1961 Martin D-28 Vs Eastman E20D Acoustic Guitar Comparison Video
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- Опубліковано 5 лип 2024
- A friend of the store loaned us his vintage 1961 Martin D-28 to compare side by side with a brand new Eastman E20D. The Eastman guitar is based off of the classic Dreadnought design and has a phenomenal tone for far less money than a comparable American made instrument, especially a vintage on.
In this comparison video the mics, positioning, and signal path are identical. We used a Royer R-121 and AKG C1000.
If you ever have questions about Eastman guitars, please visit our website at: www.haggertysmusic.com/shop/ea...
Some people just can't get their mind around that a $1,000 guitar can sound just as good or even better than a $5,000 Martin. Yes the Martin is much older and seasoned. Yes the Eastman will most likely be a little brighter because it's brand new. But listen how close they are in sound already. Imagine what that Eastman will sound like in 5 to 10 years? Personally I owned a 1965 Brazillian rosewwod D28 and sold it after I bought my Eastman E20d. The Martin could not even compare to the Eastman after it was broken in and it keeps getting better. I was amazed at the quality as well. The fit, playability, and finish on the Eastman was just as good as any Martin or expensive boutique guitar I have played. I am not saying all Eastman guitars are amazing sounding because that would be ridiculous. EVERY Martin sounds different even if it is the same model. This rule applies to any instrument. In the end it is all subjective and a matter of what YOU like personally. So go try out as many guitars as you can and FORGET about the name on the headstock. Buy what sounds best to YOU.
Great statement
The resale value that's where the difference comes in, you're right about not every Martin guitar sounds alike
The recording did not sound very well done to me.
Sorry I just can't bring myself to buy a Chinese knockoff...they most likely stole the blueprints from the Martin factory.
Joe Do you consider every dreadnaught guitar a knockoff of a Martin?
The Eastman is a brand new instrument, while the Martin is 53 years old. Of course I would expect the Martin to sound warmer! A better comparison might have been comparing the Eastman to a newer D28. Give the Eastman a chance to open up over time and I think you'll have yourself a very nice instrument for a decent price.
One of the best comparison videos out there. Thanks
The strings were changed on both guitars on the day of the recording. Same brand, gauge and playing time on both.
I am on my way to pick up a very rare old standard/Eastman E 20 D. It is by far the best sounding rig in the shop. I’ve played several martens in the five to $8000 price range that did not sound as nice as this very unique guitar. Old standard supplies mini boutique companies with their wood, companies like Santa Cruz that produce guitars over $40,000. I am very fortunate to have stumbled upon this little Jesse.
I can understand the skepticism, but just for the record, the EQ and every other channel setting was set exactly the same between the eastman and martin. We did not process one any differently than the other.
Did the martin have new strings on it?
It sounds to me like a mic position issue. The extreme tonal contrast in the strummed section does not sound like the natural difference you would ever hear between two such similarly constructed guitars. This could be a difference in off-axis coloration from the soundhole, which could be accounted for by a pretty small variation in the mic position. This difference is much less in the fingerpicked section, where the guitars sound fairly similar. Maybe the player shifted their angle to the mic a bit when they switched to finger style?
I am a Martin owner and I will tell you...most Eastman's I have played match if not exceed the Martin. It's the truth and I can testify to that. Martin is legend, no doubt about it but Eastman is making a name for itself.
They sound amazing, but I can't hack the frets. They feel like speed bumps to me. I've tried 4 of them, had the same issue with ¾ of them, and the other I sold, regrettably.
I bought an E20D last October. Best 1100 bucks I ever spent. This one is a lifetime keeper! Nothing (obviously not even a vintage Martin) compares. I love my Eastman!!! I'm thinking about an AC620 (maple dred) for sale here in Los Angeles. They are out of production, so I should go snap it up.
+Michaela Cannon Yeah, I picked up a E10SS a few months ago and feel the same urge to snap up other models while they're still available, affordable and made in the small shop. I am afraid once they get more popular some of the quality will be lost as they scale up quickly.
FlatpickingNM- Exactly what finish problems are you having with your E20D? I have an E20D also and the nitro finish on the top seems to be cracking a bit.
Thanks man! Your videos are great!!
