Overseas Vs. USA Made Guitar (does it even matter?)
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
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Comparing a well played in acoustic to a new, off-the-line one is always going to be an unfair advantage. Newer acoustics tend to be pretty stiff feeling and need some time to really come into their own. Overall the Eastman brand makes some really quality instruments!
yeah, I reckon that Eastman will open out over time and the bass will get pulled into check.
That is exactly what has happened/is happening with my two Eastmans. The older one has opened up well. It's now bigger and richer voiced, and the high end is starting to show after a low-mid dominated youth. (That's partly due to the all-sapele construction, including top. It's never going to be a high end shimmer type guitar.) My spruce top ovangkol construction is newer. I got it at the end of May. it was louder from the get-go, and has always had more top end shimmer. But will take awhile to open up into its full voice. I can hear it starting to develop. I'm playing it a lot; loud, soft, strummed, picked, fingerpicked. I think the overtones on this one are going to be really good.
@@seanbaines I've owned the same Martin 00-18h for the past 12 years. I bought it used, and pretty well-played, and over my ownership the guitar has opened up quite a bit. It has literally hundreds and hundreds of hours or play time as my main acoustic and it absolutely rings like a bell now.
Pulling off a worn/reliced/vintage-feeling Electric guitar is pretty easy. Doing it on an acoustic is a totally different ballgame.
@@myeyesarewaiting The boominess will only get worse, you can find the same phenomenon on 1960's Gibsons. It's a poorly made guitar compared to the Bourgeois.
What bullsh!t, because I can pull a good acoustic off the shelf at a guitar center that is brand new, and it's still gonna sound way way better than some communist made crap.
it's not that Chinese guitars are inferior...its that they're Chinese. china is similar to Russia in that its good people living under a crap government system. I wouldn't buy plastic cups made in china simply because of who it's benefiting, same goes for guitars, doesn't matter how nice it is.
I sincerely doubt the phone you’re holding wasn’t made in China.
You’re repeating propaganda. The Sinophobia and Russophobia is so past due. You realize america is sold out to other countries because nothing is made here compared to the past. Your energy should be on the US government and corporations selling out American workers.
Don't support sweat shop overseas....
If you been to China，you will see China is peace. Fast develop cities. People there don‘t want wars. Chinese goverment work fine with many countries，unless some countries have “bad ideas”. There are no perfect countries and governments，but some national medias can lead people to misunderstanding others.
I don't feel like the Eastman sounds broken in. I'd be curious to see this comparison in 5 more years
He’s not gonna play that guitar consistently for 5 years, but yeah I agree
Eastman makes a TC (thermocured) model that kind of speeds up that process, if not comes really close with it out of the box. Great instruments.
THIS!
I kinda think the opposite. The Eastman sounds slightly fuller to my ear.
that Eastman 00 is a cannon! I first heard it on Rhett’s recent bluegrass video about Jake Workman.
Well done comparison, I love how the Bourgeois projects its tone with clarity and resonance
hey Rhett, thank you very much for your videos, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have 50% of the gear knowledge I have. and they incredibly fun to watch.
For sloped shoulder dread around $1.8k, there is the American made Iris DF or Martin DSS-17 that are excellent guitars. Iris guitars sell the minute they arrive at the dealer.
I had a Taylor 414 series acoustic. An Eastman E60M fell into my lap. Needless to say, the Taylor is gone and the Eastman is my main acoustic. It is an incredible guitar! I highly recommend Eastman guitars to people I meet.
the eastman e60m is a high end acoustic though!
@@stavros693000 E6-OM, $1000 (china). Compared to Taylor 414 $2-3K (USA)
@@sustainablelife1st Its still a high end acoustic though @ $1600 AUD.....its half the price of a taylor because manufacturing is much cheaper in china than USA & you pay more for the Taylor brand name....both guitars are solid wood, back, sides and face/sound board....both made of high quality timber.
( Eastman solid mahogany & Taylor solid rosewood with spruce top)
Both timbers are high quality giving warm tones. Just comes down to personal preference!
Both have bone nut & saddles.....A lot of folks prefer the Eastman e60 over the taylor 414.....anyways my point is just because one guitar cost more does not make it better...once you get over approx $1400 you are only paying extra for brand name & cosmetics/Bling!
I don't think it ever mattered where it was made. As long as you liked the sound, feel, and look.
I've heard many positive things about Eastman acoustics, and I own and enjoy one of their SB59V solid body electrics. That being said, when I last shopped acoustics and decided on a Collings OM I demoed some of the Eastman acoustics. The Collings was in a complete different league in all areas, tone, playability, build quality. I liked the Collings so much I snagged D1AT a few months after getting the OM2HT. For this comparison, the varnish finish on the Eastman is going to be preferential to the thickish (IMHO) poly on Bourgeois.
