I discovered Eastman a little over a year ago when I picked up an sb59 electric. I know have 3 of them and am waiting for my first acoustic to arrive 😅.
I am very impressed with what little Eastman guitars I have played. Different tone than any other brand. But, I think Blueridge guitars are one of the best values around. I have a BR-180 and a BR-163CE, and they are both amazing. My Martins get much less playing time since I added the Blueridge’s to the stable. Everyone’s ear is a little different, and to each their own, but my money is on the Blueridge. Their necks are perfect, and so playable! Sound is amazing. If there are QC issues I have not seen them. The 2 I own, and the 2 my kids own, are nearly flawless.
That Blueridge I had in this review had a really spacious, loud and really warm tone. It was lovely! I personally found the neck profile to be too slim for my taste, that seems to be the way they do it, a ‘modern’ profile. A lot of people like it. Do you follow the Acoustic Shoppe on UA-cam? They review Eastmans all the time. They made a comment that Blueridge guitars varied a lot in quality. I can’t speak to that, but I would say that Eastman final setup and quality check has been patchy in my experience, but the overall quality and value for money makes up for this.
The thing that turned me off on the Blueridge guitars in that series is that god awful inlay on the headstock. A luthier/ repairman friend worked on one and said it really isn't a proper inlay. It's kind of a decal thing. Cheesy at best. The guitar itself is very well made and sounds nice for the price. The Eastman is a better buy. I think the quality along with the sound is better, I've owned a couple Eastmans with Thermo cured Adirondack tops and both mahogany and rosewood backs and they were all great guitars. The Sitka topped ones as well.
I agree, the blingy headstock backfired for me too. And it is very narrow, which meant the high and low E strings take a sharp turn from the nut. I also prefer the wider nut and neck profile of the Eastmans.
I have the Blueridge BR 160A. It don't have that inlay on it,just says Blueridge. I like it much better. And the adirondack top gives it more punch. I love it. It sounds awesome!
Enjoyed your video. I of the biggest I’m going with the Eastman is that I love the neck shape. I play and love Martin’s but prefer the more open C shape.
Very nice comparison and very informative Mate. I have a Bluerige BR 40 that sounds loud and Amazing. The logical step I thought was to buy a brand new and more expensive model BG 160 online. I am disappointed, I did not get the sound or tones I was expecting for a $1600 guitar, and been in the naughty corner ever since. I also have 2 Eastmans AC730 and E20SS, The two Eastmans sounds heaven and they are right up there with the Martins and the Gibsons.
Thankyou! I don’t have the US guitars to compare the Eastmans. But yours keep good company! I had similar experience since making his video and selling the Blueridge. I bought a Saga all solid dreadnought. It is like a top of the line Blueridge in fit and finish and has the same skinny neck. but is not resonant or loud and is also in the naughty corner. I haven’t even had the heart to review it. Regards Nick
Postscript to this review. On reflection if the Blueridge had a chunkier neck I would have been more inclined to keep it. That was the deciding factor. It was lighter built than the Eastman and with the forward shifted x bracing sounded very open and room filling. But that super slim neck! And I prefer the 1 3/4inch nut on the Eastman and the more boutique finish. It is nitrocellulose vs Blueridge poly.
I bought a new old stock BR160 several years ago... Is a 2002.,..the wood is gradually opened and responsive.... Great guitar. It sounds a bit different than yours. It doesn't feel like anything is holding the tone back.... I'd like to get something if comparable quality, new... On addition to it..... Either a different back and sides tonewood, it name an OM.... That's some great more affordable options in this day and age.... It can be really hard to put your hand on them before you but, though.... Which is less than ideal... So much better to be able to pick a specific guitar!
There is nothing like age to improve the tone of a guitar. As long as the action remains good with enough saddle height they are the way to go. My almost 20 year old Eastman started to sound even better 2 years ago. Glad to hear you got a good old Blueridge. Agree it is a lottery buying sight unseen and researching a specific model is a good idea. Hope you get a good one!
