Eastman all made by hand. Sounds great to my ears. Of course, Martins sound like Martins. Top of the heap, hell, they invented that guitar body. Boy, what value in the Eastman.
Invented the Dreadnought. & Named it after British 1st world war Battle ship class...sadly had no faith in so built it for other guitar lables instead.. until it started selling like hot cakes that is lol
The Eastman sounds like an Eastman and the Martins sound like Martins. Both are great and very different. I couldn't say one was better than the others. It's like different roasts of coffee beans.
I just can't justify giving twice the amount of money for a guitar that sounds a hair better. Eastman and Furch for me are just destroying the big named companies. Truly amazing instruments
Apostolis Paspalakis I own a Furch D-31 SR and I picked it over all of the Martin's above sans the authentic , which I owned only briefly and returned to Sweetwater once I tried the Furch on a whim. Unbelievably resonant, and to my ears is what a Martin and Taylor would sound like if they had a baby. At $2150, I'm extremely pleased and the quality is better than any of the aforementioned in fit and finish.
Apostolis Paspalakis Martin has resale value. In 40 years, I can sell my Martin HD28 for 5 to 10 times what I paid for it. Will the Eastman be worth that? Nope.
I have found that some guitars simply have a response and projection that immediately grabs you and invites a different level of attack, touch etc. While its true he liked the D-18 and maybe played it better, I submit the notion that guitar brought that out in him. No fault of the player. That to me is the mark of a great guitar. I.e. the ones that invite you to play better or be more creative.
The one thing that's not mentioned here is that the Eastman E20D has a Adirondack spruce top. It takes much longer for Adirondack to break in than the traditional spruce top. After the Eastman breaks in it will be a much, much better tone. I'm a huge fan of Martin but if there was a way of playing the Eastman a year later you'll see what I'm talking about. I've got a Eastman E10D with Adirondack top sounded brittle at first but now after about 2 years of playing there's no comparison in sound. It will stay with me the rest of my life. If Eastman could come up with a process of breaking them in before they go to stores would be nice!
All of the guitars sounded great. But the Eastman is less than half the price of the Martins. The workmanship on the Eastmans is meticulous. I now own two, the Eastman e100ss and the J-45 lookalike, the e20ss.
That Eastman is a fine guitar, but it sounds a bit "thin" when compared directly to the Martins. The Martins have a thicker and perhaps darker tone. To my ear, anyway...
I have no outlets near me that carry them but have to wonder about lifetime warranty. I trust Martin to be a lifetime guitar and warranty respected should there ever be a true problem. I realize you can't believe everything on the net but have heard people complain about lack of eastman honoring their warranty. They are said to be completely handmade, very adamantly by a british reseller, but have read they use band saws etc....i picture the very low automation process of Seagulls but he insists not. Thing is, I trust today's automation for consistent perfection. Hard to believe 100% handmade in any case but would like to know their output and number of employees. Even being a Chinese company where labor may be cheaper it still doesn't sit well....I will wait to see how well they hold up o er time. Sorry so long
I think that may have been truer back in 2016 when the vid was made than it is today. I have a recent Eastman 8D (Martin HD-28 equivalent) that compares very favorably to my 22 year-old D-28 and 19 year-old D-41. I also have an Eastman E20OM from around 2014 that rivals my 1999 000-28; I actually prefer the Eastman because it has a v-neck more like a vintage 000-28 (despite the OM in the name, it's actually a 000-28H clone, 24.9" scale vs. 25.4"), and it is LOUDER.
@@jimgodofbiscuits Doubt they can grow much volume without automation and I haven't heard they don't use any machine tools. They just did not use CNC but I believe there was going to be some change for that too. (Perhaps they want to educate their workers and try to way best ways to use it.) Nothing wrong in CNC but well, handcrafted is handcrafted, and that's what some people want. Glad there's market and supply for everything. Anyways, there's plenty of Eastman factory videos to see in RUclips. Of course it's just videos and there's no way we will ever know if these guitars are really made like that and not at a Uighur prison camp but I like to believe so and I kinda like the idea my solid body electric guitar was actually hand carved with a chisel. What comes to warranty... well, it's a piece of wood. It obeys the rules of physics and it can be repaired by any skilled luthier. I think warranty is like insurance, in things that aren't super valuable it makes no sense to pay for it, in the long run it's cheaper to pay for fixes.
I've had the pleasure of playing a few nice guitars and some not quite as nice since the dawn of the 1980s. Which guitar is the best? The guitar that you want to keep playing. Everything else is a secondary concern.
You clearly never played a Boucher or Borgouis or a Huss and Dalton. Those botique companies make better sounding acoustics than Martin or any big name mainstream name brand for sure. So no Martin hasn’t owned the crown for quite some time. Only to people that never heard or played anything from those guys ☺️ Hell most players don’t even know who those companies are because they only know of what they see in local shops
I started laughing at the first chord of the D18 because of how incredible that particular D18 was. When the D18 is made really resonant, it's an unbeatable guitar. I have one from 1975 that just screams.
I liked the D-18! The Eastman is a great value and sounds very good. My second fave is the HD28V. On this shootout the Authentic didn’t sound like it was worth the Xtra money, but I’d havf to play them myself.
