NGOD = New Guitar Order Day
But I won't see it for around 16 weeks/3-4 months! That's the quoted build time for an order they don't have in stock. They did have a couple lefties in stock, but not in the color (Amber) that I wanted.
I ordered an X-20 Artisan 6-string in Amber with the Anthem pickup upgrade, and also upgraded to receive the hardshell case (standard) and the gigbag (optional add-on for this model). Everything else is standard: 25.5" scale length, 1 3/4" nut, Gotoh 510 tuners, all carbon fiber (decided against the "wood top" option - which seems a little steep to me at $450!).
[[This comes on the tail of trying out the new lefty Paul Reed Smith SE Custom 24, but I decided that, for the price, it just didn't tick all the boxes enough for me to keep it. Nice, well made guitar, but I'd have to change out the pickups and pots to be satisfied, and I just don't have time to mess with that these days; life is too busy... so it will go back (to Sweetwater) soon. Needless to say, when I A/B'd it with my RS-4, there was just no comparison. Again, not a bad guitar, but after the comparison, I realized I don't need it to fill in any gaps.]]
So I posted some pics in the other thread, but here are a few of what this will look like:
:donut :coffee :donut2 :coffee :drool:
Very lovely build Rev! I think the carbon fiber guitars are here to stay, especially in places where the weather environment can be hard on a wooden guitar. The Emerald's look nice too.
I love the new acronym NGOD. I ordered one myself today, but not a carbon fiber. It will be my second Bourgeois and will have a large soundhole and sunburst aged tone Adi top with RW back/sides. Mid to late February...
Quote from: George on November 16, 2017, 09:50:08 AM
Very lovely build Rev! I think the carbon fiber guitars are here to stay, especially in places where the weather environment can be hard on a wooden guitar. The Emerald's look nice too.
I love the new acronym NGOD. I ordered one myself today, but not a carbon fiber. It will be my second Bourgeois and will have a large soundhole and sunburst aged tone Adi top with RW back/sides. Mid to late February...
I live in Minnesota (for the forseeable future), so yes, carbon fiber makes sense in this radical seasonal weather.
Congrats on the Bourgeois order! It sounds like something I want to order from Martin down the road (the large sound hole in particular: I'm dreaming about a 0000 size in hog with a large soundhole; they made a signature model in the past, the JDP (Diane Ponzi) and JDP II that have a HUGE sound.
Now the long winter wait begins: I'm looking at an ETA of mid-March... better forget about it and get on with life!
Well now you've done it. They are a great guitar. I have a wood veneer in green. The woodys are really nice at least in my opinion. The veneer I have was used on a select series. I considered one and the all sold which made me wish i had gone for one. Then this green one showed up with that same veneer. So I sent my money. Its a Korelian Burl when the light is right it has little emerald coloured flecks in it. The wood veneer apparently does not affect the tone but I guess what I like is that no other will look like it. If I was buying another x20 it would be a wood veneer top, it just looks that good. Something to think about while you wait....that way you won't forget you ordered the guitar. As for the emerald gig bag , it isn't bad and I have one along with the hiscox case but i got a reunion blues bag . Way happier throwing it in the back of my truck with that. That is not to say there is any issue with the hiscox, it is a great hard case. But going on road trips the reunion blues bag is my pick.
Quote from: Swampdigger on November 19, 2017, 10:20:17 PM
Well now you've done it. They are a great guitar. I have a wood veneer in green. The woodys are really nice at least in my opinion. The veneer I have was used on a select series. I considered one and the all sold which made me wish i had gone for one. Then this green one showed up with that same veneer. So I sent my money. Its a Korelian Burl when the light is right it has little emerald coloured flecks in it. The wood veneer apparently does not affect the tone but I guess what I like is that no other will look like it.
:gotpics:
:donut :coffee :donut2 :coffee
Don't know if this will work or not but maybe !
Here's the headstock.
Beautiful! I didn't know they would do the overlay on the headstock, too! Must've missed that detail.
Thanks for sharing... makes me long for mine even more... :drool:
Shipped out two guitars today, another going out either today or tomorrow... the simplification process begins!
Stunning-looking. That green color is pretty intense. It looks futuristic; like the type of guitar you would see in a movie depicting a band in the future. Like the band in Jabba the Hutt's palace.
Quote from: L07 Shooting Star on November 22, 2017, 12:45:47 AM
It looks futuristic; like the type of guitar you would see in a movie depicting a band in the future. Like the band in Jabba the Hutt's palace.
