I just received my new Eastman AC322CE today. I'm blown away by it's quality. Eastman absolutely belongs on this list. I've gone over it very carefully and it is as good as it gets. It really is flawless. From the bracing to the binding. The finish to the fret work. I couldn't find anything to complain about. And the cherry on top is the book matched figured mahogany back. It literally looks like a flamed maple Les Paul top, and has the 3D movement like it too. It is just beautiful! I was also surprised by the quality of the hard case too. Very highly recommended. In my opinion...no one makes anything like this for the money.
Although you went through as many great guitar builders that was well deserved mentioning, I think you should added one more. That would be Richard Hoover with Santa Cruz Guitars. You know as much about Mr. Hoover as I do. He is very knowledgeable about tonewood and resonate frequency. I know that you may not have had enough time to make mention, but I would've made time to. They just may be someone there watching this and if you ever want to get them as one of their dealers. I would've. Still a great informative video. Thanks guys!
Anytime you can find a video of Richard Hoover talking about guitars by all means watch it. He may be the most knowledgeable man there is on guitar building.
I have a Bedell and I tell folks all the time Eastman makes a great guitar. If I wanted a super nice sounding guitar but did not want to spend $2-3K I would buy an Eastman in a heart beat! I have played them and I'm always impressed with what I hear and not sure anyone beats them for sound at the price point! And I'm a tone snob.
I've owned quite a few guitars over the last 50 years. I have had some that didn't even have a name on them that played great and some high end guitars that just didn't get it. As much as the sound is the way an instrument feels in your hands and I would say without a doubt that Taylor has my vote for the best feel. I have an 810 and it just feels magical in my hands and sounds like a beast. Another of my favorites is my Blueridge 180A. This guitar is basically a Martin D45 for a great deal less. It plays and sounds great and specs out just like the D45. When I say a great deal less I'm talking $1500 vs $9600. I'm a lefty so finding finding guitars was a challenge for many years but they are quite common now if you have the stomach to spend that kind of money. I always said if I could ever afford it I would own a Martin. That was the goal of any young player but I must say in my opinion that after owning a D28 all my years of lusting were wasted. Unless you get a custom shop now they are just another guitar. Sorry guys but I'll put my Blueridge up against any standard Martin out there.
I agree regarding the standard series Martins. I've got a modern Gibson J35 (mahogany back and rims) that has a distinctive tone, with loads of volume and punch (I'm a flatpicker) - far better than a 2017 Martin D-18 I owned. A friend owned a Blueridge D-45 style guitar - I'm not sure of the model, maybe the same as the one you own, but it had a beautiful sound.
Nice to see a couple of British makers getting a shout, but you missed Fylde. I know everyone will be saying 'you missed so & so', but there are two reasons I mention Fylde over the many well-known UK brands: longevity - Roger Bucknall has been building under the Fylde label since the 70s; output - Roger was one of the first single handers to build guitars on anything like a mass scale, bringing some level of automation to the work. This is exactly how modern day 'boutique' instruments are made. Otherwise,. thank you for a really interesting list.
@@1deadtoe707 Ah yes. Silvertone should definitely be on the list. I think I blocked out the memory of my first Harmony. It was a Gibson hummingbird copy. Absolutely unplayable.
Absolutely, Larrivee was the first major alternative to Martin. He was the first to show that there was another path. Bruce Cockburn in his finger style phase, way back in the 70’s switched from Martin to Larrivee. Some of the biggest individual luthiers - Laskin and Manzer were Larrivee apprentices. I can go with, Santa Cruz ans Froggy Bottom would be on my list but not yours but the omission of Larrivee is just wrong.
Great list, and I agree with the statement of fact that there are so many builders right now that produce a good instrument. The gap between a 1k guitar and a 2k or 3k guitar is not that big anymore. Time is being put into producing good instruments, and the tech these days make it easier for "off brands" to give you something worth looking at when you consider where to spend your money. As a result, I have a decent collection going and only because I was willing to step outside of the "big brands" to try other options. Even though the big brands use the same tech, they just charge much more for it.
Definitely Guild - I've owned several. As well as the USA-built series, there are some beauties among the GAD (Chinese built) instruments at amazingly affordable prices.
So I loved this video, don't get me wrong, I just think having a list alone really fell flat without at least a short representation of what each of these brands sounds like.
They are certainly one of the brands that was hard to leave out of this list and we love their guitars, if we re-visited this I think they would make their way in the top 15, again too many brands to leave out!
