Have an E40-OM and it is amazing. It has the most reactive top of any guitar I have ever played. It just sings. I alternate between it and my Martin D-35 and both are just so good. Eastman does it right.
@@trutututpiupiu I tried the Martin OM, 000, and other Martins the same day. Martins are consistently variable in quality. I have played many. This day the Martins were just fine. You need to play many and decide in real time. Is the Eastman better than the Martin - maybe, maybe not, it depends on the player. But my personal experience the answer is Eastman is a great guitar regardless of price. But when you take price into account, there is no choice. Sad to say for Martin. And for 4 times the price - who is fooln who...
I'm 68 yo and feel like an excited child at Christmas as I wait for my E20D TC MR to arrive since I ordered it last week! (life is slow in the west of Ireland) Thanks for the demo of this model.
I accidentally became an Eastman collector over the past year or two. I have two of their electrics, an acoustic, and two (will end up selling 1) mandolins. They're all killers.
Jerry, I absolutely agree with you on the smell!! I thought it was just me! I’m an old guy who, in the ‘70’s played Guild and Gibson acoustics. But I’m a MARTIN fan, and own a 00 and 000. I also love Breedlove guitars, but I purchased my first Eastman about four years and think they are great for the money. My everyday, sitting on the coach guitar is an inexpensive E2OM with cedar top and sepele all solid wood body. Not the full range of sound but it stays in tune, has withstood various travel conditions, and remains a fun guitar to play. I’ve owned more expensive Eastman guitars and you are correct. They do not resell well. When I changed out of any of them, I took a hit. But I enjoyed playing them and will buy another one . USED! Thank you. Great video
I'm really late to the party for this comment but the smell thing is true hahahaha. I have an E8OM and it's incredible but the smell was very noticeable at first. However, I urge you not to worry because it's definitely something coming from the Case. I do not keep my guitar on the case and it stopped being noticebale a few weeks after being home. Great video! Eastmans rule!!!
Thanks for another great video! I totally appreciate your perspective and respect your expert opinion. My first Eastman was an AC330E-12. As far as 12 strings go, it’s an absolute steal at around $1200. I was so impressed, I bought an AC630 Jumbo to replace a very disappointing Gibson J100 I once had. The AC630-BD has an Engelmann spruce top, highly figured maple B/S, ebony fretboard and gotoh tuners. Out of the box this guitar is significantly better in every way than the Gibson it replaced save for the fact it doesn’t have electronics. I had a major bias against Chinese-made guitars when compared to the likes of Martin, Taylor, and Gibson acoustics (all of which I currently own and can compare against my Eastmans). Eastman has completely shattered my bias. I’m not sure there is another company anywhere offering Guitars at such a high level for comparatively bargain prices.
I’m not as good as you ….love your playing…I’ve been playing since 1968…..Wild Mountain Thyme…love it…going to buy the Eastman .12…..I play a D18 1967…..love your type of music!
I'm 75 and when I was just a kid trying to learn to play guitar I lived in a world where Martin and to a slightly lesser extent Gibsons were in another galaxy. Recently a guitar salesman picked up a high end Taylor and played it and then a Martin 28-hd and I was shocked. The Taylor sounded better. There was a consignment Eastman 12 string on the wall. The first Eastman I had finally been able to play. Not only did it look and sound great but the action was so good I could actually play it. Eastman is a serious music making machine. And yet for general playing around the house I pick up one of my two GS-Minis because they sound good and I can reach around them without my shoulder protesting. While the price keeps increasing we have never lived in a world where there were so many excellent choices in size, shape and sound.
I love my Eastman E40-OO Guitar and my Eastman MD515V mandolin, they make mighty fine instruments. Edit: 1) I don't buy things I want to sell, I buy things I want to own. 2) Eastman are a fraction of the cost of an USA made guitar, they will never be a USA made guitar and their value will most likely never be that of a USA made guitar. 3) For the rest of use who don't have the budget for Martin's and Gibson's (of similar quality) Eastman is fantastic.
I agree it is a good value compared to a Martin with similar materials, but I much rather have a real 000-28 for a few hundred more, or a CEO-7 and get an adi top if I am already spending $2200+. I may be biased since I live close to the factory, visit many times a year, and my youngest boy is named Martin. Additionally, I wonder (like you mentioned) how a Chinese Martin clone is going do on resale after several years (especially after Easman is long gone). I also agree that the world of high-quality options is sooo much better than it was when I was learning, and more than that the quality you can get at the lower end. For the price of this guitar, you could get into a standard series Martin at a discount dealer or something used, which is a much better investment IMO. (and supports American jobs of some of my neighbors)
I remember looking to go out and buy a high end accostic 25 years ago. You really had to dig to find something incredible that didnt break the bank. We are lucky nowadays. You can get an absolute killer guitar for $1000 to $1500
Bought an Eastman E20 OO less than a year ago and had problems with the strings binding in the nut. Grooves were narrow and slanted to the right. I fixed that. Some of the tuners were working way to hard. I fixed that. The case smells like toxic glue, no toxic dump. No fix. Other than that it’s a nice guitar.
Totally agree on Eastman guitars. I discovered them two years ago and have owned 6 of them. Your E20OM sounds like my E40OM. Basically the same guitar but the E40OM has all the extra abalone bling. It was my first Eastman, a mint condition consignment that I snagged for $1,300. Speaking of shiny bridges, the inside of the E40OM has been clear coated. That may sound weird but my early 1970's Yamaha FG150 Nippon Gakki red label also has an internal clear coat. SX510 tuners are made by Gotoh. If you want a real eye opener, pick up an Eastman PCH3 and give it a strum. I just bought a used PCH3-GACE for $400 because I didn't want to play my Eastman double top DT30-GACE out. I've owned a bunch of laminate guitars: Yamahas, Kents, Takamine, S. Yairi, and Breedloves to name a few(actually to name a lot) and have never before heard a laminate that sounds so great. If I had been blindfolded then handed that PCH3 without knowing what it was, I would swear it was all solid wood.
Bought the E20SS recently and love it. Great guitars for the price. If you can score one used the price is even better. My bridge has a satin finish and not a gloss one, but mine is also from 2016 and a different model.
