X30 – Grand Piano Magic - is it there?
 

Anyone with X30 in hands (more recent preferebly), who can help with my 3 questions – 1st being most important. Thanks for help!

1. X30 = Grand piano magic - is it there ? From the moment I first saw it, the idea and story of X 30 is somehow very fascinating to me and looks like my "Grand Piano" blueprint, but at the end of a day we are talking about musical instrument, so truly important is only the actual sound. I listened all the sound clips of X 30 I found. The only recording that I realy liked was the "Emerald Guitars X30 In The Studio (Pat Muldowney)" https://youtu.be/5B8lYrD9cAM

Would you recommend the X30 for the tone/playing style found in below videos, which are in drop tunings and mostly around SJ size???

I would be more than happy with any of those guitars – I am flexible, but due to climate, I am interested to go »carbon only« route. I do have another option which is Rainsong APSE, but usualy only bigger SJ & MD guitars truly speak to me.

https://youtu.be/ccBTxHdp2Do – VERY nice SJ!
https://youtu.be/uvWxDpwqeSY – skip to 1.10 for the point if you wish…
https://youtu.be/_fBQrliYcB0 – to bright SJ for me/those nails I gues. But this kind of bloom/3D sound/reverb/overtones tone is the one I prefer
https://youtu.be/4kyuLXtfXqU – great Larrivee
https://youtu.be/qcKacpjAwBQ – perfect music, player and guitar's big dynamic range/fine tone

Check in my last reply where I added 1 more, to explain that »Grand piano« nature. Mybe X30 is more similar to that one? What do you think?

2. After reading the article called »Why every good guitar has a wolf note« - which includes video by luthier describing it https://inside-guitar.com/why-every-...s-a-wolf-note/ I would like to know if Emerald did some changes to the X30 guitars in last year or so to find a cure?

3. Anyone managed to compare X 30 in pure carbon vs quilted maple veneer vs heavier/denser wood veneer to find out if there is some diference in overtone content and tone?

Thanks you very much for all the comments!!!

With a big disclaimer that I've never played an X30, I wonder how much of the grand piano sound in the videos you referenced is due to reverb/echo added to the mix. The version of Tahitian Skies played by Pat Muldowney was beautiful. Perhaps an email to Emerald would tell you how that X30 was recorded.

With regard to #3, I asked Emerald if the veneer affected the tone (I have an X20 woody in the build queue). They said there is no noticeable effect. I believe when final sanding is done the layer is only 0.3mm thick. But I'll be interested in the replies from any people that have made the comparison.

I previously owned an X30, and I can't say that to my ears, any of these samples really captures the tonal essence which is warm, low end and boomy. I've owned Martin dreads (D18 & HD28) and Rainsong Jumbo, and the X30 exceeded them in terms of low end...

Comments of others with which I agree...

What are you playing now?

What are you looking for in an X30 to add to, or complement, whatever you have previously experienced?

Oh, and as far as veneers are concerned, the owner of the company has stated multiple times that they have no influence on the sound. That’s good enough for me.

More details, please!

My X30 sounds a lot like that clip from Pat Muldowney, but maybe that is just because he tunes it down to D like I always do, which IMO is where the X30 really shines.

With Elixers I get the same amount of treble as in the video. I once tried D'Addarios on this guitar but they went dull and dead within minutes. I guess you could call that "warm" but it was definitely not the kind of warm I want to hear in a guitar.

Well, I played guitars for 18 years – nylons/electric and from acoustics nothing boutique, only Washburn, shortly Taylor GC Mexico and used GS maple. Best I owned was Australian OM sized Gilet – which had very nice overtones and was easy to play. For a while I played my brothers Boulder Creek dread (all Koa) and jumbo spruce/maple which was uncomfortable. I also briefly played the Martin HD28 from my friend, but couldn't bond with it. Last few years I had a period of other music related things. Months ago I bought used mediocre guitar to have something for new start, but now I want something that will truly mesmerize me! Bigger size guitar that excels in drop tunings. Preferebly SJ/MD size guitar that have that dramatic grand piano nature with deep bass, lots of overtones, reverb and bloom for slower intricate fingerstyle. It will be only one good guitar - can't afford more. I thought X30 could be the one? Thanks for comments.

I’ve never had the good fortune to play an X30, but from all the reviews, video and commentary I’ve seen, and your detailed description of your needs and desires, I suspect you’d be rather happy with one.

Playing before buying is always preferable, but you can buy a stock instrument from Emerald and return it within 10 days if you don’t bond with it. You will have to pay return shipping, so there’s that consideration.

Whereabouts on the planet are you? Emerald has shipped guitars all over the world, so it’s not inconceivable that there might be one in your part of the world whose owner would let you try it out.

Merry Christmas to everyone, also!

PS: there’s a rather lovely example for sale here:

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...14&postcount=1

X30 is a thumper. Period. Low end punch.

Plugged in, I find it to very easily get feedback/resonance on the low end because it's so strong.
I have been asked to cut back on the bass EQ a few times when playing at my church, it's so strong. I couldn't because it didn't have an on board EQ.
It sings highs still, but it's magic is the low drone.

It FITS like a much smaller guitar too. It does not feel large.

I can’t give you the details you ask for, but can tell you the guitar is very comfortable to play, and I’m about 5’ 5” tall and trim/athletically built. As far as sound, the bass is quite pronounced and I have to be very conscious of my pock attack or the low E string is too loud. I like the sound and it competes with a buddy’s solid, old Guild dread in terms of volume. My Rainsong H-OM is a more balanced guitar and, to, me has a bit more of a piano-like quality.

Would this example be closer to X30 tonaly or even further? Drop tuning again. https://youtu.be/SRSPJjhi54Q

It reminds me to that "Grand Piano" blueprint in my mind...

Actualy "Grand Piano" description is probably not the best when talking about guitars - they are very different instruments, but when I think of it, it means to me a very dramatic and powerful guitar with a subwoofer deep bass which is not muddy but have clarity, a guitar with huge dynamic range, moving lots of air, having lots of nice overtones and sustain and natural reverb. But clear mids and round but sparkly and ringing trebles would be best. And if it has that 3D quality and bloom, then it would be dream come true for me. But this king of sound is not good for everything, but it is for music I like to play with drone bass at the bottom and slow treble melody at the top ect...


Did you try anything else to get the trebles more pronounced and sparkly or bell like? Like different material for saddle and nut. Something harder. Mammoth ivory for example? Brass could also work mybe. But playing style is probably most important. Any other idea?

I wish. Comparing an X30 to a wood guitar with a base price of $9995 seems a little unfair though.
I replaced the nut with a zero glide nut but that was mainly to make the open strings sound the same as the fretted positions. I chose the same fret material (stainless steel) for the null fret.
With the Elixers I don't need any more brightness. But since I still want to lower the saddle I need a spare anyway, so I may try one in a different material.

Bass-wise I'd say so....

Alex, if you fill in your profile location, there may be someone near you that owns one.

IMHO a Taylor 855 12 string is the closest thing I've seen to a grand piano.

But, a fan fret or 7 string X30 has outstanding balance to my ear.

If you're around Los Angeles you're welcome to come try mine before I sell it.

I am not a professional musician.
Until I brought my X-30, I thought my Taylor 814CE was spectacular. Using the grand piano vs upright piano analogy, I would now consider my Taylor to be a high end upright piano. The unamplified X-30 has a bigger presence than the Taylor 814CE. In my opinion, because of this, the X-30 would be comparable to a grand piano in the keyboard world.

I did not like the set up that the X-30 came with. I had a luthier re-due the set up and I am very satisfied with how it plays.