:bgrin: The Last Jedi is coming....
Quote from: Mikeymac on November 21, 2017, 12:43:10 PM
Shipped out two guitars today, another going out either today or tomorrow... the simplification process begins!
:+1: I need to do that myself.
Quote from: Mikeymac on November 21, 2017, 12:43:10 PM
Shipped out two guitars today, another going out either today or tomorrow... the simplification process begins!
Two were cheapy Rondo SX electrics that I basically gave away for the cost of shipping, the third was a PRS SE Custom 24 lefty that I returned to Sweetwater because the electronics were wonky, and I didn't want to deal with rewiring it ... otherwise a very nice guitar.
I've got another 8-10 others (acoustics and electrics) that need to be sold (none of them are "giveaways" - sorry!)
I just found the Guild maple 12r I want. If it works out, I'll have to sell some soon.
The photos are those taken by Emerald. The lighting for those would have bean rather intense. In most lighting the guitar looks much darker. The finish a translucent green over the carbon fiber, as is the amber. The end result is like like you see with some metallic car finishes, colour depends on the day. The amber may look golden or almost black. The Emeralds are really nice to play. The arm bevel is part of it but the lower side of the guitar is actually sloped so that that the guitar leans in to you. Ya all be careful out there that carbon will sneak up on yas.....And first thing ya know....
U been warned !
Quote from: Swampdigger on November 22, 2017, 10:39:46 PM
Ya all be careful out there that carbon will sneak up on yas.....And first thing ya know....
U been warned !
This thread was stirring some feeling in me. But none of my wood guitars crack.
In fact my humidifier is running right now.
Besides, I've got the maple 12r bug. :bgrin:
Quote from: Swampdigger on November 22, 2017, 10:39:46 PM
The photos are those taken by Emerald. The lighting for those would have bean rather intense. In most lighting the guitar looks much darker.
For those who don't know, Emerald is very savvy. Included with every guitar is an SD card with professional pictures of your new instrument for sharing on social media. :thumb
AZLiberty knows. He and I are amongst the fallen infected by the carbon. Danny you may be next. Its interesting , the best wooden guitars have likely already been built. The best sounding may not have aged enough yet. The best sounding Carbon fiber/ non wood .... that is yet to be built. Many good choices now.
Quote from: Swampdigger on November 23, 2017, 09:35:52 AM
AZLiberty knows. He and I are amongst the fallen infected by the carbon. Danny you may be next. Its interesting , the best wooden guitars have likely already been built.
If I buy another wooden guitar it will most likely be to order a Halcyon. (thinking Black Walnut/Engelman)
Quote from: AZLiberty on November 22, 2017, 11:03:47 PM
For those who don't know, Emerald is very savvy. Included with every guitar is an SD card with professional pictures of your new instrument for sharing on social media. :thumb
Mine was an X7-OS. I really wanted to like it.
Ed
Quote from: Swampdigger on November 23, 2017, 09:35:52 AM
AZLiberty knows. He and I are amongst the fallen infected by the carbon. Danny you may be next. Its interesting , the best wooden guitars have likely already been built. The best sounding may not have aged enough yet. The best sounding Carbon fiber/ non wood .... that is yet to be built. Many good choices now.
This is one thing I've wondered about carbon fiber guitars: will the tone ever change or "mature"? Or will any change in tone be due to different strings, picks, technique, etc.? Will they loosen up? Doesn't seem like it's in the nature of the materials. Is it too early to know? Or have they been around long enough that someone can speak to a change in tone over time - and if so, how long did it take?
Quote from: Mikeymac on November 23, 2017, 11:03:53 PM
This is one thing I've wondered about carbon fiber guitars: will the tone ever change or "mature"? Or will any change in tone be due to different strings, picks, technique, etc.? Will they loosen up? Doesn't seem like it's in the nature of the materials. Is it too early to know? Or have they been around long enough that someone can speak to a change in tone over time - and if so, how long did it take?
Carbon fiber is baked, both figuratively and literally. It won't be aging.
Except, you know, as ultimately, entropy owns all things.
Quote from: Queequeg on November 24, 2017, 08:13:35 AM
.... entropy owns all things.
