The World's Most Versatile Guitar |Emerald Virtuo

[@billhicks9056]

I'm primarily an acoustic player and playing an electric does feel weird... in every way.

[@andrefludd]

Thanks for your comment! Glad to know I’m not crazy 😂. For everyone else reading the comment, it makes more sense once you get deeper into the video.

[@EbonyPope]

@@andrefludd You don't hear a major tone detriment to carbon fiber??? Dude that thing sounds horrible. It really sounds like plastic. Are you deaf? That guy in your video claimed that you can make it sound good but every example I hear just sounds horrible absolutely horrific.

[@d3w4yn3]

At first I failed to realize this was accoustic. I was like "my friend, you grabbed the wrong guitar, you keep talking about accoustic this and accoustic that, but you're holding an electric guitar?", then when you hit the strings, I was blown away! It does sound GLORIOUS!!!

[@ewanbyrne]

I live in Ireland beside the location. My brother has an emerald x20 and I have played the VIrtuo in the emerald factory. My only gripe with the viruo is you have to put acoustic strings on it if you want it to sound good acoustic or electric strings if you want it to sound good electric. You can't play the virtuo acoustic, even with acoustic strings its beyond quiet and has no real use. Its beautiful to play and sounds great plugged it. Honestly if your getting it for an acoustic, don't. You want to get it as an electric guitar. Pros : Wont go out of tune much, humidity has no effect on the guitar. Unique. Easy to play Cons : You cant practically use its acoustically, expensive. Purists will say the tone sounds dead.

[@andrefludd]

I get plenty of use from it acoustically. But no, it isn’t going to be the best campfire guitar.

[@EbonyPope]

@@andrefludd You don't hear a major tone detriment to carbon fiber??? Dude that thing sounds horrible. It really sounds like plastic. Are you deaf? That thing doesn't even come close to a cheap Taylor.

[@toddmoore9138]

I own two parker fly's and a Godin with all the goodies, and just bought a Emerald Virtuo earlier this summer. Looking forward to your review!

[@andrefludd]

Good choice!

[@womplestilskin]

Small correction it's roland 13 pin compatible, there is no MIDI on board. One could also adapt 13 pin to hex pickup output and then use an multichannel audio interface to either process each string separately or use Jam Origin midi guitar 3 for added sounds.

[@buymagicfish]

Studio looking great!!

[@billhicks9056]

I love the placement of the sound hole. Much less risk of the pick falling in!

[@starbuckavon4030]

Best place also for a clip on tuner and mic. I wish I could afford one of these myself - my bandmate has a mando and short-scale five string bass. The bass is so playable it's not funny.

[@realtruenorth]

LOL, we've all dropped the pick into the sound hole haven't we.

[@kelsyschoenhaar8717]

THANK YOU! You are on of the very few that acknowledges that women are guitarists and appreciate the details of amazing instruments. I've always loved your videos (I've added several guitars you've spoken about to my collection)... but yeah... girls can be guitar nerds, too. :-) Thanks again, Andre.

[@andrefludd]

I’ve had several female students so I do know you all exist 😂. Glad to know you are here!

[@thelastscarecrow6701]

I think maybe the perfect role for this guitar is the same as my Fender Acoustisonic. It’s the Guitar that sits in the living room that you just pick up and play. Whatever you’re in the mood to play, that’s the guitar that will do it.

[@stickman55100]

Great video exploration of the Virtuo! Dammit! Now I probably have to order one🤯. Totally get your comment about playing acoustics primarily and having difficulty transitioning to an electric. For many years, I only felt comfortable playing a “Jazz Box.” Love the sound of the Virtuo and its flexibility.

[@Robstafarian]

Might you make a video series experimenting with different string types on this guitar? I know acoustic guitars have tension ranges that drive their tops properly without risking damage, and I would love to know how broad the Virtuo's spectrum is: its tension spectrum could be explored with a variety of string alloys to find the best hybrid option. That would definitely be a lot of work, but I can neither afford a Virtuo nor play them as they are currently designed in order to produce such a series myself.

[@Krullmatic]

This is the perfect guitar for the studio musician. I do feel they wanted to one up, and then some, the Acoustasonic lol! It's a beautiful guitar!

[@tretasedamtungpong2027]

CONSTANT MOTION MENTIONED🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@57ebartley]

That’s way expensive for what the working musicians make playing at Tiki Bars and restaurants around here. I play mostly acoustic solo . I have two hybrid acoustics and I play them through my pedal board to the PA. I have a Godin A-6 ultra which has an incredible Acoustic sound and a American Fender Acoustisonic which I use as a mock Electric guitar. I bought both of those guitars used for less then that guitar. The fender is like 5.5 lbs and is a pleasure to play . I would have to hear that in the room. From what I could hear on your demo I was not blown away. Sure looks nice though .