I learned one thing, if you play your guitar questioning the sound of your instrument, your playing will suffer. Appreciate what you have, you'll get the most out of it. Each guitar is unique. Tweaking them with saddle/pin upgrades is have the fun. Who can be happy with just one guitar anyway? You hear it all the time " I own both Martin and Taylors..but this is the one I mostly play. "
Great vid. All really terrific-sounding instruments. I am constantly wrestling with myself about purchasing a D-18. Every time I play/hear one, it just grabs me by the guts. Such a fantastic tone, and a simple beauty. Love the look of mahogany - think an 18 would compliment my M-36 nicely...
I wonder if you tested the same guitars today 2 years later how they would compare? The Adirondack top of the Eastman seems to take longer to break in than Sitka spruce. It least that is what I have notice with stiffer Adirondack spruce. Bright loud articulate flat picker that warms up a bit over time. Maybe not for everybody. But seems to have a punchy cutting tone.
Interesting sound test. It seems he really got warmed up playing at the end of the video... Just about any Martin guitar I can get my hands on wins it for me hands down even though the Eastman sounds good! 🤔
Great video. The Eastman held up pretty good. Man that D18 sounded awsome. They don't all sound like that one. That D18 was something special. I play a D35 which is my baby. I've been itching really bad for a D18. Especially the new upgraded model they started to make after 2012 just like the one you played. You jave just made me want one even more. lol... Thanks.
That blues that you re playing at the end of the video sounds terrific, I just started playing blues in Holland, can you send me some tabs because i want to play it please, other videos are great, greets Rob
I have a few of each in my guitar collection and the big difference for me is that the Martin’s are a bit more mellow and the Eastmans are a bit brighter, but that too can be adjusted based on string selection. Both seem to sound best to me with Martin custom lites. Eastmans boom and Martins swoon!
I think the Eastman come with light gauge strings and the Martins with mediums, but I may be wrong. If so, that could account for some of the better low end from the Martins.
I love acoustic guitars. Currently in my collection I have 3 from Eastman. E10oo 12 fret, E10D and my latest a E40D. It's a 2017 year model. Today I was going back and forth between it and the 2017 Martin HD35 that I've had a while and I have to admit that I'm honestly impressed with the Eastman. The Eastman dreadnoughts come with light gauge strings and standard bracing but I put mediums on my E40D ( Eastman says that they will handle them just fine ). Yes the Eastman is a Martin copy. No it probably won't hold its value like the Martin will. But I tell you folks for the price and build quality they definitely deserve a look. To me I'm with the him concerning the D18 ( always been a little partial to that one ) but as far as the 2 Rosewood dreads I have I almost didn't want to admit that with my eyes closed today I picked my Eastman E40D for sound over my HD35. It reminded me of a older Larrivee D03R Vancouver model that I should have kept. Dang thing would sustain forever and just had a good range from low E to high. I would highly recommend Eastman to someone wanting to step up into a solid wood guitar or who can't afford a more expensive Martin. I consider myself a decent player and enjoy my Eastmans. Heck look at the Takamine guitars made in Korea ( I still have a maple jumbo 12 string of theirs that sounds and looks absolutely gorgeous ). I reckon Garth Brooks has basically not made a dime playing them over the years, poor fellow....😂😉 Just saying!
Can’t understand the problem of YT compression being a problem. They All are compressed so they All are going to suffer. Now to the one thing I never hear addressed between Martin and Eastman: how does an Eastman neck feel compared to a Martin neck? Say D-28 to E-20D or equivalents? Anyone? Buehler? Thanks for any serious answers. :)
This is what I was going to say. The E10D is brighter and more Martin-like than the 20 rosewood. I played them all and ended up with the E10D. Sure, the D18 is great, but I couldn't afford it, and the Eastman is so close. I've never regretted it.
What's with the big ding on the face of the Martin HD-28 V right around the 3:56 mark? Shows up when the light hits it just right. Hope you didn't do that dallgire, lol!
I just ordered an Eastman rosewood body Grand Auditorium. Played a few in the store and they have lovely, bright & balanced tone. Very different from my mahogany Guild D-25. Which is why I bought it.
Whether we get hung up on brand names, marketing (and how could we not be affected to some degree), it's usually secondary to the sound, build, and playing feel, at least to me. I got hooked on the Martin sound almost immediately. I take good care of my instruments, and tend to hold them for a very long time (ideally forever). I've always found that if I settle by buying something almost as nice, for less cash, that I feel better in the very short term, like when I'm pulling out my wallet, but that I cry just a little inside every single time I play the darn thing. Years and years, and it's not what I actually wanted! This was a nice demo (thank you). The D-18 really did POP for the recording. Not sure if you already knew it was your favorite (seemed like your first strum was more powerful, and we always think louder, more trebly things sound better, at least initially). I try to like mahogany bodies, and never have been able to purchase one. Rosewood has the complexity, 'hog has the focused fundamental. But that day, in that shop, I'd have bought the D-18, hands down. The Eastman held it's own surprisingly well. I wouldn't have bought it, unless I wasn't comparing it to a Martin. For example, if my other choices were similarly priced guitars, perhaps Blueridge. Or if I play a Martin at home, and wanted something for the road that I wouldn't lose any sleep over. But the Eastman would definitely not allow me to cross Martin off my GAS list. I have owned an Eastman AR810ce Benedetto-style jazz box. Super nice. Honestly, I expected less. Build quality was perfect! The thin nitro finish was as good or better than any on my Gibsons, Martins, and high end Fenders. The bracing and wood selection had that guitar ringing loud acoustically, with tons of sustain. Eastman is doing a great job. I sold that 810 (to fund a lifelong want for a ES-175), but I miss it often. Most of their other models, I already have the real-deal equivalent, but I could definitely see getting another AR810ce (or 805) some day.
