HNOD Emerald X30
 

Happy New Order Day: Emerald X30 semi-baritone

- Scale 670mm (26.38")
- bridge position same as regular X30
- Finish: Turquoise on silver weave carbon fiber
- String gauge 14-59. Tuning D-G-C-F-A-D

Ever since I first heard the X30 I wondered what a baritone version would sound like. Finally one appeared in the June 2019 Select Series, and... unfortunately it failed to impress me. :( It turned out to be a very dark sounding guitar. All low end and not enough brightness.
The culprit I suspect is not so much the extended scale but the shifted bridge position. Placing a bridge in the center of the lower bout generally makes a guitar sound warmer. However, an X30 does not seem to benefit from a warmer tone. It needs that brightness to counterbalance its strong bass response.

So I asked for a bridge in the same position as it is on the regular X30. And since that would make for a long stretch across a baritone neck, having the scale length in between baritone and standard seemed like an interesting idea. 670mm is actually not that exotic. It is the standard scale length for petite bouche gypsy jazz guitars.

That should be really nice. I have an Emerald X20 Baritone that when I bought it I had them cut a nut for just medium gauge strings instead of a larger baritone gauge strings. I also tune it down a step like you are going to do. Standard tuning only in D.

The results are spectacular. The extra scale length really wakes up the lower strings and it plays awesome. Of course I've done this with just a standard scale length guitars with good results as well but that extra scale length to my ear and feel makes a nice difference.

Please report back when you receive and your impressions.

Gotta love a company that will work with you and make whatever you want. I look forward to the reveal on that one! Congrats!

Another innovative creation based on player/maker collusion. Looking forward to the product.

Very cool! I intend to try that myself with my X30, once the shoulder heals enough to reach around it. Soon..... I'm playing my other guitars normally again.

When I've done the pseudo-baritone thing with regular 25.5" scale guitars, the 59 bass string from an EJ-18 heavy (59-14) set was OK at D-d but often wanted to be a 62 single when going any lower.

There was collusion?? :eek:














(Y'all were thinking it, too, weren't ya?)

Maybe collision?

Haha I was just discussing the exact same finish for a possible project last week... excellent choice :)

new to me X20 baritone
 

Received an X20 Artisan baritone yesterday. Quite taken with the sounds coming out of this feather weight. It has a set of Martin Lifespan baritone strings on it 14/70. Going to try a set of JP baritone 15/62 and see if those tolerate open C and D variants a little better.
I think the hybrid Bari works well. I normally play jumbo Goodalls with light strings tuned down and have no issue at all. I once owned a Giffin electric that was 25.5 scale but had a nut and bridge made for heavy strings. It worked excellent that way without the extra string length.

Today I paid the invoice for the remaining half of the amount due, more commonly known here as the ransom note. ;)

Now I am eagerly waiting for the next shipping video. :)

We look forward to hearing about how well this works for you. As I mentioned before, I often tune down a whole step too using heavier strings. Congrats on the upcoming NGD!

Congrats on your new order....

Is it there yet?