Emerald X20 Nylon 2021 - Quilted Maple Top, standard carbon fiber back/sides

Buyer backed out of the sale. If you were watching this, you get a second chance!

Don't miss out!

2021 Emerald X20 Nylon Carbon Fiber Acoustic-Electric Guitar with quilted maple veneer top.

Excellent condition, gorgeous guitar.

Priced at less than half what it cost to get you a new one.

They fretboard "inlays" are stickers, but they look pretty good. Since they aren't original, are cheap to replace, and can be removed without damaging the guitar, their condition is not grounds for a return.

This is the guitar that got me into Emerald.

Here's the full story on it:

When I got it, I had been playing a Godin Multiac chambered nylon-string jazz guitar. I had gotten used to the very bright, pingy, almost plastic-toy sound of that guitar unplugged.

So when I got this, it didn't sound like what I was expecting. It was a much darker sound, much smoother.

But when I compared it to a steel string, it certainly didn't sound like that.

I put it up for sale, but within 2 weeks, I fell in love with its tone and feel, and pulled it from the market.

The original owner contacted me and told me its story.

Quote:
"Looking inside, I discovered they put the wrong K&K in it. The used the acoustic version (three hot dots) instead of the classical version (four hot dots). I was pissed and told them I wouldn’t accept the guitar. They wouldn’t take it back! After a prolonged battle, I settled for a “free” K&K preamp to boost the weak signal. I promptly sold the guitar, as the entire experience left a bad taster in my mouth and, frankly, I found the guitar to be tremendously disappointing. It was intended to be my 60th birthday present to myself. Oh well."

I ended up deciding to get an X10 Slimline Nylon for their annual Black Friday sale, and it had a little brighter sound (thinner body). Then I saw an X5 Nylon with a full 2" nut (which I couldn't get on the X10 Slimline) and a flat-radius fretboard (so more like a classical). And then I had a chance at a Rainsong Flamenco nylon string guitar with the Maui Girl inlay after they closed their business.

So of all my guitars, this is 4th in the rotation. I still love it, I know I'm going to regret selling it and miss it, but I am feeling very keenly the truth that I can only play one guitar at a time, and this one is just never getting any playing time. I've kept it this long for sentiment and Wall Art only.

But I've come to realize that expectation management and perception also matter a huge amount. I think the top, upward-facing sound hole changes how you, the player, hear the tone, but doesn't really affect the listener. It still sounds like a woody nylon string to them. The depth of the guitar gives it pretty good bass, too.

So don't expect the tone to wow you the first time you strum it. But play it a little, play it in front of a plate-glass window to hear the sound rebound, record yourself and listen to it. It's a beautiful guitar, and sounds beautiful, too.

It's also for sale elsewhere, and I may decide once again I can't part with it, so grab it before it disappears.