I always like comparison videos and I always appreciate when they are not played many minutes apart. That being said, I thought the changeover between samples was way too fast to appreciate anything. At the very least a good 4 bars of each would have given us more time to register what was happening.
dhb910 the finish on mine is also cracking, the guitar is humidified in the case and I also have a humidifier in the sound hole. I'm not sure what to do in order to stop it but it still sounds great.
These comments are always funny.
There are adherents of name brands that can't wrap their minds around apostasy. Eastman's are great guitars. Adirondack spruce tops can take some time to open up. What you hear here will only get better.
To some Martin fans it's like telling a believer that God doesn't exist. Unimaginable. Martin's deserve their legend. But give the new guy on the block his due. Eastmans are for real. I will never give up my E20D or e10SS. Got 'em both for less than a D28. A real guitar with no HPL or stratabond neck.
Agreed. It's to bad there aren't accurate recordings of 70 and 80 year old Martins when they were brand new. You can't really go by old recordings from back in the day. They weren't always the best recordings at the time.
Dan, where are you!!!! we want to see more reviews from you!!! thanks.
Excellent demonstration. When I scroll down so that I can't SEE which guitar is being played, it's basically impossible for me to tell the difference. I think the Eastman is very slightly louder and brighter, and generally I prefer my dreads a little darker, but the difference is so tiny that it could be my imagination. I wouldn't think twice about buying an Eastman. They're making some amazing instruments.
I bought an E20D in December. Just as good as the d28's I've played. Booming base and a strong treble. And loud!! The Adirondack Spruce top makes all the differance in the world. Don't get me wrong, I love Martins.
really love the way you do these comparisons - haven't seen a better way to so !
I feel the E20D in this video has a bit too much shimmer, sort of Taylor-ish. As a bluegrass guy who plays rhythm and lead, I can say with the right set up and strings the E20D is a monster. One of the punchiest, loudest, and woodiest guitars I have picked on. Very strong mids, while maintaining a nice woody tone. I have played a couple Huss and Daltons and Collings guitars that were notably better, but for the price one can't go wrong.
You're comparing two very different guitars. The 61 D28 had a Sitka Spruce top and Brazilian Rosewood back and sides (it's the Brazillina Rosewood driving the cost up thousands of dollars btw). The Eastman E20D is a fine guitar built of quality materials (Adirondack Spruce, Indian Rosewood). The D28 Marquis is the current Martin model comparable to the E20D. It has it's own voice that may appeal to certain players. In the fingerstye demo the two sound a bit close but that's because the palm muting technique, in the flat-picking demo they sound absolutely nothing alike which highlights the differences.... I am not a fan of the way the E20D sounds. I like other Eastman models. That 61' Martin D28 however sounds quite amazing.
The Eastman had a wider frequency response, with deeper lows and brighter highs. I think it was a little scooped as well, which may have emphasized this.
The Martin was a little more focused, more midrange presence than the Eastman but still very balanced. I think it would sound better in a mix, but both guitars are great.
Not sure what you mean. The Eastman having wider frequency, deeper lows and brighter highs...how could it not sound better in a "mix". The Taylor is louder as well and any bluegrass picker would want that.
A decades-old guitar against a brand-new one, albeit of similar woods and construction. Given that the Eastman is brand-new, it's a surprisingly good-sounding instrument. In a live or band setting it would be hard to differentiate between the two, especially in a double-blind test (both guitarist and listener don't know which is being played). The Eastman and Blueridge also cost thousands less than a similarly-built Martin. IMO Martin and Taylor are both priced based on the value of their name brand, rather than any inherent superiority over their competitors - and let the flaming comment wars begin!
+deanc99 I couldn't agree more.
Don't forget Gibson.
First off, the Eastman top is Adirondack Spruce not Sitka which is the Martin so it will sound less warm even if they were both new.
After the Adirondack seasons, it will sound warmer. Anyone in the industry will tell you Adirondack is a superior top wood in the long run.
That's not necessarily true. Adirondack can sleep if it's not played. Sitka tends to always sound the same.
I've noticed that many Eastmans are very mid scooped, so if you are gonna get a good one, pick one with a strong treble. And I definitely agree with the too much overtone content. Although I like the Martin better, the Eastman has more clarity (if you ignore the overwhelming bass that is).
