Great looking Guitar! Emerald X20-OS 7 strings Woody

[P_K]

i've seen this guitar on Emerald guitars facebook and i really had to share it here with you. Folks at Macnichol forum gave the the idea to post it here for those who don't use facebook

i think that this is the most beautiful carbon fiber guitar i've ever seen IMHO. My dream guitar is really close to this one. Alistair Hay told me the that Steve Vai and his guitar player played it and really really loved it

this is what Alistair said about it:
This is the latest custom version of our X20-OS. Its got a beautiful Quilted maple veneer over the carbon top and has exposed carbon weave on the back and sides with and golden amber tinted finish to compliment the top. This is a 7 string guitar with an extra low B and in my opinion the best way to do a 7 string is with fan frets. The fan frets give much better tension and definition to the tone on the bass side. The scale runs from 27" on the bass side to 25.5" on the treble side. We have built alot of 7 strings over the years but this one is my favorite by far. It just looks and sounds devine.

[kramster]

Right fine indeed

[HeavyDuty]

But... how does the quilt veneer affect the durability?

[wthurman]

Nice looking. Don't like the PRS-ish headstock, though. is that typical of the Emeralds?

[ac]

I don't know what a PRS headstock looks like but this is the general typical shape of Emerald headstocks. He does a couple of traditional "plain" headstocks for two models, but the rest are variations of this--some longer some stubbier depending on the scale length and number of strings.

You can see the variations of standard models here

http://www.emeraldguitars.com/products/guitars/

although he does change the headstock for custom models, sometimes severely as with a custom nylon string he did with a scroll shaped headstock.

[Doubleneck]

He does a more tradition look with his T series, I personally have grown to love his more "modern" designs. The veneer does not effect durability it is fused with the carbon fiber.

[Kindness]

Originally Posted by Doubleneck

He does a more tradition look with his T series, I personally have grown to love his more "modern" designs. The veneer does not effect durability it is fused with the carbon fiber.

I am more concerned with the durability of the wood top. I wonder if when wood is combined with carbon fiber if it does not require humidifying?

[P_K]

the thin wood veneer is fused together with the carbon fiber in the mould and soaked in the resin, so it is completely isolated form the outside. you can even bath with this guitar and the wood won't notice anything

[Doubleneck]

I find the 3d effect of the Carbon Fiber finishes Alistair does very cool, not sure I would go wood but the total effect of this guitar is amazing.

[Kindness]

Originally Posted by P_K

the thin wood veneer is fused together with the carbon fiber in the mould and soaked in the resin, so it is completely isolated form the outside. you can even bath with this guitar and the wood won't notice anything

That is awesome! He really has nicely figured out and without question, produces the best looking CF guitars out there!

[EunosFD]

Absolutely fantastic looking guitar. I'm not normally one for acoustics with figured tops, but it works well here. I'm really digging what Emerald is doing. I've been toying with the idea of getting into extended range guitars & this looks to be right up my alley. Maybe one day... Oh, and I love that he used a carbon fiber sheet as the backdrop for the pics too.

[Kindness]

PK,

You should have included in the title of the post that this is a Fan Fret. Is this not the only Fan Fret CF guitar available?

Any sound clips?

[ChunkyB]

Originally Posted by itself

PK,

You should have included in the title of the post that this is a Fan Fret. Is this not the only Fan Fret CF guitar available?

Any sound clips?

I know that Emerald does fan frets on many of their other models as an option too. Actually, it seems like Alistair will do just about anything you want done on his guitar (I know Martin mentioned a bayonette in another thread).

Also, the Leviora that's making its way around on the road trip is a fan fret.

[s2y]

VERY interesting. I just picked up a fanned 7 and this is nice.

About how much-ish does something like this run?

[Uncle Pauhana]

Originally Posted by s2y

VERY interesting. I just picked up a fanned 7 and this is nice.

About how much-ish does something like this run?

Maybe somebody with more info will step in, but for a starter:
The base X20-OS 6 string costs $1495 shipped to the US (and elsewhere, I'm sure), which seems pretty reasonable for a guitar crafted to Emerald's high standards. This includes the same B-Band electronics that the pictured seven string seems to have, and the same Hiscox hard shell case. The base model has visible carbon on the top (choice of black, red, green, or the honey/amber seen here on the back etc. of the seven string), glossy black neck, and a very nice textured black finish on sides, back, and headstock.

Upgrades appearing on this one would seem be the seven string option, the fan fret, the visible carbon weave on back, sides, neck, and headstock, the fused-wood top, and the gold plating. (I'm not sure if the Gotoh tuners are standard, same price option, or paid upgrade from Grovers.) I would guess that the appearance options would add more to the final cost than the functional seven string/fan fret options.

Speaking of cosmetic options, Emerald's facebook page has pix of some insane custom finishes like faux marble in black, white, or even purple, not to mention Emerald's "impossible" custom electrics, like Steve Vai's Ultra Zone guitar, and a stunning chrome dragon for China's biggest rock star, Lee Hom, I think his name is.