I think they gloss stuff a bit more due to travel distance and humidity. They certainly do break in in a relatively short time. Resale? The more that people realize what they are and the quality involved in the build it will go up if the market isn’t flooded. Shows like yours are giving them great exposure. Thx!
I played an Eastman that i really liked but it wasn't mine. I was just using it to record a certain song. Most acoustics i just strum a G chord and if it sounds like the first chord in an old Western movie, ill buy it. That's exactly the voice im looking for. Sort of early 70's Guild usually does the trick.
I bought a Martin D-28 today - new. Not Madagascar but beautiful East Indian rosewood. The price was only $500 more than this Eastman. I think that’s a great value and the Martin will hold its value better. The Eastman is a beauty though!
I have one and I love it, and paid a lot less than 2200 for it - and no it wasn't hot. The back almost has a purple-plummy brown color to me, and I love THAT too.
I bought an Eastman like he's talking about. I sent it back. It was not balanced right? Seemed on the heavy side, somebody had lowered the action on it. That was not what I was expecting. But now I've got one of the bourgeois TS with the aged Alaskan sitka anf Rosewood Back and sides. As soon as I heal from having new shoulders I will go over this guitar. Change the strings first and go from there. Bourgeois and Eastman are on to something!! I like how they think.
Just how bad is the smell? Would it get better over time? The shiny bridge is an easy fix when the strings are changed with some blue tape and fine steel wool.
I had an Eastman and I didn't like the shiny bridge but I had thought a lot about it recently and I thought...well normally we oil the bridge and then over time the bridge absorbs the oil and we have to add more oil. But if you think about it, when we oil the bridge, that oil albeit a small amount of oil, it probably absorbs the vibrations and dead ends the sound slightly. Whereas if it has a finish on it then you don't have to oil the bridge. And the bridge will remain dry and instill a crisp, clean sound into the soundboard. I think the same logic applies to the fretboard as well. By NOT oiling the fretboard, the strings should stay clean longer. I told myself after selling my Eastman that I used to own that I would never buy another Chinese guitar again. But now I'm considering buying this same guitar, the Eastman E-20 MR TC because I like the idea of owning a guitar with Madagascar Rosewood back and sides.
I have the E10 (mahog) thermo om and it has taken about a year and a half to really open up. I have other guitars, and so this doesn't get played everyday. But, it is my camping guitar, and I can't tell you how much I love it. It seems to love the dry mountain air, and campfires ... I got it from the Accoustic shop for around 1500 bucks I think, and they are great ... Liz is great at set up. Highly recommend. I also got a E20 slope shoulder dread varnish finish from them, and that thing turned into the biggest monster guitar ...
SX510 tuners are Gotohs, from Japan. The lower end Eastman guitars have Pingwell tuners. As for 000 vs OM, most of the third-party OM guitars are in fact longer scale than Martin's; 25.5in in the case of Collings and Larrivee and 650mm in the case of Furch. Maybe some American boutique OMs are the same scale length as Martin's, but 25.4in generally means Martin. Maybe you could tell just by playing it but if you ordered it online and you wanted what you understand to be an OM, you might have a shock when you get it open and played it for the first time, especially if you were into open tunings. I've looked at prices of Eastmans in shops here in the UK and the one in this video is on a par with, say, Japanese or eastern European acoustics in price (they have lower models for much less). Not a quarter of the cost of a Martin; in fact, more like half, which isn't surprising given that it's made with American woods and in a small factory, not an outsourced sweatshop or a CNC factory as with most guitars made in China.
I was recently on the guitar hunt and bought the Eastman e20 OM TC. I was initially very impressed, but after a few days i realised that the lows had too much presence, also I didn't find enough clarity or balance in the sound of the guitar, the lows sounded a bit jumbledto my ear. To compensate the presence of the lows i had to pluck the mids and high strings a little harder, i notice after a while that my fingers were a little sore. Also i discovered what run-out was, the top had very noticeable run-out, initially it didn't bother me, but the lack of balance in the sound and run-out i decided to return it. I'm very happy that i did as I opted for the Furch Vintage 3 OM SR which in my opinion is better suited for what i was looking for, extremely balanced and amazing clarity in the notes, also nice and warm, ah and beautiful woods. So far very happy that i went for the Furch in the end. Probably the eastman is an amazing guitar, but it didn't suit me.
Eastman does make nice guitars, especially for the money. Recording King is another awesome guitar too, their all solid wood guitars. The jury is out as far as torrified wood go, for me. I want to see how these torrified woods hold up over the long run.
I had a very similar experience. Went to a guitar shop looking for a small body instrument, single-O or something like that. They showed me a little Martin, a little Larivee, and then they pulled out the Eastman. The one I looked at wasn't this fancy. While I liked the guitar a lot I was really hoping to get the Taylor 612ce 12-fret. Still haven't gotten that Taylor. Decided not to waste the time of the people at the guitar shop and just try to get the Taylor. Like the herringbone on this one. Always a nice touch.
Still don't have that Taylor. Jeremy got me interested in a Boucher instead. Great red spruce, great Canadian maple. Still haven't gotten that either. It's hard to get where I live. I may be able to order the one I want through an outfit in North Carolina. Bah! Foiled again.
Hello Dean here, great video. I agree with your comments the guitar sounds OK. Great wood combination. Martin have ran out of Madagascar Rosewood so it's become very desirable. I have a Martin 00028 custom shop Madagascar and adaronkack top. £6000. It's Beautiful. Now the eastman.... Why do they use a gloss spray on the bridge and on some of their other models they spray the fretboard with gloss laqure. Horrible... When the camera shows the frets and the back of the headstock. It looked ruff fret ends. The top finish on that beautiful adaronkack top looked about an inch thick. Too heavy finish. The back had funny white lines in the finish. Needed more filler paste to cover the wood grain I still think it's got to be worth around £2200. It looks fine from about 6ft away. Eastman could improve a little. Dean 🇬🇧 🙏
My Recording King RO 328 000, aged Adirocnadck top , Indian Rosewood back and sides, all solid, smelled like varnish or something on arrival. It too was made in China , and like that Eastman is a Martin orchestra model copy. The odor lessened over time and is gone now. The fit and finish was of a very high standard and my only faults are the plastic bridge pins, and cheap plastic pickguard. Plays great, sounds great, looks great.
the smell emanates from the case. i agree-i could not handle it, but, after a couple weeks on a stand/wall hanging in a humidified room, and it goes away .. .