Best guitar I've ever played - acoustic or electric - was a Collings OM2HA. I still dream about that guitar. I don't live in Collings money tax brackets but man... talk about a dream! Great instruments I literally dream of owning some day.
I would hope it's in another class. Isn't the Collings close to $6k?
Really a great video and it was interesting hearing the differences between the two guitars. Quite a surprising difference in tone. I know a lot of concerns with overseas manufacting stems from ethical concerns as opposed to quality concerns. it’s undeniable that the manufacturing quality overseas is fantastic, and many products rival if not surpasses stuff made in the USA. I like pushing companies a bit to understand how their factories are run overseas to do my part to avoid unethical treatment of workers. Many of them go above and beyond to ensure their workers are treated fairly, and that’s fantastic. Just my 2 cents. Great video.
PS: I signed up for the cowboy chord break out because I play the same chords for everything. I hope the course can save me from myself.
I’m surprised this is the only comment about ethics.
I mean, are people thinking that Chinese people aren’t capable of being incredible luthiers or that they don’t have access to similar quality materials?
The difference is how much the factory pays their laborers and how much time each guitar is given.
Hey Rhett, just a friendly note:
Don’t put “China” in your video titles. I get the idea for this video seems like it needs it, but it’s not helpful. I’ve seen this same thing on videos from large news organizations down to small theme park channels with 10k subs.
It just draws Chinese bot accounts that are specifically there to stir up crap in the comments by attacking people that assert either a). that China’s government sucks and does bad things (like, ya know, the ongoing genocide), or b). that there are reasons not to buy things from China.
It’s a really toxic problem that RUclips seems to be aware of, but does little to nothing to stop. It always devolves into the same two or three arguments from the trolls, which can basically be summed up as “that’s fake news” or “oh, yeah? well the West isn’t perfect either/did horrible things over a century ago” (like that justification absolves guilt over actively rounding up and murdering innocent people because they’re an ethnic or religious minority).
So yeah, damage seem to have been done here already on this video, but for future reference don’t even bother with these kind of things if you’re gonna mention Pooh Bear the potbellied dictator’s crap hole of a country. I know from the analytics it looks like a video that’s getting a lot of engagement, but it’s not helping you grow your audience. If anything, it limits the amount of regulars who want to engage because the conversation goes so toxic so fast.
And this channel has been so good with the positive and decent comment community, it’s really sucky to see these a-holes show up and crap in it.
China has a toxic ideology that is determined to put all competition out of business. The CCP plans to dominate the world, and they are willing to lie, steal, break the law, and ultimately kill in order to get there. I cannot deny their product quality has improved greatly. Let them build for markets elsewhere. But what you described is another reason to be wary of communist China.
To me they both sound good that's because you know to play them well. Keep it up my friend and stay Blessed.
I have an Eastman SS LTD and I love it. Being a student I needed a nice full solid guitar for recordings and live session, and without a brand like Eastman I could never afford it. As always your videos are incredible, you underlined the different sounds that different body shapes have perfectly. Personally for fingerstyle I do prefere my Taylor, but the Slope (IMO) it's the best for strumming :)
Agreed. I think Eastman shines in their ultra budge all solids. Past that, you can get into a Larrivee, etc. But in that just under a K range, I think they're nailing it.
your honesty is a joy to watch ,, great work matey
I've had my eyes (and my heart) on a Guild DS-240 Memoir acoustic (made in 2021 somewhere overseas, solid Sitka spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides) that sells for $450.
It was on display side by side with a $3,500 Gibson acoustic dreadnought (I forget which one exactly): to my amazement, when I tried both out, the Guild just sounded perceptibly more alive, balanced and well-rounded.
I'm frankly stumped. I feel conflicted (could my impressions possibly be incorrect?), but I think I'll end up buying it, if someone else does not snap it up before I do.
I'm getting a feeling that we are currently living in a golden age of guitar making, and that being snobs who long for "vintage" at all costs works against us as players.
The sound should matter most. The rest is for collectors, not players.
I think the Gibsons sound thin to my ears. Go with what you like. My favorite acoustic is an Ovation Elite that has amazing depth and nuance to my ears
I just bought an Eastman semi-hollow electric. Innovative design and top notch workmanship. $1500 with case.
This is a great comparison. I have found that guitars from Korea and Japan tend to be noticeably superior to those coming from China (and the prices tend to reflect this as well especially from Japan). I would like to see some comparisons of guitars coming from these locals. Thanks for the video.
