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Kestrel – Archtop

3D Builder Guide

Archtop Body. Acoustic Soul.
The Kestrel is unique in the archtop world. It offers the rich sound of a traditional electric archtop, and a lively acoustic response not usually associated with a classic instrument.

The Kestrel’s lightweight, ergonomic design epitomises elegance: its deftly sculpted bevels and angled sides deliver unparalleled comfort and playability.

Detailed craftsmanship is seen in the classic “f” holes, the handmade slotted headstock, and the hand-carved, virtually-unseen ‘floating’ carbon fiber tailpiece.

Take flight with your custom Kestrel; check out our 3D Builder guide below.

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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!

emerald guitars archtop guitar with royal ebony veneer
emerald guitars classic guitar in red
emerald guitars archtop guitar with redwood veneer
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

Colour options for Emerald Guitars 3D builder
emerald guitars kestrel blue archtop guitar

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

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 choose our pickups from the finest manufacturers from around the world to suit the needs of our players and to best capture and reproduce the wonderful tones on offer from our instruments.

Each Emerald model has its own distinct voice, and our 3D Guitar Builder will guide you in choosing the most suitable pickups for each 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

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.

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
Over the years Emerald have refined their unique one piece moulding technology that allows the entire guitar to be moulded together in one piece. 
The entire neck and body are moulded together in one piece giving a guitar that is incredibly strong and stable with no joints to fail and this in turn makes a guitar with incredible resonance and sustain.

Kestrel Videos

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

Exceeded all my expectations

Any guitar I purchase, I typically bring to a trusted local shop for a set up that involves, filing nut slots, lowering the action at the saddle/bridge, etc. The Kestrel is the first guitar I have purchased that required no such set up. All I did was lower the bridge via the thumb screws because I prefer a very low action. I found no flaws in workmanship. The Kestrel has become my daily go to guitar. It has exceeded all my expectations.
- Anthony Beltran
Emerald Guitars with international flag designs promoting global music unity and cultural diversity

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