Emerald Guitars Reviews 914

TrustScore 5 out of 5

4.8

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 93 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality and craftsmanship of the products, highlighting their stunning appearance, comfort, and lightweight design. Many also commend the excellent sound quality, describing it as crystal clear, rich, and warm. The customer service and staff are frequently mentioned as top-notch, providing helpful advice and a personalized experience. However, some customers experienced issues with their orders, such as darker-than-expected finishes or problems with playability like string buzzing and dead tones. A few also noted discrepancies between the product received and the online builder's representation, and some felt a lack of follow-up after their purchase.

What people talk about most

Product

People report positive experiences with the product. Customers consistently praise the guitars for their... See more

Quality

Customers had positive experiences with quality, consistently praising the craftsmanship and sound of the... See more

User experience

Clients share positive opinions on user experience. Many reviewers found the products to be comfortable,... See more

Staff

Users describe positive interactions with staff, often highlighting their responsiveness, professionalism,... See more

Customer service

Consumers find customer service to be a positive experience. Many reviewers highlight the prompt, attentive,... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Placing my order was quick and easy. Using the online store to explore the various models and options available was fun and efficient. And the product I received is a fantastic guitar, perfectly set u... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Instantly my favorite guitar, a custom X7 with Hyvibe. It’s lighter and more comfortable than i imagined. The sound is excellent, never heard a carbon fiber guitar before. Even without a monitor hav... See more

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I've purchased an X-20, and have also ordered an X-30 in recent weeks. The most important criteria is sound, and it is simply superlative. The body and neck are stunning, the soundboard area now a w... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I bought an Emerald Virtuo a few weeks ago and have played the guitar at every full band electric and solo acoustic show I’ve had since. I have searched for years to find a guitar that can viably be... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Guitar Store
  2. Music Producer
  3. Music Publisher
  4. Musical Instrument Manufacturer
  5. Musical Instrument Store
  6. Musician

About Emerald Guitars

Written by the company

Established in 1999, Emerald Guitars based in Co. Donegal Ireland are the #1 Carbon Fiber Guitar company across the globe that cater to the needs of all musicians from the casual hobbyist through to the professional recording artist.



We provide a vast range of custom Carbon Fiber Acoustic & Electro-Hybrid Guitars available in Standard, Archtop, Bass, Baritone, Travel, Ukulele, Double Neck & Harp Guitar Models all with a unique design and feel that you would expect from a premium product.



Founded by renown luthier Alistair Hay In 1994, Hay was working for Seebold Racing in St Louis, Missouri, USA and building Formula 1 racing boats using carbon fiber. Between the skills he had developed whilst crafting world class racing boats and possessing a passion for product design and engineering, Alistair had an idea to build an acoustic carbon fiber guitar. The process of producing a product fit for market took a couple of years. From there, Emerald Guitars officially launched in 1999, Steve Vai’s custom Ultra Guitar was made and the rest is history. You can read more about that journey here.

Current Stock Explore the latest stock added to the Emerald Guitar shop, ready and waiting to ship worldwide!

Launch 3D Builder Ever wanted to build your own dream guitar? Look no further. The Emerald Guitars 3D builder provides a market leading immersive experience enabling you to craft your very own custom instrument. Build your guitar today!

Book a Call Our team are ready to answer any of your questions and help you choose the perfect instrument for you. Book a call, a 1-2-1 consultation or a walkthrough of our 3D builder at a time that suits you.

Contact info

4.8

Excellent

TrustScore 5 out of 5

914 reviews

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Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Great service but please notify that the guitar is in transit

The guitar was delivered well within the time frame promised and it arrived in great condition. I was surprised that no information was provided to tell me that it was in transit, it just showed up one day.
I kept watching my online account for activity and for a couple weeks leading up to delivery all it stated was "processing". In the end it all worked out fine but given a signature was required by the Postal Service it was just fortunate that I just happened to be home when it came so didn't need to chase it down at the local offices.

1 September 2025
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Emerald X30 poor quality issues

After three months of waiting I received my Emerald X30.
I was beyond ecstatic and ready to use my new acoustic for my live performances.
Upon first sit down I discovered some unfortunate issues.
First, the nut is slightly offset and is protruding out on top side of the nut and neck joint, not to big an issue, but for 4,000$ it’s an issue none the less.
Second, I noticed strong buzz and rattle across the top three strings and dead tone from the seventh fret up on the E,A, and D primarily, this is a MAJOR issue.
Upon contact to manufacturer I was nicely but promptly made to feel inconsequential to my problems. Instead of taking the reins and guiding me to a resolution, I was put in charge of finding a fix to these issues. Find a reputable luthier, get a QUOTE and then present the info to Emerald before work can be done, not cool. I know it’s an ocean apart, but this is not what I would expect for MY inconvenience to these issues. I have yet to be offered any restitution to their poor quality control and release of a fallible instrument. I am not happy, and at this point I am considering requesting a replacement at their cost. I perform over 80 events a year and need my tools to work. I perform outside shows 7 months out of the year, and this guitar was going to be a life saver for tuning issues, but that remains to be seen as I can not use this beautiful, yet non functional guitar. I don’t believe this is a neck adjustment issue, I have played for over 35 years and know what that looks and sounds like. I hope Emerald will do the right thing and make this right, and take the burden off of me.

29 July 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Good communication

Good communication, got all my questions answered before hand. I now own a X30 with a beautiful veneer and a Black Opus X7, for travel, kicking around and seedy bar open mics.

I keep the X30 in open D tuning and it has a wonderful warm and rich sound, and keep the X7 in standard tuning.