Japanese make great guitars
Agreed. Even instruments coming out of Indonesia are beyond the vast majority of instruments MIC
Agreed. Some of china's luthiers are catching up though. I bought a teton guitar last year made in China and I paid $300 for it and it definitely sounds as good as some $1000+ guitars
Japanese guitars can be superior to USA guitars.
It does matter to me quite a bit. Every guitar I own except 2 were made in the USA. A Korean LP custom (my first guitar) and a MIM Strat that I built. I just prefer to support companies where that dollar supports our American workers and provides jobs here. Plus the quality is usually top-notch. Don't get me wrong, there are guitars made around the world that are works of art. Some of these Japanese fenders play amazingly 30 years later. I struggled with this earlier this year as I had been gifted a MIC Gretch and a MIC Epiphone. Both needed some work to play correctly, but after some work, they played well and looked good. I cannot lie about that. But something really just bothered me every time I saw "MIC" on the back of the headstock. Maybe it's my wonder if their workers are being treated correctly or maybe it's me wondering about long-term quality on if the instrument will hold up over time. I couldn't say 100% - I ended up selling them both to beginners who needed a decent instrument to start. I sure did love the way that Gretsch looked though! I'd buy another MIM Fender or MIJ guitar any day of the week if I really liked it though, but will pass on MIC guitars in the future. There's DECADES of experience, knowledge and traditions in these USA companies that simply cannot be duplicated overseas easily.
I don’t want to get into Geo-politics, but YES it does matter. Especially when it comes to this industry, where a lot of artistry and craftsmanship is in play (we are not talking mass production electronics or cars where a high degree of mechanization predominates)
We should support our local/national musical instruments industry. It is not a matter of “it sounds about the same at half the price”… Consider the labor conditions in China that made that guitar, it is cheap for a reason, and it is not because they invented a “better mousetrap” they exploit and squeeze a very cheap labor force…
Other than that, interesting comparison. The Burgeois sounds better because more care was put into its design and manufacturing.
But you also have to consider that "supporting local" is financially impossible for most people. If it wasn't for overseas manufacturing creating affordable options, I would never have been able to get into playing guitar.
Buying "ethically" is a luxury a lot of us can't afford.
@@JaredPitcher The more people that buy local the easier it'll be for everyone to buy local. Part of the reason it's so expensive is because locals don't get the business they need in order to keep those prices lower. "Supporting local is financially impossible" is just a cop out and it ultimately hurts everyone.
@@baerit5090 Sounds like you have a lot of money. I spent 150 of our English pounds on my second hand Farida all solid woods acoustic which was 500 quid new a few years ago. For the money it is a beautiful guitar, and buying comparable in the UK just wouldn't be possible for me. Even in the States I guess you're looking at a lower end Martin in comparison, for way more than twice the price new. Some people really do not have the money to do that.
@@baerit5090 That's absolutely not true, it's not a cop out, it's reality. How fortunate you must be to be able to afford expensive local products. But this is a corporate/business problem, and telling people they are the problem when they are forced to buy within their means is classist and ignorant.
It really is a matter of Geo-politics then. Good manufacturers can be found everywhere.
I recently heard this country duo play live.. and one of the guys used an Eastman. His guitar sounded phenomenal. Worth looking into.
Chinese guitars are a crap shoot when it comes to properly seasoning the wood prior to construction.
Casual observance: The Bourgeois has a bit of a funky upper midrange to it. Neither good nor bad...just a bit different. A midrange more associated with OOO or OO.
I did a video comparing my Eastman E10ss to my Martin D28 and the popular favorite from the comments has been the Eastman. I would have to pick the Eastman SS in this video as well. I like the bottom heavy sound that the Eastman gives with the Adirondack top. But in a mix, you would definitely have to roll some of that out. They're doing amazing things!
I've played a near 100 year old parlor guitar.
It's so articulate. There's very little low end, but everything else is crisp and tight and precise.
It's gorgeous for fingerstyle.
Hats off to you Rhett, well said!!!
Just because you are born or live in a certain country doesn't determin your skill as a luthier. There are certain factors that may influence your skill, however it doesnt matter what country a guitar comes from as well as it is built well and sounds good.
@Debbin McCarthy who said anything about China ... what about Deusenberg guitars from Germany? Or Terada making Gretsch in Japan? These are some amazingly built guitars that dont get the respect they deserve because they are "not american".
I think I have confirmation bias that the US made one sounds better. I do think you play that US one better because you’re used to it’s feel so perhaps that’s part of my reasoning.
I’m a drummer and we have the same debate in our community. Yamaha makes awesome drums but yeah who wants to support the CCP.
That being said follow your ears regardless. Cheers Rhett!
As an owner of Eastman SS myself, one thing that is not mentioned is that it uses an Adirondack spruce top, which is a bit stiffer than the more standard Sitka. Adi has a pronounced break in period, and while it will sound a little compressed at first, it really open up tremendously with a bit of time.
