#1
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Volume comparison between X7,X10,X20 and X30
It has been asked a few times recently about the difference in volume between our various models. We have played them a lot together here in our little lunchtime jam sessions and have a pretty good grasp of the comparisons but I thought it would be useful to put some numbers behind it and move from feeling to fact.
Firstly I had to string all the guitars with the same strings as string gauge and type can have a large effect on acoustic volume. All the guitars were fitted with Daddario EXP11 .012-.053 In the video you will see the sound level numbers going up and down at the start of each piece and then when i select max it gives us the max volume from the guitar. I located the decibel reader near to Kevins ear for a good comparison of what the player hears. For an extra comparison I grabbed my wifes older model X7. As a second video I thought it would be useful to measure the volume of the guitars at a distance of 10 feet in front to give some feeling for projection to an audience. Please dont judge the acoustic tone from this video as its just recorded through my phone. I hope this has been useful and it has certainly confirmed our personal feelings about each model. Also as a note we usually fit the X7 with EXP19 .012-.056 and on the X10 we use EXP13 .011-.052. The X10 in the video is fitted with our level one pickup system with the adjustable saddles. Thanks as always Alistair Last edited by Alistair Hay; 01-15-2019 at 12:14 PM. |
#2
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Thanks Alistair. That's pretty consistent with my experience with the old X7, new X7, and X20. I may experience a bigger difference between the old and new X7 models, but that could also just be a difference in the fullness of the tone. I'd have been sort of interested in how the older X7 would have done in that second video because my impression was that there is a pretty big difference between the old and new X7 at the player's ear and a much much smaller one, if any, a few feet in front of the guitar.
Interesting, in any case... -Ray |
#3
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I'll chime in that I put 13/56 polyweb elixirs on my X30 and it seemed to add a lot of volume and tone -- sounds like a grand piano, to my ears, now. That's a subjective impression, and suspect as such, but I really feel that it brought the bigger body even more to life with the higher tension.
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Emerald X30 Padauk Custom Emerald X20 Koa 1998 Gibson J200 Elite 1972 Martin D-28 McPherson Sable Breedlove Masterclass Taylor PS16ce Macassar |
#4
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Quote:
-Ray |
#5
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Is it wrong that I want another X30? I have the Royal King Padauk, the One Guitar, the Almighty Acoustic Authority, and I have the blue X30, the rough-n-tumble, don't-mind-a-couple-campfire-ash-marks, okay-if-your-friend-plays-me-and-scratches-me Battle Guitar. But I want an amber one too.... :-(
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Emerald X30 Padauk Custom Emerald X20 Koa 1998 Gibson J200 Elite 1972 Martin D-28 McPherson Sable Breedlove Masterclass Taylor PS16ce Macassar |
#6
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Tom '21 Martin D-18 Standard | '02 Taylor 814c | '18 Taylor 214ceDLX | '18 Taylor 150e-12 | '78 Ibanez Dread (First acoustic) | '08 CA Cargo | '02 Fender Strat American '57 RI My original songs |
#7
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Cool...imagine having all those X's...
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YUP.... Emerald: X-20, Center hole X-10 (Maple) and X-7 (redwood), Spalted Chen Chen X 10 level 3, CA: Early OX and Cargo McPherson: Early Kevin Michael Proto Some wood things by Epi, Harmony, Takamine, Good Time, PRS, Slick, Gypsy Music, keyboards, wind controllers.. etc |
#8
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Quote:
Is it even possible to have too many Emeralds?
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YUP.... Emerald: X-20, Center hole X-10 (Maple) and X-7 (redwood), Spalted Chen Chen X 10 level 3, CA: Early OX and Cargo McPherson: Early Kevin Michael Proto Some wood things by Epi, Harmony, Takamine, Good Time, PRS, Slick, Gypsy Music, keyboards, wind controllers.. etc |
#9
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Thanks for doing this. Not a drastic difference between the highest and lowest but you can also hear the tonal differences between each model as well. This is especially useful for all non-kramster type people!
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#10
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Indeed. It would be nice to hear a tonal comparison in high quality audio.
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Emerald X30 Emerald X20 Nylon Emerald X7 Nylon Rainsong Smokey SMH Outdoor Guitalele Taylor 522e 12-fret ✝ Gitane DG-560 nylon ✝ Alhambra 3C CW Eastman AR910CE Recording King RM-991 tricone resonator Recording King RK-G25 6-string banjo Thomann Irish Bouzouki M1089 |
#11
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"This is especially useful for all non-kramster type people!"...
How'd I get dragged into this... I was napping and this happened
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YUP.... Emerald: X-20, Center hole X-10 (Maple) and X-7 (redwood), Spalted Chen Chen X 10 level 3, CA: Early OX and Cargo McPherson: Early Kevin Michael Proto Some wood things by Epi, Harmony, Takamine, Good Time, PRS, Slick, Gypsy Music, keyboards, wind controllers.. etc |
#12
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Because it's super easy and fun to do!
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#13
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YUP.... Emerald: X-20, Center hole X-10 (Maple) and X-7 (redwood), Spalted Chen Chen X 10 level 3, CA: Early OX and Cargo McPherson: Early Kevin Michael Proto Some wood things by Epi, Harmony, Takamine, Good Time, PRS, Slick, Gypsy Music, keyboards, wind controllers.. etc |
#14
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I thought that this was a very interesting exercise. Particularly the 10-foot-away second video. I'd have to go back and compare the numbers, but it seemed to me that the X30 really scored for overall projection.
As you might expect, of course - but it reinforces the notion that the audience is primarily hearing the top of the guitar, not what comes out of the soundholeport.
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Martin 0-16NY Emerald Amicus Emerald X20 Cordoba Stage Some of my tunes: https://youtube.com/user/eatswodo |
#15
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Well, that kinda bears out what my ears were telling me when I made that sound clip of the X7, X10, and X20. Alas, no X30 for my comparison.
We are gearing up to head out for a couple months, and the inevitable decision about which guitar to take. The X10 and the X20 are cased up... so I spent some time with the X7 this afternoon (between honey-do projects). That little guitar still impresses me - how do they make it sound so good?? Size matters, right? Physics? (I've said that before.) Must be that Irish mojo. I can see what byudzai is all fired up about with his X30(s). Volume stats aside, each of these models have their own sound. Thanks for taking the time to put numbers on the discussion, Alistair. |