I have owned and tried out many other Carbon fiber guitars as well as wood. These are some of the best I have owned, and no one else has the sound and aesthetics that these Emerald guitars have, especially the X30. The McPherson Sable is very good, and I had a Cedar top wood McPherson that was just too nice to take to open mics, so I sold it and used the money to by the 2 Emeralds, and I'm much happier as the X30 sounds just as good plugged in(different but not better or worse), and I gave my guitar humidifiers to friends with wood guitars.

29 July 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have two Emerald Guitars and multiple…

I have two Emerald Guitars and multiple other guitars very high-quality. My Emerald Guitars are my favorites. I have a 12 string X 20 and a six string X 20. Dealing with the people at Emerald was a wonderful experience. Could not recommend them higher than if you play one, you will never put it down.

29 July 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A Carbon Fiber convert!

I've purchased an X-20, and have also ordered an X-30 in recent weeks. The most important criteria is sound, and it is simply superlative. The body and neck are stunning, the soundboard area now a work of wooden art. I had one small problem with the Baggs pickup system that was quickly rectified, with support from the staff in County Donegal. Worthwhile investments, these precious instruments!

29 July 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

2nd time around

This is the 2nd guitar I've bought from Emerald. Both purchases have been great experiences. Everyone at Emerald obviously cares both about the product and the experience, and they do a great job of building community. Customer service is top notch and the fit, finish, and most importantly, the sound of the guitars are awesome.

29 July 2025
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Love my emerald guitar

Love my emerald guitar, plays and sounds great. Would have given 5 stars but there was no follow up how I like the guitar. When you spend close to 5000 dollars you would expect a follow up.

Will I get another emerald guitar? Yes I will.

28 July 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The build and playability is awesome

The build and playability is awesome, When communication was initiated (delivery questions), it was answered timely. It is what i call "my Piccaso", it is a thing of beauty, and plays so well and effortlessly, i love it. My custom made ,was a Virtuo.

29 July 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Simply the best

There is no other guitar manufacturer that compares to Emerald. The attention to detail and quality of the guitars is second to none and thier customer service is amazing. I own several Emeralds and and they are hands down my favorite guitars. Especially my custom X-10 its amazing!

29 July 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Plan your build, let them build your plan.

I'd been waiting to get a CF guitar for quite some time. Companies that had sort of what I was looking for came and went. After rainsong went under, I came across Emerald.

The customization options are what sold me. Short scale with slotted headstock for correct tension with flatwound 12s? Uh, yes please!

Ordering was such a breeze it was almost anticlimactic. Boom. Guitar ordered. Then the wait.

And it was a wait.

When it came, there was a small snafu with the delivery date. The notification for delivery came with a 4 day lead time. 😬

My work wasn't super keen on the short notice pto, so I had to change the delivery date through the carrier. It was way less stressful than it sounds. For a ten dollar fee, I was able to have them hold it for a week until I could insure i'd be there for delivery.

It came packed extremely well, mug and all.

Opening the case for the first time was a real moment. The stunning carbon fibre weave and deep almost black cherry colour literally took my breath away.

The strings needed replacement, and they were installed fanned out instead of optimized for minimum length and deflection. A few minutes later that was solved with flatwound 12s.

Despite being set up for the (11.5? Custom light?) Strings, there is no discernible difference in the action/setup. I didn't have to adjust anything. Plays beautifully.
The top being a tad on the thicker side required the slightly heavier strings to bring out a bit more volume from her, however, even before the changeover, the expressiveness of the instrument was obvious.

Rich, lush chords. Crisp single notes.
Crazy sustain.
A neck that won't bend for anything.
Gorgeous colouring and weave.
Compact, lightweight body.
Full fret access without heel.
Smooth, sexy, compound radius with a wide fretboard (almost like an SG) that makes those odd voicing and extensions a breeze.

I went with the LR Baggs undersaddle only, as its main purpose is as an acoustic. Great pickup. Running it through a Blackstar Sonnet 120 (sans DI) with a few pedals in front. Great tone easily achieved.

As intended, it sounds like a jazzbox plugged in or not. Absolutely smashing.

If you're on the fence, don't be. These instruments are top notch in quality and construction, as well as being very expressive and suitable for either plectrum or fingerstyle.

Plugged in or full acoustic - rain, sleet, or sunshine, this will be a treasured part of your musical journey and many generations to follow.

Could not recommend highly enough.

(X10, 24.5", Slotted, uni fretboard, std red)

2 July 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Expected great; exceeded expectation.

Immediate personalized service! Willing to make anything I could think of! When my Virtuo arrived, it was much more beautiful than in the photo.
Reminder: This is an acoustic/electric so a charged alkaline battery is essential for good performance when using a pickup.

3 July 2025
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I’ve owned many guitars over the years

I’ve owned many guitars over the years, but nothing compares to my Emerald. From the moment I opened the case, I knew this was something special. The craftsmanship is flawless—the carbon fiber body is not only stunning to look at but unbelievably comfortable, lightweight, and stable.

The tone is crystal clear, rich, and surprisingly warm. Whether I'm playing fingerstyle, strumming, or plugged in, it delivers every time.

Customer service has been top-notch. The team answered all my questions and helped customize my order without any hassle. It truly felt like a personal experience.

Emerald Guitars has redefined what a modern acoustic guitar can be. Worth every penny and then some. I’ll definitely be a lifelong customer.

3 July 2025
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Experience is a little scary.

Experience is a little scary.. but you make it smooth.

I live in AZ/USA and the Martin guitars I play take a beating. I’m a gigging musician who needs a dependable, sturdy instrument. It took me about a year to seek out Emerald Guitar gigging musicians and play with their instruments. Then cut a $4k check based on the Emerald Apps. The saving grace is everyone love their guitars and they really convinced me to take the leap.

Ideas: list your “reps” on the website. Since the guitars are custom, may be nice to have a “fitting”
Cheers Chris

3 July 2025

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