I have a 2008 Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500ME that I bought new at about $650. It's a slope shoulder J45 copy built in Asia. All solid top, back, and sides and is the best sounding guitar I've ever owned among Taylors, Martins and Guild USA. It sounds so good 2 friends of mine also bought one. None of theirs sound as good. The issue isn't place of origin, it's consistency. With mass production guitars sometimes you get a jem and sometimes you get a clunker regardless of where it's built. This is why with an acoustic, you should always play before you buy. Online purchases are a dice roll
For what the Chinese cost I bought a used Martin D18 Golden Era love that guitar, one of the best I heard an the best I ever owned
I picked up a used D-18GE, as well. They are wonderful guitars!
I bought a guild ds240. It does the slope shoulder thing. Pretty decent build job and affordable enough to be a couch guitar.
I have some electric guitars that were made in Indonesia in the past few years, and they have been excellent--better than the Chinese-made guitars I have tried. And of course the Korean-made Gretsch guitars are terrific.
I'm not a musician, but all I noticed was that the Chinese guitar sounded noticeably deeper. Like more bass. Sounded just as good, just different.
I only brought up the D-41 only because I was maybe going to trade it off for a Bourgeois slope D aka Banjo Killer…
If it sounds good. Who cares where it's made!!
Eastman actually makes some really great instruments. Pro musicians play them.
But I must say that Borgeois sounds great.
no grunt grunt grunt..tbh
Thats like saying you would eat a sandwich from somebody that didn't wash there hands! 🧐😂
@@robertfinch6602 being an extreme germaphobe I strongly disagree 😂🤣
Amen
Usually Chinese guitars don't dry the wood long enough before covering it with their gloss finish. It doesn't let the wood resonate as well. But that sounded pretty good.
Eastman making a strong play to earn a place at the table. Their jazz guitars have been objects of lust for 20+ years. Love that they’re finding their own take on the classic designs with their unique finishing.
Personally I think Eastman for the last 2 years upto now have been making the "best" new guitars you can buy. They are priced firmly in the professional bracket but not taking the piss. They are unbelievably consistent now Ive tried a good number of them, something I cannot say for any other brand with perhaps PRS as the other. And despite what so many people on here think - they do NOT lose much on resale % wise at all.
Now on these vids my own included, theres always someone saying Eastman are terrible because china are forcing them to work under gunpoint or whatever. But im not so sure about that one. Are the conditions tough in china factories..... probably, there tough everywhere else too...
I have the E8OM from Eastman and it’s mental good. The nut and fret work is beautiful and it has a purity and clarity to it that I love. Unbelievable instrument.
I agree, the E8om is a very good guitar
Eastman is such a killer choice for the money! I have an OM and sounds great!
To me the Eastman sounds better. As for set up, I have found that it can make a big difference in the sound. Every guitar has a "sweet spot" and the set up is how you find it. I' like to know what the fit and finish issues are and, weather the guitars have bolt on necks or glued in. To me the neck attachment is important because if the neck angle can be adjusted easily thats a big plus. The Eastman may loose alot once the strings are lowered.
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Agreed
The Eastman won’t lose anything sanding the saddle down to lower strings if you slot the bridge pins to accept unslotted pins. As well as installing a denser quality bone saddle
I looked a long time for a high-quality small-body guitar (parlor size, but 14 frets, narrow nut), and chose an Eastman ACTG1 (misnamed "travel") model way better made than anything domestic, all-solid top and back, beautiful. $2,000 less than I'd budgeted.
Lotta people misunderstanding this video and making comments thinking they have some profound point to make. Lol
I dig that babe I’m going to leave you finger picking good Stuff I just started singing lol had to do a double take on what I was watching
I have the Eastman E20SS with gloss nitro finish. It definitely opened up after breaking in. It's awesome. I think you said the Eastman has Sitka spruce top, their website says Adirondack Spruce. Great playing, I enjoyed hearing them both the way you mixed them back and forth.
Remember that Bougie has had a chance to break in. Addi tops are notorious for needing to be broken in. My Eastman is about a decade old and has softened into a beautiful tone, with a great harmonic bloom
well aside from Chyna not having any environmental regulations, near slave labor and when you buy an Eastman, you are giving money directly to the government, because the Chineese government owns eastman, you are also eroding good paying jobs in the US....but aside from that im sure they are great...just dont complain about your job not paying enough if you also purchase one of these new.
The Chinese Government owns Eastman?
You may have the wrong end of the stick there old boy
@crazycanuck do you know of any American made phones or computers? And the last time I checked, Apple was an American company.
