|
|
Joined:
March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | I started my journey with unconventional guitars with Ovation, still own several, they blazed the trail using modern materials that worked well, but challenged the traditional. I remember project Q which offered such promise but never really got into production. i also love acoustic doublenecks which to me offer something really out of the ordinary, so cool.
In the last decade I have been fascinated by the new development of carbon fiber guitars. I loved the strength, total stability and *the ability to push beyond the constraints of wood in their design. I thought to myself that carbon would be the perfect medium for a acoustic Doubleneck even wrote one company about it but I thought it was a pipe dream. Yes it could probably be done but the cost would make it impossible to really accomplish.
Then I met Alistair Hay online. *The man behind Emerald Guitars in Ireland. *He posts one day this year that he was bringing out three new models and one was a Doubleneck . I frankly could not believe it. How could some guy in Ireland pull this off? Maybe, but it would be a fortune, a dream now in sight, but the cost would probably take it out of reach. I emailed him right away, and he said that his goal was a guitar that was under $2000! He had thought it out, how carbon could make this a practicle instrument for the first time, and he was going to make it happen. He even had the opportunity to talk to Sambora after a concert in Ireland about doublenecks. A couple of months later he posted pictures of the proto type. It was an amazing beautiful creation I was blown away really; emailed him and said I wanted one when they went into production.
I assumed I would eventually be able to obtain one but as it turned out last month, Alistair shipped me the first production guitar. Very few times in life can you witness the joining together of the right media in the hands of a genius and the creation of something really new, something that was not possible before this moment. And cooler still I get to hold it in my hands and tell you about it.
Carbon fiber and Alistair have given the world the first practical Acoustic Doubleneck guitar. This may be the first time carbon fiber instead of competing with wood as a material for acoustic guitars has blown past it. The Doubleneck guitar creates issues only solvable by a material beyond wood. The main issues solved by carbon are light weight and the strength needed to forgo sound killing over bracing for the pull of 18 strings. The Emerald weights less than five lbs. and given hollow carbon necks is less neck heavy than other doubles. Carbon's strength also allows for no truss rods a must to keep neck weight down. Alistair also used lighter open back turners which look awesome but are there for the ounces they saved. The is the first double comfortable with a stab, believe me I know, my Yairi, though loved, has never seen a strap or been off my knee.
Carbon takes the 18 string pull with ease and gives the promise of no structural issues down the road. Almost all Yairi's had bridges that pulled. It sounds wonderful as a six string and just amazing as a 12. One of the best 12s I have played. The carbon purity helps here where some wooden 12, s get too busy as the overtone work against them. Playability my biggest concern with no truss rods is very good. I told Alistair the 12 had to be low, he delivered 5/64 at the 12th. and it's carbon it will not change. 6/64 on the 6 side, relief seem perfect on the necks as well. Beyond the fact the this is a great sounding practical guitar you have the styling. To me carbon fiber is used as an important component by many of the other carbon builders. Alistair uses carbon fiber as a cansas on which to create. This is a guitar which I thinks is a culmination of his decade of experience in this media and also the seemly unending creative desire that he brings to Emerald. Go look at the custom guitars on his website, no one does what he does: no one. I really think this guitar could be put on a pedestal as a work of art, that simple.
Ok, I don't sound very unbiased but I assure you I have never meet Alistair and live the life of a boring banker in Ohio with no axe to grind no pun intened. But Alistair just delivered to me my lifetime dream guitar. At 61 years old I am extremely grateful. Bottom line Emerald should and deserves to own this niche of the guitar market. He justed opened the door to a practical affordable acoustic doubleneck and I am glad I got mine first. I truly believe if guitarists open themselves up to the possibilities of two necks within easy reach it may just change things for some of us forever. Alistair is already thinking of all the string combinations that now could be possible, believe me this guy never sleeps.
If you survived this review here is a slideshow of pictures:
http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u172/skitchen51/doubleneck/?albu...
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | I like this new direction of the OFC!
So, I bought a used Seagull Artist (probably the best low end guitar maker in North America). Had a wider neck, and solid woods all around. The tone was pleasant...warm yet bright. The playability was terrific, action low, frets finished beautifully......................................
(actually that Emerald looks pretty cool)
Edited by BobG 2012-07-21 3:22 PM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | Interesting comment really the roots of that guitar is really with Ovation who were the first to us alternative materials and carbon fiber I believe. Q was a totally carbon guitar that Ovation made. I found it the logical extension? Probably most here have never seen Q. Oh well |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Sweet!
Looking forward to what else comes out of Allistair and Co. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | I would love to hear a good-quality recording done with this double-neck. Gotta hear it!!
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | It's just a crazy turn of events.
5 years ago Ovation was the cutting edge of alternative material guitars. Now we are highlighting alternative MAKERS of cutting edge alternative guitars. I know...Rainsongs and Emeralds have been around for awhile, but Ovation was the undisputed leader for 40 years! It seems it was only a few years ago on THIS forum that threads were started regarding exciting new offerings by Ovation (USA).
"THUNK...THUNK...THUNK".....(the sound of a dead horse being beaten) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | Innovation is driven by individuals not companies, Charles Kaman, a genius really, sees something others can't see and gets it done. Alistair is the same and he is in a little village in Northen Ireland. How those thing happen I'll never know but he is a genius to craft this guitar and at a price point that seems impossible to me. Seems to me he got there by a never ending creative drive. He deserves to be recognize just as Charles was. He is carrying a similar torch. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | any electronics on this and if so what kind. GWB |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | darkbarguitar - 2012-07-21 5:15 PM
It's just a crazy turn of events.
5 years ago Ovation was the cutting edge of alternative material guitars.
Actually wasn't it more like 30+5 years ago ? Ovation has always been on the cutting edge of innovation. From the whole implementation of the "acoustic/electric" to the active pre-amps in the Breadwinners and so much more.
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | Yes there are electronics. Alistair is developing a barn door system with Shadow that should be ready in September. I hate barn doors so I have the simplier system by B Band. Two UST to a stereo end plug preamp. Stereo chord gives you two lines one for each neck. Alistair includes a a/b floor switch with volume controls for each neck. I just take it into my Dtar Solstice which has separate processing for two channels. Works well |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Despite my grumbling, I too would love to hear that thing. Here is a demo I found on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alcUMiE6akQ
Edited by BobG 2012-07-25 6:34 AM
|
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | Peter is a lot more talented but I thought the Utube was not that well recorded. At Church between services my Electric guitar player put his hand held Zoom digital recorder about 3 feet in front of me no effects at all. I know this is not that great either but it gives you a feel for its sound. I am currently waiting for a digital mic for my computer and will try to do something better. Steve
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TppLi5WiCbY
Edited by 45flint 2012-07-25 7:14 AM
|
|
| |
A Genius from Ireland combines the promise of the Ovation Q project with the Doubleneck