Except some "things" not made by human hands. But...if time and use affects the resin/carbon guitar, I suspect it would be detrimental
Quote from: broKen on November 24, 2017, 08:52:56 AM
Except some "things" not made by human hands. But...if time and use affects the resin/carbon guitar, I suspect it would be detrimental
Okay, so much for guess work - I'm asking if anyone has any real world experience with a carbon fiber guitar over time that heard any change in the tone.
Thanks. :donut :coffee
Nope, not me. But my 18 year old D-02 sure has aged well. :guitar
Early versions of carbon fiber were reported to fatigue and delaminate with repeated stresses. Carbon fiber in its various stages have been in use for many years in the construction of a variety of types of sporting equipment that has to withstand repeated battering by the user. I have yet to find any hard documentation that would indicate that the more modern carbon fibers, like the ones used in guitar manufacturing, have any expected lifespan. Articles do suggest that wood shortages and controls will eventually increase their use. One thing for sure, if you bang it hard enough and repeatedly enough it will likely eventually fracture and break. I have some carbon fiber arrow shafts that are over thirty years old and they are still like new... Who knows?
Quote from: broKen on November 24, 2017, 08:52:56 AM
Except some "things" not made by human hands. But...if time and use affects the resin/carbon guitar, I suspect it would be detrimental
The sun, the moon, the stars (none of which were made by man) are all subject the the laws of physics; thermodynamics; entropy, and will all fade away.
If your remarks are theological in nature, that's not a topic I'm prepared to entertain with you here.
Quote from: Mikeymac on November 24, 2017, 05:20:04 PM
Okay, so much for guess work - I'm asking if anyone has any real world experience with a carbon fiber guitar over time that heard any change in the tone.
Thanks. :donut :coffee
Yes.
I'm telling you that I have owned a CA for10 years now and baked carbon fiber does not age in the sense that a wooden guitar does.
That is why you can subject it to weather conditions of heat, cold, high & low humidity and it is unaffected by these changes.
Quote from: broKen on November 24, 2017, 08:52:56 AM
Except some "things" not made by human hands. But...if time and use affects the resin/carbon guitar, I suspect it would be detrimental
I have a perfect walking staff, that I found in a river up in the Ozarks.
It was not made by human hands, a beaver did it. I like it a lot.
Quote from: Queequeg on November 25, 2017, 10:39:06 AM
Yes.
I'm telling you that I have owned a CA for10 years now and baked carbon fiber does not age in the sense that a wooden guitar does.
That is why you can subject it to weather conditions of heat, cold, high & low humidity and it is unaffected by these changes.
That's the kind of response I was hoping for - and your answer doesn't surprise me. Kinda what I expected...
So you'd better like the tone of your carbon fiber guitar when you get it, because it's not going to change much (except for with different strings, picks, eq'ing of the electronics, etc.).
Quote from: Mikeymac on November 25, 2017, 06:28:17 PM
That's the kind of response I was hoping for - and your answer doesn't surprise me. Kinda what I expected...
So you'd better like the tone of your carbon fiber guitar when you get it, because it's not going to change much (except for with different strings, picks, eq'ing of the electronics, etc.).
True, but seriously, does anyone buy a guitar that they don't like the way it sounds with the belief that it will improve with age?
I'm sure that all the people on
this forum are smarter than that.
Quote from: Queequeg on November 27, 2017, 06:27:34 AM
True, but seriously, does anyone buy a guitar that they don't like the way it sounds with the belief that it will improve with age?
I'm sure that all the people on this forum are smarter than that.
I get that, but most seasoned guitar players also know that wood guitars' tone does change with age, and that change is almost always considered an improvement as the wood settles, ages and the instrument matures. I'm just saying this seems unlikely with carbon fiber.
Also, I find it interesting that many people make a distinction between "natural" materials (wood, hide glue, bone nuts & saddles) and "man-made" materials - when all "man-made" materials ultimately came from nature; there is nothing on this planet that is not ultimately natural/from nature!
:donut :coffee
Quote from: Mikeymac on November 27, 2017, 11:31:44 AM
I get that, but most seasoned guitar players also know that wood guitars' tone does change with age, and that change is almost always considered an improvement as the wood settles, ages and the instrument matures. I'm just saying this seems unlikely with carbon fiber.
Also, I find it interesting that many people make a distinction between "natural" materials (wood, hide glue, bone nuts & saddles) and "man-made" materials - when all "man-made" materials ultimately came from nature; there is nothing on this planet that is not ultimately natural/from nature!
