Thanks so much for a refreshingly honest review. I own the very same guitar with the same spec (although mine has a koa veneer), and I couldn't agree more with what you say. In terms of pure design, for me, it represents the apotheosis of the acoustic guitar. Alistair Hay has put so much thought into every aspect of what is possible to achieve with intelligent use of high-tech materials and construction methods to produce a truly modern guitar that's unique and innovative. I've had mine for 18 months and absolutely love it. The sound (acoustically) was pretty much what I expected it to be from spending a good few months researching before hitting the button. It's not going to blow anyone away, but as you say, it has its own (very agreeable|) tone. I bought mine mainly for playing plugged-in, and I'm extremely happy with the sound I get from the blend of K&K + Ghost piezos. But the ultimate decision to buy was heavily influenced by the design's incredible stability and ability to mock conditions that would quickly destroy a traditionally constructed instrument. It's the guitar I reach for the most, simply because it is always out of its case and on the stand, always in tune, and always ready to go. I have guitars that sound better, but since the X20 came into my life I simply don't get them out of their cases as much. (And I certainly wouldn't leave any of them in the back of my car on the hottest day of the year. Something the X20 took in its stride, and stayed in tune!). Thanks again for the excellent review, and keep up the great work with the channel.
Thank you for your comments. Thai is exactly how I feel about my Rainsong but I also think the sound of the Rainsong is as good as many wooden guitars. I don’t see why a company cannot come along and give us a guitar with the features of the Emerald but with the sound of the Rainsong (or better).
I have an x20, x30, x7 ,x10 slimline nylon and a Virtuo. If you want "boomy" the x30 is the way to go. That one moves a lot of air. x7 is their parlor guitar so smaller, but suprisingly well balanced tonally. X10 slim and Virtuo are basically hollow body electric types, so sound in the room is similar to that, not loud at all. Other than the x30, I think all of them are quieter in the room than say a Taylor or Martin. Something to consider on them is the placement of the mic in relation to the sound hole. You have the mic placed for a regular middle hole guitar and I don't think that will sound the same as the sound coming from the hole facing up. This could also be throwing you off just listening to it from the room as your ears aren't used to the sound coming from that direction. All that being said, I think how loud you prefer your guitar depends on how you use it and your living situation. I'm in a small apartment with neighbors, so I prefer mine to be not as loud "in the room" but sounding great plugged in. As a side note, I have a McPhearson Touring (their smaller carbon) but I'm not a fan of the texture on the back and sides. Almost feels like sandpaper. It does play and sound good though for a smaller guitar, but since getting the Emeralds, it sits in the case. For me, the playability of the necks and the cut outs and bevels really make the Emeralds feel like performance instruments and you can't beat the tuning stability. It's very rare I need to touch the tuning other than small adjustments when I first pick it up if even then. Ultimately it all comes down to balance and personal preference and if the sound isn't where you like it, then it's not the guitar for you. If you're interested in having the best of both acoustic plugged in and electric, you might consider the Virtuo for gigging. It definately won't satisfy your "in the room" expectations, but plugged in it has the piezo undersaddle pickups, and two Fishman Fluence pickups for electric tones and the body style makes it pretty feedback resistant.
@@SaintKimbo I also own 5 Emeralds. A Virtuo, an Amicus, an X10, an X20-12, and an X30. The Virtuo, X30, and X10 get the most attention. X30 is just a cannon. X10 has surprising bass for its size, and the neck is awesome. The Virtuo...oddly I find myself playing it unplugged a lot. I got mine the hard way also. I don't deserve them...and I don't care.
@@stickman55100 Before I got my x30 (first one I got) I saw a video of a young girl, couldn't have been older than 11 or 12, playing one and while it was big compared to her, she had no trouble playing it. If she could handle it, you'll have no issues. The ergonomics on them makes it feel like a smaller guitar than it is.
I own an Emerald X30. It has that boom of distant thunder you want. I love the guitar. Solid as a rock, doesn’t move and a sound that is perfectly in the middle of the sound spectrum.
