Emerald x20 scale length

[Scyxx]

About ready to place a custom emerald x20 order. I love the 25" scale length on my electrics and am considering the same with the x20.

Curious if anyone has any first hand knowledge of the shorter scale length option on the x20.

[Captain Jim]

Originally Posted by Scyxx

About ready to place a custom emerald x20 order. I love the 25" scale length on my electrics and am considering the same with the x20.

Curious if anyone has any first hand knowledge of the shorter scale length option on the x20.

I have an X20, stock 25.5" scale. My feelings: that's a lot to pay for an upcharge for a small difference in scale. Your mileage may vary.

I have other Emeralds, including an X7 (24" scale), a custom ordered X10 (24.6" scale), and a Virtuo (also with the stock 25.5" scale). No issue at all going back and forth between any of those.

Congrats on your soon to be place order!

[Scyxx]

Thanks, the cost is certainly a factor. I'm definitely going with the 12-16 compound radius, just not sure on the scale length just yet. It is my typical go to for electrics, just not sure on the overall projection impact with the carbon fiber with the shorter scale length.

Decisions, decisions, lol.

[raysachs]

One thing to be aware of is that Emerald doesn’t adjust scale length by making the fretboard longer, they do it by moving the bridge and adjusting the fret spacing. So the fret spacing will be closer with a shorter scale length, but the reach to the nut area won’t be any shorter. In some cases, the change in bridge location MIGHT affect the sound of the guitar, but a change from 25.5 to 25 probably wouldn’t affect the sound very much.

-Ray

[Scyxx]

Ray, that is a very enlightening fact I was not aware of. Appreciate the information.

[Emile640]

You could also go 25” and get a 12 fret to the body to keep the bridge placement more towards the lower bout but of course that would increase the cost.

[seannx]

I special ordered an X20 with 24.875" scale length. You can see the differences in the photos. On the left is the stock X20, and on the right is the short scale. The short scale model was more comfortable to play.

[Scyxx]

Originally Posted by seannx

I special ordered an X20 with 24.875" scale length. You can see the differences in the photos. On the left is the stock X20, and on the right is the short scale. The short scale model was more comfortable to play.

How are you enjoying the volume/projection/tone? That is my own unknown if it makes much of a difference on the x20

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by Scyxx

How are you enjoying the volume/projection/tone? That is my own unknown if it makes much of a difference on the x20

A partial data point for you. I’ve had a regular 25.5” scale X20, and also an X20-7 - fan-fret, 25.5” treble, 27” bass. I now have a fan-fret X20. It’s 25” on the treble side, 26” on the bass. I went for this option because I loved the fan fret layout of the X20-7, but could not do anything useful with the extra bass string (after 3 years of trying!). The 25”-26” combo seemed like a good compromise around the ‘standard’ 25.5”. The alternative (25.5”-26.5”) did not appeal, as I thought it would be a bit too long on the bass side - especially as my hands aren’t getting any younger.

I honestly can’t detect any difference in tone or volume with .5” less on the first string. Playability is superb, and it’s my favourite Emerald out of the 3 X20s I’ve owned.

If it were me, I wouldn’t pay the premium to get 25” over the standard 25.5”, but I’m a cheapskate, and not that fussy about scale length overall, within the standard 24.75”-25.5” range.

[Scyxx]

Thanks David. Appreciate all of the context. I'm leaning towards just paying the extra to get everything I want in a custom guitar..otherwise it seems semi-custom, lol. Like I'm settling a bit.

I know emerald probably designed everything around their standard specs, so there is just a concern I'm going to be losing a bit of sound quality by deviating from the standard.

[seannx]

Originally Posted by Scyxx

How are you enjoying the volume/projection/tone? That is my own unknown if it makes much of a difference on the x20

Other than it was more comfortable for me to play, there was no discernible difference in volume/projection/tone.

[Scyxx]

Originally Posted by seannx

Other than it was more comfortable for me to play, there was no discernible difference in volume/projection/tone.

Thanks. The 25" scale on my electrics are definitely what I enjoy playing more, so this is good to hear. Placing my order tomorrow, so decision incoming

[Scyxx]

Order has been placed.

x20
12-16" compound radius neck
25" scale
hyvibe pickup
vine with leaf inlays - white with silver accent color
flamed maple with their fireburst 10th anniversary color, wasn't on the builder but can do as part of a custom order.
Vibrant Weave Phoenix Orange carbon fiber

Now...the hard part....waiting

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by Scyxx

Order has been placed.

x20
12-16" compound radius neck
25" scale
hyvibe pickup
vine with leaf inlays
flamed maple with their fireburst 10th anniversary color, wasn't on the builder but can do as part of a custom order.

Now...the hard part....waiting

That's going to be a beautiful instrument! What colour did you pick for the back and sides?

[Scyxx]

Originally Posted by David Eastwood

That's going to be a beautiful instrument! What colour did you pick for the back and sides?

Just updated my post, forgot to include that. Vibrant Weave Phoenix Orange for the base.