Emerald wood veneer finish, question for Emerald Guitars

[Saltamontes]

I just had a look at the pictures of this guitar. It has to be the most beautiful finish (to me anyways) of the Emerald guitars.
I've been considering purchasing an Emerald guitar as a retirement gift to myself, and when I saw the wood veneer finish I thought it was beautiful, but I wonder if this finish would affect the care needed to keep it looking beautiful. To me, the advantage of a Carbon Fiber guitar is basically not worrying about it being out in the cold, the heat or getting it wet, etc.
I thought of e-mailing Emerald Guitars directly but then I figured someone here might have the same question and by posting this here we would all get to see what the answer to my question is.

[pandaroo]

The finish on my Emerald is extremely hard wearing and durable. When you touch it and feel it it does not even feel like the veneer was there. Personally I haven't had my X20 long enough but its been more than 6 months now and the veneer on mine still look great and I have not done anything to it. Unlike my prized wood guitars, they get a wipe down from me every time i finish playing them.

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by Saltamontes

I just had a look at the pictures of this guitar. It has to be the most beautiful finish (to me anyways) of the Emerald guitars.
I've been considering purchasing an Emerald guitar as a retirement gift to myself, and when I saw the wood veneer finish I thought it was beautiful, but I wonder if this finish would affect the care needed to keep it looking beautiful. To me, the advantage of a Carbon Fiber guitar is basically not worrying about it being out in the cold, the heat or getting it wet, etc.
I thought of e-mailing Emerald Guitars directly but then I figured someone here might have the same question and by posting this here we would all get to see what the answer to my question is.

This is a very thin piece of actual wood that is incorporated into the CF and the finish. You will never have to do anything with it at all and it is just as stable as the straight CF finished guitar. The durability is the same.

[new2guitar_eh]

The veneer is impregnated with resin so it essentially becomes one piece with the rest of the top. I have had mine for the better part of 3 years and the beautiful finish is the same as the day I unpacked it.

In a nutshell, go for it!

[Acousticado]

Hey fellow Canuck! Yep, there are no concerns whatsoever, even if subjected to the Canadian climate. Emerald has produced guitars with an incredible range of wood veneers. Which in particular has got you smitten? So go ahead and contact Emerald...but to place an order.

[Claytone]

Just clean it with a garden hose & shake it out...Works Well...(Not if it has electronics though)...

[bsman]

I have an older (2010, I think) X7 "life" (with a wood veneer - with the soundhole in the center), and I actually managed to chip a piece of the veneer about the size of a quarter off the lower bout (probably some impact -- not sure where exactly it happened, but I think it was on one of the many trips I've taken with it). At any rate, I simply smoothed over the area with epoxy and went ahead and played it after it dried with no problem.

[ac]

Originally Posted by bsman

I have an older (2010, I think) X7 "life" (with a wood veneer - with the soundhole in the center), and I actually managed to chip a piece of the veneer about the size of a quarter off the lower bout (probably some impact -- not sure where exactly it happened, but I think it was on one of the many trips I've taken with it). At any rate, I simply smoothed over the area with epoxy and went ahead and played it after it dried with no problem.

Am I reading this right? You joined in 2008 . . . . and this is your first ever post?

I am amazed!! You must be the post patient member I've ever read!

The X7 life . . . that must be back from the very earliest days of Emerald, maybe the first two or three years. I wonder what they used for veneer then? I'm thinking it might be different veneers today and the application process might have evolved also. It would be interesting to know.

What year was your Emerald made? Did you buy it directly from them?

I've been an Emerald fan for many years and I do not recall an early woody. I would love to see it.

[kramster]

Originally Posted by bsman

I have an older (2010, I think) X7 "life" (with a wood veneer - with the soundhole in the center), and I actually managed to chip a piece of the veneer about the size of a quarter off the lower bout (probably some impact -- not sure where exactly it happened, but I think it was on one of the many trips I've taken with it). At any rate, I simply smoothed over the area with epoxy and went ahead and played it after it dried with no problem.

I have one of those X7s too... Redwood... still looking great.



.

Mr. K;

If you wood, a picture please.

[bsman]

Originally Posted by ac

Am I reading this right? You joined in 2008 . . . . and this is your first ever post?

I am amazed!! You must be the post patient member I've ever read!

The X7 life . . . that must be back from the very earliest days of Emerald, maybe the first two or three years. I wonder what they used for veneer then? I'm thinking it might be different veneers today and the application process might have evolved also. It would be interesting to know.

What year was your Emerald made? Did you buy it directly from them?

Here's a photo before it picked up it's "character mark":

Emerald by solimar95051, on Flickr

I bought it in 2014 from the original buyer -- who purchased it at the 2010 NAMM show. It was signed "Alistair Hay 2010" in silver sharpie (which has since worn off).

Not sure why I've not posted on this board before -- I'm a fairly frequent poster on TDPRI and the Mark Wein forum. I guess I figured that all the acoustic folks were a bit highfalutin' for the likes of me!

[Captain Jim]

"Highfalutin'"?? Nah, they let me hang out here, so there are apparently minimal standards.

It is interesting to see how the Emerald line has evolved.

That is a beautiful guitar. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

[jdinco]

I agree, a beautiful X7 !