[@marc31415]

I've been wanting an emerald guitar sense i learned about it several years ago. but I want the GIGANTIC one.

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

I'd like to get Alistair to make a baritone one of those and move the bridge down to compensate for the neck length..... also he'll do fan frets... I'm kind of set for the minute

[@TheOdditee]

Great review.

[@andrefludd]

Thanks!

[@joshpointoh]

"Need" is a strong word, but it's hard to imagine not wanting a Strat and a Les Paul, if you play

[@davids.7885]

I might be a total idiot when it comes to guitars and tones, then, because I have a ton of guitars and have never felt the desire to get a Strat or a Les Paul.

[@AVeelcheck]

The point with locking tuners - all guitars but acoustic especially require good downward pressure at the bridge and nut. The greater the angle, the better. So you need the amount of windings in the tuner post almost to the lowest point as possible. it makes guitar play louder with more definition in attack and it brings more stability with being in tune. In this case, locking tuner would have been too high but some brands make custom options that stick out as little as possible

[@Robstafarian]

Suitable locking tuners are already mass produced.

[@AVeelcheck]

@Robstafarian most of guitar brands don't care about this point tho

[@Marta1Buck]

3:07 the first time I heard this is when Synyster Gates of Avenged Sevenfold played it.

[@marc31415]

I just bought an Acoustic Guitar from Costco. the sound is really great for $170. it's a Cort Earth series.

[@Robstafarian]

Even if I could afford an Emerald Virtuo, I would need a narrower nut and locking tuners. I would want passive pickups without a preamp: "active pickups" are just passive pickups with a preamp, and passive pickups can provide plenty of versatility without a preamp.

[@attrition0]

Really minor but there's a typo on the thumbnail: Inovation

[@andrefludd]

Thanks!

[@frankiechan9651]

Just noticed that you're using a different pad to support the guitar on your knee. What is the brand of that, if you don't mind sharing. Did the Performaxe not suit this guitar? For a few parts of the review, where you were wearing the lighter, knitted top - it looked like the sound hole went right through at first. Until you see that the CF weave is on an angle and the knit is vertical :) While I do get the concept of this guitar - it does seem to be trying to do too much? However, I am a huge fan of the PRS Hollowbody 2's, that are surprisingly loud unplugged, are fine as electrics and also have a piezo system. I really want to add one to my collection - although I have my SE Zach Myers to play with in the meantime.

[@steverhinefrank5589]

dear doctor... as always, a great and informative video. made better by your great playing. the virtuo is on the radar. thanks. and, while i do really try not to listen with my eyes, i dig the new hair ! thanks for your all your help, steve.

[@andrefludd]

Thank you!

[@g-love6507]

The only issue with companies like Emerald is there are no local dealers where you can go check out the instruments before purchase . I'm old school and like to vibe with an instrument to see if it inspires me.. I don't like having to repackage a guitar to send it back because I didn't like it.. I'm used to going to a music store where I can play an instrument for 30 min or more and thoroughly check it out before I spend $2,500 smacks !

[@womplestilskin]

direct to consumer is a weird factor model but Carvin/Kiesel has been doing it for decades. I think there's a owners list where people let you try out their axe too. Not to mention you can never ever play a custom instrument before you buy, which is mainly what they sell.

[@g-love6507]

@@womplestilskin I had a couple Carvin/Kiesel guitars and had to send 2 back .. I like the idea of light weight low maintenance guitars like these Emerald units but years ago I purchased a Strat - went through about 10 signature and custom shop models before I found one that I liked .. Same with PRS guitars which most of them don't have any mojo.. That intangible thing that you can't put your finger on but inspires you to play guitar for hours without knowing it ! That's why I gotta play them for a while before I buy.. All guitars aren't the same even with the same make and model !

[@Celticsaint777]

What gauge and brand of strings are you using?

[@rontron418]

are we useing electric or accoustic strings? or special ones?

[@_rafael_b]

Hi Andre! I first saw these guitars a year or so ago. KDH did a review of this same model I believe. This guitar is better in theory than in practice I think. It's beautiful and looks like it was excellently built. But it can't truly be the be all because it still depends on what strings you have on it. Your demo in this video really underlined the importance of the type of string that you use still is to a player's sound. You had electric strings on it, and it shined as an electric, but I think it suffered some on the acoustic side. Had you had acoustic strings on, I think that it would have been the opposite and really shined as an acoustic. I was reading some comments, and I saw that @ewanbyrne made a similar observation about the guitar. I do have some experience with carbon fibre acoustics, and I know that they can sound every bit as good as wooden ones. The carbon fibre can be manipulated to match the density of whatever wood that anyone wants. Plus, you have the added bonus that carbon fibre is completely unaffected by climate. Anyway, I hope that you had a great holiday, and I enjoyed the video as always. Cheers man! ✌

[@Rex-golf_player810]

to me these seem great in practice, but just not super necessary to everyone like this is definitely something i wouldnt mind having but i probably wont be buying one lol

[@davidgreen7268]

I've been looking at these for quite a while. The only guitar I ever considered paying $3000 for.

