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Overseas Vs. USA Made Guitar (does it even matter?)
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2022
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I had a Taylor 414 series acoustic. An Eastman E60M fell into my lap. Needless to say, the Taylor is gone and the Eastman is my main acoustic. It is an incredible guitar! I highly recommend Eastman guitars to people I meet.
the eastman e60m is a high end acoustic though!
@@stavros693000 E6-OM, $1000 (china). Compared to Taylor 414 $2-3K (USA)
@@sustainablelife1st Its still a high end acoustic though @ $1600 AUD.....its half the price of a taylor because manufacturing is much cheaper in china than USA & you pay more for the Taylor brand name....both guitars are solid wood, back, sides and face/sound board....both made of high quality timber.
( Eastman solid mahogany & Taylor solid rosewood with spruce top)
Both timbers are high quality giving warm tones. Just comes down to personal preference!
Both have bone nut & saddles.....A lot of folks prefer the Eastman e60 over the taylor 414.....anyways my point is just because one guitar cost more does not make it better...once you get over approx $1400 you are only paying extra for brand name & cosmetics/Bling!
I have an Eastman SS LTD and I love it. Being a student I needed a nice full solid guitar for recordings and live session, and without a brand like Eastman I could never afford it. As always your videos are incredible, you underlined the different sounds that different body shapes have perfectly. Personally for fingerstyle I do prefere my Taylor, but the Slope (IMO) it's the best for strumming :)
Agreed. I think Eastman shines in their ultra budge all solids. Past that, you can get into a Larrivee, etc. But in that just under a K range, I think they're nailing it.
Absolutely fantastic background when you were recording and playing the guitars. Loved this vid
I have the E8OM from Eastman and it’s mental good. The nut and fret work is beautiful and it has a purity and clarity to it that I love. Unbelievable instrument.
hey Rhett, thank you very much for your videos, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have 50% of the gear knowledge I have. and they incredibly fun to watch.
I did a video comparing my Eastman E10ss to my Martin D28 and the popular favorite from the comments has been the Eastman. I would have to pick the Eastman SS in this video as well. I like the bottom heavy sound that the Eastman gives with the Adirondack top. But in a mix, you would definitely have to roll some of that out. They're doing amazing things!
I can't get out enough of your usual electric guitar related videos, but when you do acoustic guitar related content it's always a special treat! Thanks!
Thanks so much for the review! I have been looking at getting an upgrade to my Taylor GS-Mini, and have been floored by the prices. This has given me another option to look at!
Hats off to you Rhett, well said!!!
Just because you are born or live in a certain country doesn't determin your skill as a luthier. There are certain factors that may influence your skill, however it doesnt matter what country a guitar comes from as well as it is built well and sounds good.
@Debbin McCarthy who said anything about China ... what about Deusenberg guitars from Germany? Or Terada making Gretsch in Japan? These are some amazingly built guitars that dont get the respect they deserve because they are "not american".
Really a great video and it was interesting hearing the differences between the two guitars. Quite a surprising difference in tone. I know a lot of concerns with overseas manufacting stems from ethical concerns as opposed to quality concerns. it’s undeniable that the manufacturing quality overseas is fantastic, and many products rival if not surpasses stuff made in the USA. I like pushing companies a bit to understand how their factories are run overseas to do my part to avoid unethical treatment of workers. Many of them go above and beyond to ensure their workers are treated fairly, and that’s fantastic. Just my 2 cents. Great video.
PS: I signed up for the cowboy chord break out because I play the same chords for everything. I hope the course can save me from myself.
I’m surprised this is the only comment about ethics.
I mean, are people thinking that Chinese people aren’t capable of being incredible luthiers or that they don’t have access to similar quality materials?
The difference is how much the factory pays their laborers and how much time each guitar is given.
I have the Eastman E20SS with gloss nitro finish. It definitely opened up after breaking in. It's awesome. I think you said the Eastman has Sitka spruce top, their website says Adirondack Spruce. Great playing, I enjoyed hearing them both the way you mixed them back and forth.
your honesty is a joy to watch ,, great work matey
As an owner of Eastman SS myself, one thing that is not mentioned is that it uses an Adirondack spruce top, which is a bit stiffer than the more standard Sitka. Adi has a pronounced break in period, and while it will sound a little compressed at first, it really open up tremendously with a bit of time.
Eastman making a strong play to earn a place at the table. Their jazz guitars have been objects of lust for 20+ years. Love that they’re finding their own take on the classic designs with their unique finishing.
Great video! The Eastman sounds great and, overtime will get even better. Acoustic comparisons are difficult as I have never heard two that sound the same, even the sam make and model. I have two EJ200s and they have completely different tones, even play differently. They are both with same strings, same set up.
I had a chance to play an Eastman acoustic at a music store in Pidgeon Forge, TN. It was amazing! Loved the sound and feel of it! I ended up picking with it for about 45 minutes. I ALMOST bought it!