@@pawlowski6132 most Apple products are made in China
1) China operates on a much more environmentally sustainable model than the oil-craved US. Have you seen how many electric cars and solar panels they have? 2) Chinese government owns Eastman? Lmao. 3) If guitars aren't made in China, they would be made in the US? Seeing comments like this makes me worry about this country's education.
@@Tokai134 gotta correct you on some things. First, China is actually the world’s worst offender when it comes to greenhouse emissions. Second, China is threatening to bail on green energy efforts due to geopolitical tensions happening at this time. Third, not only does the CCP collect taxes from businesses, but they have A TON of control and oversight over businesses, and by their laws, are entitled to your data if any Chinese businesses have it.
But with all that said, it’s kind of silly to ride the moral high horse on this subject while typing it out on a Chinese-made device, considering how much of everything we buy is made in China, a lot of it being necessities, unfortunately. There’s definitely an ethics discussion to be had, but I don’t agree with condemning people for buying Chinese goods, especially when there aren’t many other options the way things are right now.
Difference is 1 is made by free folks.
And the other by comparison is almost free.. folks.
Just put Elixir strings on a cheap guitar.
A good review because his own opinion comes thrue. Many just play different guitars "so you can decide for yourself" and that is just a presentation, not a review.
I have a Martin D-18 and an Eastman e20om which is a rosewood and Adirondack om body. They are both great guitars. The quality, sound, fit and finish, etc., are all there on the Eastman. Love my D-18 and it will be my lifetime guitar, but the Eastman is great, too. Thanks for this comparison. Very helpful and informative.
In the context of a mix literally no one is going to know which is which…
Chibson has entered the chat.
I agree that there is a point of diminishing returns in the pricing of guitars in today's market. Is it worth the price difference? Only your ear can really tell you. A hard balance and decision. Buy the best you can afford is my motto!
Rhett- although it maybe true that overseas construction quality might be competitive with USA made guitars, I was surprised that you didn’t point out that there is value in supporting businesses and their hard working employees who build products right here in the US. Those companies and their employees also benefit other businesses and workers in their local communities. In the long run we all benefit from companies like Martin, Taylor, PRS, Gibson and Fender building world class instruments here in the USA!
On the import question: I play every day, on my Chinese Guild(s) my Japanese Yamaha, and my Indonesian Recording King, and they all are built well, look good, sound great, and get better every year. Would I like to buy American? Would I like a handmade 000 built by one person ? Absolutely. But are either of those options necessary? No. We've been sold out by our politicians making laws to favor American companies sending our manufacturing jobs overseas. So here we are. Unless you're a collector, or just have extra money laying around, there is no guitar in the world worth 4, or 5, or $6000. They're an affectation. I've played dozens, American Gibsons, Martins, Guilds, Santa Cruz, and there's just not a $3000 difference in sound and playability. In my opinion.
@@lowellcalavera6045 Would you like to support China where there are currently concentration camps? Would you like to support Chinese slave labor?
@@Nut-ml5wc what are you typing your comment on?
Maybe he just forgot as people are busy . Try and stop being surprised by what someone else may or may not say 😊
@@damienalvarez2957 not a Chinese-made computer because I refuse to support slavery and concentration camps. How about you?
i own a farida, hand crafted in china. i have never seen a better guitar! inside top and bottom clean as hell. she got k&k pure mini inside. i love that thing
Yeah there is a difference. One is made in China and one is not. I have enough items made in China. I can at least by my “finer” items from the US. But, to each his own. If I was to buy a non-US guitar, I would look at other countries first. China last resort.
Chinese company not outsourced in china big difference and important distinction
The Eastman sounds boxier & more congested (a bit muddy in the low mids). This could be due to the fact that it's a new guitar and hasn't had years to open up like the Borgeois. The Borgeois has more depth & a clearer more open mid range & treble response. The Eastman definitely doesn't sound bad, it just sounds low mid focused & somewhat restricted. I think they would sound much closer if the comparison was between two new guitars or two older guitars. Comparing a newer acoustic to an older one is a bit unfair. But still interesting nonetheless.
The law of diminishing returns. It always costs exponentially more money to increase the quality. If you want that last 10-15% in tone that you might only be able to get in that pre-war Martin you played, then you are going to have to spend ridiculous amounts of money for it. Is it worth it? Hard to say. For most people no, but for some it is.
Great comparison. Being an Eastman owner, (e20d) I really appreciate what you have to say. I doubt I will ever own a Bourgeois, but hats off to Dana for making a superior dreadnought.
Maybe you’ll be able to own the touchstone series?
They both sound good but I hear a clarity in the higher end guitar that is unmistakable when you are finger picking. I'd even call the Eastman "muddy" in the middle tones. Of course it's all subjective but that's what I hear. If you were a strummer exclusively I'm not sure the extra money is worth it for the higher end.