D18 suited you down to the GROUND! And was fun to watch you play it because could see you enjoyed it more than the others 😄 great stuff love your videos hope to see more take care 🤟🏼
The 18 and the 28, did it for me, the Eastman is another nice sounding dread, the other two are tuxedo, I'm a paper cup. Thanks kindred spirit, keep it going!
I played an Eastman E20D and was blown away on first impression, thing was a little out of my budget and I thought I'd wait till one popped up on the second hand market, two years ago and I've yet to see one for sale, says a lot really.
I think Martin QC may be poor on the standard D28. I had one in the mid 70s that sounded like it was made of plastic. no volume, no sustain, no overtones. This one in the video reminded me of the POS I had, and then sold.
I own both brands and eastman has some killer sounds for their guitars. My D28 sounds incredible as well. If I had to choose, I'd probably go with my Martin due to its volume although there are things that I like about my eastman better.
Supreme video!!! I bought D-18 a year ago. I tried D-28, HD-28 an several Gibsons (doves in flight cherry, J-45 standard, J-45 walnut, J-35 and more) in the shop. At the end I was changing D-18 an HD-28 for about 30 minutes. The HD-28 was great but too much basses came out of it. The D-18 won with the most balanced sound and the volume. I hope in 10 years the guitar will be far more better then now. :)
Dallgire, this is not a fair fight! If you want to compare high ends Martin against the Eastman, you must compare with the top high end Eastman!! That is the E-40-D!!!! And by the way, check the bling( decoration, a real beauty!) on this guitar!!! Impressive!!! Any Martin with the same bling is worth at least twice the price! Do another video with those Martin D-18, D-28, HD-28V, and the D-28 1937 AUTHENTIC( THAT DIDN'T IMPRESSED ME FOR A 7000$ GUITAR BY THE WAY), against the E40D eastman!!! Only then you'll have a fair comparason!!!!
None of these "fights" are really fair because we're hearing it through a microphone, whatever kind of space he played it in, his technique which will be different than any of ours, and then youtube compression. It's the same for all guitars so you can compare them in this setting only. If you were there in person there would be things you'd hear that are different than the recording.
And that does seem to be the issue in a lot of these store type of videos, is that the comparisons are made with what is hanging on the wall at that time and not really a spec to spec duel.
Great video. Great part when he took the D-28 1937 and started whispering. Nice playing. E20D is a nice guitar, but I think I like the Eastman AC320CE/420CE better.
I like Eastmans generaly - I've owned several over the past few years. They tend to be brighter compared to the brands they model after. They hold their own in volume and sustain and the tone is certainly acceptable if not inspiring. As with any make, some have more mojo than others. Oddly, the lowest priced Eastman I have has the fattest bottom end and best sustain! (E2D CD) It's astoundngly great. They are definitely worth checking out. If you have the bigger dollars for the Gibsons and the Martins I say go for it BUT check out the Eastman equivalent as well and then decide. Some folks are all about what's on the headstock and I get that - but players' players are out for mojo, feel, tone, and playability. Eastmans deliver on all fronts - sometimes better - sometimes not.
That Marting 1937 D-28 sounds almost exactly like my 1980s Yamaha FG-441s. So close it's spooky. I'm glad I watched this video. Now I know why I have had several friends ask to borrow it for recording sessions. It was owned by a Washington DC luthier. He said it was one of the best he'd found and he had done a lot of work on it to bring it up to his standards. Damn he did a good job. It has magic. I definitely hate taking int out of the house for shows. Although I imagine it's far less likely to be stolen than a fancy, expensive guitar. I need something less valuable to kick around on, so I'm looking at Eastman in the 1k range. I helped pick a ~$400 model for one of my students Christmas gifts, and that was a nice guitar, so I should be able to get something amazing in the 1-1.5k range from Eastman. Thanks for the video.
Eastman guitars are one of the best kept secrets. 1/3 of the price of a good Martin and full bodied with excellent tone and the craftsmanship is 5 star. Also highly recommend Blueridge Guitars!
You can't beat the Martin deep full bodied tone. Had the Eastman E-20 D but like the Blueridge BR-180A better. The Eastman comes with EJ-16's but within a week it doesn't sound right with the light gauge but also doesn't sound right with mediums IMHO. The new medium light gauge strings would probably work well.
To my ear, the Eastman stacks up closest to the Martin D18, though doesn't really compete with it. interesting that Eastman's rosewood is closer in tone to Martin's mahogany than rosewood.
Great video!! HUGE Eastman fan here. My AC412 is my main acoustic guitar and has been for like 9 years.... But it's not a Martin. I've never played an Eastman that can out HD-28 my Martin HD-28. Eastman is Eastman and Martin is Martin. They both sound killer but if you want Martin you are gonna have to buy one or go boutique. I think Eastman has it's own thing going on and I love it.
Thanks for demoing. My ears prefer the D28 among all others. D20 is good bargain, but I feel like it lacks basses and volume. On my side I have a Martin D35 for even more bass and volume. Not bashing Eastman , just a matter of taste. I have an Eastman T59 ( ES335 format ) which sounds better to my ears than several Gibson 335 I tested.