Not to throw any shade on the fine folks at Emerald, but your review is spot on. I ordered a Chimaera on a Friday and received it the following Friday--and it travelled across the pond to the Americas! Ahem. The Chimaera is Emerald's 12/6-string double neck acoustic but there is nothing acoustic about it. It's built like a brick shit-house, meaning it's thick. No body resonance whatsoever, only the quiet sound of strings. I never plugged it in as that's not my thing, except when the buyer I resold it to needed to hear it plugged in as he was intending to use it onstage & plugged-in exclusively.
As for Rainsong, I have three: 6-string, 12-string, and 6-string baritone, all jumbo. Bigger unplugged sound than the Emerald Chimaera yet all four have 17-inch lower bouts. The Emerald build is thicker than Rainsong's. The Rainsongs just sound better. But none of them sound bigger, better, or sweeter than the Martin HD-28V. They just don't. The Martin does it all and better than Rainsong, Emerald, J45, SJ-200, and more. Martin has the secret sauce.
@@thomasgreenan8617Martin has the secret sauce for sure, love them. However, Martin also has the secret “buy now, pay $500 later” neck reset feature. I appreciate that Martin sticks to their guns, and perhaps the dovetail and M&T joints are part of that sauce, but people just need to be aware. It is kind of in the same vein as stainless steel frets vs. no stainless argument that Aaron frequently rants about. 😂
Was very happy to see you take this for a spin. Your impressions track with many comments I've seen over at AGF--super build, very comfortable, excellent features, not the best-sounding carbon-fiber. (But not bad either).
I only heard very high praise over the past couple months but I have since found some comments where people say the guitars do not resonate as much as others.
My comments likely carry very little weight, being a newbie. I bought the Emerald X10 as my first guitar. After much research, I decided the benefits of carbon fiber were the way to go… for me. They’re very durable, low maintenance and stay in tune, no matter the environment. If it didn’t sound good, it wasn’t the fault of the guitar, was my theory. I wasn’t disappointed. It’s beautiful to my eyes and sounds great to my untrained ears. But as you say, guitars are very personal. You need to feel something or you won’t pick it up. I feel something every time I pick mine up. Every time I hit on something during practice that sounds musical, I get excited. Problem is, I don’t pick it up nearly enough to get to the point where I can consider myself a guitar player. But at 71 years young, I’m content with that. One day, something will click and playing will become more natural. I’m content with where I am. I would definitely recommend Emerald to someone wanting to learn to play. They feel good in your hands and as I said before, are very durable, low maintenance instruments that you don’t need to constantly fiddle with to keep in tune. To the consummate musician, well… I couldn’t really say. You would know much better than I. But thanks for this. Always good to hear an honest opinion. Sorry it didn’t quite tick all the boxes for you. See if you can get hold of an X30. It’s on my bucket list.
Thanks for your comments. You mention many of the reasons why I like Carbon Fiber guitars! I have actually spoken to Emerald about trying some guitars with different specs and if this happens and I feel differently then I will definitely update you via my RU-vid channel.
@@aaronshortmusic; That would be awesome! Thanks. The Virtuo, while more on the electric side than acoustic, would be another one to try. It’s pretty new in their offerings, but I think it’ll be one of their most sought after instruments by stage musicians. I would enjoy seeing any of your future Emerald reviews. I’ll subscribe to your channel, so I can stay in the loop.
Excellent review, and I appreciate your honesty Aaron! Guitars are very personal, and you have to be INSPIRED above all else for it to be a keeper. It doesn't matter how ergonomic it is, what kind of woods (or carbon) it has, what kind of pickup, if it doesn't inspire than you not only need to look elsewhere, you will look elsewhere (if you are serious about continuing on the journey). One thing I've discovered is that low cost does not necessarily = inferior guitar. From first strum you were disappointed that you couldn't get much oomph out of it. If you cannot get it from a pick, how would I fare with one as a fingerstyle player who despises long nails? Your review pretty much confirms my suspicions about the X20. If I ran into one at a guitar store it might change my mind about them, but for the cost they are asking for online sales only, this pretty much counts me out.