:donut :coffee
Yep. I hear ya. :thumb
You might enjoy or appreciate this interesting bit of nature. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uzsAa606u0&list=PLU0FRMWAZSLij6fCOpWdEEnz-B9ppf0s0&index=11) :wave
Quote from: Queequeg on November 27, 2017, 12:57:19 PM
Yep. I hear ya. :thumb
You might enjoy or appreciate this interesting bit of nature. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uzsAa606u0&list=PLU0FRMWAZSLij6fCOpWdEEnz-B9ppf0s0&index=11) :wave
Thanks for that - yes, I've seen those before.
Here's one of my favorite singer songwriters, David Wilcox (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsMFMgV9Cdo), talking about his signature carbon fiber Rainsong. David has played Olson's for years (and played a Larrivee for a brief time back in the mid/late '90's). But on the road, he prefers to play something indestructible...
Well, I got an e-mail this morning! My Emerald is ready to ship! So I just sent my payment, and they're going to let me know when it goes out the door (out of the country of Ireland?!) with tracking information.
They're ahead of schedule by at least a few weeks by my reckoning - but I'm not complaining!
Updates when I know more...
:nanadance :nana_guitar
Quote from: Mikeymac on February 16, 2018, 08:35:24 AM
Well, I got an e-mail this morning! My Emerald is ready to ship! So I just sent my payment, and they're going to let me know when it goes out the door (out of the country of Ireland?!) with tracking information.
They're ahead of schedule by at least a few weeks by my reckoning - but I'm not complaining!
Updates when I know more...
:nanadance :nana_guitar
Got a tracking number... it should be crossing "the pond" in the next 24 hours. Then we'll see how long it takes to get through east coast customs and make its way to MintSoda!
Some folks on the AGF are reporting that they are getting dinged for customs duty on Emeralds.
Looks like there may have been a change to the uniform Tariff schedule. Really interested to know if you get dinged by customs since I am still considering an Emerald double-neck.
I'll let you know - although they did not warn me of the possibility of this when they shipped it to me (seems like they would have mentioned it if I was going to have to pony up on my end).
Anyway - the guitar has left Ireland, reached the "Heathrow Transit Hub" in London! Next stop, USA!!! :nanadance
I got to play an X20-12 last weekend at the "Pheonix Carbonfest". I could see owning one of those in amber.
Phoenix Carbonfest was a half dozen of the folks from the AGF meeting up. I think we had just under 30 CF instruments to play around on.
Quote from: AZLiberty on March 01, 2018, 01:44:55 AM
I got to play an X20-12 last weekend at the "Pheonix Carbonfest". I could see owning one of those in amber.
Phoenix Carbonfest was a half dozen of the folks from the AGF meeting up. I think we had just under 30 CF instruments to play around on.
If I was going to buy another CF it would be an Emerald X20, they sound very full...
Quote from: AZLiberty on March 01, 2018, 01:44:55 AM
I got to play an X20-12 last weekend at the "Pheonix Carbonfest". I could see owning one of those in amber.
Phoenix Carbonfest was a half dozen of the folks from the AGF meeting up.
I think we had just under 30 CF instruments to play around on.
That would be an interesting experience, checking all those out and comparing/contrasting... :thumbsup
:nice guitar:
Full review when I have some more time, but first impression is very much 'WOW' and two thumbs up! :thumbsup :thumb
Beautiful Rev! Looking forward to your review. Did you get dinged for duty by customs?
Quote from: George on March 05, 2018, 12:32:27 PM
Did you get dinged for duty by customs?
Nope. :smile:
Quote from: Mikeymac on March 05, 2018, 01:18:23 PM
Nope. :smile:
Woot!!
Take a picture in direct sunlight. The color will POP.
Quote from: AZLiberty on March 07, 2018, 07:44:09 PM
Take a picture in direct sunlight. The color will POP.
It will pop - or reflect and make me blind!
Very hard to photograph because it is so reflective...but here are a few more of my poor attempts at photography.
(Been a busy week, and I'm also now fighting a nasty cold/sinus infection [cough, cough, hack, sneeze...] but I did get to plug it into my Acoustasonic Jr. today and it sounds fantastic amplified. And that was straight into the amp - I'll usually be running it through a Baggs Venue into the P.A. system; that will be the next test.)
:nice guitar:
Get well soon, so you can write a review! My CA was so slick and smooth and reflective, that not only was it difficult to photograph, it did not like to stay put in my lap... kept sliding off.