Auditioned Emerald X20-OS today

billyg · #1 10-23-2014, 12:30 AM

On a business trip in the LA area, I discovered that a shop in Pasadena had an X20-OS in stock so I drove the 50 miles up there to try it. The shop is The Fretted Frog.
I liked the guitar quite a bit. Things I noted:
- It definitely has what I consider to be a "full" neck profile. Not the largest I have tried to deal with, but definitely "full".
- It plays easily and sounds great. The fullness of the neck challenged my thumb/F bass but I managed to pull that off.
- No boxiness that I could hear. I very much enjoyed the tone.
- The Bband pickup did not blow me over, but it is not bad at all. I do believe different pickups sound different on different instruments through different acoustic amps. The pickup sounded good enough - and I don't play out much anyway.
- The tuner on the Bband is certainly useful, but my eyes struggled with clear focus on the string designation. That's just me, of course, getting older.
- Finally, the guitar really held its own in alternate tunings. I worked on a tuning with a C bass (not sure what to call it) and was very impressed with the guitar's ability to not go sharp when playing up the neck on that C bass string.

The X20-OS impressed me. I am strongly considering this addition. Nice guitar.
Nice shop also.

If anyone has any insights with respect to the Bband pickup or other pickup options in the X20, I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

mchalebk · #2 10-23-2014, 07:09 AM

I've got a custom X20OS 12-string on order. It's actually built, but I ordered a custom, pinless bridge and it's waiting for Alistair to figure out how to attack it.

I ordered the guitar without factory electronics. I'm having MacNichol install a Barbera Acoustic Saddle Transducer. I highly suspect this pickup will give me great results when paired with my D-TAR Mama Bear modeling preamp (the best plugged in acoustic tone I ever got was with my Ovations that had the transducers built into the saddle paired with Mama). Decided I'm done with barn door systems.

If the 12-string lives up to my expectations, I plan to order a matching 6-string with the same pickup.

mot · #3 10-23-2014, 02:47 PM

Sounds like I have exactly what you played at the Fretted Frog (mine is a red opus). It's my go to any occasion guitar. I don't use my thumb to play the E string, so the neck works well for me.

I haven't been impressed or unimpressed with the B-band. If I had it to do all over again I would probably go with something else, but I am not so upset that I am ready to rip it out either.

I believe MacNichol's may still have an X-20 acoustic only if you want one quickly. I'm sure Michael can put the electronics you like best on it too.

If you aren't in a hurry, you could go direct to Alistair and custom order your X-20. He may still give you a discount similar to what he was offering a few weeks ago if you ask nicely too. I went straight to Alistair. He's great, but the waiting was agony even though it was well worth it.

Doubleneck · #4 10-23-2014, 06:01 PM

B-band is a good sounding pickup, only problem can be string balance, they tend to be pretty sensitive to pressure, a differing break angle on strings can cause real imbalance that is very hard to get right.

Uncle Pauhana · #5 10-25-2014, 09:23 AM

I'm very happy with the sound of my X-20 OS with the K & K pure mini pickup. I'm even happier with not having a barn door cut into the side of my guitar… and not having to deal with a battery is a plus too.

codecontra · #6 10-25-2014, 01:43 PM

Question, is the Emerald X20-OS a full sized or travel sized guitar? Also, does it have a truss rod? I am interested in this guitar as well.

Alistair Hay · #7 10-25-2014, 02:20 PM

Ive not been on the forum for quite a while so just dropping in to check whats happening.
Glad you guys are liking the X20-OS.
Its been a huge success and has proved itself in just about any custom configuration we have built it in, Baritone, 7 string, 12 string, etc.
Codecontra , the X20-OS is a full size guitar with a 25.5" scale and yes it has a 2 way truss rod.

Uncle Pauhana · #8 10-25-2014, 03:31 PM

Hey Alistair, thanks for dropping by. Hope all is well with your family.