There are so many things to consider that make up the final tone.... wood types, finish, bracing, string types, nut types, even your pick will change the final tone. That being said, they both sound great however I found your Bourgeois more appealing to my ears. I have an Eastman ES-175 copy that is a great player. I felt better gigging it over a real-deal Gibson ES-175. Just safer!!
I don't feel like the Eastman sounds broken in. I'd be curious to see this comparison in 5 more years
He’s not gonna play that guitar consistently for 5 years, but yeah I agree
Eastman makes a TC (thermocured) model that kind of speeds up that process, if not comes really close with it out of the box. Great instruments.
THIS!
I kinda think the opposite. The Eastman sounds slightly fuller to my ear.
that Eastman 00 is a cannon! I first heard it on Rhett’s recent bluegrass video about Jake Workman.
I fell in love with an Eastman a few years ago. I was lucky enough to be able to play 10 different models and I liked the grand auditorium body much better than the dreadnaught models. The Rosewood back and sides are a little less boomy on the AC422CE, but still an open sounding bottom end. I bought the AC222CE that is Ovenkol
back and sides with a Spruce top for a mid-focused sound. I was very close to buying the Rosewood version.
I own two Eastmans. E10OM-TC and a E6D-TC. Very happy with them and the LR Baggs Anthem. The E10OM has great overtones and keeps up volume wise with the dreadnought.
I have a Martin D-18 and an Eastman e20om which is a rosewood and Adirondack om body. They are both great guitars. The quality, sound, fit and finish, etc., are all there on the Eastman. Love my D-18 and it will be my lifetime guitar, but the Eastman is great, too. Thanks for this comparison. Very helpful and informative.
Comparing a well played in acoustic to a new, off-the-line one is always going to be an unfair advantage. Newer acoustics tend to be pretty stiff feeling and need some time to really come into their own. Overall the Eastman brand makes some really quality instruments!
yeah, I reckon that Eastman will open out over time and the bass will get pulled into check.
That is exactly what has happened/is happening with my two Eastmans. The older one has opened up well. It's now bigger and richer voiced, and the high end is starting to show after a low-mid dominated youth. (That's partly due to the all-sapele construction, including top. It's never going to be a high end shimmer type guitar.) My spruce top ovangkol construction is newer. I got it at the end of May. it was louder from the get-go, and has always had more top end shimmer. But will take awhile to open up into its full voice. I can hear it starting to develop. I'm playing it a lot; loud, soft, strummed, picked, fingerpicked. I think the overtones on this one are going to be really good.
@@seanbaines I've owned the same Martin 00-18h for the past 12 years. I bought it used, and pretty well-played, and over my ownership the guitar has opened up quite a bit. It has literally hundreds and hundreds of hours or play time as my main acoustic and it absolutely rings like a bell now.
Pulling off a worn/reliced/vintage-feeling Electric guitar is pretty easy. Doing it on an acoustic is a totally different ballgame.
@@myeyesarewaiting The boominess will only get worse, you can find the same phenomenon on 1960's Gibsons. It's a poorly made guitar compared to the Bourgeois.
What bullsh!t, because I can pull a good acoustic off the shelf at a guitar center that is brand new, and it's still gonna sound way way better than some communist made crap.
Well done comparison, I love how the Bourgeois projects its tone with clarity and resonance
Great comparison Rhett, I love my Alvarez, made in Japan,
I have used it everywhere, much success,dude!
I've heard many positive things about Eastman acoustics, and I own and enjoy one of their SB59V solid body electrics. That being said, when I last shopped acoustics and decided on a Collings OM I demoed some of the Eastman acoustics. The Collings was in a complete different league in all areas, tone, playability, build quality. I liked the Collings so much I snagged D1AT a few months after getting the OM2HT. For this comparison, the varnish finish on the Eastman is going to be preferential to the thickish (IMHO) poly on Bourgeois.
Best guitar I've ever played - acoustic or electric - was a Collings OM2HA. I still dream about that guitar. I don't live in Collings money tax brackets but man... talk about a dream! Great instruments I literally dream of owning some day.
I would hope it's in another class. Isn't the Collings close to $6k?
To me the Eastman sounds better. As for set up, I have found that it can make a big difference in the sound. Every guitar has a "sweet spot" and the set up is how you find it. I' like to know what the fit and finish issues are and, weather the guitars have bolt on necks or glued in. To me the neck attachment is important because if the neck angle can be adjusted easily thats a big plus. The Eastman may loose alot once the strings are lowered.
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Agreed
The Eastman won’t lose anything sanding the saddle down to lower strings if you slot the bridge pins to accept unslotted pins. As well as installing a denser quality bone saddle
I agree about the guitar being a tool for the job. My acoustic is a 1963 Gibson Hummingbird that I purchased from the original owner in 1964. I got this guitar for folk and bluegrass music and it works great for that. In my folk groups we did not have a bass so the full chords from the Hummingbird had to fill in that part as the other guitarist was using a Martin D-18. The Hummingbird was able to cut through the mix and do the job I needed it to do. Same with the bluegrass groups, although at some point we did get a bass player, but I still liked the fuller more bass sound of the Hummingbird as compared to a Martin, Mossman, Taylor, or Ovation.
