Introducing the Third Generation X20 Family

By Alistair Hay, Founder of Emerald Guitars
For many years, the X20 has been at the heart of Emerald Guitars. Its ergonomics, design and versatile
acoustic voice have made it our most popular platform, and an instrument that means a great deal to me
personally.
When we began developing its third generation, I wanted to preserve the qualities that players already loved
while giving myself the space to look closely at everything we could refine.
The result is a family of four instruments: the X20 steel-string, X20 Short Scale, X20 12-String and X20 Nylon.
Each offers a different playing experience, united by the familiar comfort of the X20 and a new generation of
design and construction.

A familiar shape with a fresh direction

At first glance, the new X20 looks familiar. That is deliberate.
The body profile remains the same because its ergonomics worked so well. The way the guitar sits against
you, the contours and the overall shape were qualities I wanted to carry forward.
The most visible change is the soundhole. Its new teardrop shape flows into the side of the guitar, creating a
fluid, integrated appearance that feels true to Emerald.
Our offset soundhole has long been part of our identity. It helps direct the guitar’s acoustic voice towards the
person playing it. With this redesign, I wanted to develop that idea further, giving the player a greater sense
of fullness while creating a shape that looked fresh and worked naturally within the instrument.
It is a design change you can see, but its purpose reaches into the experience of playing.

More beneath the surface

The neck has been entirely redesigned. In your hand, the most noticeable difference is a slimmer profile and
contour, particularly further up the neck around the 12th fret.
Inside, there is a new structure designed to provide additional stability while retaining control over the
instrument’s setup. All four models benefit from the same new neck design and increased stability. That work
is less visible, but it is an important part of the development.
We have also given the soundboard a little more radius and curvature, helping create a punchier, more
responsive feel. That development carries across all four models. I wanted to explore additional projection,
fullness and richness while preserving the tonal character of the X20. The changes are considered
refinements rather than a fundamental shift in its voice.
Together, those details shape the third generation: a guitar that remains recognisably an X20, with
development in the parts you see, the parts you feel and the construction beneath them.

X20 Steel String

The X20 has always been our bestseller because of its versatility.

It has a balance of bass, mids and trebles that allows it to respond naturally to different approaches. It is
responsive to both fingerstyle and strumming, with the clarity for lead fingerstyle playing and the warmth
and richness for full, rhythmic accompaniment.
That balance is central to its character. I want a player to be able to explore different styles without feeling
that the guitar belongs to only one of them.
The third generation carries that versatility forward, retaining the familiar body shape while bringing the new
soundhole, neck and soundboard developments into the playing experience.
For someone looking for a guitar that can move comfortably between different musical roles, the standard
X20 remains the starting point in the family.

X20 Short Scale

The Short Scale grew directly from listening to our customers.
I would hear players talk about enjoying the compact feel of the X7: the shorter reach for the fretting hand
and the intimacy of a 12-fret body design. At the same time, some wanted a fuller voice, more bass response
and the support of a larger body against them.
That made me think about bringing those two experiences together.
The X20 Short Scale combines the full-size X20 body with a 24-inch scale length and 12 frets to the body. It
keeps the fullness and ergonomics of the larger platform while bringing the fretting arm a little closer in and
giving the strings a lower-tension feel.
To me, it is a blend of the X20 and X7 worlds: a substantial acoustic voice with an intimate, comfortable
playing experience.
It also has its own tonal identity. The sound is warm, rich and full, with a character that distinguishes it from
the standard X20.
We set it up as standard with .012–.053 strings, a balance that suits lighter, looser playing. For players
wanting a little more punch and power in the bass register, it can also be set up with .012–.056 strings.
This is the model that excites me most as a new addition to the family. It answers something players have
been asking us for and creates a different way to experience a full-size Emerald.

X20 12-String

A 12-string was a vital part of the lineup.
For me, carbon fibre is an ideal material for a 12-string guitar. Its strength and stability suit the demands of
the instrument, and the balance of the X20 voice gives those additional strings a wonderful foundation.
When you add the octave strings, that balance fills out into a rich, full sound across the register. The result
has the breadth and shimmer you expect from a 12-string, while retaining the underlying character of the
X20.
We have retained the existing string spacing. The neck contour is a little narrower further up the neck, and
the new moulded neck construction adds further stability to the design.
Together with the soundboard refinement, those developments bring a strong, stable instrument with a
balanced voice and a playing experience that remains central to its appeal.

X20 Nylon

I see the X20 Nylon as an instrument between worlds, with an identity of its own.
It has been admired by classical players, but its neck is shaped to feel comfortable to someone coming from a
steel-string guitar. A 16-inch fretboard radius and a slimmer neck profile distinguish it from the feel of a
conventional classical instrument.
It is a crossover guitar, rather than an attempt to reproduce a traditional classical design.
For players drawn to the warmth and softer tonal character of nylon strings, it offers a different route into
that sound. It brings the comfort and ergonomics of the X20 together with an expressive voice and rewarding
dynamics.
That combination gives it a distinct place within the family: a nylon-string instrument that invites players
from different backgrounds to explore something new.

Four ways to experience the X20

These instruments share a platform, but each brings its own character.
The standard steel-string carries the familiar versatility of the X20. The Short Scale offers a different reach,
feel and warmth. The 12-string brings fullness and shimmer. The Nylon offers its own richness, expression
and dynamics.
I aim to give every model we build a clear purpose and a character you can recognise in its feel and hear in its
sound. These four instruments offer distinct experiences, and the right choice begins with how you like to
play and the voice that connects with you. In the accompanying video, I introduce each model and explain
the development behind the new family, with playing passages throughout.

The first results of the Reset

After 28 years of guitar building and design, this development brings together a great deal of what I have
learned.
The familiar outline is only part of the story. The third-generation X20 family sits within the wider Emerald
Reset, a journey to refine our designs, construction and production, and to make room for further creativity.
I remain incredibly proud of the guitars that brought us here. This family carries that experience forward and
opens new possibilities for the people who play our instruments.
It has been a privilege to design these guitars. I look forward to hearing the music you make with them.
Alistair Hay
Founder, Emerald Guitars

Explore the family

Visit the individual product pages for full specifications, available options and current stock:

X20 : https://emeraldguitars.com/models/x20-3rd-generation/
X20 Short scale : https://emeraldguitars.com/models/x20-short-scale-3rd-generation/
X20 Nylon : https://emeraldguitars.com/models/x20-nylon-3rd-generation/
X20 – 12-string : https://emeraldguitars.com/models/x20-12-string-3rd-generation/
X20 Noir: https://emeraldguitars.com/noir/product/x20-noir/