@jeramy Shappard the riff the wheels fall of play the (C#m) shape which is E6 x.4,6,6,0,0,.. then the second fingering with that a in the base A7+/9, x,0.6.6.0.0,.. then this fingering E6 x,7,6,6,0,0,.. then to finish it off play a Emaj7 x.6,6,4,4,0 or go up to Db11#9 fingering x, 9, 11, 11, 0, 0,
1. Those are Gotoh SX510 tuners, very great imo. 2. Eastman acquired Bourgeois. 3. Martin doesn't use Madi Rosewood even on the Authentics anymore. Your looking at spending 3-5 times thr price for something similar speced. 4. The smell is from the case. I have an E20SS and it has the same smell that I can't stand. The latch on my case also broke. I am not a fan of those cases. They look nice though. I would have liked a little more comment on the tone. How is Madi different from EIR? It sounds a little bright to me, but otherwise pretty good.
I got a Dread TC MR and it's on its way back. Wonderful in appearance but the mid range is so overwhelming it just bulldozed the sound. I am an Eastman fan and have an E20 OM which runs a treat on EJ17's. Possibly just the example I had or perhaps the Mady Rosewood effect but on this occasion not for me.
The glue smell is from the case. My AC 322 absolutely reeks from its case, even a year after I bought it. Absolutely love it otherwise, but clearly whatever glue they use in their cases is not great.
I love my E6SS-TC, it's quite remarkable, there's a reason Bourgeois have partnered with them, I think they have PING tuners.....they work great, I believe the Ebony bridge is polished, at least that's how mine looks, the Ebony on my fretboard is outstanding, they also use Jescar highly polished frets which feel awesome, I'm sold on them, I bought mine in preference to stuff that was double the price simply because it plays and sounds fantastic, keep up the good work Jeremy, we appreciate it 😊
@@panayotiscanellopoulos8696 yes actually I stand corrected although they build the Bourgeois Touchstone series in a partnership arrangement where they both have a hand in construction.
Just to add that Bourgeois send their acoustic guitar tops over to Eastman, whereby Eastman then place those tops onto the rest of the body (back and sides handcrafted by Eastman), then send them back to Bourgeois. So glad that Bourgeois is now owned by Eastman. Great quality guitars all round.
I own a Martin D35 and was looking for a small body guitar Tried a bunch and really liked the sound of the Eastman, but something felt wrong. I played a couple more and it still seemed off. I picked up a Martin OM and it felt right. I think that my Left hand was telling me that I am a Martin man. The Eastman looks and sounds great, it just didn't fell right. My 2 cents.
@@danherrick5785 E20-OM-MR-TC MSRP $2769. I purchase a used Martin O-15 12 fret Custom Shop for $2500. I know, not apples to apples but a Martin Custom Shop Guitar is pretty phenominal and that model was a good differentiator to my D35.
They are worth EVERY PENNY..and some! I want an acoustic! I had their 335 style but lm not a hollow body kinda guy, l do have the Solid Body 59 varnish and it is far superior to my LP Standard for many reasons, they are finally getting recognition and the increasing prices reflect that. I bought the SB for $1699.. new.. now? 😆 They are 100% custom shop level for a production price.. l have not played or seen an acoustic in person yet..likely a good thing l don't.. lm still paying off my HD28.. UGGGH.
They are beautiful guitars. They sound fantastic. However, I’m hesitant to add one to my collection solely because they are assembled overseas. I don’t know why I’m biased so much that I won’t pull the trigger and grab a wonderful system at a cut rate 😞
I'm hesitant to spend the money on a U.S made guitar because I don't believe they're good enough for the price charged, I live in Australia and I've tried many different guitars, I nearly bought an Australian made Maton at one point, I simply judge how good the guitar is in a ratio of the cost, I was pretty impressed with a Kremona recently, made in Bulgaria but ultimately bought an Eastman, it's just outstanding for what it costs 😊
@@fourocker I would imagine getting a Taylor or Martin for you would carry large import duties and other taxes. What was a brand new Martin d-28 in your area?
@@jim34morrison at the time a standard gloss finish D28 was 5K give or take a couple of hundred depending upon the store, tried one didn't mind it but preferred the D18 for tone but I've tried others that I enjoyed more....like a Guild D40, I loved that and an Alvarez MD60 that was fantastic but sold before I was in a position to buy, with the MD60 though it was that particular guitar as I tried other MD60 's that just weren't the same. It's weird because my E6SS-TC looks like a J35 but honestly sounds very much like a D18 to a degree, I stumbled across my E6SS-TC and couldn't put it down, maybe others may not sound the same, I don't know as it's the only one I've come across.
@@fourocker wow. 5k for a d-28 is way out of sight. I would absolutely grab an Eastman if that were my position. I’m probably going to pick up one of their OM models so I have something to travel with and my Martins can stay at home.
The bridge looks great to me, I have 2 eastman acoustic and they are fabulous. I have owned several Martin's and by far prefer eastman. Resale well I play mine so not looking to sell
I have been watching your reviews for a while, and would be broke if I didn't have more restraint-- nice version of Wild Mt. Thyme, BTW-- but your go to chords make use of open strings that already have a sparkle, an open tuning sound created by the same notes that ring out on different strings. Don't get me wrong, I love the sound of them. But I wonder if they fairly represent the ring and sustain of the guitar as compared to playing straight up chords, strummed or fingerpicked.
Question for you Jeremy who makes that stand that you have the guitar laying across around 3:30. I would much appreciate the info. Thank you for what you do. I have learned a lot from your videos.
i have an e40om, from what I could hear it sounds louder and wider/deeper than this one... i've played it a lot and it's matured so well. honestly there's no guitar that is clearly better than this that i've played under 5,000 usd. It sounds maybe not as refined but much more powerful and full that even a martin om-28.