Fortunately, there are a lot of really nice instruments out there these days that are not all that expensive. Take a look at the Andrew White guitars as an example.
Update! I grabbed an Eastman E20OOSS and I am blown away at the quality of the build, certificate of authentication, hard case, and amazing tone that is singing from this guitar. Thanks for this demo Rhett! I now have one of my most favorite guitars. 🤘❤
For what the Chinese cost I bought a used Martin D18 Golden Era love that guitar, one of the best I heard an the best I ever owned
Great comparison. Being an Eastman owner, (e20d) I really appreciate what you have to say. I doubt I will ever own a Bourgeois, but hats off to Dana for making a superior dreadnought.
Maybe you’ll be able to own the touchstone series?
I recently heard this country duo play live.. and one of the guys used an Eastman. His guitar sounded phenomenal. Worth looking into.
I bought my first of two Eastman mandolins, on the internet, from a dealer in Pensacola, Florida; Bluesangels Music. I was very happy with my purchase. One day I stopped by to thank them and tell them how great I thought the Eastman mandolins were. They agreed but said that the Eastman guitars were even more popular with their customers!
I have some electric guitars that were made in Indonesia in the past few years, and they have been excellent--better than the Chinese-made guitars I have tried. And of course the Korean-made Gretsch guitars are terrific.
I own an Eastman D18 clone, and it's a fantastic guitar. Plays well, sounds great. I liked the sound of both guitars you demoed. Through the UA-cam compression algorithm the Eastman actually sounded a bit brighter, but I'm sure that was different in the room with you.
Great video! I own 2 Eastman Acoustics. A 00 and a E40-000 (Martin-000-42 copy). I absolutely love them both. And I bought both for $3k. The Martin 000-42 is nearly double that. Im not a professional, even though I can afford the Martin, I couldn’t be happier with the Eastman.
I had been looking for a solid wood acoustic (left handed) for quite a while and just yesterday purchased the Eastman AC322CE. I really liked the materials and features and the looks kinda pushed it past a few others in the price range. I have no issues with it being Chinese made (at least until I can inspect fit and finish). Keeping my fingers crossed made a good decision.
I enjoyed this comparison video as with headphones on I was able to hear the differences. The Eastman definitely had more power in the bass response which wasn't unpleasant but maybe lacked a little in the high end definition as a result. I could easily be seduced by the Eastman as the price is so friendly. I think on balance the Borgeois would be my favourite but the price might put me off. Great vid though and thanks for your in depth analysis.
I don't like the body shape, and I really don't like the headstock. I don't like the "classical" string guitar look of the headstock.
I think the sound profile could easily be tweaked by choosing vintage style acoustic strings (i.e. Martin’s Retro Acoustics), whose function is literally to reduce the boominess and add some brightness.
When you use “vintage voiced” acoustic strings (which were the ONLY variety of steel acoustic strings once upon a time), you start to appreciate why the dreadnought guitars were engineered/produced in the first place!
@@genericstain this is FANTASTIC information, I need to check out those strings!
@@classicrkr2480 it’s definitely worth a look, but I will say this: they feel TERRIBLE to my fingers for the first week or so, but they sound so good! And stay sounding good a lot longer than new age strings.
@@genericstain Okay, so this suggestion changed the acoustic game for me. Put them on my old Martin D-18 from my great grandfather (I believe it's a '59?) - THIS is the sound that I've been wanting from this guitar for years but could never figure it out. Thank you so much! I'm mostly an electric guy but I'll be playing this more now :)
I really like that hollow diamond shape inlays the Eastman has 😊
I've got an Eastman T59/V-RD semi-acoustic (basically, their nod towards a Gibson 355) and, for a fraction of the price of what inspired it, it's a quality hand-produced instrument. What particularly impressed was that, straight from its case, it had some real character. But the gold standard for me in terms of overseas vs. USA-made is my Tone Fox Elcaster. That has "custom shop" quality at an affordable price I can afford and it was like I'd known and played it "forever" from the moment I picked it up! It feels as worn-in and familiar as my beloved old 1978 Gibson The Paul which I've owned from new.
Nice comparison video. It’s quite clear which is the better guitar, but that Eastman sounds beautiful. Unfortunately that finish reminds me of a little toy cowboy guitar. I keep picturing it with a piece of twine for a guitar strap.
Chibson has entered the chat.
The Bourgeois has more presence and more evenness throughout the frequency spectrum. In the end, you usually get what you pay for.
True, but it's been aging for 10 years
@@lowellcalavera6045 Personally, the difference that I hear is in the construction of the guitar itself.
Buy something nice or buy something twice...
Nice. Both sound great. I like the Bur… more. It sounds clearer and like a more refined tone but you have to consider that the Eastman is new. I would like to listen to it after two years.
I recently purchased the same Eastman model in this video. Has Adi top and incredible sound and playability. Had Gibson slope (hummingbird artist) that I loved but was missing low end. Tried HD 28 but just couldn't find the tone I wanted. This thing covers it all.