I agree with everything you said! Especially the comment regarding cost having little to do with inferiority of the guitar. I have a good number of high quality expensive guitars including Martin, Yamaha, and Furch. Amazingly one of my best guitars is a vintage 1980 Takamine F-349 that I picked up for only $500. It looks great and has a wonderful tone.
Good review. I've had an X20 for a year and love it. The volume is fine for playing at home. If I'm out, its plugged in so volume isn't an issue. I have the LR Baggs Element pick-up. It can get quacky. I've msgd you about IR loaders but never used one. On my Bose T4S mixer, I find setting a para eq notch at 800 hz, cut 3db, 3 ovtave width, really helps with the quack. I always leave the tone knob centered. Playing through house pa, just leave the pa eq set at unity seems to work best. I also have had a Composite Acoustics Legacy with Fishman Prefix T saddle only, for 8 or 9 years. I love this guitar too but i don't think its been out of its case more than a couple of times since i bought my Emerald. I tried Rainsong before I bought the CA. To my ear, they sounded very brittle and it wasn't as comfortable to play as the CA and in the comfort area, not even close to the Emerald. I haven't tried a McPherson Sable yet, maybe you could try to review one if them. Keep up the good work!
Very complete review & a beautiful X20. One's instrument is a personal thing... I love my Emeralds, but have some other brands too. They look great, they're super comfy & have incredibly stable tuning... but yes, the sound hole location does effect the projection & mic placement. LOL! Yours is kind of a cross of my 2; I have a HyVibe'd X20 with a CSP top & a RWB top on my Virtuo.
I got my X20 three yrs ago and when i first strummed it i was a little disappointed. It wasn't as loud as i was expecting. I then discovered that the strings one uses can make a big difference. Emeralds come with D'addario strings on them. Normally i'm a D'addario guy but i put a set of Elixir strings on it and they sounded much better. The sound was louder with better clarity and treble response. Have loved the guitar ever since.
I had an X-20-standar black--with an Anthem pup for a few years--the Anthem was excellent in it - no quack.. It was a nice guitar for all the reasons you state. As far as the down sides IME: it always seemed to lack mids for finger picking and single note stuff--I had to really dig in to get them to pop. The other problem I had was the intonation--this was before they offered the adjustable bridge. As far as it sounding quiet or small or lack of resonance/vibration...can't say as I experienced that at all, mine was super resonant and chimey; I would add that if I played it for extended lengths, it felt like it would start to warm up and get a fuller sound (or maybe just my ears adjusted). I don't know, try jamming on it for a good while in one sitting and see if it seems any louder/fuller to you...like I say, it may have been my imagination, but it didn't feel like it was in my head and it was consistent in this. I finally sold it last year. I really do prefer the sound of wood. If I were ever to check one out in the future, I would try the X7 parlor size (seems like more mids on sound tests I've listened to). Or maybe try one of their Synergy line guitar harps.
Excellent, honest review Aaron, I’ve watched a number of reviews of the Emerald X20 and agree entirely with your thoughts here. It’s a really interesting and attractive design but sound wise it lacks punch and dynamics. The treble, mids, and bass all sound dull and ‘boxed in’ seeming to lack projection and resonance. I’m a big fan of carbon fibre acoustic guitars, I play / own Ovation’s so I had expected to love the X20. I sincerely, hope Emerald guitars go from strength to strength but this one’s not for me.
This was really great,balanced review, I bought an early used X-5 a few years ago,I liked the playability and tone, for its size,it knocked out a fair volume acoustically, I especially liked its 1 3/4” wide nut, I wish I’d kept it now,couple of years later,I bought a used Rainsong WS1000 12- string cutaway, very disappointing,acoustically, it sounded really brittle and thin,every though I’d experiment with different string gauges and makes,plugged in it sounded fine,but as a purely acoustic player,it never floated my boat, fast forward to last year,I bought a used ( two years old) Emerald X-30, your X-20 video reminded me of the volume problem, while my X-30 has lots of bottom end,it lacks some of the treble, and it# acoustic volume is lacking, I’ve gone through the string gauge experiment since then, I use 12-53’s on the guitar,I doubt going up to 13’s will make any noticeable difference, anyway,enough of the negativity, it’s still a great guitar,even if I don’t plug in, it stays in tune, I tend to play in different tunings anyway,so the Emerald gets wound up and down regularly,and takes it in its stride, the jury is out as to whether I’ll keep it or not,I’ve currently got up it for sale on a UK selling platform,and had zero enquiries,as I doubt many people ( guitar players) even know what a carbon fibre guitar is.