The 37 Authentic takes this, blows the rest away. But make no mistake the Eastman's are catching up fast, serious competition, and sublime woods (they are experienced violin makers with killer stocks).
I have a 12 year old Bedell TB-28-G. I don’t miss the Martin D-28 HD. It resonates and sustains forever. It gets up and barks when you dig in. And it has the D-45 swirling harmonics that are just magical. Anyone who thinks China can’t build guitars hasn’t played enough. I do like that true vintage though! It has that awe tone thing going on with the clarity and bass boom to go with it. You know it kinda sounds like a Taylor🤣
The D18 sounded the best to me but I have to say the Eastman gave them all a run for the money. Considering the price differences I'd probably buy the Eastman. Thanks for the comparisons.
The Eastman guitar is a mere copy of a a Martin guitar….If you can, allow american workers to have decent living & working conditions, and your country to keep making what it has invented and benefit from it… If you can't, get one of these and see if you can enjoy a tool made by people living like school boys, having no private life and so on, cause that's what's usually happens in this kind of factories… And when it comes to the money Chris Martin IV makes from himself…, well try to get a consequent bargain...!!
I tried a load of martins recently. I really like one but at 6k i can get a luthier to.build me something for half the price out of very high quality timbre (60 year old spruce) The Eastman I played was the standout guitar, for a third of the Martin it can't be beat
The Martin D1 price is $3500 eastman $1200 or try the $499 Eastman E1D or E2D Best value for Money Handmade Guitar in the world for sound & Build Quality.
The Martin D-18 I think was the nicest tone of the Martins.. Dissapointed with the 1936 authentic.. Eastman best bang for the buck in guitars period..you get what you pay for.. I dont feel the samr about Martin.. Taylor I find is a much better all around guitar.. Tone, playability and quality.. Eastman may out do them all at some point and If I was in need of an acoustic Eastman would get my money..sounds fantastic!
No comparison of a rosewood guitar to a mahogany guitar. The D18 is mahogany back and sides. The Eastman was closer to the HD28. No contest the HD28V, a guitar costing nearly $4000 would beat them all.
The Eastman E20D is an outstanding copy of a Martin HD28. The only difference is the neck on the Eastman is constructed in 3 pieces. The martin neck is one solid piece to my understanding. I have had my Eastman E20d for 3 years and it is still an awesome guitar. Super LOUD!! lol I wouldn't compare a standard D28 or a D18 (mahogany b&S) to the Eastman E20D. Play it against an HD28 for a fair comparison.
Eastman is making some killer guitars.
Martin remains the gold standard.
that's right and not mutually exclusive.
The top on that Eastman E-20D is just gorgeous.
Definitive!!! 👌🏼🤟🏼 well put dude! 👍🏼
Eastman all made by hand. Sounds great to my ears. Of course, Martins sound like Martins. Top of the heap, hell, they invented that guitar body. Boy, what value in the Eastman.
Invented the Dreadnought. & Named it after British 1st world war Battle ship class...sadly had no faith in so built it for other guitar lables instead.. until it started selling like hot cakes that is lol
The Eastman sounds like an Eastman and the Martins sound like Martins. Both are great and very different. I couldn't say one was better than the others. It's like different roasts of coffee beans.
Yes I have to agree with you there............
I mean, I do like French roast better than Pike, so... :)
Eastman is a less expensive cup
Great job. Always love the new D-18. Best thing Martin has done in in a long time
I just can't justify giving twice the amount of money for a guitar that sounds a hair better. Eastman and Furch for me are just destroying the big named companies. Truly amazing instruments
Apostolis Paspalakis I own a Furch D-31 SR and I picked it over all of the Martin's above sans the authentic , which I owned only briefly and returned to Sweetwater once I tried the Furch on a whim. Unbelievably resonant, and to my ears is what a Martin and Taylor would sound like if they had a baby. At $2150, I'm extremely pleased and the quality is better than any of the aforementioned in fit and finish.
Apostolis Paspalakis my idea.
That Eastman didn’t come close to any of those Martins in my opinion but it sounded pretty good for its price. It would make a good campfire guitar.
I can understand your point on the cost subject, but remember the martin will hold onto the value of the money you put into it.
Apostolis Paspalakis Martin has resale value. In 40 years, I can sell my Martin HD28 for 5 to 10 times what I paid for it. Will the Eastman be worth that? Nope.
D18 wins for me
Yep I love the D 18 too !! It is a cannon !
I have found that some guitars simply have a response and projection that immediately grabs you and invites a different level of attack, touch etc. While its true he liked the D-18 and maybe played it better, I submit the notion that guitar brought that out in him. No fault of the player. That to me is the mark of a great guitar. I.e. the ones that invite you to play better or be more creative.
PS; the HD-28V sounded great to me and so did the D-28 '37 Authentic. But my favorites were the D-18 and HD-28V
The one thing that's not mentioned here is that the Eastman E20D has a Adirondack spruce top. It takes much longer for Adirondack to break in than the traditional spruce top. After the Eastman breaks in it will be a much, much better tone. I'm a huge fan of Martin but if there was a way of playing the Eastman a year later you'll see what I'm talking about. I've got a Eastman E10D with Adirondack top sounded brittle at first but now after about 2 years of playing there's no comparison in sound. It will stay with me the rest of my life. If Eastman could come up with a process of breaking them in before they go to stores would be nice!