I don’t own either of these guitars any more. The Blueridge did sound really nice. Complex as you say but also very warm which was surprising from the rosewood. Yes the Eastman was new and would have only got better. But that one had an issue with a lifting neck which required lowering the saddle extremely. Since then I have learned to keep my guitars in their cases with dehumidifier bags. This helps prevent the action deteriorating through excessive moisture. I did prefer that Eastman over the Blueridge.
I can hear the Blueridge is louder and bigger sounding.. I bet the difference is even more noticebale when you play them both live one after the other.
Both sound really nice. I'd suspect the big difference is the rosewood vs the mahogany. The Mahogany is a nice mid range sounding wood, whereas the rosewood has the brighter highs, bigger bottom end, but a bit of a dip in the middle. I think you need both.
I prefer the blueridge, the sound is warm and is close to Martin. The eastman may have better articulation with the nitro varnish but the tone is more clear.
I agree, listening back there is a real warmth to the Blueridge, which is surprising considering that common wisdom is mahogany is warmer than rosewood.
@@turrafirmaguitarchannel no thats not true. Rosewood is always warmer than Mahogany. When most people think rosewood they think super bassy and muddy and muffled but beautiful overtones for strumming. Mahogany is much louder and punchier with less overtones and more mids and better note seperation for picking.
Hi I used to sell them on eBay but the feee have become very high. If you are in Australia let me know and we could work something out. I have a few I would let go 😊
Hello! What about playability of these guitars? Is the neck profile confortable, easy to play? I have small hands, and usually i play on a Taylor guitar. Tks
Hi, the Blueridge has the narrower nut and very slim neck so that might suit you. The Eastman traditional series all have 1 3/4 inch nut and a bit fuller neck. This particular Blueridge had a lower action so was a bit easier to hold down the chord, regards Nick
Love the skinny neck of the BR-160 I paid $500 for years ago (with hardshell case)!! My son's Martin HD-28 neck feels too thick to me. Great tone though. My BR-60 (laminated rosewood) resonates better than the 160, has beautiful tone, and is much lighter than the 160. Doubt it will last nearly as long as the 160.
Hi Zeke! That’s a good price for the Blueridge. If you are in US you get good prices on guitars. We pay more here in Australia. Some people prefer that slimmer neck and 1 11/16 but width. I like the wider string spacing on the Eastmans.
Budget acoustics today are so much better than the ones from just a few decades ago. I finally got the D18 I always wanted but I still envy the younger players. Cheaper guitars used to be total 💩 but you can buy very playable and good sounding guitars in the $500 - $1000 range now.
I am in my 50s and remember back in the day the big deal for budget guitars was to get a solid top. These days you get really good all solid guitars for under $1000. Eastman and Yamaha are my favourites. I wonder though if these times won’t last with the global economy going the way it is.
I don't consider anything over $1000 budget lol. But I just bought an all solid guitar that sounded good for cheap. Problem was it had uneven frets, poor finishing, and played like crap even with a low action, sharp edges everywhere even on the body. I returned it and went back to my $500 martin dx1 I bought 20 years ago which felt so much better and was bassier. I don't believe the hype bud. No import guitar for me tks. I guess I was lucky I got mine when I did... I thought like you budget guitars were better nowdays. They aren't. They are worse. There is just alot more crap to choose from now. $1100-$1300 for these? Give me a Martin D12. tks. lol But Honestly I'd stick with the X series or go American. Everything in between is not worth it imo. There is no middle class anymore, and there is no real deals.
Hi Justin, I wish I could but I sold the Blueridge after I did this video about a year ago. That particular Blueridge had a big bottom end and was very warm for a rosewood guitar. In comparison the E3D has the smaller body and a more balanced sound. Nice tone from the ovangkol and sitka spruce. Good luck on your guitar hunt!
Eastman is higher quality in my opinion. Own both brands. My Eastman is much louder , I also have some pretty good sounding and playing Recording Kings.
@@turrafirmaguitarchannel right on, hard to beat RK for bang for buck. I have a bunch of them , the dirty 30s are a throwback, a little dry sounding at least the all solid versions I own. I have some non dirty 30 all solid versions some 12 frets and they are just a joy to play and sound pretty darn good.