Best video on UA-cam
Okay this is the 3rd comparison I have listened to between an Eastman and a Martin and the Eastman is very good for the money but they sound muddy compared to a D28, new or vintage. Not bashing the Eastman because I was thinking of getting one, but I think I'm sticking to my Martins. Thanks for the video.
I would have to say the Martin as bad as I want an Eastman e40d I’m a little paranoid in buying one . First off I have to buy it sight unseen there are no Eastman dealers where I live . But the d40 looks amazing and appears to have a great rep but with all that said maybe I should set my eyes on a d18 or d28 but hear again I don’t see them much even at guitar center. Can anyone tell me why a guitar always sounds better at the store ?
In the past I owned an Eastman dread, then aquired a '68 Martin D-35 that had "that" old Martin sound, warm punchy bass, well I don't have the Eastman dread any longer BUT now I'm lucky enough to own a Grand Concert 12 string Eastman and it sounds AMAZING, , Love it. SO the deal is, , for a GREAT guitar when you don't have $2,500 plus go for an Eastman!
Martin sounded much more balanced
I bought an E20D about a year ago. Holy Shit!! You cant find a new Martin with that kind of tone. Killer guitar!!! It's not a prewar Martin, but its damn close!
In order to really compare them,they have to have the same action height.Eastman tends to set their action very low,which lowers the volume.Even so,I think it held it's own pretty well
wouldn't mind hearing a comparison of this eastman and a new d28. I think the sound would be much similar/comparable - the martin sounds like an old guitar, because it is old.
Are you sure both are mic'd the same? On the Eastman, it sounds like there's a sock over the mic.
I agree
Eastman is louder
And less mids
The Martin sounded better, but it's not really a fair comparison. One is a vintage guitar with the wood opened wide up after being played in, and the other is a brand new guitar. I'll wager that's why the Eastman sounded a little compressed
It's always best to shop around. I've played 5 Eastman guitars same exact model 1 was terrible, 2 were good, 1 great, and 1 was absolutely amazing it sounded like a 3,000 guitar but only ost 800... play a lot of guitars before you buy one
Yeah...he was right in that statement. Most people who seriously play acoustic guitars wouldn't argue that point. The price speaks for itself not to mention over the past 50 years...you'll see that guitar in county music more than any other.
I have a Martin D-28 a Martin HD-28 and a Eastman E 20D I can honestly say all 3 are great guitars, my only complaint about the eastman is the frets are really tall and are cumbersome compared to the Martins, and I am having problems with the finish even though proper humidity is applied to all three guitars. To sum it all up I prefer the Martin D-28 but The Eastman is a great value for what you get.
Te Eastman has an Adirondack Top and Indian Rosewood B&S but the Martin has Sitka Top and Brazilian B&S. So essentially 2 entirely different guitars nearly 60 years apart. Let the Eastman mature that long and I bet it'll be a better guitar
Laid my phone down with headphones on so I couldn't see which one was playing. The Eastman sounds like the Martin if you scooped the mids out a bit. I bet with a bit of EQing you could get them pretty close
such a fast change between the two seemed like a pitch for the Eastman
I like the quick each. My ear can compare before "forgetting" how each sounds. Personally, don't think I could justify extra $4000 for the Martin.
Martin gets the win here
I'd like to see that Martin against their E40D however....from what I heard in other videos the 40D is a high caliber heavyweight regardless of what guitar it's pitted against.
Unfortunately I would have to disagree with you concerning the Martin sounding "vastly" superior. That is purely subjective. It is also worth noting that that Eastman 50 years younger and yet, it holds it's own nicely. People don't want to except it and I understand. Eastman's are the real deal.
RIGHT ON BROTHER I THINK IT'S A SNOOTY THING I OWN A MARTIAN SO IT MUST BE THE BEST LOL....THE EASTMAN AND BLUERIDGE BOTH SOUND AS GOOD AS A MARIAN ESPECIALLY AS THEY AGE , CHEERS
They really should've had the same string set up to be an accurate test
You can tell by the change in white noise, on a good pair of headphones, that the mic preamp is turned up on the Eastman, and EQ'd different to make it sound sweeter. Going off of personal experience, Eastman do make some guitars that are really good for the cost. That Martin is beautiful sounding and looking! My latest acoustic purchase is a Collings Custom braced D2, and I would definitely put it up against my '63 D-28 Brazillian any day, and it's hard for me to admit that, loving my Martin for so long as I have.
