#61
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It is FAR brighter than any Rainsong that I have ever played, including the two that I own. My WS-1000 Classic has a crystalline character with lots of overtones, but sounds good. The new Emerald is "ice pick in the ear" bright / harsh / strident and causes near immediate ear fatigue. I cannot describe it any more subtly. My guitar buddies agree and without any coaching. They had been considering Emerald purchases themselves based on the older X20 and my X30, but no more after hearing this one. |
#62
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#63
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I've been following this thread since the beginning and hoping to see some more positive experiences with the new x20 posted; this as I await my order for a black satin 6 string x20. Ironic that this negative experience popped up after following all of the glowing commentary and after ordering mine. Fingers crossed that mine will sound good to me.
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#64
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My fingers are crossed for you JRH. The odds are actually good - I have five wonderful Emerald guitars and this one outlier. Based on my prior experience, and also playing some Emeralds owned by others here, I expected consistency too. But this one example did not work out that way.... As I said earlier, if Emerald were my business, this guitar would not be an example that I would want out there in the world representing my work.
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#65
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Earl;
You sure gave the guitar every possible chance. I had an acquaintance who bought a new Mercedes that ended up in the shop every week or so. He begged the dealer to take the car back, which didn't happen. Finally, in a moment of rage and righteous indignation, he went to the managers office, threw the keys and title on the desk, and declared himself done with the car. The manager gave him a new car. |
#66
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__________________
1950 Martin 00-18 RainSong Concert Hybrid Orchestra Model 12 Fret Eastman E20OOSS. Strandberg Boden Original 6 Eastman T185MX G&L ASAT Classic USA Butterscotch Blonde Rickenbacher Lap Steel Voyage-Air VAD-2 Martin SW00-DB Machiche 1968 Guild F-112 Taylor 322e 12 Fret V Class |
#67
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Anyone cheating themselves out of an X30 based on a bad X20 are making a big mistake.
__________________
McCollum Grand Auditorum Euro Spruce/Brazilian PRS Hollowbody Spruce PRS SC58 Giffin Vikta Gibson Custom Shop ES 335 '59 Historic RI ‘91 Les Paul Standard ‘52 AVRI Tele - Richie Baxt build Fender American Deluxe Tele Fender Fat Strat |
#68
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I think the OP has gone out of his way to point out that this guitar is a one off problem evidenced by his other Emeralds, plus some others on here he has played. He also owns an X30, so hopefully this won’t hurt Emerald sales too much. However, it also makes sense that he doesn’t want to spend more of his money after a disappointing outcome. For me, it means not likely to order a custom Emerald that could be difficult to return. Every guitar maker has duds, we had a long thread on here about a Rainsong issue a year or two ago, and that is likely what happened here.
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Dave McPherson Sable, Blackbird Lucky 13, Rainsong OM1000. Various wood, mostly Taylors |
#69
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#70
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Like you and others, I’m surprised there’s any “variability in construction” with Emeralds. I can see where there might be with the changing of the bridge, but other than that, I’m lost at trying to figure it out. Do you have any thoughts on what could contribute to any variability in those guitars?
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McCollum Grand Auditorum Euro Spruce/Brazilian PRS Hollowbody Spruce PRS SC58 Giffin Vikta Gibson Custom Shop ES 335 '59 Historic RI ‘91 Les Paul Standard ‘52 AVRI Tele - Richie Baxt build Fender American Deluxe Tele Fender Fat Strat |
#71
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Earl;
You've got your teeth in this and not letting go. This can be bad for your mental health to say nothing about the wear and tear on your jaws. I once spent 5 years fighting Ford and Firestone over tires. I won, but at the price of a lot of time. Now, once in a while I'm willing to make a sacrifice to get something over with and to make a point. I'd ship the guitar to Alistair and see if, in all fairness, he would keep the instrument. On the other hand. It's possible that someone else might love the guitar as it is. You are in the grips of a true conundrum. |
#72
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#73
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PM sent. I am trying hard to be tactful and not air the details and dirty laundry in public. But I am truly at my wit's end. |
#74
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I've been thinking about this one. If you sell it you would lose several hundred dollars and never know for sure if it was not right from the get-go. If you ship it back to Emerald you will lose several hundred dollars but can get a sense of closure. Either they determine it isn't right and 'make it right' or they say it is fine which then would beg the question of what is 'good' leaving the factory.
In my humble opinion, eat the shipping cost and send it back. Closure can be a priceless thing!
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2014 Emerald X10 Quilted Maple 2016 Journey OF660 2020 McPherson Sable Gold EVO Honeycomb |
#75
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^^ Sage advice. One more set of strings as a last attempt, then it goes back to Donegal - period. If we are both lucky it will sell via my local CL before then. Kevin has already opined that they "....like the new X20 tone....", implying that something knowingly changed in the construction, so they likely won't see a problem with it.
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