You did another fabulous review here :) Thank you. I was thinking a few times about going with carbon fiber instead of wood, but I just didn't find one as inspiring as wood yet. So if it's not a secret, which of the guitars you reviewed (this Emerald X20 or Ibanez JGM5) did you prefer the sound of when unplugged? And what about plugged in-the X20 with K&K Plus Ghost or the JGM5 with Fishman 3 Way? Thank you.
I prefer the Fishman system but my hope is that I will find a carbon guitar with electronics that sounds as good as my Rainsong with LR Baggs Anthem. It’s sad that Rainsong closed down.
Excellent to get your take on the x20. I was flirting with one several months ago, but fell out of love with its sound pretty rapidly after hearing all the demos out there (not that many), especially those comparing the various Emerald models. In the end, I found I much preferred the x10 (unplugged) and the x10 Slimline (plugged) - more so than the x20 or the x30 or even the Virtuo. That said, I still experienced the x10 (and Slimline) as instruments with too much string separation (tonally speaking), or rather too few „in-between“ resonances. This seems to correspond to your experience and demo. In the end, I decided not to go the proper carbon-fiber route and instead just get an Enya X4 Pro, which is inferior in many ways, but very much more „alive“ and acoustic-sounding, and good enough for my trips. Very enjoyable unplugged, and passable plugged in, too - and a lot less expensive. Beware though: The Enya is mostly composite, with just a carbon fiber top. But it works for me.
Thanks for sharing. How does the sound of the Sable compare? I am very happy with the Rainsong sound and would like to find another Carbon Finer guitar that sounds like that but with the features of the Emerald.
The Sable is a much fuller sound without the harsh high end of most CF guitars. But it doesn’t have the contours or other modern features. But it’s the best sounding CF I’ve tried. It’s heavy at 5-5.5 lbs I think.
Great review. I got an x30 about 6 months ago, and I don’t disagree with the points that you make, but I’ve come to really love the guitar nonetheless. You talk about the guitar being “overbuilt” and I’ve had the same thought several times, wondering what it might sound like with a lighter build or thinner soundboard. That said, I’ve realized that the Emerald really excels in some areas. My 000 martin has WAY more punch playing fingerstyle, especially on the thinner strings, however, I’ve come to LOVE the emerald for strumming and flat picking. I have found this guitar to really shine under a more aggressive attack. The x30 really comes alive and has a beautiful warm tone even under a heavy attack that would make the Martin sound like a drawer of dropped silver wear. So yeah, I’d love it if the guitar had more punch in the mids and highs but it has become my favorite for strumming, singing/performing, songwriting, etc. The Martin almost never leaves its case anymore. I have an x10 on the way. I’m hoping it will give me a little of what’s missing with the big x30. Listening to online samples I think it will. We’ll see.
I recommend removing the strings it comes with immediately and putting on either light or bluegrass or medium elixir 80/20 nanowebs. I also changed my saddle to bone. My guitar I use mostly for weddings and outdoor gigs and flying anywhere gigs. I was playing today unamplified at a wedding and have mediums. A lady told me she could hear me loud and clear and even hear the bass project from 50-75 feet away and I was playing relatively light and even using bare fingers. You gotta play these differently than standard wood guitars. My emerald x20 does punch out and resonate with bass notes with mediums.
Well I had a Cole Clark Angel 2 ( Sikta Spruce / Rosewood), but acoustically it was quieter than the Emerald x20 (previous design) I received. But maybe my Emerald x20 has the normal bridge and saddle instead of the ghost piezo bridge on the one you have just reviewed. Having said that, I didn't quite like the strings that it came with. Now I'm settled with Daddario XS. (I have also tried the santa cruz parabolic medium tension strings on it, but it became too loud to my ears) Since Rainsong is no longer around, have you tried the Klos Grand Cutaway?
