New redesigned Emerald X20!

[Fixedgear60]

Looks like Emerald has updated the x20 to more align with the latter models.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2hc...ature=youtu.be

Looks great....love the new frett board and bridge !!!

[Methos1979]

I knew this day was coming! I loved the extra cutaway on my X7 and figured a redesign of the X20 incorporation this was coming. Well, it's here! Also a redesigned bridge without the 'point' which I like and also pinless is standard. I was not a fan of the pinless I had but it sounds like they've slotted it which might make it better than the one I had.

Hmmm... There might be a custom woody in my future!!!

Emerald Guitars - "New X20 Redesigned" Launch

[Methos1979]

You beat me by one minute! But that's because I originally posted in the wrong section!! I'm sure they'll combine ours.

[Fixedgear60]

Originally Posted by Methos1979

You beat me by one minute! But that's because I originally posted in the wrong section!! I'm sure they'll combine ours.

no worries.... great news!!! either way!!!

[Earl49]

I just watched the video too. These are some nice tweaks to the design. With a custom X20 in the works right now (no status update) it was heartening to hear that nothing else had changed tonally. I love my stock X20 now but I'm looking for a shorter scale length of 24.6". I also asked them to only give me 20 frets instead of 24, since I never use the highest ones anyway. The longer fret board sometimes gets in the way of my strum stroke, given the slightly different angle that my arm drapes with the bevel instead of a squared edge. But the curved fret board end would handle that for me. Bravo!!

[raysachs]

I figured this was coming soon, once we started seeing a few customs with the big heel cutout. Kind of interesting that they maintained the 14th fret neck join. The X30 has a 12th fret join. The X7 changed from 14th to 12th with the redesign, but having owned both new and old X7s at once for a while, it really seemed that the main thing that changed was because of the shape and orientation of the soundhole, the new soundhole just extended a little further down the neck to the 12th fret.

But the X7 I had was warmer sounding than the X20 I had and the X30 is reputed to be very warm and deep. The X20 I had didn't have that same warmth - I've described it as "tinny", others would probably find it "shimmery", so I don't want to put a value judgement on it, except to say it was less to my taste. If this new one was closer to the warmth of the X7 or X30, I might be interested again someday. But if, as Alistair says in the video, the tone hasn't really changed, then probably not... I'll be interested in hearing some sound clips from it though...

-Ray

[Carmel Cedar]

Looks like a great set of tweaks and upgrades to an already great guitar. Bravo Alastair!

I assume there was no change to scale length or neck shape - would be great to hear confirmation of that.

[esimms86]

It looks like there are several examples of the newly designed X20 in stock and up for sale. There are 7 of the "old" design, including only one remaining standard 6 string model with a beautiful woody top.

I, too, prefer the bridge as previously designed with pins, which makes me wonder: how might they be planning to accommodate people who specify pins in their custom build(i.e., would there be an upcharge and, if so, how much would that be)?

[Tøf]

Nice!!! Good to see the best seller finally received the same improvements as the X30/X7/X10!

If the pinless bridge is the same design as before, I would rather go for a standard bridge instead. I had one on my previous X20 and found that changing strings was actually more challenging (some grooves seemed to let the ball ends pop out too easily).

[SpruceTop]

On No! Emerald is going Taylor on us! I just got my 2019 X20 last autumn and now they do a couple of design changes. Well, the pinless bridge I can do without and the new rib bevel might be a nice thing but I find my 2019 X20 is comfortable to play as is.

[revj]

They finally fixed so many things i didn't like, especially the bridge and fret board... yes!

[Captain Jim]

Nice tweaks to a classic design!

[GuitarLuva]

Definitely a good move for them to do this and yes I think we'll all agree that it was only a matter of time before it happened. My only wish would've been to see them do a flat back design like on the X30.

[mikealpine]

The game changer for me is the bevel. While I'm not a tall guy, I'm lean. I found the X20's inside top edge hit my ribs at a spot at which I have no meat on my, and it dug in a bit. I would have loved a rib bevel. Also want to hear sound clips. I like the end of the fretboard too, it has nice artistic flourish at the end.

[mikealpine]

The rib bevel, that's the option that does it for me!