The headstock shape looks very Martin. If someone’s playing this guitar and you can’t read the headstock logo by the shape you would think oh that’s a Martin.
A word on the lack of bass on this guitar-- perhaps some of that is simply due to the fact that we're not talking about a dreadnought/ jumbo, but a smaller body size? I only play dreads and jumbos because I like as much bass and power as I can get out of a guitar.
I have 2 Eastman instruments. Dollar for dollar there is no company that matches them in terms of quality for what you get. Its really impressive. If they had another brand on their headstock, they would sell for way more. One thing to note, is a new Eastman and an older eastman are different beast. The eastman's that were produced in the last couple of years are of a higher calibre than those produced earlier.
I thought narrow spruce grain was what you wanted. Some of my old cheaper guitars have very wide grain, but don't sound near as good as the narrow.... I am very impressed with the Eastman OMs, though... Awesome guitars.
Almost all of the old growth Red Spruce, or Adirondack as it's known in the guitar world, is long gone. What they're using today grew up quickly in the open, and its not nearly as stiff as the old growth, but it's legend lives on. There's still Sitka Spruce around with growth rings of 30 to 50/ per inch which means a tree suitable for a guitar would be at least 300 years old. I prefer Sitka because I believe it's sound is mellower. I also like the ancient, fine grained redwood and cedar tops which are mellow as well.
I am still trying to figure whether acoustic players are shallow about optics like polished fretboards and bridges or anal about what othet people think. Maybe both? If it doesn't affect tone then it's simply a matter of taste. And taste can really be about limits and boundaries, for better or worse. It seems sadly acoustic players can be among the most insecure about brands and bling. And this is especially sad in a time when premium tonewoods are being depleted. Somethings must change. So yay for Eastman, sipo, sapele,walnut and polished ebony.
I bought an Eastman E10 OM TC about 10 months ago. It is a beautiful guitar as the one you have reviewed, but playability, and intonation sucks. Edited: Well, after looking at the neck, realized it had bowed. Tightened up the trussed, and now I am a Happy Camper. Definitely worth the $$
@@panayotiscanellopoulos8696 I own a Boucher SG-42 mahogany Guitar 🎸 one of the best guitars I've ever seen, sounds amazing, Robin and his crew build some of the best, it is my favorite Guitar 🎸.
I own 3 Eastman guitars. My favorite guitar ever was a Santa Cruz Dreadnaught. But now the Santa Cruz costs 6 or 7 times more than my Eastman. The Santa Cruz sounded better than the Eastman but nowhere near 6 or 7 times better.
I hear that a lot . "It doesn't sound great but it will open up and eventually be a zinger. " I thought the high end was terrible on this box. Sounded like loose pennies bouncing around in a coffee can. I'll never buy one because I like the warmer sound of mahogany, but if I did I'd wait a couple of years till they're down to $500. on Craigslist.
Have an E40-OM and it is amazing. It has the most reactive top of any guitar I have ever played. It just sings. I alternate between it and my Martin D-35 and both are just so good. Eastman does it right.
Hey Jeremy, I got a used E08OM-TC. Same but sitka and indian for 950. Basically an OOO-28 at 25% of a Martin. Can't be happier...
Martin is better, don't fool yourself
@@trutututpiupiu I tried the Martin OM, 000, and other Martins the same day. Martins are consistently variable in quality. I have played many. This day the Martins were just fine. You need to play many and decide in real time. Is the Eastman better than the Martin - maybe, maybe not, it depends on the player. But my personal experience the answer is Eastman is a great guitar regardless of price. But when you take price into account, there is no choice. Sad to say for Martin. And for 4 times the price - who is fooln who...
@@trutututpiupiuon which aspects?
@@lacafaca100
Not sure if the word cantilena is used in English. Effortlessness, flow, musicality.
@@lacafaca100 Did you notice he didn't really have an answer to your question.
I'm 68 yo and feel like an excited child at Christmas as I wait for my E20D TC MR to arrive since I ordered it last week! (life is slow in the west of Ireland) Thanks for the demo of this model.
I own two that I bought from the Acoustic shoppe, love them
You can play them in stereo 😊
This is my first high-end guitar and cannot find the words to describe how good it is.
I’m happy for you, I really need to add one of these to my living room collection.
love that you're finally coming around to eastman!
Your video quality is superb!! Crystal clear, my friend. I too am intrigued with Eastman acoustics AND their electric line.
my E20OM-MR-TC is the best guitar i have ever owned. it's pure inspiration.
I have a E20D-MR-TC that has become my favorite guitar. It's just starting to really open up!
I have 5 Martin's and 4 Eastman's... I love each of them.
I'll bet you do. How many girl friends do you have ?
This is the stupidest comment I have ever heard posted here.@@maplebones
Smell and bridge points are cork sniffing territory, re sale value is definitely a consideration. 👍
I accidentally became an Eastman collector over the past year or two. I have two of their electrics, an acoustic, and two (will end up selling 1) mandolins. They're all killers.
Yep, I have a couple of their electrics, a SB59 and a T486. Absolutely stellar guitars. I've played a couple acoustics and they are fantastic as well.
Same here!! I’ve bought 5 this year.
Martin, Gibson and Taylor have been my choice for 20 years.
You are just a pleasure to listen to.
Great playing.
Thanks!!
Jerry, I absolutely agree with you on the smell!! I thought it was just me!
I’m an old guy who, in the ‘70’s played Guild and Gibson acoustics. But I’m a MARTIN fan, and own a 00 and 000. I also love Breedlove guitars, but I purchased my first Eastman about four years and think they are great for the money. My everyday, sitting on the coach guitar is an inexpensive E2OM with cedar top and sepele all solid wood body. Not the full range of sound but it stays in tune, has withstood various travel conditions, and remains a fun guitar to play. I’ve owned more expensive Eastman guitars and you are correct. They do not resell well. When I changed out of any of them, I took a hit. But I enjoyed playing them and will buy another one . USED!