Believe it or not, although I have raved about my X20-OS ever since I got it, I continue to be amazed at what a fine instrument it is in every respect, and how well suited it is for all the things I do.

Cheers,
Pili

HeavyDuty · #9 10-25-2014, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mchalebk

I've got a custom X20OS 12-string on order. It's actually built, but I ordered a custom, pinless bridge and it's waiting for Alistair to figure out how to attack it.

I ordered the guitar without factory electronics. I'm having MacNichol install a Barbera Acoustic Saddle Transducer. I highly suspect this pickup will give me great results when paired with my D-TAR Mama Bear modeling preamp (the best plugged in acoustic tone I ever got was with my Ovations that had the transducers built into the saddle paired with Mama). Decided I'm done with barn door systems.

If the 12-string lives up to my expectations, I plan to order a matching 6-string with the same pickup.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how your twelve works out - I've been considering commissioning something very similar for years, but with a 24.75" or so scale. If it were twelve fret with tuners set up like a Rickenbacker 12 (smaller headstock), even better!

CFW · #10 10-25-2014, 05:01 PM

I've got a custom 12 fret x20os... Also with a custom headstock.

Just sayin. It can be built.

HeavyDuty · #11 10-26-2014, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFW

I've got a custom 12 fret x20os... Also with a custom headstock.

Just sayin. It can be built.

Oh, my. Do you have any pics you can share? I'd love to see how it turned out.

mchalebk · #12 10-26-2014, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeavyDuty

I'm really looking forward to seeing how your twelve works out - I've been considering commissioning something very similar for years, but with a 24.75" or so scale. If it were twelve fret with tuners set up like a Rickenbacker 12 (smaller headstock), even better!

I ordered my 12-string with a 24" scale (where I'm headed with all my guitars). I also ordered it with a 1.75" nut (my short, aging fingers just can't handle the stitches any more).

I also ordered it with Sperzel open backed tuners, to keep the weight at the headstock down.

As soon as I get the 12, I plan to decide if I want a matching 6-string version. It would also be 24" scale, but with a 1 11/16" nut.

billyg · #13 10-26-2014, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alistair Hay

Ive not been on the forum for quite a while so just dropping in to check whats happening.
Glad you guys are liking the X20-OS.
Its been a huge success and has proved itself in just about any custom configuration we have built it in, Baritone, 7 string, 12 string, etc.
Codecontra , the X20-OS is a full size guitar with a 25.5" scale and yes it has a 2 way truss rod.

Alistair,
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for making such great instruments. I have a couple of questions if you are still around.
First, and most importantly, I have seen different info regarding a truss rod and the X20-OS. With respect to the guitar I tried out, the merchant told me it had a hollow neck and no truss rod, but the description on the website says "2-way". There was an X20-OS bubinga for sale in the classifieds a short time ago (beautiful guitar), and the seller stated that the "X20-OS has no truss rod."
I figure you know what your guitars have in them. So, I guess I am asking if there are "no truss rod" options on X20-OS (not that I'm interested) and if that might explain the discrepancies I am seeing in descriptions. And a related question is where is the adjustment?
Finally, and far less important, after trying out the X20-OS, I am wondering what strings it ships with.
Thanks again.

And thanks to all for the postings concerning info on pickup systems.

mchalebk · #14 10-26-2014, 10:38 AM

Billyg, pretty sure Emerald used to offer all their guitars with a no-truss rod option, but decided to make truss rods standard after seeing a lot of concern about guitars with no truss rods. I'm pretty sure all their guitars are available with truss rods, if desired.

Doubleneck · #15 10-26-2014, 12:58 PM

Yep, Emerald now offers, I think all there guitars with truss rod, the early versions of the X20 were hollow. I think a truss rod gives you options which is not a bad thing. Also wood coverts seem not to be able to pull the trigger without it. That said I have a hollow DOUBLENECK Emerald and love it. Just pulled the Ebay trigger on a Blackbird hollowneck.