[@jackprice7828]

Is it available with a satin neck instead of the gloss?

[@MrTabasham1990]

I play electric and acoustic regularly. It still takes time for me to get used to the other one.

[@benblyze7921]

I want one of these so much. They’re just so out of reach of my budget

[@jonathanstrand2474]

The reverse of your acoustic to electric issue, I only play electric standing up, long arms big hands, kind of unexpected that my 2016 Yamaha RevStar is the perfect fit, belly cut and arm cut, top fret access rivaled (barely) only my by my ‘66 SG Jr. & the Jr. has both a neck dive (I solved that by attaching the butt strap pin to my pants🤣) & a shape ergonomics issue, (the headstock is effectively futher away) I’ve wondered why my right hand picking is my biggest weakness, finally I know it’s my double jointed thumbs, makes back & forth really problematic, terrible angle, also makes chording difficult with my left hand slight picking improvement has come with moderate pain in my R forearm, but not enough to stop me. Anyway I bought an Ovation, I love the neck, I cannot play it, 😫the body makes my R hand issue way worse. My PRS hollow has no arm cut, I’m even affected by that too, & I prefer 24.75 scale (age 68, hurts to bend a longer scale) I have a 335 copy, body is fine, AIO brand, its beautiful but tiny skinny neck, makes my hand hurt. My Firebird works fine, my Schecter explorer copy is fine, although it’s 25.5 scale (compound radius helps) and I have a Strat copy with its decidedly U shaped neck (Ibanez) which surprisingly I use the exact same strap and strap locks as the RevStar, and it’s easy to play. So the problem guitars are getting sold, (the SG I’ll never sell, investment!) And maybe this Guitar and a Strandberg (so I can finally sit!) are in my future. If you can spec the guitar, why not locking tuners. Maybe just not your review Guitar?

[@everythingallofthetime]

Oo, that red carbon is nice!

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

None better than emerald in the carbon fiber guitar Market..... he is a very driven bold innovator...... other brands just don't have the features... or the personalised customer service

[@TheOdditee]

Odd as it may sound, this reminds my of pre-refined Parker Fly Deluxe, tone possibility wise.

[@andrefludd]

It actually reminds me a lot of a fly too tone and neck. My original video had an extra 4mins of me comparing it to a fly, but I thought it was too long in an acoustic guitar video. Maybe I can make that a separate video.

[@TLBStudios]

i think you could make a good video on the majesty by Ernie ball. Testing the piezo pickups. that guitar is versatile

[@Riley880]

The real upside to that guitar is you can get your picks out of the body alot easier lol.

[@bartvansliedregt5482]

Really interesting to see

[@1-eye-willy]

i would love to have one of those, but some people dont like the sound of carbon fiber guitars. i think they sound great

[@retsaf1]

You have an acoustic, yay! Now play Wonder Wall please.

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

What can Alistair do next to amaze everyone? Maybe it's time to offer Incorporated neck binding LEDs like an alembic... maybe some kind of optic bar Channel... with set little Emerald jem Stones shining From Below

[@ewanbyrne]

Probably not charge 200-300 quid for basic inlays..... that would be a revolution for him

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

@ewanbyrne LOL I drove him crazy when he was doing my custom baritone..... I'm picturing just like an incorporated bar in the mold instead of individual LEDs maybe just ports illuminated optic bar........ anyway it's just an idea...... Alistair is the best

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

@ewanbyrne supposing it actually wouldn't be a big deal to wire the fretboard before it's glued down after channelling it

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

@ewanbyrne inlays on carbon fibers probably no picnic. If you can fix it with money then it's not a problem but if there's no actual demand for it then there's no point. The Innovation and features he's offering in the price range is already a blessing so we shouldn't piss off the maestro

[@daniellowry660]

@20:14 disappointed you didn't grab one of the kestrels. All the demos I've heard sounded very stiff and plastic. But none of them were done by guys who specialize in solo jazz guitar

[@andrefludd]

Maybe that’s next 😁

[@daniellowry660]

@andrefludd omg noice

[@AJNpa80]

Yeah, and I wish they were split post tuners. Id get one in plain black carbon, no top and put some open gear split post ratios if i can spec the hole size. I love carbon. To me even ugly ones have surprised me. Them odd ones at 500, camt remember the name, blew away all the wood ones. Deep and rich but rang like a bell.

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

Guitar players are prone to developing uneven shoulder balance and doing activities from a chin-up bar are good for rebalancing there are videos

[@kaekayyy2554]

maybe the lack of locking tuners is because it might neck dive with it?