I preferred the sound of the Eastman, but I stumble on their frets. It is about the only brand of guitars where this happens with me. I had an E10-D, and it was an absolute cannon. I got along with that one ok, but I foolishly sold it. Then I tried the EOM-10, another amazing cannon, but here the frets felt like speedbumps. Even had it set up by a luthier. Nope. My fingers still stumbled, just as I'm seeing you having trouble fretting it. Too bad. I'd prefer the nitro finish. The E10 models are mindblowingly good--if you like the feel of the instrument.
Thanks for your comment. I find the Eastman frets OK. They are not smaller vintage type frets but I don’t find them too big. My gripe with Eastman are the lifting necks which makes the action high and difficult and requires repeated lowering of the saddle.
@@turrafirmaguitarchannel that's a new one. Glad I didn't buy one, then. I have Martins, Lakewoods, and an American Guild for steel string acoustics. I'm good.
@@davematney1918 I just got an E1-OM, and it's fine. However: the first unit sent to me had a cedar top. Sent back. The new one has a Rosewood bridge and fretboard, whereas it was supposed to be Ebony. Instead of sending this one back, I just negotiated a fair discount for the mis-spec'ed guitar. My point being, there are QC issues, here, unfortunately. I kept this one because I have no issues with the frets, the fretboard is level with the bridge, it was set up reasonably well, and is a very lively little git, that I won't sell. It holds its own tonally and dynamically with my 3 Martins.
@@PreacherAtArrakeen i have very limited experience with Eastman except for an AC series grand auditorium that i own and am very pleased with. So much so im considering getting a dreadnought. The one example I have is an excellent guitar but like i said I've only had experience with the one example.
Despite the huge difference the tone woods and bracing patterns/types, I’m firmly in the Eastman camp. I’m saying that as an amateur guitar maker (I’ve sold a few - and several have been presented as heirloom gifts to various family members. I AM a pro repair/restore guy, though). I have played several, and owned two Blueridge guitars - a dread, and an OM, one mahogany, the other rosewood. I have not owned an Eastman, but everyone I’ve played has been very good, and one in-particular, was excellent! I’m currently shopping for an Eastman single0 and a 00 size guitars to complete my collection of acoustic guitar body shapes/sizes - the Eastmans will represent a true value in my collection, as it’s all Martins, Guilds, Gibsons, and Gretsch guitars, to this point! Peace
Hi, thanks for your comment. You are lucky to own the best US made guitars. So you can make a very informed judgement on the Eastmans. I keep coming back to them even though I have encountered issues with several. I aspire to own Martin, Gibson, Guild too!
Yes, it wasn’t rock solid in the tuning department. It didn’t last is the cut-throat world of my guitar collection 😄 I just upgraded tuners on a couple of my guitars and it makes a big difference. I made video about it.
Really great review !
I like the sound of the Eastman.
I discovered Eastman a little over a year ago when I picked up an sb59 electric. I know have 3 of them and am waiting for my first acoustic to arrive 😅.
I am very impressed with what little Eastman guitars I have played. Different tone than any other brand. But, I think Blueridge guitars are one of the best values around. I have a BR-180 and a BR-163CE, and they are both amazing. My Martins get much less playing time since I added the Blueridge’s to the stable. Everyone’s ear is a little different, and to each their own, but my money is on the Blueridge. Their necks are perfect, and so playable! Sound is amazing. If there are QC issues I have not seen them. The 2 I own, and the 2 my kids own, are nearly flawless.
That Blueridge I had in this review had a really spacious, loud and really warm tone. It was lovely! I personally found the neck profile to be too slim for my taste, that seems to be the way they do it, a ‘modern’ profile. A lot of people like it. Do you follow the Acoustic Shoppe on UA-cam? They review Eastmans all the time. They made a comment that Blueridge guitars varied a lot in quality. I can’t speak to that, but I would say that Eastman final setup and quality check has been patchy in my experience, but the overall quality and value for money makes up for this.
