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Kestrel

Archtop Body, Acoustic Soul.

Kestrel Portrait
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Flight. Freedom. Elegance.

The Kestrel stands alone in the archtop world. It offers the rich, unique sound of a traditional electric archtop, while providing a lively acoustic response not normally associated with such classic instruments.

Video Playlist
1/11 videos
1
In The Studio: Declan | Kestrel | Emerald
In The Studio: Declan | Kestrel | Emerald
02:26
2
Emerald Guitars Select Series 5/19 (Ballyraine)
Emerald Guitars Select Series 5/19 (Ballyraine)
06:56
3
In The Studio With The Emerald Kestrel
In The Studio With The Emerald Kestrel
01:11
4
Tony Barnard Plays &#039Waltzing Matilda&#039 On The Emerald Kestrel
Tony Barnard Plays 'Waltzing Matilda' On The Emerald Kestrel
03:58
5
Emerald Guitars Kestrel Archtop
Emerald Guitars Kestrel Archtop
04:29
6
Emerald Guitars Kestrel Archtop (Acoustic)
Emerald Guitars Kestrel Archtop (Acoustic)
03:17
7
In The Studio: Simon | Kestrel  | Emerald Guitars
In The Studio: Simon | Kestrel | Emerald Guitars
02:13
8
小沼ようすけ × Emerald Guitars  Kestrel Archtop
小沼ようすけ × Emerald Guitars Kestrel Archtop
01:10
9
Emerald Guitars Kestrel - Archtop Body, Acoustic Soul #guitars #shorts
Emerald Guitars Kestrel - Archtop Body, Acoustic Soul #guitars #shorts
00:35
10
Archtop Body, Acoustic Soul #guitars #shorts
Archtop Body, Acoustic Soul #guitars #shorts
00:01
11
黒田晃年 × Emerald Guitars   Archtop  Demonstration  3
黒田晃年 × Emerald Guitars Archtop Demonstration 3
01:51

The Kestrel defines elegance; its lightweight, ergonomic design, beautifully sculpted bevels and angled sides ensure untold comfort and next-level playability. The craftsmanship is unmistakable; the classic “f” holes, the handmade slotted headstock, the hand-carved carbon fiber tailpiece floating virtually unseen above the surface… Take flight with the Kestrel.

Kestrel Specifications

Kestrel
Scale length 25 ½” 650mm
Nut Width 1 ¾” 44.5mm
Bridge Spacing 2″ 52mm
Overall Length 41 15⁄16″ 1065mm
Max Body Width 16 ½” 420mm
Max Body Depth 3 ½” 90mm
Max Body Length 20″ 510mm
Weight 4.8lbs 2.1kg
Frets 22 medium stainless steel frets
Fretboard Radius 12″ – 14″ compound radius
Tuners (Default) Schertler open gear tuners
Nut/Saddle Graphtech Tusq XL lubricated nut and saddle
Bridge Graphtech adjustable floating bridge
Pickup
  • No Pickup
  • Ghost Piezo
  • Krivo Humbucker
  • Piezo + Krivo Humbucker
  • Piezo + Krivo Humbucker + Midi
  • Piezo + Krivo Humbucker + Midi (top controls)
Controls Volume and tone control mounted discretely in the F hole
Finish High gloss finish on all surfaces (Polyester)
Strings Daddario XS Phosphor Bronze, Light 12-53 0.12 0.16 0.24 0.32 0.42 0.53
Case Hiscox Custom Lite Flite hard case

Kestrel's Voices

Asset 5

Blues (Mic+Pickup)

Blues (Pickup)

Blues Swing (Mic+Pickup)

Blues Swing (Pickup)

Jazzy (Mic+Pickup)

Jazzy (Pickup)

SlowChords (Pickup)

FEATURES & BENEFITS

Offset Soundhole

Our unique soundhole design brings a whole new listening experience by projecting the sound more directly towards the player while still providing great forward projection to the audience

Plek'd to Perfection

Every guitar goes through the cutting-edge Plek process which scans the frets of the guitar and machines them to perfection taking into account radius, relief, action height, and string gauge. This process guarantees ultimate accuracy and playability 

Neck Design

Our carbon fiber necks provide strength stability and accuracy. Featuring a double action truss rod for perfect adjustability and stainless steel frets giving ultra smooth feel and wear resistance

Ergonomic Body Design

Our Moulding technology provides us the freedom to create a wonderfully ergonomic body design featuring the extended neck access, asymmetric side design, rib and forearm bevels which all combined give unprecedented comfort to the player

Tuners

We use the highest quality Gotoh 510 tuners across our range with 18:1 ratio and unsurpassed build quality

Carbon Fiber Bridge

We machine our unique bridges from a solid billet of carbon fibre creating a beautiful aesthetic design that transfers the string energy efficiently into the soundboard