But the Martin has been played for almost 60 years?
If the Eastman sounds this good just out of the box, I think it will only get better. I haven't really heard of a guitar going down hill after being played. Unless it has structure or set up issues.
This comparison needs to be made with both guitars being brand new. A 60 year old guitar will sound warmer then any new guitar. I'd like to hear the Eastman in 60 years. I guarantee the brightness will wear off.
I just got a 20D...I'm coming back in 20 years to let you know
I personally don't like how either guitar sounds via this recording.
Eastman picked sounds FAR better than the Martin to my ears- listening on a pair of high-end headphones. Fingerpicking they were very close, which may be down to technique.
I've got 2 Martins and I must say...that Eastman stands up to the Martin. However...both of my Martins sound in my opinion must better than the one in this video. It's clear however that the Martin d28 in this video is the real choice to own.
The tone difference between the to is immense, i hear the D28 cutting more easily in a mix as the Eastman has a deep tone and very scooped miss, not so desirable when recording and live, in most situations.
The Martin wins it for me! :)
I don't think it is the "clear choice" unless your buying it for name and value only then yes I would agree. If tone if the deciding factor then it becomes more difficult.
you shouldve changed the strings 3 days befor the recording to help them break in shouldnt really record w/brand new strings
truman was hearing flat not dull
Eastman seemed to be a better fingerpicker. It would have been interesting to hear an older Eastman. Cool though.
The martin sounded better. But being 50 years old, it would have settled in by now.
I came here just to read where everyone said the Martin sounds better even though they wouldnt tell a difference had they not been told. the Martin logo has no effect on the sound.
Im selling my immaculate E20d on Ebay UK at the moment
Cool video work, but the room and mic technique... sounds like the mic is off axis with a bag over it... can't make out anything useful.
Not a fair comparison at all. one guitar that has fully opened up, one that hasn't. Eastman guitar is a fine fine instrument, but there is zero comparison to the Martin when strummed, the Martin sounds vastly superior. Fingerpicking was fairly equal, but I'd like to hear something with more mids, by picking a song with bright top notes, it highlights the bright sound of the Eastman.
The Martin is much more refined to my hear. The modern guitar is very boomy to my ear. I presume the wood settles and the sound becomes more refined with age ot am I wrong?
Thanks for the demo they are fairly close in sound, in a band setting it would take a very 'special' set of ears to tell the difference and the fiddler couldn't care less as long as your on the beat. Factory made American guitars are getting too expensive to take out. Will China take over the world?
What I meant was, "one of the holy grails" doesn't make sense! Holy grail is sort of a one of a kind.
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The Eastman sounds good but IMO the Martin wins the contest..
The eastman sounds better then the martin which I'm surprised frankly - you guys better not be cheating over there is this honest Haggerty ? If it is I am surprised but both of these guitars are great but they dont touch my Martin HD 28 v not even close I'll send you a video to prove it !
Looking at the prices these Jack Bandits. Have on Eastman . People are better off scraping together another Grand or two and get the martin .. whats funny in 1967 A Martin D28 sold for 400 Bucks ..
You need a Pre war for this.
0.12 One of the holy grails? Seriously?
ive played both, and eastman is nice for chinese but the mic or something was up a touch.a friend who is an accomplished player has a d-40 martin and an eastman 20 he mainly plays the eastman because of ruffin it up on the road gigs,but he has to play much harder to get the volume
Haha, "nice for a Chinese". Good one, mate.
I am almost certain they boosted some frequencies on the Eastman... I'm not sure all things are equal here. Take it with a grain of salt. Eastman makes great guitars, and I own an E20D. And 1961 is NOT a holy grail D28 year... Anyway, I'd pick the Eastman over a '61 D28 anyway, but go back a couple more decades and there will be no comparison (my opinion!). Thanks for the video, anyway.
Also, remember the Martin has had over 50 years to open up and mellow whereas the Eastman is a new guitar and is bound to sound tighter and brighter to some extent. I love Martins but these Eastmans are good.
I had an Eastman mandolin for a while. Wow that was some instrument, great tone and volume. I reckon if guitars of the same quality were made by Eastman in the US you'd be looking at at least double if not triple the price.