The thing that turned me off on the Blueridge guitars in that series is that god awful inlay on the headstock. A luthier/ repairman friend worked on one and said it really isn't a proper inlay. It's kind of a decal thing. Cheesy at best. The guitar itself is very well made and sounds nice for the price. The Eastman is a better buy. I think the quality along with the sound is better, I've owned a couple Eastmans with Thermo cured Adirondack tops and both mahogany and rosewood backs and they were all great guitars. The Sitka topped ones as well.
I agree, the blingy headstock backfired for me too. And it is very narrow, which meant the high and low E strings take a sharp turn from the nut.
I also prefer the wider nut and neck profile of the Eastmans.
I have the Blueridge BR 160A. It don't have that inlay on it,just says Blueridge. I like it much better. And the adirondack top gives it more punch. I love it. It sounds awesome!
I own blue ridge. And I love mine. I have BR 40 and. It has that. Signature martin sound
I love my 183A bluerdge
Enjoyed your video. I of the biggest I’m going with the Eastman is that I love the neck shape. I play and love Martin’s but prefer the more open C shape.
Yep Eastman necks are nice. The Blueridge was so skinny.
Eastman - no contest in my mind
SMASHED THAT LIKE! 💯
Very nice comparison and very informative Mate. I have a Bluerige BR 40 that sounds loud and Amazing. The logical step I thought was to buy a brand new and more expensive model BG 160 online. I am disappointed, I did not get the sound or tones I was expecting for a $1600 guitar, and been in the naughty corner ever since. I also have 2 Eastmans AC730 and E20SS, The two Eastmans sounds heaven and they are right up there with the Martins and the Gibsons.
Thankyou! I don’t have the US guitars to compare the Eastmans. But yours keep good company! I had similar experience since making his video and selling the Blueridge. I bought a Saga all solid dreadnought. It is like a top of the line Blueridge in fit and finish and has the same skinny neck. but is not resonant or loud and is also in the naughty corner. I haven’t even had the heart to review it. Regards Nick
I have a br-160, and a cheaper br-140a. The latter sounds miles better to me. And a lot louder. I love it.
Eastman does not even compare to Martin or Gibson if you getting china guitar Alvarez or Cort your best bet Eastman has not impressed me
Postscript to this review. On reflection if the Blueridge had a chunkier neck I would have been more inclined to keep it. That was the deciding factor. It was lighter built than the Eastman and with the forward shifted x bracing sounded very open and room filling. But that super slim neck! And I prefer the 1 3/4inch nut on the Eastman and the more boutique finish. It is nitrocellulose vs Blueridge poly.
I have a br-140a. Blueridge . Had a wider neck than my br-160. And it is a much nicer neck for me. Sounds way better too.
I bought a new old stock BR160 several years ago... Is a 2002.,..the wood is gradually opened and responsive.... Great guitar. It sounds a bit different than yours. It doesn't feel like anything is holding the tone back.... I'd like to get something if comparable quality, new... On addition to it..... Either a different back and sides tonewood, it name an OM.... That's some great more affordable options in this day and age.... It can be really hard to put your hand on them before you but, though.... Which is less than ideal... So much better to be able to pick a specific guitar!
There is nothing like age to improve the tone of a guitar. As long as the action remains good with enough saddle height they are the way to go. My almost 20 year old Eastman started to sound even better 2 years ago. Glad to hear you got a good old Blueridge.
Agree it is a lottery buying sight unseen and researching a specific model is a good idea. Hope you get a good one!
Apples to oranges.
That Blueridge really sounds more complex, while the Eastman sounds like it needs more time to open up?!
I don’t own either of these guitars any more. The Blueridge did sound really nice. Complex as you say but also very warm which was surprising from the rosewood. Yes the Eastman was new and would have only got better. But that one had an issue with a lifting neck which required lowering the saddle extremely. Since then I have learned to keep my guitars in their cases with dehumidifier bags. This helps prevent the action deteriorating through excessive moisture. I did prefer that Eastman over the Blueridge.