It sounds to me like it might benefit from a set of Ernie Ball aluminum/bronze strings. I have found they are quite amazing for "livening up" a guitar with somewhat dull acoustic profile. They make a pretty noticeable difference for the missing frequencies that I found lacking on a couple guitars.
The Composite Acoustics CA Cargo is a carbon fiber guitar. One of your comments about the X20 is its tops thickness. The Cargo has a thin top and resonates well. It is my daily go to guitar for play and practice. My other guitars are nice, a Taylor K24CE and a Godin XTSA but the Cargo is the one I most always play. My choice in this guitar is the smaller body which fits in an airplane overhead which my other two instruments don't fit the bill. I have been looking at the X20 but thought about its tops' thickness (lower resonance) and was thinking exactly what you found. With Peavey dropping the Cargo from production, perhaps Emerald could address this issue in a new thin top which might change yours and my view of the brand. Beautiful guitar otherwise.
I'm looking for more acoustic vomule and balance, still expecting some trade of in the low end due to carbon's response vs wood. I also have already a main stage electric carbon guitar so plugged tone is covered. I've been looking recently at Klōs guitars from Utah, US, for a more traditional look but same construction. They've come with some models recently that have me interested. No stainless steel frets though.
More low end of what kind of wood though? If you compare a Rainsong to a maple Martin they are very similar. I will try Klos at the NAMM show. They do use stainless steel frets.
Sorry Aaron, might have not been specific enough. Carbon tends to be a little more bright for my ear at least; not to say it can definitely deliver, since I still own a rainsong also and tried a Hybrid from Klōs once that was super good sounding. Had a chat via email with one of their sales representatives and he told me only 1 model has stainless steel from stock. Wanted it on another model and he told me it was not possible for now, but was a feature they were planning to add to the entire line.
Hi Aaron! After playing almost every CF guitar on the market, (including the Rainsongs and Emeralds) I finally shelled out for what I think is the best sounding model made, the McPherson Sable.
It's so good that I no longer "pine" (ha ha) for wood. :) Here are some singer-songwriter type recordings: ru-vid.com/group/PL7bilyru398D8BC_rEG7Ex-V4tYXVjpBF&si=ZTSsi-0u8RLIk10l
I am selling a Journey Instruments CF guitar because of low volume. I play my acoustics exclusively fingerstyle and volume is important. I was considering getting an X20. Thank you for steering me away from that idea. Yes, I agree with all your other observations, but volume provides the opportunity for more dynamics. Sorry it didn't work out for you. Let me know if you want to sell your Rainsong :-))🤣
I have an Emerald X20, but mine is carbon without the wood veneer. The veneers are gorgeous, but I felt that if I was playing a carbon instrument, I should embrace the carbon and not try to disguise it as wood. Also, I like the way carbon fiber looks. Anyway, mine doesn't seem quiet to me compared to my traditional wood guitars. I wonder if the veneer ads thickness/stiffness to the face of the guitar, deadening the sound a bit?
It’s possible. I felt the veneer on the Rainsong guitars dulled the tone and ended up much preferring the regular carbon guitars. I have spoken with Rainsong and told them I would be interested in trying another X20 with a different spec. I can only have opinions based on the guitars that I have played.
interesting. I agree regarding the pure carbon appearance. Glad you are happy with the acoustic rexponsivity of your X20. May I ask if you also have the adjustable bridge? There was some discussion above if the different bridge options might make a difference also.
@@aaronshortmusic It can be. Going to the X30 is like going to a jumbo also in that there's more headroom but it requires more power (ie harder strumming).
@@juhan9117 Well after this experience I won’t be ordering another as it was a big disappointment and cost me over $100 to return it. If I do get a chance to play one I will try it either an open mind.
My opinions are probably worth less than you paid for them, and everyone has different tastes. I think the X-20 may have dead strings on it. Your audio samples provide proof again to me why I don't own a Rainsong though I know many people like the sound. A future consideration would be to point the microphone at the Emerald's sound port instead of the base of the fingerboard like is usual for most acoustic guitars.