I think I detected a slight bloom to the chords on the Eastman. I really liked that. I could never afford the Bourgeois. But both sounded great. Nice comparison Rhett.
i wouldn't be able to afford either
I have owned two Eastman jazz boxes and one Eastman mandolin. They were all nice instruments, well made and clearly a good value. Now whether to buy Chinese is a whole other issue of course.
@ 6:28 shows perfect Dana tone! Yet feel wise...., his compound radius is good for electric type up the neck playing- but- the bridge radius is flatter. Which doesn't allow picks and fingers to get in as easy for accurate fingerstyle. Go with the Gibson, rounder, 12" radius. I recommend a J-45 rosewood or a J-45 TV.
Or the Eastman might be fine for that? I havent tried one but they sound real good.
The Borgeois sounds indeed more balanced. But is way above my budget. In 1981 I bought a Epiphone PR725 build in 1978 from Japan. Stil playing it. It's not a Gibson or Borgeois or Marrin. But it does the job for me. It is still holding after more than 41 years
My last 2 guitar purchases were made in the USA and both expensive. I don’t regret paying more for a Taylor and a PRS. Their looks, feel, sound, and playability inspire me.
I am a beginner ... 10 months in. I could not justify the cost of a Mexican Fender, let along a US manufactured guitar. I settled on a Squier Strat from China. Interestingly enough, I am starting to hear rumors that newer Squiers coming out of Indonesia do not have the same level of quality when compared to the ones that came of of China last year.
💯. Taylor’s are the best IMO
Yeah, but they don't sound better than an Eastman. Sorry, they just don't. I mean they sound good, but so do the Eastmans.
The Eastman's low end boost can be tempting at first but when you mic them the chord voicings on the Bourgeois are way more intelligible and would not get lost as easily among other instruments if paying an accompaniment role. Perhaps the Eastman will age into a more balanced sound but its not going to change that much...
Hope they have sent you a SB59V as you were quite taken with the regular SB59, really curious to see what you will make of the vintage version. I have one and adore it.
Good video! This is very useful for musicians seeking to balance sound of the instrument, quality of build, and cost.
An issue has been nagging me that perhaps you and/or Rick et al could address. The issue is quality, or ability of a guitar player/musician to hear versus the ability of an instrument or sound system to produce high fidelity sound. If a guitar player has degraded hearing because of exposure to loud amps and sound systems how important is it to have great equipment.
The Bourgeois to me has a slight edge in sound but the Eastman's do sound good! Nice review Rhett.
Agree Stephen.
I’m in the supply chain world and its going to be interesting to see what happens with overseas guitar manufacturing. Over the past two years, manufacturers have started reconsidering overseas manufacturing, and more and more are relocating to the US, or whatever the target market is. It used to be that all companies wanted the leanest, cheapest manufacturing possible, and that usually means off shoring. Increasingly, companies are mor open to the added cost of domestic manufacturing if it means fewer supply chain issues. I would like to see if companies like Eastman would move to the US, and how that would affect the price of their instruments
Of course with acoustic guitars, different woods come from different parts of the world, so it's still complicated.
Hopefully the Silicon Chip industry follows suit.
To me they both sound good that's because you know to play them well. Keep it up my friend and stay Blessed.
I have an Eastman E10 D. I love it. I find comparable to a Martin D-18. Excellent craftsmanship. Try your Eastman with some Elixer Polywebs. You’ll love it. Let’s hear the Eastman after you have it set up. Maybe have it plexed?
I always hear that aging enhances the sound of an all-solid wood guitar. If so, is comparing an aged guitar to a new guitar reasonable?
Excellent point, Jon...you just negated the experiment. 😀
@@zero318 -Lol
The Eastman does sound like a new guitar that hasn't fully "opened up". It will sound closer to the Bourgeois over time. Whether its better will be the subject of the follow up in 2032! :)
@@ckturvey , I have a Recording King RAJ-27 slope shoulder that's about ten years old and left over from when we had our guitar shop. This Eastman reminds me of the RK in many ways...the RK after a decade really chimes out now but did sound much like the Eastman when it was new. Now as for which is better, guitars are a tool for me as well. If I can still pull the gig with a guitar that's half the money, guess which one is better? hehehehe
The Eastman has more low end, it sounds great.
I don't know if it sounds $2100, though.
For that price you have a lot of options.
I'd buy a Taylor for that kind of $$$
The eastman sounds way more brighter to me, and the bourgeois has more of a warm sound. I agree with your perspective on brands and places of build. Cheers!
I've got an Eastman T64v (like a Casino) and it keeps getting better with age. Get a setup and a few years on those acoustics, and they're going to be stunning, Waterloo-level guitars. Eastman kind of reminds me of Rick Kelly in the late oughts, where he was selling his Bowery Pine Teles for $1400.00US!
Two things to keep in mind. At the price point of both guitars, every instrument is going to sound different. So it's more about what appeals to you. Second, if a hand made American instrument make you feel better and inspires you more, that's not to be discounted. You need to be happy with what you have. Also as a gigging musiscian I like the idea of something like taking the eastman on the road and keeping the irreplaceable instrument for YOU at home. Good enough is good enough.