Thank you. Great video
I'm really late to the party for this comment but the smell thing is true hahahaha. I have an E8OM and it's incredible but the smell was very noticeable at first. However, I urge you not to worry because it's definitely something coming from the Case. I do not keep my guitar on the case and it stopped being noticebale a few weeks after being home.
Great video! Eastmans rule!!!
Thanks for another great video! I totally appreciate your perspective and respect your expert opinion. My first Eastman was an AC330E-12. As far as 12 strings go, it’s an absolute steal at around $1200. I was so impressed, I bought an AC630 Jumbo to replace a very disappointing Gibson J100 I once had. The AC630-BD has an Engelmann spruce top, highly figured maple B/S, ebony fretboard and gotoh tuners. Out of the box this guitar is significantly better in every way than the Gibson it replaced save for the fact it doesn’t have electronics. I had a major bias against Chinese-made guitars when compared to the likes of Martin, Taylor, and Gibson acoustics (all of which I currently own and can compare against my Eastmans). Eastman has completely shattered my bias. I’m not sure there is another company anywhere offering Guitars at such a high level for comparatively bargain prices.
Can I suggest you try the violin finish models. They’re lovely to hear from day one and only get better.
Will ye go lassie go! Awesome and a fine guitar to boot. Thanks very much.
I’ve had my Eastman AC508CE for 6 years now. My finest quality guitar in my collection for sure
I’m not as good as you ….love your playing…I’ve been playing since 1968…..Wild Mountain Thyme…love it…going to buy the Eastman .12…..I play a D18 1967…..love your type of music!
Interesting abd very well done, again. Many thanks Jeremy!
I'm 75 and when I was just a kid trying to learn to play guitar I lived in a world where Martin and to a slightly lesser extent Gibsons were in another galaxy. Recently a guitar salesman picked up a high end Taylor and played it and then a Martin 28-hd and I was shocked. The Taylor sounded better. There was a consignment Eastman 12 string on the wall. The first Eastman I had finally been able to play. Not only did it look and sound great but the action was so good I could actually play it. Eastman is a serious music making machine. And yet for general playing around the house I pick up one of my two GS-Minis because they sound good and I can reach around them without my shoulder protesting. While the price keeps increasing we have never lived in a world where there were so many excellent choices in size, shape and sound.
LOL, no.
I love my Eastman E40-OO Guitar and my Eastman MD515V mandolin, they make mighty fine instruments.
Edit:
1) I don't buy things I want to sell, I buy things I want to own.
2) Eastman are a fraction of the cost of an USA made guitar, they will never be a USA made guitar and their value will most likely never be that of a USA made guitar.
3) For the rest of use who don't have the budget for Martin's and Gibson's (of similar quality) Eastman is fantastic.
Sounds phenomenal
I agree it is a good value compared to a Martin with similar materials, but I much rather have a real 000-28 for a few hundred more, or a CEO-7 and get an adi top if I am already spending $2200+. I may be biased since I live close to the factory, visit many times a year, and my youngest boy is named Martin. Additionally, I wonder (like you mentioned) how a Chinese Martin clone is going do on resale after several years (especially after Easman is long gone). I also agree that the world of high-quality options is sooo much better than it was when I was learning, and more than that the quality you can get at the lower end. For the price of this guitar, you could get into a standard series Martin at a discount dealer or something used, which is a much better investment IMO. (and supports American jobs of some of my neighbors)
How are you recording that ? Mic and mic pre no doubt
I remember looking to go out and buy a high end accostic 25 years ago. You really had to dig to find something incredible that didnt break the bank. We are lucky nowadays. You can get an absolute killer guitar for $1000 to $1500
Bought an Eastman E20 OO less than a year ago and had problems with the strings binding in the nut. Grooves were narrow and slanted to the right. I fixed that. Some of the tuners were working way to hard. I fixed that. The case smells like toxic glue, no toxic dump. No fix. Other than that it’s a nice guitar.
sounds really good, I want one.
Totally agree on Eastman guitars. I discovered them two years ago and have owned 6 of them. Your E20OM sounds like my E40OM. Basically the same guitar but the E40OM has all the extra abalone bling. It was my first Eastman, a mint condition consignment that I snagged for $1,300. Speaking of shiny bridges, the inside of the E40OM has been clear coated. That may sound weird but my early 1970's Yamaha FG150 Nippon Gakki red label also has an internal clear coat.
SX510 tuners are made by Gotoh.
If you want a real eye opener, pick up an Eastman PCH3 and give it a strum. I just bought a used PCH3-GACE for $400 because I didn't want to play my Eastman double top DT30-GACE out. I've owned a bunch of laminate guitars: Yamahas, Kents, Takamine, S. Yairi, and Breedloves to name a few(actually to name a lot) and have never before heard a laminate that sounds so great. If I had been blindfolded then handed that PCH3 without knowing what it was, I would swear it was all solid wood.
Bought the E20SS recently and love it. Great guitars for the price. If you can score one used the price is even better. My bridge has a satin finish and not a gloss one, but mine is also from 2016 and a different model.
That guitar sounds great! The tuners are made by Gotoh.
I think they're pingwell open backs, v similar
@@gregmonk9037 they’re not.
The lower cost models have Ping tuners.
These are Gotohs.
I think they gloss stuff a bit more due to travel distance and humidity. They certainly do break in in a relatively short time. Resale? The more that people realize what they are and the quality involved in the build it will go up if the market isn’t flooded. Shows like yours are giving them great exposure. Thx!
I played an Eastman that i really liked but it wasn't mine. I was just using it to record a certain song.
Most acoustics i just strum a G chord and if it sounds like the first chord in an old Western movie, ill buy it.
That's exactly the voice im looking for.
Sort of early 70's Guild usually does the trick.
I bought a Martin D-28 today - new. Not Madagascar but beautiful East Indian rosewood. The price was only $500 more than this Eastman. I think that’s a great value and the Martin will hold its value better. The Eastman is a beauty though!
What an exciting day! I'd buy a Martin over this. I've got a Martin coming soon too.
I have one and I love it, and paid a lot less than 2200 for it - and no it wasn't hot. The back almost has a purple-plummy brown color to me, and I love THAT too.