Nope. I'd buy a used Taylor/Gibson/Martin before I'd pay $1800. for a guitar made in china. Just sayin.
Your loss. Hand crafted instruments made to a standard you won't get from those companies ( and you'd pay considerably more). No sweatshop either, you don't get that quality and consistency from low paid, unhappy workers.
I'm assuming you also refuse to use any electronics containing Chinese chips etc? Must be hard to find a phone or laptop.
For what it's worth, I own an SS10/V. It is a superb instrument. Every bit as good in build and sound as my friend's '54 Gibson J45. Not the same investment value obviously, but I bought it to play not to sell or for status.
Right from the start, the Eastman sounds bigger, fuller, warmer. The Bourgeois sounds great too but brighter. To me a better comparison would be the Eastman vs. another that matches the tone profiles. At the end of the day, I'd pick up that awesome smaller OO. Reminds me of my Taylor GS Mini Koa.
The Bourgeois has more presence and more evenness throughout the frequency spectrum. In the end, you usually get what you pay for.
True, but it's been aging for 10 years
@@lowellcalavera6045 Personally, the difference that I hear is in the construction of the guitar itself.
Buy something nice or buy something twice...
Love my Eastman E6OM! Punches way above its weight! I agree that the Bourgeois sounds fantastic and well balanced. Obviously, Dana is an amazing luthier, but some of that is also due to the age of the guitar. It’s had time for the top to open up. The Eastman will smooth out over time somewhat and resonate a little more. Agree on the fit and finish details too though.
There are so many things to consider that make up the final tone.... wood types, finish, bracing, string types, nut types, even your pick will change the final tone. That being said, they both sound great however I found your Bourgeois more appealing to my ears. I have an Eastman ES-175 copy that is a great player. I felt better gigging it over a real-deal Gibson ES-175. Just safer!!
I got an early Eastman archtop used, it fell apart under touring. LITERALLY. Buy better, buy once.
I’m in the supply chain world and its going to be interesting to see what happens with overseas guitar manufacturing. Over the past two years, manufacturers have started reconsidering overseas manufacturing, and more and more are relocating to the US, or whatever the target market is. It used to be that all companies wanted the leanest, cheapest manufacturing possible, and that usually means off shoring. Increasingly, companies are mor open to the added cost of domestic manufacturing if it means fewer supply chain issues. I would like to see if companies like Eastman would move to the US, and how that would affect the price of their instruments
Of course with acoustic guitars, different woods come from different parts of the world, so it's still complicated.
Hopefully the Silicon Chip industry follows suit.
I liked all but couldn't tell much difference with laptop speakers. I have a 1975 Guild D-40, 2018 Martin DCPA4 rosewood and recently got a Blueridge BG-140 (china) sloped shoulder. All sound very good but I tend to play the Blueridge the most cause of comfort and brighter tone. The Martin has action lowered & sounds better plugged in. The Guild sounds very good but not as comfortable to play.
The bourgeois is beautiful but the sound was somewhat similar. I agree with others here, I would not buy a guitar made in China for obvious reasons. All my guitars are American made with the exception of my Mexican made taylor gs mini.
Companies like Eastman and Shijie are smaller and privately owned. They pay and treat their employees better so you really shouldn’t compare them to the larger mass produced factories owned by the gov of China. The founder of Eastman attended Berkeley and found that students needed affordable quality instruments. So he started Eastman with some of the best Luther’s in China. They started off making violins and cellos. Their guitars are all handmade with top notch craftsmanship. Eastman’s factory is China is like a time warp back to the 1950’s and their custom shop is located in California. Watch their namm videos all their executives are American. We all must buy what we want but there are a lot of misconceptions about Eastman and other companies.
Have you tried the inspired by Gibson series? Coming from someone who worked or Gibson Repair & Restoration during the acquisition of Gibson by KKR
These are an Indonesian build and are all solid with an Indian Loral fingerboard & Bridge plate, all coming in under $1000.00 retail. Huge bang for your buck. I own 3 Hummingbird versions and couldn’t be happier, also make a Hummingbird 12 string, J45, J45 cutaway And a J200 all come with Fishmam pickup and serous tone for a fraction of the Gibson counterpart price. Just saying!
Love the channel 😎
Epiphone J45 IBG Kluson copy tuners a problem & Gibson/Epiphone warranty ? What warranty ! I moved on with Eastman E10SS (Slope Shoulder Dreadnought) classy, superb build quality, Adirondack Spruce Top B/S solid Mahogany with amazing figuring, great sound/playability & a superior HSC...not a cardboard box !! Get one you'll be glad you did.....
