it's here! Here is my review a month in: (photos here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/L6Ls8i4iMs8C5yAh8 )
Sound: This is a world class instrument that is the equal of any of my other instruments. I also have a Santa Cruz D and OM, and a Froggy Bottom K, and I would put the sound of the guitar in the class of those other instruments without hesitation. It’s not the same sound as wood, for sure, but it is beautiful, and complex, and rings and rings and rings. I am planning to keep my Santa Cruzs (they each are highly sentimental to me for different reasons), but the Froggy Bottom is going to go, I believe. It’s an incredible instrument, but I’d rather sell it and get an x7 :-)
In terms of amplification, I went with the K&K pickup for a very specific reason: I also use a Tonedexter, and I have K&Ks in all of my guitars so that I have a consistent experience (It also means I can use the various settings to “model” my other instruments….). Interestingly, the output level on this guitar is MUCH higher than on my wood ones.
Sounds great plugged in.
Playability: First, let me say that the action, the playability, and the setup on this guitar are perfect. I am coming from a Blackbird Super OM, and so I am familiar with the perfection that carbon fiber makes possible, and Emerald does not disappoint. In addition, this solves one of my big pet peeves with the Blackbird, which was that when I would plant my pinky on the top to fingerpick, I would lose a ton of sustain. Not so here. Well done, Emerald!
However, playability is the only section that makes me wish I had been able to spend some time with the x30 before I purchased one.
Most of these are small things, but since I was ordering custom, I wish I had known them in advance, as I imagine with Emerald’s ability to customize, it could have been perfect :-)
To start with, I find that pretty consistently my thumb on my right hand hits the top of the fretboard when I’m travis picking. If I were doing it all over again, I would lose a few of the top frets and/or scallop it away from the bass side. Not a huge issue, but I do notice it.
This is an odd one, but the saddle is also quite sharp--I find that it hurts my right hand when I’m palm-muting. I’m sure a local tech can file it down for me, but FWIW, I’ve never noticed this on a guitar before. Similar thing with the nut, too.
The neck is actually a little on the small side for me. I had previously thought that I’m agnostic on necks (as long as the nut is 1.75+), but I actually find this one too small for me. If I end up getting an x7, that will be a change I’ll make. That being said, this is one of those things that I think is totally up to the hands of the player. In terms of playability, the neck, the frets, the action---the playability is impeccable.
The fret-work is great, with the only caveat being that i just got my Santa Cruz d12 back from their shop (a long story, but it lived there for 6 years until they put a brand new neck on it). Anyhow, I believe they are using the plek fret machine; the frets on that guitar are impeccable. Particularly with these being stainless frets, I hope this is something that Emerald looks into in the future. Plek-ed frets are truly a remarkable thing.
In terms of size: this is a big guitar, there’s no getting around that. But the engineering here is great, and it feels sooo much more comfortable than my dread…. Well done Alistair and team!
Looks: This is a stunning guitar. The koa is gorgeous, and creates a look unlike anything else. People comment constantly on it when I play it at my synagogue. I love the lack of fret-markers, and the overall cleanliness of the design. The x30 is really a stunner. Like many have said before, the veneer is *much* darker in most real-world situations than in the pictures that Emerald provides. I knew this going in, and chose accordingly, and am really, really happy with the results. There is nothing that I would change in the appearance of the guitar. Nothing.
Build Quality: This thing is beautiful, inside and out. It is basically a perfect guitar.
The only issue is one patch on the inside of the top, in the middle between the bridge and body, about the size of my thumbnail, that is rough and shallower than the rest… maybe a spot that a clamp was that didn’t get a few layers of fiber / finish / something?
Anyhow, that should serve as a reference point to just how beautiful and ****-near perfect every piece, inside and outside of this guitar, is. Like its sound, this guitar has the build quality of any world class instrument, that is clear.
Customer Experience / Build Experience: Emerald’s world-class guitars are partnered with a world-class customer-service experience. Every single person that I ever interacted with at Emerald was friendly, was knowledgeable, and was helpful. It’s a great team you have there.
This, in addition to the fact that door-to-door, my customer order took something like 10 weeks. Crazy!
Wrap-Up: There are a number of customizations that I will make so that the playability suits me better...when I order an x7. While I wish I would have done these things on my x30, this should tell you everything you need to know about how enamored I am with Emerald, and with my new guitar.