I can hear the Blueridge is louder and bigger sounding.. I bet the difference is even more noticebale when you play them both live one after the other.
I like both truely. The Eastman is truly louder but the Blue Ridge is significantly warmer
I agree the Blueridge was outstandingly warm, especially for rosewood guitar. I think that is part of their signature sound.
Both sound really nice. I'd suspect the big difference is the rosewood vs the mahogany. The Mahogany is a nice mid range sounding wood, whereas the rosewood has the brighter highs, bigger bottom end, but a bit of a dip in the middle. I think you need both.
I prefer the blueridge, the sound is warm and is close to Martin. The eastman may have better articulation with the nitro varnish but the tone is more clear.
I agree, listening back there is a real warmth to the Blueridge, which is surprising considering that common wisdom is mahogany is warmer than rosewood.
@@turrafirmaguitarchannel no thats not true. Rosewood is always warmer than Mahogany. When most people think rosewood they think super bassy and muddy and muffled but beautiful overtones for strumming. Mahogany is much louder and punchier with less overtones and more mids and better note seperation for picking.
BR-160 is a phenomenal sounding guitar... period.. were the strings the same on both of these guitars?
Hi, yes the guitars were both strung with dadario ej16 12-53 gauge strings. I have used these strings for years now.
Thanks for video. Can you tell me where you sell your guitars?
Hi I used to sell them on eBay but the feee have become very high. If you are in Australia let me know and we could work something out. I have a few I would let go 😊
Hello! What about playability of these guitars? Is the neck profile confortable, easy to play? I have small hands, and usually i play on a Taylor guitar. Tks
Hi, the Blueridge has the narrower nut and very slim neck so that might suit you. The Eastman traditional series all have 1 3/4 inch nut and a bit fuller neck. This particular Blueridge had a lower action so was a bit easier to hold down the chord, regards Nick
Tks for your attention! How do you compare the Eastman neck profile to Martin’s? Does Eastman have a similar neck profile or fattier than Martin’s?
Love the skinny neck of the BR-160 I paid $500 for years ago (with hardshell case)!! My son's Martin HD-28 neck feels too thick to me. Great tone though. My BR-60 (laminated rosewood) resonates better than the 160, has beautiful tone, and is much lighter than the 160. Doubt it will last nearly as long as the 160.
Hi Zeke! That’s a good price for the Blueridge. If you are in US you get good prices on guitars. We pay more here in Australia. Some people prefer that slimmer neck and 1 11/16 but width. I like the wider string spacing on the Eastmans.
I'll take Blueridge.
0:57 eastman
2:59 Br
Budget acoustics today are so much better than the ones from just a few decades ago.
I finally got the D18 I always wanted but I still envy the younger players. Cheaper guitars used to be total 💩 but you can buy very playable and good sounding guitars in the $500 - $1000 range now.
I am in my 50s and remember back in the day the big deal for budget guitars was to get a solid top. These days you get really good all solid guitars for under $1000. Eastman and Yamaha are my favourites. I wonder though if these times won’t last with the global economy going the way it is.
I don't consider anything over $1000 budget lol. But I just bought an all solid guitar that sounded good for cheap. Problem was it had uneven frets, poor finishing, and played like crap even with a low action, sharp edges everywhere even on the body. I returned it and went back to my $500 martin dx1 I bought 20 years ago which felt so much better and was bassier. I don't believe the hype bud. No import guitar for me tks. I guess I was lucky I got mine when I did... I thought like you budget guitars were better nowdays. They aren't. They are worse. There is just alot more crap to choose from now. $1100-$1300 for these? Give me a Martin D12. tks. lol But Honestly I'd stick with the X series or go American. Everything in between is not worth it imo. There is no middle class anymore, and there is no real deals.
Can you do a video with the Eastman E3D and the Blueridge
Hi Justin, I wish I could but I sold the Blueridge after I did this video about a year ago. That particular Blueridge had a big bottom end and was very warm for a rosewood guitar. In comparison the E3D has the smaller body and a more balanced sound. Nice tone from the ovangkol and sitka spruce. Good luck on your guitar hunt!