Eastman is Killin it with the best quality. HANDMADE...
Great comparison and playing. Thanks for posting.
All of the guitars sounded great. But the Eastman is less than half the price of the Martins. The workmanship on the Eastmans is meticulous. I now own two, the Eastman e100ss and the J-45 lookalike, the e20ss.
That D-28 authentic sounds absolutely amazing! It should though for 7 G’s.
but eastman is clone of martin 1937
Man, this guy is amazing!
That Eastman is a fine guitar, but it sounds a bit "thin" when compared directly to the Martins. The Martins have a thicker and perhaps darker tone. To my ear, anyway...
I have no outlets near me that carry them but have to wonder about lifetime warranty. I trust Martin to be a lifetime guitar and warranty respected should there ever be a true problem. I realize you can't believe everything on the net but have heard people complain about lack of eastman honoring their warranty. They are said to be completely handmade, very adamantly by a british reseller, but have read they use band saws etc....i picture the very low automation process of Seagulls but he insists not. Thing is, I trust today's automation for consistent perfection. Hard to believe 100% handmade in any case but would like to know their output and number of employees. Even being a Chinese company where labor may be cheaper it still doesn't sit well....I will wait to see how well they hold up o er time. Sorry so long
D18 EUR 2800,- (mahogany back & sides) vs E20D (rosewood EUR 1.500,-
I think that may have been truer back in 2016 when the vid was made than it is today. I have a recent Eastman 8D (Martin HD-28 equivalent) that compares very favorably to my 22 year-old D-28 and 19 year-old D-41. I also have an Eastman E20OM from around 2014 that rivals my 1999 000-28; I actually prefer the Eastman because it has a v-neck more like a vintage 000-28 (despite the OM in the name, it's actually a 000-28H clone, 24.9" scale vs. 25.4"), and it is LOUDER.
@@donkeninitz4590 Since watching/commenting on this video, I bought myself a (slightly) used E10D. Helluva guitar that I've been enjoying thoroughly.
@@jimgodofbiscuits Doubt they can grow much volume without automation and I haven't heard they don't use any machine tools. They just did not use CNC but I believe there was going to be some change for that too. (Perhaps they want to educate their workers and try to way best ways to use it.) Nothing wrong in CNC but well, handcrafted is handcrafted, and that's what some people want. Glad there's market and supply for everything. Anyways, there's plenty of Eastman factory videos to see in RUclips. Of course it's just videos and there's no way we will ever know if these guitars are really made like that and not at a Uighur prison camp but I like to believe so and I kinda like the idea my solid body electric guitar was actually hand carved with a chisel. What comes to warranty... well, it's a piece of wood. It obeys the rules of physics and it can be repaired by any skilled luthier. I think warranty is like insurance, in things that aren't super valuable it makes no sense to pay for it, in the long run it's cheaper to pay for fixes.
I've had the pleasure of playing a few nice guitars and some not quite as nice since the dawn of the 1980s. Which guitar is the best? The guitar that you want to keep playing. Everything else is a secondary concern.
Yup that's why I love my Larrivee D-05. It's the one I just want to pick up and play all the time.
For me the E8D with Rosewood back and side's with Rosewood fingerboard for 1200 $ is a great great guitar...
I'm very impressed with the Eastman range of guitars but my ears tell me that Martin still owns the crown on tone
You clearly never played a Boucher or Borgouis or a Huss and Dalton. Those botique companies make better sounding acoustics than Martin or any big name mainstream name brand for sure. So no Martin hasn’t owned the crown for quite some time. Only to people that never heard or played anything from those guys ☺️ Hell most players don’t even know who those companies are because they only know of what they see in local shops
thats how you demo guitars. great job
The standard D-18 is very impressive, great guitar.
I started laughing at the first chord of the D18 because of how incredible that particular D18 was. When the D18 is made really resonant, it's an unbeatable guitar. I have one from 1975 that just screams.
I can certainly second this. I have one from ‘72 and it is on a whole different level from anything ive owned
The Eastman held its own with most of the Martins.
but that d 18 sounded pretty great
I liked the D-18! The Eastman is a great value and sounds very good. My second fave is the HD28V. On this shootout the Authentic didn’t sound like it was worth the Xtra money, but I’d havf to play them myself.
Wow, I'm impressed!
I learned one thing, if you play your guitar questioning the sound of your instrument, your playing will suffer. Appreciate what you have, you'll get the most out of it. Each guitar is unique. Tweaking them with saddle/pin upgrades is have the fun. Who can be happy with just one guitar anyway? You hear it all the time " I own both Martin and Taylors..but this is the one I mostly play. "
You are the Hickok 45 of gitars I love this stuff
HD-28 V sounds heavenly.
Great vid. All really terrific-sounding instruments. I am constantly wrestling with myself about purchasing a D-18. Every time I play/hear one, it just grabs me by the guts. Such a fantastic tone, and a simple beauty. Love the look of mahogany - think an 18 would compliment my M-36 nicely...
Check out a Recording King RD-318 first, then buy the Martin D-18 if you feel it is worth the extra do reh me.
Martin D 18 does it for me too.
I wonder if you tested the same guitars today 2 years later how they would compare? The Adirondack top of the Eastman seems to take longer to break in than Sitka spruce. It least that is what I have notice with stiffer Adirondack spruce. Bright loud articulate flat picker that warms up a bit over time. Maybe not for everybody. But seems to have a punchy cutting tone.