Offset Soundhole
Our unique soundhole design brings a whole new listening experience by projecting the sound more directly towards the player while still providing great forward projection to the audience
Plek'd to Perfection
Every guitar goes through the cutting-edge Plek process which scans the frets of the guitar and machines them to perfection taking into account radius, relief, action height, and string gauge. This process guarantees ultimate accuracy and playability 
Neck Design
Our carbon fiber necks provide strength stability and accuracy. Featuring a double action truss rod for perfect adjustability and stainless steel frets giving ultra smooth feel and wear resistance
Ergonomic Body Design
Our Moulding technology provides us the freedom to create a wonderfully ergonomic body design featuring the extended neck access, asymmetric side design, rib and forearm bevels which all combined give unprecedented comfort to the player
Tuners
We use the highest quality Gotoh 510 tuners across our range with 18:1 ratio and unsurpassed build quality
Carbon Fiber Bridge
We machine our unique bridges from a solid billet of carbon fibre creating a beautiful aesthetic design that transfers the string energy efficiently into the soundboard
Previous slide
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kestrel
Hi-Tech Carbon

Carbon fiber is now used in all the most high tech industries from Aerospace to Formula one Racing where strength and weight is paramount. In fact it was in Formula One Power Boat racing that we discovered that the properties of carbon fiber are also perfectly suited to guitar making creating a lightweight structure that holds up under the tension of the strings while resonating freely with the lightest touch.

kestrel
Weather Resistant

If you have ever traveled with a guitar you will know just how much temperature and humidity changes can effect the structure, tuning stability and tone of a guitar. This is where carbon fibre construction really excells. Now you can take your guitar from a cold car to a warm stage without worrying that your going to go out of tune after the first strum. 

kestrel
Unique Manufacturing Process

Intricacy is our excellence. Our signature one-piece moulding process delivers a guitar that is both incredibly strong and stable, resulting in fewer trips to your local luthier. The entire neck and body of Emerald Guitars are moulded together resulting in no joints becoming weak or failing over time whilst delivering impeccable resonance and sustain.

3dbulderText

The Emerald 3D Guitar Builder is the world’s most advanced custom design platform, with more options than you can shake a guitar pick at…

Design your dream guitar down to the last detail with the Emerald 3D Guitar Builder. Want to change your guitar’s color and hardware? No problem! Want to choose from over 40 veneer types to make your guitar truly unique? You got it!

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s kestrel qm va ghmag 7990 1 1 copy
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emerald guitars archtop guitar selection - carbon fiber to wooden veneers

But that’s just the beginning. The Emerald 3D Guitar Builder lets you choose from a variety of pick-ups, strings, neck widths, fret radius, and scale lengths, so you can create the guitar that feels and sounds just right for you. 

And with an interface that’s as intuitive as it is fun, you can design your dream guitar in no time at all. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, let your imagination run wild and get ready to rock out with your very own custom-made Emerald Guitar!

Colour Options

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Customize your guitar using our 3D Builder to select between standard or vibrant weave carbon fiber options.

Standard weave offers a darker pattern, while vibrant weave boasts a brighter, more lively pattern, accentuating a broader array of tones across the available colors.

With up to eight color choices available to complement the carbon fiber on each model, our 3D Builder is the ultimate canvas for personalization.

Real Wood Veneer

While tone is key, aesthetics are an important consideration in guitar design. Some players love the look of carbon fiber, and its aesthetic impact. 

Selection of Emerald Guitars Veneer choices

OVER 40

Selection of Emerald Guitars Veneer choices

VENEER

veneer selection 3

TYPES

Others prefer the wood look. If you’re a fan of beautiful veneers, we have a remarkable and ever-changing selection of over 40 real wood veneers.

Your chosen veneer will be crafted into the top of the instrument for the best of both worlds: the stability and reliability of our carbon fiber construction and the natural beauty of an exotic wood veneer.

Pickup & Bridge Options

We painstakingly choose the finest pickups in the world to suit our players’ needs, and to best deliver the exceptional tone of each instrument.

Each Emerald model has its own distinct voice. Our 3D Guitar Builder will guide you in choosing the most suitable pickups for your guitar.

kestrel Bridge

Emerald Inlay Design

Make your guitar yours with a selection of custom neck inlays. A range of patterns are available, many of which feature Celtic designs, in a nod to Emerald Guitars’ Irish heritage and the rural landscape in which the instruments are crafted.

You can also customize a message on the 12th fret, adding an extra layer of personalization to your dream guitar, making it uniquely yours.

Emerald guitars 12th fret custom design

A New Era of Custom Guitar Design

When choosing the elements for each part of your custom guitar, you’ll see the updated choices live-as-you-go in the 3D Builder. You can even change the environment in which you view the guitars, switching from a standard white studio background to the Emerald Cottage, to see how your guitar looks in different scenarios.

Exceeded expectations

You have exceeded my expectations again! My fabulous Kestrel arrived yesterday and way sooner than I anticipated. Well done! This is a one of a kind jazz guitar! P.S. I love the shipping videos too.

- By Kimberly
Emerald Guitars with international flag designs promoting global music unity and cultural diversity

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