I bought an Eastman like he's talking about. I sent it back. It was not balanced right? Seemed on the heavy side, somebody had lowered the action on it. That was not what I was expecting. But now I've got one of the bourgeois TS with the aged Alaskan sitka anf Rosewood Back and sides. As soon as I heal from having new shoulders I will go over this guitar. Change the strings first and go from there. Bourgeois and Eastman are on to something!! I like how they think.
Just how bad is the smell? Would it get better over time? The shiny bridge is an easy fix when the strings are changed with some blue tape and fine steel wool.
I had an Eastman and I didn't like the shiny bridge but I had thought a lot about it recently and I thought...well normally we oil the bridge and then over time the bridge absorbs the oil and we have to add more oil. But if you think about it, when we oil the bridge, that oil albeit a small amount of oil, it probably absorbs the vibrations and dead ends the sound slightly. Whereas if it has a finish on it then you don't have to oil the bridge. And the bridge will remain dry and instill a crisp, clean sound into the soundboard. I think the same logic applies to the fretboard as well. By NOT oiling the fretboard, the strings should stay clean longer. I told myself after selling my Eastman that I used to own that I would never buy another Chinese guitar again. But now I'm considering buying this same guitar, the Eastman E-20 MR TC because I like the idea of owning a guitar with Madagascar Rosewood back and sides.
I have the E10 (mahog) thermo om and it has taken about a year and a half to really open up. I have other guitars, and so this doesn't get played everyday. But, it is my camping guitar, and I can't tell you how much I love it. It seems to love the dry mountain air, and campfires ... I got it from the Accoustic shop for around 1500 bucks I think, and they are great ... Liz is great at set up. Highly recommend. I also got a E20 slope shoulder dread varnish finish from them, and that thing turned into the biggest monster guitar ...
SX510 tuners are Gotohs, from Japan. The lower end Eastman guitars have Pingwell tuners.
As for 000 vs OM, most of the third-party OM guitars are in fact longer scale than Martin's; 25.5in in the case of Collings and Larrivee and 650mm in the case of Furch. Maybe some American boutique OMs are the same scale length as Martin's, but 25.4in generally means Martin. Maybe you could tell just by playing it but if you ordered it online and you wanted what you understand to be an OM, you might have a shock when you get it open and played it for the first time, especially if you were into open tunings.
I've looked at prices of Eastmans in shops here in the UK and the one in this video is on a par with, say, Japanese or eastern European acoustics in price (they have lower models for much less). Not a quarter of the cost of a Martin; in fact, more like half, which isn't surprising given that it's made with American woods and in a small factory, not an outsourced sweatshop or a CNC factory as with most guitars made in China.
I was recently on the guitar hunt and bought the Eastman e20 OM TC. I was initially very impressed, but after a few days i realised that the lows had too much presence, also I didn't find enough clarity or balance in the sound of the guitar, the lows sounded a bit jumbledto my ear. To compensate the presence of the lows i had to pluck the mids and high strings a little harder, i notice after a while that my fingers were a little sore. Also i discovered what run-out was, the top had very noticeable run-out, initially it didn't bother me, but the lack of balance in the sound and run-out i decided to return it. I'm very happy that i did as I opted for the Furch Vintage 3 OM SR which in my opinion is better suited for what i was looking for, extremely balanced and amazing clarity in the notes, also nice and warm, ah and beautiful woods. So far very happy that i went for the Furch in the end. Probably the eastman is an amazing guitar, but it didn't suit me.
Yea but you had to spend $3k? Not sure thats a great comparison.
My local shop sells Eastman. I recently bought a mandolin from Eastman to learn on. Very great quality for the price.
Eastman does make nice guitars, especially for the money. Recording King is another awesome guitar too, their all solid wood guitars. The jury is out as far as torrified wood go, for me. I want to see how these torrified woods hold up over the long run.
I had a very similar experience. Went to a guitar shop looking for a small body instrument, single-O or something like that. They showed me a little Martin, a little Larivee, and then they pulled out the Eastman. The one I looked at wasn't this fancy. While I liked the guitar a lot I was really hoping to get the Taylor 612ce 12-fret. Still haven't gotten that Taylor. Decided not to waste the time of the people at the guitar shop and just try to get the Taylor. Like the herringbone on this one. Always a nice touch.
Taylor resales are zilch! 😮
Still don't have that Taylor. Jeremy got me interested in a Boucher instead. Great red spruce, great Canadian maple. Still haven't gotten that either. It's hard to get where I live. I may be able to order the one I want through an outfit in North Carolina. Bah! Foiled again.
Daniel G & G music in Canada can sell you the Boucher you want and dhip it to you. They ship world wide.
Thanks, turns out it's too expensive. I could afford that Taylor but not the Boucher.
Hi, maybe it's the mic positions, but with high end headphones on, I hear zero bass coming out.
I paid $1950 for this guitar in used but mint condition a '22 model. Great, could not be happier and Lord knows how much cheaper than a Martin.
Hello Dean here, great video. I agree with your comments the guitar sounds OK. Great wood combination. Martin have ran out of Madagascar Rosewood so it's become very desirable. I have a Martin 00028 custom shop Madagascar and adaronkack top. £6000. It's Beautiful.
Now the eastman....
Why do they use a gloss spray on the bridge and on some of their other models they spray the fretboard with gloss laqure. Horrible...
When the camera shows the frets and the back of the headstock. It looked ruff fret ends. The top finish on that beautiful adaronkack top looked about an inch thick. Too heavy finish. The back had funny white lines in the finish. Needed more filler paste to cover the wood grain I still think it's got to be worth around £2200. It looks fine from about 6ft away. Eastman could improve a little. Dean 🇬🇧 🙏
My Recording King RO 328 000, aged Adirocnadck top , Indian Rosewood back and sides, all solid, smelled like varnish or something on arrival. It too was made in China , and like that Eastman is a Martin orchestra model copy. The odor lessened over time and is gone now. The fit and finish was of a very high standard and my only faults are the plastic bridge pins, and cheap plastic pickguard. Plays great, sounds great, looks great.