Interesting sound test. It seems he really got warmed up playing at the end of the video...
Just about any Martin guitar I can get my hands on wins it for me hands down even though the Eastman sounds good!
🤔
Great video. The Eastman held up pretty good. Man that D18 sounded awsome. They don't all sound like that one. That D18 was something special. I play a D35 which is my baby. I've been itching really bad for a D18. Especially the new upgraded model they started to make after 2012 just like the one you played. You jave just made me want one even more. lol... Thanks.
That blues that you re playing at the end of the video sounds terrific, I just started playing blues in Holland, can you send me some tabs because i want to play it please, other videos are great, greets Rob
I have a few of each in my guitar collection and the big difference for me is that the Martin’s are a bit more mellow and the Eastmans are a bit brighter, but that too can be adjusted based on string selection. Both seem to sound best to me with Martin custom lites. Eastmans boom and Martins swoon!
I think the Eastman come with light gauge strings and the Martins with mediums, but I may be wrong. If so, that could account for some of the better low end from the Martins.
Martins are known for a boomy low end. It's in their construction methods.
I love acoustic guitars. Currently in my collection I have 3 from Eastman. E10oo 12 fret, E10D and my latest a E40D. It's a 2017 year model. Today I was going back and forth between it and the 2017 Martin HD35 that I've had a while and I have to admit that I'm honestly impressed with the Eastman. The Eastman dreadnoughts come with light gauge strings and standard bracing but I put mediums on my E40D ( Eastman says that they will handle them just fine ). Yes the Eastman is a Martin copy. No it probably won't hold its value like the Martin will. But I tell you folks for the price and build quality they definitely deserve a look. To me I'm with the him concerning the D18 ( always been a little partial to that one ) but as far as the 2 Rosewood dreads I have I almost didn't want to admit that with my eyes closed today I picked my Eastman E40D for sound over my HD35. It reminded me of a older Larrivee D03R Vancouver model that I should have kept. Dang thing would sustain forever and just had a good range from low E to high. I would highly recommend Eastman to someone wanting to step up into a solid wood guitar or who can't afford a more expensive Martin. I consider myself a decent player and enjoy my Eastmans. Heck look at the Takamine guitars made in Korea ( I still have a maple jumbo 12 string of theirs that sounds and looks absolutely gorgeous ). I reckon Garth Brooks has basically not made a dime playing them over the years, poor fellow....😂😉 Just saying!
You sound like you have a lot of Eastman experience. What do you think of the relatively new E20D-MR-TC?
D 18 sounds great with its scalloped pre war bracing
Damn! When the Martin D-18 first strung, it just blew me away. Very warm tone! Still, Martin for me. They are both great guitar though.
Luv Eastman! Have 3...makes sweet sweet music.
Can’t understand the problem of YT compression being a problem. They All are compressed so they All are going to suffer.
Now to the one thing I never hear addressed between Martin and Eastman: how does an Eastman neck feel compared to a Martin neck? Say D-28 to E-20D or equivalents?
Anyone?
Buehler?
Thanks for any serious answers. :)
thank you!
He needs to compare the Eastman E 10 D to the D 18. The E 10 has mahogany back and sides like the D18
This is what I was going to say. The E10D is brighter and more Martin-like than the 20 rosewood. I played them all and ended up with the E10D. Sure, the D18 is great, but I couldn't afford it, and the Eastman is so close. I've never regretted it.
Really like your guitar playing style.
Btw, What do you think about Eastman guitars? Which guitar did you like best? We all need to know, lol.
What's with the big ding on the face of the Martin HD-28 V right around the 3:56 mark? Shows up when the light hits it just right. Hope you didn't do that dallgire, lol!
What microphone and recorder did you use? It sounded fantastic.
The HD-28V sounded magical
I just ordered an Eastman rosewood body Grand Auditorium. Played a few in the store and they have lovely, bright & balanced tone. Very different from my mahogany Guild D-25. Which is why I bought it.
Whether we get hung up on brand names, marketing (and how could we not be affected to some degree), it's usually secondary to the sound, build, and playing feel, at least to me.
I got hooked on the Martin sound almost immediately.
I take good care of my instruments, and tend to hold them for a very long time (ideally forever). I've always found that if I settle by buying something almost as nice, for less cash, that I feel better in the very short term, like when I'm pulling out my wallet, but that I cry just a little inside every single time I play the darn thing. Years and years, and it's not what I actually wanted!
This was a nice demo (thank you). The D-18 really did POP for the recording. Not sure if you already knew it was your favorite (seemed like your first strum was more powerful, and we always think louder, more trebly things sound better, at least initially). I try to like mahogany bodies, and never have been able to purchase one. Rosewood has the complexity, 'hog has the focused fundamental. But that day, in that shop, I'd have bought the D-18, hands down.
The Eastman held it's own surprisingly well. I wouldn't have bought it, unless I wasn't comparing it to a Martin. For example, if my other choices were similarly priced guitars, perhaps Blueridge. Or if I play a Martin at home, and wanted something for the road that I wouldn't lose any sleep over. But the Eastman would definitely not allow me to cross Martin off my GAS list.