Ya, I use specialized guitars sometimes for recording. But I use just one for performing, because the limits of nice pickup is a great equalizer.
agree
Well said.
I bought an Eastman OM at the end of 2020 that's basically a Martin 000-28 clone: Rosewood back and sides, Sitka spruce top, Bone nut and saddle. Rosewood bridge. Ebony fretboard. Open-Gear tuners. Lacquer finish. It is hands-down the best guitar I own right now...and this is after I got my 50's Les Paul Standard.
Also, it should be pointed out that your Bourgeois has a few years of being played and "opened up" that the Eastmans (Eastmen?) don't have yet. Mine sounds beautiful now as I play it nearly every day. It's every much as Martin, other than the Logo on the headstock. Also, of course, the resale value won't be anywhere near a Martin or Bourgeois. But I tend to buy guitars to play and not invest in...but that's just me. I highly recommend Eastman though.
I know you... hee hee! Didn't one of your acoustics get stolen out of your car at a convenience store after a gig recently? That blows Scott, I sure hope its recovered!
@@toploadtele Different person I guess. I haven't gigged for quite a while.
That almost-Chicago 25 or 6 to 4 riff is super awesome. I liked both guitars, for sure. The Eastman had more low end but otherwise they were very similar.
Love my Eastman E6OM! Punches way above its weight! I agree that the Bourgeois sounds fantastic and well balanced. Obviously, Dana is an amazing luthier, but some of that is also due to the age of the guitar. It’s had time for the top to open up. The Eastman will smooth out over time somewhat and resonate a little more. Agree on the fit and finish details too though.
You didn't mention it, so I'm wondering if you are aware of the Eastman/Bourgeois collaboration. I think they are partially made (components like necks, fingerboards, headstocks) in China and assembled in the USA. Bourgeois Touchstone is the name.
This is true, but I think that particular Bourgeois is pre-Eastman collab.
I am aware of the two companies working together, however my Slope D is before the Eastman era.
The Borgeois is warmer and breaths vs the harder wood sound of the Eastman which sounds like it’s stuck in a fixed frequency range with a little bit more high end and tighter lows.
I seriously considered an Eastman but in the end paid for the Gibson counterpart for the superior fit and finish.
I’m still considering an Eastman for my next solid or semi to be fair. Good video… Thanks.
I felt the same, weird to see some others say the Eastman was bassier. To me all cheaper acoustics have too much treble and are too bright and chimey. Bourgeois was definitely warmer to my ear and more balanced.
Having a raspy bass heavy voice I actually preferred the sounds of the Eastman. I also had an Eastman Otto D’ambrosio guitar I wish I’d held on to. The feel of the Eastman guitars is good but very different. Another great video!
I own two Eastman Acoustic Guitars and they do "break in" over time ... No, they aren't top of the line and expensive, but they record very well . I ,initially, bought one because I was recording and my main acoustic was damaged due to a roadie ( still a dear friend of mine ) left my guitar behind the wheel of the equipment cartage truck. I needed to buy a guitar cheaply and immediately. It worked out very well. I agree 100% that if you love a guitar and it does what you need ... Bo0m! Always love your vids... keep 'em coming !
The Borgeois sounds better but it isn't too far off. I like the look of the Eastman better, personally but I am sure there isn't a "bad" guitar anywhere in your studio. All three sounded like guitars I would enjoy playing very much!
This is a great comparison. I have found that guitars from Korea and Japan tend to be noticeably superior to those coming from China (and the prices tend to reflect this as well especially from Japan). I would like to see some comparisons of guitars coming from these locals. Thanks for the video.
Japanese make great guitars
Agreed. Even instruments coming out of Indonesia are beyond the vast majority of instruments MIC
Agreed. Some of china's luthiers are catching up though. I bought a teton guitar last year made in China and I paid $300 for it and it definitely sounds as good as some $1000+ guitars
Japanese guitars can be superior to USA guitars.
The top wood on the Bourgeois is georgeois! Sorry, couldn't resist. But seriously, it really is spectacular! Sounds good too!
Thanks for mentioning the fresh strings. I was wondering, as the Eastman seemed to sustain the internal notes (middle strings) of a chord longer (you mentioned the heavy bass) than your "old friend", the Bourgeois. I think the comment below from "Thru My Eyes Photography" may be on to something with the "New Guitar" stiffness, helping sustain.
I'd like to know more about Pleking a "collectable" acoustic guitar. How can the intonation be adjusted without moving the neck or frets? Do the chords ring differently with "Numerically Perfect Tuning", or do you still bend a few notes to get the "Natural Harmonics" singing on sustained chords?
I've seen and heard you make these fine adjustments on yours or Rick's show, especially when playing with others. I think it's such a "normal" thing for advanced musicians to do, that it doesn't get enough mention. In an Orchestra, the conductor would sometimes remind us of the "fixed pitches" of the Pianists we would accompany. It's really tough on the Oboe player; they don't have as much "wiggle room" for adjusting.