Replaced plastic pins with Stew Mac ebony pins, cheap easy fix. Id say this stacks up well against the Eastman.
the smell emanates from the case. i agree-i could not handle it, but, after a couple weeks on a stand/wall hanging in a humidified room, and it goes away .. .
@jeramy Shappard the riff the wheels fall of play the (C#m) shape which is E6 x.4,6,6,0,0,.. then the second fingering with that a in the base
A7+/9, x,0.6.6.0.0,.. then this fingering E6 x,7,6,6,0,0,.. then to finish it off play a Emaj7 x.6,6,4,4,0 or go up to Db11#9 fingering x, 9, 11, 11, 0, 0,
With a short scale it's basically a 00028 it sound truly amazing and it's beautiful!
1. Those are Gotoh SX510 tuners, very great imo. 2. Eastman acquired Bourgeois. 3. Martin doesn't use Madi Rosewood even on the Authentics anymore. Your looking at spending 3-5 times thr price for something similar speced. 4. The smell is from the case. I have an E20SS and it has the same smell that I can't stand. The latch on my case also broke. I am not a fan of those cases. They look nice though.
I would have liked a little more comment on the tone. How is Madi different from EIR? It sounds a little bright to me, but otherwise pretty good.
I replaced the case on day ONE.
Been looking at this model, gonna have to.
We still have this one for sale! Link in the description
I got a Dread TC MR and it's on its way back. Wonderful in appearance but the mid range is so overwhelming it just bulldozed the sound. I am an Eastman fan and have an E20 OM which runs a treat on EJ17's. Possibly just the example I had or perhaps the Mady Rosewood effect but on this occasion not for me.
The glue smell is from the case. My AC 322 absolutely reeks from its case, even a year after I bought it. Absolutely love it otherwise, but clearly whatever glue they use in their cases is not great.
It's not the glue.
@@Stringbean421 What do you think it is?
I love my E6SS-TC, it's quite remarkable, there's a reason Bourgeois have partnered with them, I think they have PING tuners.....they work great, I believe the Ebony bridge is polished, at least that's how mine looks, the Ebony on my fretboard is outstanding, they also use Jescar highly polished frets which feel awesome, I'm sold on them, I bought mine in preference to stuff that was double the price simply because it plays and sounds fantastic, keep up the good work Jeremy, we appreciate it 😊
Eastman bought Bourgeois, not partnered.....
@@panayotiscanellopoulos8696 yes actually I stand corrected although they build the Bourgeois Touchstone series in a partnership arrangement where they both have a hand in construction.
Just to add that Bourgeois send their acoustic guitar tops over to Eastman, whereby Eastman then place those tops onto the rest of the body (back and sides handcrafted by Eastman), then send them back to Bourgeois. So glad that Bourgeois is now owned by Eastman. Great quality guitars all round.
I own a Martin D35 and was looking for a small body guitar Tried a bunch and really liked the sound of the Eastman, but something felt wrong. I played a couple more and it still seemed off. I picked up a Martin OM and it felt right. I think that my Left hand was telling me that I am a Martin man. The Eastman looks and sounds great, it just didn't fell right. My 2 cents.
Your 2 cents converts into a 3 grand difference.
@@danherrick5785 E20-OM-MR-TC MSRP $2769. I purchase a used Martin O-15 12 fret Custom Shop for $2500. I know, not apples to apples but a Martin Custom Shop Guitar is pretty phenominal and that model was a good differentiator to my D35.
This guitar and a Martin GPC-16-Special Rosewood guitar sell for about the same price new.
Which one would you think will hold a better resale value?
Eastman
Does it matter? Surely the point is to buy a guitar to keep.
@@phoenixsound Not necessarily. Some people get bored, or their tastes change and they trade frequently.
12-fret version please
i prefer rosewood on dreadnoughts on mahogany on smaller guitars.
They are worth EVERY PENNY..and some! I want an acoustic! I had their 335 style but lm not a hollow body kinda guy, l do have the Solid Body 59 varnish and it is far superior to my LP Standard for many reasons, they are finally getting recognition and the increasing prices reflect that. I bought the SB for $1699.. new.. now? 😆 They are 100% custom shop level for a production price.. l have not played or seen an acoustic in person yet..likely a good thing l don't.. lm still paying off my HD28.. UGGGH.
Minor complaints for the cost to quality. I have an Eastman E3D that punches way above it’s weight class.
Rings like a bell!
Thank you
They are beautiful guitars. They sound fantastic. However, I’m hesitant to add one to my collection solely because they are assembled overseas. I don’t know why I’m biased so much that I won’t pull the trigger and grab a wonderful system at a cut rate 😞
I'm hesitant to spend the money on a U.S made guitar because I don't believe they're good enough for the price charged, I live in Australia and I've tried many different guitars, I nearly bought an Australian made Maton at one point, I simply judge how good the guitar is in a ratio of the cost, I was pretty impressed with a Kremona recently, made in Bulgaria but ultimately bought an Eastman, it's just outstanding for what it costs 😊
@@fourocker I would imagine getting a Taylor or Martin for you would carry large import duties and other taxes. What was a brand new Martin d-28 in your area?
@@jim34morrison at the time a standard gloss finish D28 was 5K give or take a couple of hundred depending upon the store, tried one didn't mind it but preferred the D18 for tone but I've tried others that I enjoyed more....like a Guild D40, I loved that and an Alvarez MD60 that was fantastic but sold before I was in a position to buy, with the MD60 though it was that particular guitar as I tried other MD60 's that just weren't the same. It's weird because my E6SS-TC looks like a J35 but honestly sounds very much like a D18 to a degree, I stumbled across my E6SS-TC and couldn't put it down, maybe others may not sound the same, I don't know as it's the only one I've come across.
@@fourocker wow. 5k for a d-28 is way out of sight. I would absolutely grab an Eastman if that were my position. I’m probably going to pick up one of their OM models so I have something to travel with and my Martins can stay at home.
@@fourocker would you be willing to post a video of your guitar(s)? I’d love to see them.
The tuners are gotoh sxbn 510s
The bridge looks great to me, I have 2 eastman acoustic and they are fabulous. I have owned several Martin's and by far prefer eastman. Resale well I play mine so not looking to sell
And, my opinion, great necks!