I have owned an Eastman AR810ce Benedetto-style jazz box. Super nice. Honestly, I expected less. Build quality was perfect! The thin nitro finish was as good or better than any on my Gibsons, Martins, and high end Fenders. The bracing and wood selection had that guitar ringing loud acoustically, with tons of sustain.
Eastman is doing a great job. I sold that 810 (to fund a lifelong want for a ES-175), but I miss it often. Most of their other models, I already have the real-deal equivalent, but I could definitely see getting another AR810ce (or 805) some day.
D18 suited you down to the GROUND! And was fun to watch you play it because could see you enjoyed it more than the others 😄 great stuff love your videos hope to see more take care 🤟🏼
He was going to like the Martin best from the get-go.
did you changed the eq? sounds like you changed to suit the Eastman , eq sounds flatter now with less treble
The 18 and the 28, did it for me, the Eastman is another nice sounding dread, the other two are tuxedo, I'm a paper cup. Thanks kindred spirit, keep it going!
I played an Eastman E20D and was blown away on first impression, thing was a little out of my budget and I thought I'd wait till one popped up on the second hand market, two years ago and I've yet to see one for sale, says a lot really.
Have you tried any of the Blueridge models, I have the BG-180RW myself and it is has an amazing rich tone, well worth trying .............
Something wrong with that std D28? BTW the do not touch guitar sounds really amazing.
I think Martin QC may be poor on the standard D28. I had one in the mid 70s that sounded like it was made of plastic. no volume, no sustain, no overtones. This one in the video reminded me of the POS I had, and then sold.
Sir....i love you....you play with patience....stable.... thats is what i wanted
I own both brands and eastman has some killer sounds for their guitars. My D28 sounds incredible as well. If I had to choose, I'd probably go with my Martin due to its volume although there are things that I like about my eastman better.
That d-18 is insanely good.
Supreme video!!!
I bought D-18 a year ago. I tried D-28, HD-28 an several Gibsons (doves in flight cherry, J-45 standard, J-45 walnut, J-35 and more) in the shop. At the end I was changing D-18 an HD-28 for about 30 minutes. The HD-28 was great but too much basses came out of it. The D-18 won with the most balanced sound and the volume. I hope in 10 years the guitar will be far more better then now. :)
Ladislav Vlachovsky
I certainly didn't buy my HD-28 to plug it in.
Dallgire, this is not a fair fight! If you want to compare high ends Martin against the Eastman, you must compare with the top high end Eastman!! That is the E-40-D!!!! And by the way, check the bling( decoration, a real beauty!) on this guitar!!! Impressive!!! Any Martin with the same bling is worth at least twice the price! Do another video with those Martin D-18, D-28, HD-28V, and the D-28 1937 AUTHENTIC( THAT DIDN'T IMPRESSED ME FOR A 7000$ GUITAR BY THE WAY), against the E40D eastman!!! Only then you'll have a fair comparason!!!!
None of these "fights" are really fair because we're hearing it through a microphone, whatever kind of space he played it in, his technique which will be different than any of ours, and then youtube compression. It's the same for all guitars so you can compare them in this setting only. If you were there in person there would be things you'd hear that are different than the recording.
And that does seem to be the issue in a lot of these store type of videos, is that the comparisons are made with what is hanging on the wall at that time and not really a spec to spec duel.
I like the Eastman for the price, But those martins 🤤 I am looking for a d18 my self right now. I want a vintage pre 70’s or a newer one
I just purchased a brand new E20D for $950. Amazing guitar. Compliments my Martin collection nicely. Cant be the quality and the price tag. I love it
not believing that price
@@TheDennzio I couldn't believe it either. The shop where I teach is a dealer so I was able to get a smokin deal
Great video. Great part when he took the D-28 1937 and started whispering. Nice playing. E20D is a nice guitar, but I think I like the Eastman AC320CE/420CE better.
I like Eastmans generaly - I've owned several over the past few years. They tend to be brighter compared to the brands they model after. They hold their own in volume and sustain and the tone is certainly acceptable if not inspiring. As with any make, some have more mojo than others. Oddly, the lowest priced Eastman I have has the fattest bottom end and best sustain! (E2D CD) It's astoundngly great. They are definitely worth checking out. If you have the bigger dollars for the Gibsons and the Martins I say go for it BUT check out the Eastman equivalent as well and then decide. Some folks are all about what's on the headstock and I get that - but players' players are out for mojo, feel, tone, and playability. Eastmans deliver on all fronts - sometimes better - sometimes not.
I got 2021 E2D, personal top favorite :)
Yeah D18 standard sounded sweet with the Eastman in 2nd and '37 Authentic in 3rd❗️
That Marting 1937 D-28 sounds almost exactly like my 1980s Yamaha FG-441s. So close it's spooky. I'm glad I watched this video. Now I know why I have had several friends ask to borrow it for recording sessions. It was owned by a Washington DC luthier. He said it was one of the best he'd found and he had done a lot of work on it to bring it up to his standards. Damn he did a good job. It has magic. I definitely hate taking int out of the house for shows. Although I imagine it's far less likely to be stolen than a fancy, expensive guitar.
I need something less valuable to kick around on, so I'm looking at Eastman in the 1k range. I helped pick a ~$400 model for one of my students Christmas gifts, and that was a nice guitar, so I should be able to get something amazing in the 1-1.5k range from Eastman. Thanks for the video.
Sounds, at times, like hints of Jorma Kaukonen's "Embryonic Journey" off of The Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow album. Great review. Thanks!
wow, when u played hd-28-v, i could REALLY hear some ringing!!!