Eastman is higher quality in my opinion. Own both brands. My Eastman is much louder , I also have some pretty good sounding and playing Recording Kings.
I’m a fan of Recording King too! I have the Dirty Thirties Series 9 Single 0 which is very loud and lively.
@@turrafirmaguitarchannel right on, hard to beat RK for bang for buck. I have a bunch of them , the dirty 30s are a throwback, a little dry sounding at least the all solid versions I own. I have some non dirty 30 all solid versions some 12 frets and they are just a joy to play and sound pretty darn good.
Do you have one of the adirondack tops? My e20d is really loud.
@@FolkSongsEtAlI own an e10d. Very loud with crisp tops and a lot of low end on the low G and E!
I preferred the sound of the Eastman, but I stumble on their frets. It is about the only brand of guitars where this happens with me. I had an E10-D, and it was an absolute cannon. I got along with that one ok, but I foolishly sold it. Then I tried the EOM-10, another amazing cannon, but here the frets felt like speedbumps. Even had it set up by a luthier. Nope. My fingers still stumbled, just as I'm seeing you having trouble fretting it. Too bad. I'd prefer the nitro finish. The E10 models are mindblowingly good--if you like the feel of the instrument.
Thanks for your comment. I find the Eastman frets OK. They are not smaller vintage type frets but I don’t find them too big. My gripe with Eastman are the lifting necks which makes the action high and difficult and requires repeated lowering of the saddle.
@@turrafirmaguitarchannel that's a new one. Glad I didn't buy one, then. I have Martins, Lakewoods, and an American Guild for steel string acoustics. I'm good.
Thats odd, according to the specs, they use the same frets as Martin on the Eastmans.
@@davematney1918 I just got an E1-OM, and it's fine. However: the first unit sent to me had a cedar top. Sent back. The new one has a Rosewood bridge and fretboard, whereas it was supposed to be Ebony. Instead of sending this one back, I just negotiated a fair discount for the mis-spec'ed guitar. My point being, there are QC issues, here, unfortunately. I kept this one because I have no issues with the frets, the fretboard is level with the bridge, it was set up reasonably well, and is a very lively little git, that I won't sell. It holds its own tonally and dynamically with my 3 Martins.
@@PreacherAtArrakeen i have very limited experience with Eastman except for an AC series grand auditorium that i own and am very pleased with. So much so im considering getting a dreadnought. The one example I have is an excellent guitar but like i said I've only had experience with the one example.
I love the echo of your voice but (:
I like the sound on the Eastman much more than the BR. I also suspect the quality of the Eastman is much better.
Despite the huge difference the tone woods and bracing patterns/types, I’m firmly in the Eastman camp. I’m saying that as an amateur guitar maker (I’ve sold a few - and several have been presented as heirloom gifts to various family members. I AM a pro repair/restore guy, though). I have played several, and owned two Blueridge guitars - a dread, and an OM, one mahogany, the other rosewood. I have not owned an Eastman, but everyone I’ve played has been very good, and one in-particular, was excellent!
I’m currently shopping for an Eastman single0 and a 00 size guitars to complete my collection of acoustic guitar body shapes/sizes - the Eastmans will represent a true value in my collection, as it’s all Martins, Guilds, Gibsons, and Gretsch guitars, to this point!
Peace
Hi, thanks for your comment. You are lucky to own the best US made guitars. So you can make a very informed judgement on the Eastmans. I keep coming back to them even though I have encountered issues with several. I aspire to own Martin, Gibson, Guild too!
Blueridge sounds best
Blueridge sounds nicer and more like a vintage acoustic
I sold my BR-160 .. one of the worse decisions :(
That Blueridge has major tuning issues by the looks of it!!!
Yes, it wasn’t rock solid in the tuning department. It didn’t last is the cut-throat world of my guitar collection 😄 I just upgraded tuners on a couple of my guitars and it makes a big difference. I made video about it.
Tom Cruise
Blueridge is closer to martin's character.
The Eastman has better sound.