Thanks but the strings were only a day old and what you hear in the video is very reflective of what I experienced in the room. I was disappointed after hearing so many great reviews online. Maybe the guitar had an issue. Who knows.
A guitar lover will own more than one guitar... if He can afford that. I am fortunate. I own and play several both conventional wood, Martins, Taylors, Yamaha, Washburn, Traveler Guitar(Escape Model)/I have more hours on this than any of the others since it fits in my lap in my reclining chair) and "carbon", Emerald X20, Lava Me 2 & 3. I was in desperate need of a carbon fiber guitar to take/play out of the house in "challenging" weather conditions... I wouldn´t dream of taking out My Finest/Most Expensive ones in "challenging" conditions. The Carbons I bring along as thouh they would be just another piece of luggage... and THEY AAALWAYS STAY IN TUNE. Simple and easy. Do they sound like made out of wood... No. But, my wood guitars all sound different as well. So, I think You have to ask Yourself the HONEST QUESTION... WHAT are You going to use it for? That should help you decide. I am caerful with humidity and temp and have my finer wooden guitars in cases with humidifiers. On the wall, on the floor stand I aaalways have a carbon fiber ready to go... I even plug them in half of the time with A Boss Bluetooth sender to my amps. Work great, niiice and eeeasy. btw, the setup on my Emerald X20 is great as well. 🙂
@@aaronshortmusic - Hmmm... I got mine installed on nylon string guitars with no saddle slot modifications. I think it's well worth it even if you may need to route out the saddle slot. Perhaps try a guitar with one fitted in already before you decide...
@@rombsix I would like to try it but no single source pickup is going to make me happy after being used to the dual source Anthem and the tri-source Cole Clark.
Thanks. I've been eyeing the X20 for some time now. It's been hyped everywhere I read about it. My goal was to sell off the wood guitars I have now and take a carbon fiber guitar into my twilight years. I won't buy a guitar unless I play it. I hear the damped sound of the guitar played purely acoustically in this video, especially in the higher register, and that's a deal breaker for me. I'm a fingerpicker, strictly speaking, and having to emphasize weaker notes to bring them in balance is a no joy nuisance I won't spend good money on. The bridge on that particular X20 could be the culprit. Too much stuff between the string and the top could be damping the upper register like the adjustable bridges on old Gibson guitars used to do. In any event. Mr. Hay could take this video on advisement and prompt him to second guess that bridge's effect on the guitar's sonic quality.
Yes, I am in the same boat, I am sick of my wooden guitars sounding different as the weather changes, and was looking at getting rid of them and getting a Carbon Fibre, and Emerald was looking good, until I saw this review. As I never play electrically, the guitar needs to sound good and be loud acoustically. I guess it's down to Rainsong or Mcpherson. As a suggestion, you might consider Ovation, I have one and they stand up to the elements very well, mine is more than 20 years old and still sounds, and looks, the same as it did brand new. Their sound is an acquired taste though, once you do get used to the sound you love them !
I have an X20 with LR Baggs element system, a Rainsong BI-WS1000N2 with the LRBaggs Stagepro Element, a McPherson Sable Camo top, with LR Baggs element, and a McPherson Camrielle 4.5 with redwood top/rosewood back amd sides, also with a Baggs Element. The three carbon guitars are all wonderful to me, acoustically and electrically. Rainsong is lightest, Emerald is middling weight, but McPherson Sable is quite heavy. Acoustically, all three have incredible sustain. They are all beat by the wood McPherson, which has the best tone, and surpria ingly sustains as well as the carbons. I find mysrlf quite comfortable with all of them. In a "playoff" for a particular song I was scheduled to play at church, on a not great weather day, the X20 "won" the competition to stand in for the Camrielle. The Rainsong, I would take with me anywhere - weight matters and it is easily the lightest. The Emarald with its wood veneer top is the prettiest of the carbon guitars. The McPherson Sable sounds the most like a wood guitar. Your review was quite fair, even if we differ on the X20's acoustic sound. I suggest having someone else play the guitars while you listen from a n audience perspective.
