Emerald offset sound hole.

[gerardo1000]

My Rainsong WS Black Ice (as well as my Guild dread) sounds the same when I play it and when I listen to it played by another person. My new Emerald X20 sounds great when I play it but it sounds a bit different when I listen to it played by another person.
I guess that the traditional centered sound hole of the Rainsong makes no difference between player and listener. But it seems to me that the offset sound hole of the X 20 does not project to the listener as well as it does to the player. Of course, I am talking about playing acoustic only. My son, who is a much better player than me, came to visit yesterday and played extensively both guitars, and listened to me playing them. I asked him an opinion and he said: "If you forced me to choose only one guitar, based on me playing them I would choose the Emerald. Based on listening at you playing them, I would choose the Rainsong..." Personally, I play for my own pleasure, and almost always only for myself, therefore I like the X20 off set sound hole because it gives me enhanced fullness and richness of sound. I wanted to share my impression and I'd like to know the thoughts of other X20 owners!

[David Eastwood]

I think your observations are confirmed by your recent recording.

As I very rarely play for others, the way the guitar sounds to me is what matters most. I don’t think I’ve ever purchased an instrument based on how it might sound to an audience.

I find my Emeralds very satisfying to play, and to listen to.

[Doubleneck]

I have had Rainsongs and a Emerald doubleneck. To be honest I never liked the look of the Emerald X20 type sound hole, much prefer the look Doubleneck’s sound holes. I think it enhances the players sound at the prices of the listener? Its like a speaker right up to you? I think its a bit short sighted to only be concerned about the players sound experience? A Rainsong with the addition of a player’s side sound port would be interesting to compare.