As the owner of an Eastman E10ss, from 2016, I can attest mine has turned into a wonderful sounding guitar. Fantastic harmonic bloom and balance. The guitar has an Adirondack Spruce top which needs time to break in, but also makes it a cannon that my fat, clubs cannot overdrive
I've had my eyes (and my heart) on a Guild DS-240 Memoir acoustic (made in 2021 somewhere overseas, solid Sitka spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides) that sells for $450.
It was on display side by side with a $3,500 Gibson acoustic dreadnought (I forget which one exactly): to my amazement, when I tried both out, the Guild just sounded perceptibly more alive, balanced and well-rounded.
I'm frankly stumped. I feel conflicted (could my impressions possibly be incorrect?), but I think I'll end up buying it, if someone else does not snap it up before I do.
I'm getting a feeling that we are currently living in a golden age of guitar making, and that being snobs who long for "vintage" at all costs works against us as players.
The sound should matter most. The rest is for collectors, not players.
I think the Gibsons sound thin to my ears. Go with what you like. My favorite acoustic is an Ovation Elite that has amazing depth and nuance to my ears
A year ago I had the chance to try out a range of Eastman dreadnoughts, prices from 600 to 2000 Euros. Every 200 Euro jump in price was audible. I ended up buying a E 20D TC, (1999 Euros) of which they had two in stock. Both were very good but one was better than the other.Even at very subtle playing, incredible sustain.
I´d recommend trying out guitars in that price range live. No two are the same, even if they have the same specs from the same brand. Turned out, on closer inspection at home, my guitar of choice had a laquer blemish at the heel...I returned to the shop with it and they made it invisible and after consultation with Eastman Holland, gave me back 10% of purchase price.
Half a year later I bought (online) an Eastman AC 330, 12 string Jumbo. Does everything I want. After a set up, plays smooth as silk even with a 012 set on it. Around 1100 Euros, unbeatable for that price.
As for choosing between Bourgeois or Eastman: I´d have to play them.
That shop also had a used Larrivee dreadnought , and a Maton, for the same price, and a couple of Dowinas. Could not touch the Eastman.
Great vid!
I bought an Eastman acoustic a few years ago. It was around $1,000. I was stunned at how much better it sounded than American made guitars that were several hundred dollars more from Taylor and Martin.
The lower end Martin is meh. Taylor may have a few models that seem be exceptional (for a specific purpose) 512, 614 maybe a 814, but their strength is always playability, not the whinny mid range. Eastman that I had always tended to be more scoopy sounding.
@@MintStilesTaylor 614 is a guitar i never want to.put down. Playability and warm tone. At least the one i have..
The voicing / bracing on the bougeois is far superior. what an impressive guitar. Eastman … im thinking the price point is probably overpriced… $999 might make me move on it.
I’d go with a Taylor 114 instead
@@alex_lgrd Taylor 114 is laminate and not all solid like the Eastman
What do you mean by "far superior"? You can't even see the braces themselves in order to compare them visually and from that infer their contribution to the tone of the instrument. Such hyperboli.
Among competent craftspeople, time spent at the craft is what best determines level of expertice. The master luthiers in the Eastman factory "far surpass" the American boutique builders in terms of number of instruments built and time at the table.
But sure, being Americans, we want to project an aura of superiority on something that comes from "one of us."
The three Eastmans I've owned (post two excellent SCGC's: Tony Rice sig, and .000) were purchased because they were first and foremost outstanding sounding instruments. Next, was the actual tone wood used, the easthetic, and level of construction. The last criteria was price.
If you can't see past a brand, have a seasoned musician (one whose sensibilities you respect) pick out an instrument for you.
@@santacruzman ok sir i hear a tremendous difference. i can see you have a strong opinion also. mine is different than yours. i could not care less about brands. but i do not hear a standout tone here.
Show the dog more! 😀 Great video as always, love my dreadnought too and for the same reason...seriously heavy handed
My personal preference on your test was the Bourgeois. I liked the even response across the range, making it sound richer. Having said that, I am totally with you on the point of suitability over showability. Brand, price and origin mean little compared with you making a connection with your instrument, as long as it’s well made.
Both guitars sound great. I have two Eastmans which I’ve A/B’d against their Gibson counter parts.
It would be interesting to hear a brand new high end acoustic against the Eastmans. A 10+ year old guitar will sound more balanced just from age.
Cool video.
For me, how easy a guitar is to play is really important, certainly as important as how it sounds. If it sounds good and is painful to play, I'd pass it up, as well as if it is easy to play but doesn't sound good, I'd pass that one up too.
Yes. As an old armchair picker with smallish hands, playability is number one for me. Then tonal subtlety.
It would be interesting to record the tracks and run the tracks though a program like Melodyne. Then you can see how in tune each note is.
Over all, great video.
