musicians who aren’t stupid wealthy enough ) most musicians don’t have a hundred guitars but more than likely one or two! 😢
I've had an Emerald X20 for over 4 years, and I've been very happy with it. Very comfortable to play. No regrets at all. But it's great to know that there are inexpensive alternatives for people who don't have much cash and want a guitar that will last a lifetime without warping from temperature & humidity changes.
Totally understand what you're saying & why.
Enya are a great choice for those reasons.
2 points I'll add though:
Personally I find the ergonomic features of the Emerald make it more comfortable to hold.
the 2nd would be that the old saying "ya get what ya pay for" still holds true.
When I could ($), I wasn't just out just buy a CF guitar...
it was personal.
Using Emerald's online 3D builder,
I chose the specific dimension options I wanted.
Then via phone convos with reps like Kevin,
I locked in the specific 1 of a kind wood veneer sample for the top of each of them...
and finalized it all with a couple of very custom changes on the fretboard inlays.
LOL! I won't say my BA doesn't give me "WTF we're ya thinking!!!" every once in while,
but these instruments are also works of art on my walls when not in use
and they have factory features absolutely unique to *me*.
So yeah, I'm satisfied. 😉
I own an X30 that makes me wish it had been the first guitar I had purchased instead of my last.
Ditto that
Yep, these are super nice guitars! I’ve been curious for sure. I love the color, it seems to change right before the eyes! ❤
What do you mean with alternate tuning systems? In my understanding alternate tuning systems mean f.e. 1/4-comma-meantone, well-tempered or microtonal tunings etc., i.e. tunings that aren’t available with frets?
It is my understanding that an alternate tuning is any tuning different from standard pitch.
@@toddcwalker4208 Do you mean f.e. 390, 409, 423, 430,5, or 452 instead of 440 Hz for an a? But this kind of correlation is totally arbitrary, while alternate tuning systems mean different interval correlations.
@@trabouliste1037 I use either DADGAD or DGCFAD tuning.
My koa guitar is to bright
Koa is more similar to Mahogany than Rosewood and definitely has a brighter sound, but it is a beautiful wood. Thanks for watching.
Love mine! Just as nice to play as any of my Taylors, but no concerns about temperature, humidity, indoors, outdoor or whatever! Rock solid!!
Absolutely ! My Taylor's don't get much playing time now.
Nice review. I currently own a fan-fret X20, which is my third. It’s a guitar which continually inspires me, and will probably be with me the rest of my life.
Todd, thanks for a great video. The tone is the best I've heard so far on the X20 ! I'm considering an X20 or X30. I had a chance to try an X30. I liked it but it left me wondering what the X20 would sound and feel like.
And I'm curious about the X30. I have been pleasantly surprised at the full sound of the X20. For most players, the smaller body size of the X20 is probably better for the average player. Thanks for watching the video.
👍
Interesting how your audio is different from the audio on emerald's website....makes me think hummm...what's going on?
Perhaps you missed the part where Todd said,
"I'm wearing a Lavalier microphone, and the reason for that is... when I play guitar, my ears are up here (points to his ears). So, I'm hearing it coming up at me. So many of the guitar reviews that I watch on UA-cam, they stick nice microphones out in front, which is terrific. So, you get a beautiful sound. It's what someone would hear if they sat 3 or 4 feet in front of the guitar, but I play guitar at home, mainly so that I can enjoy it and hear the guitar. When I play out, I use a pickup, and then I dial everything in to make sure that the sound coming out of the speakers is what I want. The... So, I wear a Lavalier microphone. They're omnidirectional. They pick up sound top, bottom, sides, everything, and since the sound of the guitar is coming up to my ears, this is probably the best way I can reproduce the sound so you can hear the guitar the way I'm hearing the guitar."
Todd also mentions that he tuned the guitar a half step down, which the Emerald Guitars videos typically do not do.
A couple of things to note:
A typical microphone placement is about a foot away or sometimes a couple of feet away depending on the microphone and the desired amount of ambient room sound. So, they pick up what someone might hear if they sat about a foot (or two) away from the guitar, not 3-4 feet away.
If you take a closer look at the Emerald Guitars videos, they tend to place a microphone about a foot away from the fretboard. That picks up the sound of the fingers scraping the round wound strings and sounding a little bit like a slide guitar.
I don't process anything. No reverb, no compression.
Have been pondering to get this model, searching for an acoustic carbon fiber guitar. I have one of ther Virtuo (thin bodied humbucker and piezo hybrid) and am very pleased with the stage aspect, but really want to cover for the at home acoustic enjoyment. This gas me drawn.
The Virtuo seems to be a fantastic stage guitar for a player who needs to switch from acoustic to electric. The X20 has a beautiful acoustic sound - balanced and full. Amplified, I would EQ the mid's down to accommodate your voice if you're singing. That being said, I'm very pleased with mine. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for the feedback! I'll give it a shot, probably this year!
Great review - subscribed!
Thanks for watching and subscribing. Happy Easter !
more talking than playing a guitar
Worth listening to as he has vast experience of playing guitars over many many years … there are countless people who can make a guitar sound sweet but this guy has the vocabulary to impart sound knowledge & advice…