It matters to me. I could justify buying a non U.S.A. product at this time, (given the choice) but need to know how the workers are treated regardless at least. Disturbing reports of conditions in American factories and completely unknown ones in foreign ones leave me at ends on what the right thing to do is. This is something all RUclipsrs should pass on to their viewers.Give a damn.
The US doesn't have federal maternity leave and affordable health care (both of which China has), but I'd still buy US products if it's an economically sound decision.
Don’t worry what the guitar sounds like they’re all going to be drunk anyways it’s a guitar that’s sometimes all they notice
I always hear that aging enhances the sound of an all-solid wood guitar. If so, is comparing an aged guitar to a new guitar reasonable?
Excellent point, Jon...you just negated the experiment. 😀
@@zero318 -Lol
The Eastman does sound like a new guitar that hasn't fully "opened up". It will sound closer to the Bourgeois over time. Whether its better will be the subject of the follow up in 2032! :)
@@ckturvey , I have a Recording King RAJ-27 slope shoulder that's about ten years old and left over from when we had our guitar shop. This Eastman reminds me of the RK in many ways...the RK after a decade really chimes out now but did sound much like the Eastman when it was new. Now as for which is better, guitars are a tool for me as well. If I can still pull the gig with a guitar that's half the money, guess which one is better? hehehehe
Eastman is a Chinese company building great guitars in China. It is not a Japanese or American company contracting out production for lower priced guitars, like Yamaha, Takamine or Ovation does in China. I lived in China for 13 years, and visited the Eastman factory in Beijing… I talked to talented craftsmen hand building guitars, cellos and mandolins. Some of these people had been there for 15 years. ALL Eastmans sound great, because they are not anyones, “entry level” instruments, built in a secondary factory, by less skilled workers. They are built in the only factory that Eastman has, by the only craftsmen they employ.
Good to know! Much appreciated point. 👍
The Bourgeois to me has a slight edge in sound but the Eastman's do sound good! Nice review Rhett.
Agree Stephen.
In relation to your previous discussion about the value of vintage guitars...why did you buy that sloped shoulder over a vintage j45?
I have a Korean made Eastman electric that I really like but I would never own a Chinese guitar and do my best not to buy anything from China. $1900 new and probably couldn't sell it for $500.
Eastman doesn’t make guitars in Korea😂
It's an Eastwood. My bad. Still much better than a crappy Chinese made guitar.
@@rhettg24you could’ve just said you’ve never played one lol there are diamonds in the rough of every guitar category🤦🏾♂️
Unless you're buying a vintage collectable any guitar is not going to increase in value.
I wish there was a channel that did reviews of guitars with dead strings because I like dead strings and I often think guitars sound better with dead strings. I am less interested in how a guitar sounds with new strings than how it sounds with strings that haven't been changed in a long time. There are so many reviews where the strings are just too shiny new. Your review here doesn't suffer from that in ways that others do but it would be good to see maybe follow up reviews where the strings are well worn in.
I have owned two Eastman jazz boxes and one Eastman mandolin. They were all nice instruments, well made and clearly a good value. Now whether to buy Chinese is a whole other issue of course.
The eastman does not have sitka top it has Adirondack top.
Congrats 👏
You're Selected,have something for you
*LUCKY WINNER‼🎁🔛☝*.....
Two things to keep in mind. At the price point of both guitars, every instrument is going to sound different. So it's more about what appeals to you. Second, if a hand made American instrument make you feel better and inspires you more, that's not to be discounted. You need to be happy with what you have. Also as a gigging musiscian I like the idea of something like taking the eastman on the road and keeping the irreplaceable instrument for YOU at home. Good enough is good enough.
Ya, I use specialized guitars sometimes for recording. But I use just one for performing, because the limits of nice pickup is a great equalizer.
agree
Well said.
It's a bit scary when we talk about a Chinese-made almost $2,000(!) guitar being "good for the money" and having "certain things overlooked" as if it's $200.
I really like that hollow diamond shape inlays the Eastman has 😊
I need (my wife laughed) a 6-string, I have a Taylor 12. This is a great video but I have to stay under $1000. I am still test driving. But new to guitar, all the shapes and uses are overwhelming!
The Eastman has more low end, it sounds great.
I don't know if it sounds $2100, though.
For that price you have a lot of options.
I'd buy a Taylor for that kind of $$$
I feel the title of this video is symptomatic of many americans in general. The universe doesnt center in the US, obviously there a excellent makers all over the world (not necessarly Eastman). That being said, both electric guitars and dreadnoughts are american inventions, so therefore the marked seem to value the authenticity of craftmanship.