I've got an 09 Epi Sheraton II ( Samick Korea ) - that I A/B'd against a bunch of Gibson 335's at the time of buying and apart from minor hardware and electronics differences, the Epiphone was every bit the Guitar the Gibson was. There were also QC issues with many Gibson's that were not apparent on the Epi's ... I could not justify 2K for a name on a headstock and bought the Epiphone. I now own TWO Epiphone's - an MIC Firebird added - and absolutely love them both! P.S I am not a beginner player, having 35 years under my belt ... my advice, buy the GUITAR - NOT the brand or name on the headstock.
Rhett- although it maybe true that overseas construction quality might be competitive with USA made guitars, I was surprised that you didn’t point out that there is value in supporting businesses and their hard working employees who build products right here in the US. Those companies and their employees also benefit other businesses and workers in their local communities. In the long run we all benefit from companies like Martin, Taylor, PRS, Gibson and Fender building world class instruments here in the USA!
On the import question: I play every day, on my Chinese Guild(s) my Japanese Yamaha, and my Indonesian Recording King, and they all are built well, look good, sound great, and get better every year. Would I like to buy American? Would I like a handmade 000 built by one person ? Absolutely. But are either of those options necessary? No. We've been sold out by our politicians making laws to favor American companies sending our manufacturing jobs overseas. So here we are. Unless you're a collector, or just have extra money laying around, there is no guitar in the world worth 4, or 5, or $6000. They're an affectation. I've played dozens, American Gibsons, Martins, Guilds, Santa Cruz, and there's just not a $3000 difference in sound and playability. In my opinion.
@@lowellcalavera6045 Would you like to support China where there are currently concentration camps? Would you like to support Chinese slave labor?
@@Nut-ml5wc what are you typing your comment on?
Maybe he just forgot as people are busy . Try and stop being surprised by what someone else may or may not say 😊
@@damienalvarez2957 not a Chinese-made computer because I refuse to support slavery and concentration camps. How about you?
I don’t want to get into Geo-politics, but YES it does matter. Especially when it comes to this industry, where a lot of artistry and craftsmanship is in play (we are not talking mass production electronics or cars where a high degree of mechanization predominates)
We should support our local/national musical instruments industry. It is not a matter of “it sounds about the same at half the price”… Consider the labor conditions in China that made that guitar, it is cheap for a reason, and it is not because they invented a “better mousetrap” they exploit and squeeze a very cheap labor force…
Other than that, interesting comparison. The Burgeois sounds better because more care was put into its design and manufacturing.
But you also have to consider that "supporting local" is financially impossible for most people. If it wasn't for overseas manufacturing creating affordable options, I would never have been able to get into playing guitar.
Buying "ethically" is a luxury a lot of us can't afford.
@@JaredPitcher The more people that buy local the easier it'll be for everyone to buy local. Part of the reason it's so expensive is because locals don't get the business they need in order to keep those prices lower. "Supporting local is financially impossible" is just a cop out and it ultimately hurts everyone.
@@baerit5090 Sounds like you have a lot of money. I spent 150 of our English pounds on my second hand Farida all solid woods acoustic which was 500 quid new a few years ago. For the money it is a beautiful guitar, and buying comparable in the UK just wouldn't be possible for me. Even in the States I guess you're looking at a lower end Martin in comparison, for way more than twice the price new. Some people really do not have the money to do that.
@@baerit5090 That's absolutely not true, it's not a cop out, it's reality. How fortunate you must be to be able to afford expensive local products. But this is a corporate/business problem, and telling people they are the problem when they are forced to buy within their means is classist and ignorant.
It really is a matter of Geo-politics then. Good manufacturers can be found everywhere.
They were very close, but I caught myself liking the sound of the Eastman. It would be interesting to see how it went with me blindfolded. It so happens that I recently bought a Mexican made 00 Special Martin and I love it. It’s not even made of wood. They call it HPL, High Pressure Laminate, which feels more like a counter top material than wood. It’s perfect for me as I destroy guitars through every day use. Just beat them to crap.
I only own one slope shoulder and it’s a Gibson J50 and it’s beautiful guitar. I sold a
Loar LH-250 recently incredible little guitar for finger picking and old blues stuff. I own a 2016 Blueridge BR-180A that when I bought seven years ago I felt it needed to open up and now in 2023 it has and it’s an amazing dreadnought. I’m currently on a slope shoulder hunt again. The Martin DSS-17 I’m going to check out today 2/18/2023 and I may check out the Eastman E10SS and the ET5SS models since the store I’m going to is an Eastman/ Martin dealer. I love my Gibson J50 so we will see how the Eastman’s and the Martin slopes compare. As for tone, I
Feel that if you find a guitar, no matter the brand but it sounds right to you then you have your answer. So many offerings out their these days USA and offshore built. Lots of great guitars to choose from. (Edit, forgot to comment) As for the Bourgeois versus the Eastman, I vote for the Bourgeois but for the less money that Eastman is very nice! Thanks Rhett!
Just put Elixir strings on a cheap guitar.