[@andrefludd]

Possible.

[@michaelvarney.]

Does the neck feel sticky?

[@stanby2712]

No

[@billhicks9056]

First I've heard of a carbon fibre semi acoustic guitar.

[@andrefludd]

That’s what makes it so interesting.

[@bobaldo2339]

Very good video. The guitar is just too complicated for me. I prefer using an acoustic when needed and an electric when needed - both of which are simple & straight forward.

[@andrefludd]

It’s not for everyone. I definitely get that.

[@maverick_trail]

I'm a big fan of innovation and outside-the-box design, this is a really cool guitar. However, I think the biggest drawback of this guitar is that it's a niche guitar. If you buy it and decide and it's not for you, you can expect to take a long time to sell (or take a big hit financially) simply because 1) few people have heard of the brand and aren't actively looking for it and 2) traditional guitar shapes are burned into peoples' memories and anything outside of those shapes is just "wrong".

[@thisday77]

Oh, you cut your hair :) Did I miss the last video. I remember to have experienced this moment more then once. Did you also had this mixed feeling between sadness and ease or relief :)

[@mark6302]

Composites are fucking awesome, but $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. That neck is gorgeous and it sounds great. The resonance is fantastic you can tell its from science.

[@jerilindo3666]

The best guitar on the planet Barcelona none 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@rjb7569]

Cost?

[@ewanbyrne]

4000 US

[@IlayShesh]

rip dreads :(

[@christianhertwig1593]

How cool, are you aware of how lucky you are to try so many cool guitars in your life? And on top of that you don't have to pay for them...(I think so at least) 😏. I'm missing a detailed video about Variax guitars .... I recommend them. Because if an electric guitar gives you a tremendously good feeling as an electric guitar with its versatilities, imagine that you can suddenly turn it also into a banjo, or an acoustic guitar or a 12-string just by turning a knob. And you play the guitar very well. Likes. 🤗👍

[@andrefludd]

Thank you! Yea, the variax never really caught on. I personally didn’t love the technology. And yea! I think about how lucky I am every time I walk into my music room and everytime I pick up a guitar.

[@christianhertwig1593]

@@andrefludd To have a private room where you can freely experiment with high quality guitars, a dream. You are lucky. But the envious little devil in me says "damn you" 😂😂😂😂😂 I don't quite understand why you don't like this technology ..... The Variax one. Basically because all electric guitars with their thousand and one forms of connections are based on technology? And how I have you now online. Apart from the fact that you play very well, I also really like the quality of your videos and especially the way you express and explain yourself. 👍🤗

[@michaelmenkesOZSKIB]

The jazz electric strings really bring out the inadequacies of tone carbon. Yuck. I'm sticking with my D'Angelico archtop.

[@gnosismonkey]

I respect the innovation of the materials, but that acoustic tone is painfully plinky. It’s gorgeous looking, but it is not an acoustic that I would want.

[@EbonyPope]

You don't hear a difference to wood guitars? Sure buddy.

[@pz1792]

nice concept, but too metalic sound to me

[@adamswing6115]

Give us the dream theater coward

[@gumpymcbarfbag3884]

Sounds half banjo half guitar.

[@kh485]

$3000 US 😂😂😂

[@ewanbyrne]

The one he has would be closer to 4 grand US

[@dareelrca3595]

It is ugly as hell!

[@rontron418]

seems like your giving up too much accoustic sound to me

[@PeterAcrat]

🤔2:12 If they "can make them sound any which way they want", then when the heck will they start to make them sound like a wood guitar? If they could, I'd buy one, but... they never will... Because they can't. His words are just marketing rubbish IMHO. The evidence says it all to me: _Every Emerald guitar_ I've ever heard sounds 'tinny, shallow, thin and bland', lacking richness, warmth, body and timbre. But they sure look great and will never bend.

[@andrefludd]

Really? I’ve heard a bunch of nice acoustic samples all over KZbin.

[@stanby2712]

I’ve got 3 and they sound great alongside my other high end guitars. Certainly not as you describe. You need to play one. You’ll be astounded.

[@xodiaq]

Acoustic sound is thin and anemic, electric was also thin, really nothing special. I’m just not hearing anything worth $1000, let alone the $2500+ prices shown.

[@ewanbyrne]

you mean 4000, thats what his cost

[@michaelvarney.]

No worries… you can’t afford it anyhow.

[@stefanomicolucci3828]

Andreeeeeeee... locking tuners are almost useless! you can achieve the same result by putting the strings the right way!

[@andrefludd]

Except locking tuners are faster. That’s why I love them.

[@Guitar6ty]

Why not just buy a Variax at 1/4 of the price it does everything that the Emerald does.

[@ianbrown2445]

The acoustic tones don’t sound great