The Borgeois sounds better but it isn't too far off. I like the look of the Eastman better, personally but I am sure there isn't a "bad" guitar anywhere in your studio. All three sounded like guitars I would enjoy playing very much!
I am not addressing tone, and as Bob TayIor had famously said, "tone is subjective".
Referring only to the guitar construction... I can see $5500 in materials and workmanship in the Dana Bourgeois (SP) , I cannot see $1800 in materials workmanship in the Eastman. Also, I am not a fan of Eastman's antique finishes. They look like a Jr High wood working class project gone bad.
Pass on Chinese instruments. Buy American
That Eastman sounds really good I wonder what there lower end models are like
Not wishing to be a drag, but helping the economy of China that is run by dangerous autocrats and who pay their workers USD4.0 an hour, is the trade-off for getting cheaper guitars.
Also made in China means that it might be made by political prisoners like the Uyghurs.
Or you can just buy them from .
Politics aside there are countries that make good guitars other than America, and for many of us that is the only option. Either consign The instrument to the rich or accept not every guitar can be made in the states.
I normally agree, but by all accounts, Eastman is a bit of an outlier. Seems to have been started by a Chinese luthier and their instruments are made by highly-skilled laborers in a single shop they built themselves. Yamaha’s factory there is famously clean and safe, too. Epiphone’s is… alright, from what I can tell. Not great, not terrible.
… 😅
It’s no different in the USA
THe build quality on the non Eastman chinese knock off . Disappointed in Eastman selling out to Chinese manufacturers. Look at the glue lines inside .
You didn't mention it, so I'm wondering if you are aware of the Eastman/Bourgeois collaboration. I think they are partially made (components like necks, fingerboards, headstocks) in China and assembled in the USA. Bourgeois Touchstone is the name.
This is true, but I think that particular Bourgeois is pre-Eastman collab.
I am aware of the two companies working together, however my Slope D is before the Eastman era.
I avoid instruments made in China unless I play one used and it sounds and feels okay. I don't think it's right to buy new from makers that take jobs out of the US by shipping production to a facility with poor working conditions using components forcibly made by Uighur Muslims (not sure how common that is in music products but it is pervasive in just about any other industry). I understand that to stay competitive companies have to lower overhead and production costs, but I don't feel right knowing someone may have suffered producing something I enjoy.
“Does It Even Matter.” Putting Americans to work matters. I’d much prefer buying American made products even if it’s a little costlier.
FJB !!!!!
A little costlier? American made are twice the price +. For beginning or intermediate guitarists that's a heck of a difference. For a family man/woman that's a massive difference.
@@tat2zz68 I don’t know where you buy your guitars but twice the price? No way. Plus you get better workmanship with American made. Of course if you prefer to support China go right ahead.
I hear more atmosphere from the Borgouis, more gravy. However I do like Eastman, more focused.
No matter how good the Chinese instruments are, they just don’t hold there value. It is true in the violin market (which I am most familiar with), and appears to be true in the guitar market as well.
I'd better spend my money on a gold bar if i want something that holds value
If you buy a guitar with selling it in mind, you're just a collector. A guitar player seeks tone, not the opinion of others.
@@melodica5407 akkakakak he yeah
@@lowellcalavera6045 true
@@lowellcalavera6045 so you’d rather your grandfather leave you a cheap chinese vs an American classic 👌
The sloped shoulder J-45 is well known to be a, maybe even "the", singer songwriter staple. It makes sense that the Eastman version is bass forward as it would interfere less with vocals? The comparing it to the played in Bourgeois is kinda rough. If you know boutique acoustics, Bourgeois is multi-accoladed top shelf candidate while Eastman comes fresh of the boat with the "overseas tone" stigma. But if one were to compare a new J-45 to the Eastman, it might be a very very close battle. Most of the Eastmans (acoustic or electric) I have gotten my hands on are viable contenders to most of the Gibson Standard lines.
Personally I try to avoid anything made in China. Pass
Noble.
The device you made this reply with…where was it made?
Don't confuse him
Eastman for my part, sound's like a new guitar but in 5-10 years it will sound incredible for half the price...I hope!
$1900 for a guitar made in China?? Naaah......China is for $300-400 guitars, not for anything near $1900 IMO.
i own a eastman that was 1300 euro's and it punches way above its price range. I agree that china guitars are mostly cheap and not great but this brand no entry level guitars😅
They used to say a similar thing about japan
@@gumbilicious1 Yup. Korea too. But that's no guarantee that a Chinese guitar is a good guitar. China has a well-deserved reputation for making lower-quality merchandise. That doesn't mean it's all bad, but it does mean I'll take my money elsewhere when it comes to the more expensive stuff.
2400 on his link
You should compare the Epiphone Casino USA to the Eastman T64V