Both sound great. I do have a slight preference to the Eastman based on what my ears are hearing and personal taste... Once you get into all solid woods, Nitro finishes (which Eastman uses) quality hardware, etc.. it really becomes about taste... I think the China vs USA built topic makes for a great UA-cam title (congrats we're all here), but of course build quality comes down to what companies are willing to put into the product. When a big builder like Gibson or Fender choose to build overseas they have incentive to distinguish their USA product from foreign built and to hold back a bit on quality, intentionally, to keep price lower on their import line or import models. In the case of Eastman, they are 100% Asian built so this is not a factor.
You haven't heard what the Eastman sounds like yet. I have a Eastman E10D Sunburst. When I got it, it was loud but brittle sounding. But after about a year of playing it has become fantastic sounding.
I just bought an Eastman "entry level" mandolin and I am much impressed. For an entry level, this mandolin is a bit pricey, but it is hand carved and has a solid top, back, and sides. And there is actually flame in the back and neck. It also has a ebony fret board, a bone nutt,. The binding is well done. You can't feel where the binding meets the back or sides. The finish is satin and the tuners could be better. I've got some Grover 409s to put on it, but the setup is so nice, I'm putting off replacing the tuners. And they really aren't that bad. If you would have told me I would buy a Chinese made instrument I would have said hell no. But Eastmans are nice. And I'd bet some of their more expensive instruments are very nice. Oh, did I say, the instrument sounds great.
Hey Rhett, just a friendly note:
Don’t put “China” in your video titles. I get the idea for this video seems like it needs it, but it’s not helpful. I’ve seen this same thing on videos from large news organizations down to small theme park channels with 10k subs.
It just draws Chinese bot accounts that are specifically there to stir up crap in the comments by attacking people that assert either a). that China’s government sucks and does bad things (like, ya know, the ongoing genocide), or b). that there are reasons not to buy things from China.
It’s a really toxic problem that UA-cam seems to be aware of, but does little to nothing to stop. It always devolves into the same two or three arguments from the trolls, which can basically be summed up as “that’s fake news” or “oh, yeah? well the West isn’t perfect either/did horrible things over a century ago” (like that justification absolves guilt over actively rounding up and murdering innocent people because they’re an ethnic or religious minority).
So yeah, damage seem to have been done here already on this video, but for future reference don’t even bother with these kind of things if you’re gonna mention Pooh Bear the potbellied dictator’s crap hole of a country. I know from the analytics it looks like a video that’s getting a lot of engagement, but it’s not helping you grow your audience. If anything, it limits the amount of regulars who want to engage because the conversation goes so toxic so fast.
And this channel has been so good with the positive and decent comment community, it’s really sucky to see these a-holes show up and crap in it.
China has a toxic ideology that is determined to put all competition out of business. The CCP plans to dominate the world, and they are willing to lie, steal, break the law, and ultimately kill in order to get there. I cannot deny their product quality has improved greatly. Let them build for markets elsewhere. But what you described is another reason to be wary of communist China.
There are a lot of high end guitar brands in china that provide custom shop level attention to detail and quality (or even better dare I say) for less than 1500$. Now that isn't a small amount but considering how much a Gibson or fender custom shop commissions go for these are a steal. Would love to see you play a really well made Chinese electric guitar.
Is Takamine a Chinese brand? I’ve heard that they’re pretty good.
I bought a guild ds240. It does the slope shoulder thing. Pretty decent build job and affordable enough to be a couch guitar.
I was in the market for an acoustic guitar a few years ago. I wanted a Martin or Taylor. I happened to be in Nashville during the NAMM show and went back and forth between the Martin and Taylor exhibits for hours. I was confused on what to buy. Then I walked away and stopped at the Yamaha exhibit. Although I did think the Martin and Taylor guitars were a little better I didn’t think they were thousands better. I wound up coming home and buying a Yamaha A3R. It has a solid rosewood back and sides and a spruce top and sounds great.
Eastman actually makes some great instruments. Pro players use them.
But I must say that Borgeois sounds great. I think with a set up the balance would slightly improve with the Eastman.
The bourgeois is beautiful but the sound was somewhat similar. I agree with others here, I would not buy a guitar made in China for obvious reasons. All my guitars are American made with the exception of my Mexican made taylor gs mini.
Companies like Eastman and Shijie are smaller and privately owned. They pay and treat their employees better so you really shouldn’t compare them to the larger mass produced factories owned by the gov of China. The founder of Eastman attended Berkeley and found that students needed affordable quality instruments. So he started Eastman with some of the best Luther’s in China. They started off making violins and cellos. Their guitars are all handmade with top notch craftsmanship. Eastman’s factory is China is like a time warp back to the 1950’s and their custom shop is located in California. Watch their namm videos all their executives are American. We all must buy what we want but there are a lot of misconceptions about Eastman and other companies.
For sloped shoulder dread around $1.8k, there is the American made Iris DF or Martin DSS-17 that are excellent guitars. Iris guitars sell the minute they arrive at the dealer.
Thank you Rhett. You always have amazing content. I really appreciate it. Question when you introduced the Eastman E20OOSS/v, what is the piece that you played fingerstyle? I'd like to learn how to play that. Thanks so much.