Eastman E20D compared with Martin DCPA4 Rosewood, any thought? Martin is $800 more expensive ($450-500 USA).
Eastman guitars are one of the best kept secrets. 1/3 of the price of a good Martin and full bodied with excellent tone and the craftsmanship is 5 star. Also highly recommend Blueridge Guitars!
Not really a secret 😉
You can't beat the Martin deep full bodied tone. Had the Eastman E-20 D but like the Blueridge BR-180A better. The Eastman comes with EJ-16's but within a week it doesn't sound right with the light gauge but also doesn't sound right with mediums IMHO. The new medium light gauge strings would probably work well.
To my ear, the Eastman stacks up closest to the Martin D18, though doesn't really compete with it. interesting that Eastman's rosewood is closer in tone to Martin's mahogany than rosewood.
I like that D 28.
I like your playing...
The Eastman sounds good and is the best "value" but the Martin sounds better.
D18 definitely. I own a D28 standard but have regretted not going for the 18.
Great video!! HUGE Eastman fan here. My AC412 is my main acoustic guitar and has been for like 9 years.... But it's not a Martin. I've never played an Eastman that can out HD-28 my Martin HD-28. Eastman is Eastman and Martin is Martin. They both sound killer but if you want Martin you are gonna have to buy one or go boutique. I think Eastman has it's own thing going on and I love it.
Eastman. They've got the big boys worried.
What a great price for the Eastman. Here in the UK these are costing £1445.00 compared to $1100 +tax in the US.
The Eastman sloped shoulder models are really great guitars. I prefer them to Gibson slope guitars and I've owned both.
Thanks for demoing. My ears prefer the D28 among all others. D20 is good bargain, but I feel like it lacks basses and volume. On my side I have a Martin D35 for even more bass and volume. Not bashing Eastman , just a matter of taste. I have an Eastman T59 ( ES335 format ) which sounds better to my ears than several Gibson 335 I tested.
The 37 Authentic takes this, blows the rest away. But make no mistake the Eastman's are catching up fast, serious competition, and sublime woods (they are experienced violin makers with killer stocks).
I have a 12 year old Bedell TB-28-G. I don’t miss the Martin D-28 HD. It resonates and sustains forever. It gets up and barks when you dig in. And it has the D-45 swirling harmonics that are just magical. Anyone who thinks China can’t build guitars hasn’t played enough. I do like that true vintage though! It has that awe tone thing going on with the clarity and bass boom to go with it. You know it kinda sounds like a Taylor🤣
The D18 sounded the best to me but I have to say the Eastman gave them all a run for the money. Considering the price differences I'd probably buy the Eastman. Thanks for the comparisons.
The Eastman guitar is a mere copy of a a Martin guitar….If you can, allow american workers to have decent living & working conditions, and your country to keep making what it has invented and benefit from it…
If you can't, get one of these and see if you can enjoy a tool made by people living like school boys, having no private life and so on, cause that's what's usually happens in this kind of factories…
And when it comes to the money Chris Martin IV makes from himself…, well try to get a consequent bargain...!!
Bernard Pujos Ha this is too funny. You sent that message from a device that came from factories similar to what you described.
@@zunifYes, and if there was an option to buy that device from an American factory that pays living wages you’d have a point.
I'm with you I prefer mahogany...so you should try the Eastman E10D with Adirondack top against the D-18, you'll be very surprised!
Yeah the D-18
D 18 sounded great
I tried a load of martins recently. I really like one but at 6k i can get a luthier to.build me something for half the price out of very high quality timbre (60 year old spruce) The Eastman I played was the standout guitar, for a third of the Martin it can't be beat
Dude...Jack Straw! Yes.
D18 🇨🇦👍
D 18 ..... Like it !
Strange you pikt the guitar that came the closest to the Eastman in my ears
The Martin D1 price is $3500 eastman $1200 or try the $499 Eastman E1D or E2D Best value for Money Handmade Guitar in the world for sound & Build Quality.
D18 and the 1937 Authentic for me ... Nice playing .... That Eastman didn't sound to bad ...
D-18 all the way!
The telephone ring at 3:55 made pickup my phone to answer thinking it was getting a call.
The D 18 sounds best to me! But the Eastman held its own. I'd buy an Eastman.
the D18 IS👌💯
2:31 the same face I made when I first played my D-18.
The Martin D-18 I think was the nicest tone of the Martins.. Dissapointed with the 1936 authentic.. Eastman best bang for the buck in guitars period..you get what you pay for.. I dont feel the samr about Martin.. Taylor I find is a much better all around guitar.. Tone, playability and quality.. Eastman may out do them all at some point and If I was in need of an acoustic Eastman would get my money..sounds fantastic!
No comparison of a rosewood guitar to a mahogany guitar. The D18 is mahogany back and sides. The Eastman was closer to the HD28. No contest the HD28V, a guitar costing nearly $4000 would beat them all.
The Eastman E20D is an outstanding copy of a Martin HD28. The only difference is the neck on the Eastman is constructed in 3 pieces. The martin neck is one solid piece to my understanding. I have had my Eastman E20d for 3 years and it is still an awesome guitar. Super LOUD!! lol I wouldn't compare a standard D28 or a D18 (mahogany b&S) to the Eastman E20D. Play it against an HD28 for a fair comparison.