I love my Martins, but in this comparison, the Eastman outshines the Martin.
stradivarius Steinway Martin D-anyone
Get my drift
Wow, listen to this through some good headphones or speakers-the Eastman sounds boomy and lacks detail-maybe it was the mic but there is a real obnoxious boominess to the Eastman.
Once again this proves that you don't have to spend a fortune to get a guitar that sounds as good as a Martin its sods law.
Eastman sounds alot better here
Martin flatpick wipes the eastman..however l like the eastman better for fingerstyle..has better highs than the martin..
They DIDN'T even use the same type strings on each guitar and it sounds the same. Case Closed. Any perceived difference is a fractional mic setting or a playing nuance. People will always spew that their overpriced Martin or Taylor is way better than anything. They will soon realize that defending them will not change their immense re-sale losses. I also got over the Name Brand stigma a while back and even dents and dings no longer phase me. After realizing my new $5000.00 Taylor 914ce was just another dull and boring guitar I unloaded it along with a much better 414ce and a Pa-lour Martin. I now use two Eastmans and a Breedlove. All three are used and cost me a total of $2500.00. All three are stage ready and I couldn't be happier. I'm fortunate that I can own any guitar I want but I learned big money does not equate to big sound. You need to go to a guitar store and pick up every guitar and strum it, pick it, and then nail strum it. See if you like Engelmann, Adirondack or Sitka top sounds. Do your homework first so you don't burn your money, and don't fall for the advertising hype. If you are totally clueless, just watch some videos on some of the less expensive Eastmans or Breedloves. They have great setups and fretboards.
the eastman had more rattle ill support the american martin over the chineese eastman anyday,America first lets make america great again
eastman 1000e
martin 2500e
!!!!!!!!
So I have been playing for 40 years..The Eastman is a fine instrument BUT not even close to a martin D 28...this was a good Martin not a great one...this was a great eastman....Martin still won...NO COMPARISON
Amazing ME very close comparison. The Eastman is a bit brighter, but every bit as nice as the Martin. This is also not a fare comparison. 40 year old Martin versus a brand new Eastman is not a good match. I think you need to stop being so biased.
not biased Im right. this was an avg martin yet better...but 40 years can make a difference true....but not every guitar
Finger style, the Eastman kills the Martin. Flat picking you are hearing an extremely tight, brand new dreadnaught with the Eastman. Give the Eastman 5 years of playing, it will be the Martin hands down in all categories. Oh and , you're not right.
Also, what is an "average Martin yet better?" If its average, it's average. I would say this is a true example of a vintage Martin. Go to Norms Rare Guitars in LA. He has dozens of vintage Martins. All of which will sound pretty damn close to this one.
im right and a wayyyy better player then you. but keep believing what you want. Eastman is a nice instrument but no one should pay more then 5 6 hundred for it
enjoy
Well I guess all's fair when trying to sell something.
Dull strings on the Martin.
Martin = piano Eastman = harpsichord
The E20D has too much overtone.
Eastman is too boomy.
Switching was way too fast. Play a segment with one, then repeat with the other. Don't change every 2 beats. That's beyond amateurish.
Total bullshit, there's no comparison. I own a 1962 Martin D28 and it's a magnificent instrument. Don't try and feed me this crap that a cheap Eastman Made in China copy comes even close. Eastman makes nothing less than flagrant rip-off copies of great original instruments like Martin. If you want to support slave labor in Chinese factories, buy Chinese. If you want the real thing, buy American.
First of all, Eastman uses trained luthiers not "slave" labor and they provide skilled jobs for other human beings.
Secondly, they use very high quality woods available sourcing their Adirondack Spruce from the same distribuor who provides Martin with theirs.
They also source Indian Rosewood and the Mahogany they use is an Asian Mahogany which has it's own unique and quite beautiful visual characteristics.
All their guitars are 100% built by hand as Martin used to do. Martin's are certainly a cut above Eastman's and yes, Eastman does emulate the Martin design. Whether you care to believe it or not, they do come close. If you care, you can read about Eastman here:
www.eastmanmusiccompany.com/about/
I'm pretty sure you don't and I for one, am glad there are less expensive options for quality instruments.
Eastman employs Asian luthiers. Guitar making isn't rocket science. Just need training and the right tools. If a company uses quality woods and build it well anyone can compete.