Got an Alvarez Yairi and an Eastman A Mando. Both are wonderful instruments.
😢
I have been watching your reviews for a while, and would be broke if I didn't have more restraint-- nice version of Wild Mt. Thyme, BTW-- but your go to chords make use of open strings that already have a sparkle, an open tuning sound created by the same notes that ring out on different strings. Don't get me wrong, I love the sound of them. But I wonder if they fairly represent the ring and sustain of the guitar as compared to playing straight up chords, strummed or fingerpicked.
Question for you Jeremy who makes that stand that you have the guitar laying across around 3:30. I would much appreciate the info. Thank you for what you do. I have learned a lot from your videos.
I'm not sure. It's quite old. I believe its a Rock It by Gator
thank you
@@JeremySheppard
The Eastman electrics are legit too. Almost as good a custom shop for less than production price tags of the well-known American high priced company.
i have an e40om, from what I could hear it sounds louder and wider/deeper than this one... i've played it a lot and it's matured so well. honestly there's no guitar that is clearly better than this that i've played under 5,000 usd. It sounds maybe not as refined but much more powerful and full that even a martin om-28.
The headstock shape looks very Martin. If someone’s playing this guitar and you can’t read the headstock logo by the shape you would think oh that’s a Martin.
A word on the lack of bass on this guitar-- perhaps some of that is simply due to the fact that we're not talking about a dreadnought/ jumbo, but a smaller body size? I only play dreads and jumbos because I like as much bass and power as I can get out of a guitar.
I have 2 Eastman instruments. Dollar for dollar there is no company that matches them in terms of quality for what you get. Its really impressive. If they had another brand on their headstock, they would sell for way more. One thing to note, is a new Eastman and an older eastman are different beast. The eastman's that were produced in the last couple of years are of a higher calibre than those produced earlier.
I have a new Eastman and even with the laminated rosewood back it is so much fun to play. I figure its a B guitar and who cares!! $429!!
Nitro finish on these?
I thought narrow spruce grain was what you wanted. Some of my old cheaper guitars have very wide grain, but don't sound near as good as the narrow.... I am very impressed with the Eastman OMs, though... Awesome guitars.
Almost all of the old growth Red Spruce, or Adirondack as it's known in the guitar world, is long gone. What they're using today grew up quickly in the open, and its not nearly as stiff as the old growth, but it's legend lives on. There's still Sitka Spruce around with growth rings of 30 to 50/ per inch which means a tree suitable for a guitar would be at least 300 years old. I prefer Sitka because I believe it's sound is mellower. I also like the ancient, fine grained redwood and cedar tops which are mellow as well.
i liked that iron and wine
Streetlights. 😍
I'm sorry I'd save up for the martin, maybe this is a smaller body thing for me anyway bc I'm very stuck on dreadnaughts...
They make this in a dread and it's powerful, especially for $2200
I am still trying to figure whether acoustic players are shallow about optics like polished fretboards and bridges or anal about what othet people think.
Maybe both?
If it doesn't affect tone then it's simply a matter of taste. And taste can really be about limits and boundaries, for better or worse.
It seems sadly acoustic players can be among the most insecure about brands and bling. And this is especially sad in a time when premium tonewoods are being depleted. Somethings must change.
So yay for Eastman, sipo, sapele,walnut and polished ebony.
Players aren't shallow, but guitars collectors are about 1/4 " deep.
Jeremy what is a good Adirondack Spruce top and Rosewood side guitar that you recommend the most? Looking for a 000 or OM
What’s the budget?
@@JeremySheppard sub $1200?
Oh man. That’s a challenge! Eastman E10 OM or a used Eastman are probably your best bet. Maybe your only option. A used Martin Street master 16?
@@JeremySheppard that SM 16 has actually be on my radar. Sounds amazing when I played it. Never been able to get my hands on an Eastman
@jeremysheppard how does it compare to the Eastman made Bourgeois OM? Neck thickness, tone, overall sound? Between the two which would you pick?
What do you think about the stock strings?
They are the D'Addario XS's which, to me, are too bright and lack bass.
Thanks@@JeremySheppard
What is the break even if one starts in the middle at age 65?
Need to rethink about the E20OM
The selection of guitars might be greater, but the prices were way better 20 years ago. I'd trade for fewer manufacturers for better prices any day!
You should try their new offset guitar. I forget the name looks like a offset Les Paul. Definitely try more Eastman stuff.
So, would you recommend this over a furch?
No. Furch every day.
I’d have to try one. Martin is getting out of hand these days
I bought an Eastman E10 OM TC about 10 months ago.
It is a beautiful guitar as the one you have reviewed, but playability, and intonation sucks.
Edited:
Well, after looking at the neck, realized it had bowed. Tightened up the trussed, and now I am a Happy Camper.
Definitely worth the $$
Jeremy Sheppard, have you tried Dowina yet?
Why are some headstocks on the eastman e20om-tc gloss finished and some satin?
Good question. I'll look at all of the Eastmans at hometown today and get back to you. I know the E series have satin and the AC have gloss usually
“This is my baggage I’m working through it”😂😂😂 famous last words.
Boucher Guitars? Like Bobby Boucher, the Waterboy?
No, Robin Boucher... one of the most famous luthiers today....from Quebec, Canada...
@@panayotiscanellopoulos8696 I own a Boucher SG-42 mahogany Guitar 🎸 one of the best guitars I've ever seen, sounds amazing, Robin and his crew build some of the best, it is my favorite Guitar 🎸.
I own 3 Eastman guitars. My favorite guitar ever was a Santa Cruz Dreadnaught. But now the Santa Cruz costs 6 or 7 times more than my Eastman. The Santa Cruz sounded better than the Eastman but nowhere near 6 or 7 times better.
Put an Eb before or after the A
What tuning you played
I hear that a lot . "It doesn't sound great but it will open up and eventually be a zinger. " I thought the high end was terrible on this box. Sounded like loose pennies bouncing around in a coffee can. I'll never buy one because I like the warmer sound of mahogany, but if I did I'd wait a couple of years till they're down to $500. on Craigslist.