A more intetesting list might be Most Influential Luthiers of the last 30 years. Do Gibson and 😮Martin😮 even come into that conversation? So many of the newer boutique brands and the qualify asian brands have driven the acoustic industry. Can we say the same for the legacy brands?🤔
Yes, we can. As the guys say, 90% of other brands wouldn't even exist without Martin. Most of the asian brands began by copying Martin and Gibson. The design of almost all of today's acoustics rely on the X brace. I cannot call to mind a single innovation from an asian brand. Even innovations such as the bridge doctor pale into insignificance when compared with body shape, wood combination and the X brace. That's not to say other brands don't produce great products, but Martin and Gibson remain the standard against which all others are judged, even if those others exceed that standard (which is often the case with Gibson IMO). That is influence.
@@robertnewell5057 Hm. So what's the limit on that argument? Does that make Kodak influential to the camera on the latest Apple phone? If you look at Martin's modern history, they abandoned their 'classic' and influential bracing designs decades ago, hence the end of the 'classic' Martins and the prices of the survivors. If the boutique brands hadn't begun making guitars developed from those obsolete Martin designs, I very much doubt Martin would have followed the market back. We also have to acknowledge that there are new and very successful body styles, including some of the Asian ones, and certainly the OM, which owe little to the grand old brands. I agree they are venerable, but they haven't led the way in decades.
Nope. Yairi Masterworks, the Honduran Mahogany series - handbuilt, 50 year old aged hog, 5A adi tops and bracing. Its a Collings quality guitar for about 1/3 of the price.
That is a really interesting comment. I have never owned a Tak, but they were hugely influential back in the 70s when they were producing budget Martin clones that sounded fantastic, and continue to be distinctive instruments. Seriously under-rated.
Where's that then? In Quebec? In England, we would say Kwubec. In France we would say Kebec (More or less. I cannot write phonetics). Leonard Cohen got a right telling off in France for his pronounciation of the French language verses in 'The Partisan', but they are actually pretty spot on for Canadian French!
I just received my new Eastman AC322CE today. I'm blown away by it's quality. Eastman absolutely belongs on this list. I've gone over it very carefully and it is as good as it gets. It really is flawless. From the bracing to the binding. The finish to the fret work. I couldn't find anything to complain about. And the cherry on top is the book matched figured mahogany back. It literally looks like a flamed maple Les Paul top, and has the 3D movement like it too. It is just beautiful! I was also surprised by the quality of the hard case too. Very highly recommended. In my opinion...no one makes anything like this for the money.
Gallagher, goodall, Santa Cruz
Although you went through as many great guitar builders that was well deserved mentioning, I think you should added one more. That would be Richard Hoover with Santa Cruz Guitars. You know as much about Mr. Hoover as I do. He is very knowledgeable about tonewood and resonate frequency. I know that you may not have had enough time to make mention, but I would've made time to. They just may be someone there watching this and if you ever want to get them as one of their dealers. I would've. Still a great informative video. Thanks guys!
Anytime you can find a video of Richard Hoover talking about guitars by all means watch it. He may be the most knowledgeable man there is on guitar building.
Richard Hoover's explanation video on the development of Santa Cruz equal tension strings is another intriguing discussion on engineering.
Forget Santa Cruz, they never even mentioned Seagull!
I have a Bedell and I tell folks all the time Eastman makes a great guitar. If I wanted a super nice sounding guitar but did not want to spend $2-3K I would buy an Eastman in a heart beat! I have played them and I'm always impressed with what I hear and not sure anyone beats them for sound at the price point! And I'm a tone snob.
I've owned quite a few guitars over the last 50 years. I have had some that didn't even have a name on them that played great and some high end guitars that just didn't get it. As much as the sound is the way an instrument feels in your hands and I would say without a doubt that Taylor has my vote for the best feel. I have an 810 and it just feels magical in my hands and sounds like a beast. Another of my favorites is my Blueridge 180A. This guitar is basically a Martin D45 for a great deal less. It plays and sounds great and specs out just like the D45. When I say a great deal less I'm talking $1500 vs $9600. I'm a lefty so finding finding guitars was a challenge for many years but they are quite common now if you have the stomach to spend that kind of money. I always said if I could ever afford it I would own a Martin. That was the goal of any young player but I must say in my opinion that after owning a D28 all my years of lusting were wasted. Unless you get a custom shop now they are just another guitar. Sorry guys but I'll put my Blueridge up against any standard Martin out there.
I thought the 100 series Blueridge has layered back and sides, not solid wood. I have a Blueridge 163 OM, and it's layered back and sides.
@@texhaines9957 check the 2017 heritage series. Adirondack top with rosewood back and sides
@@texhaines9957 my bad… historic series
@@texhaines9957 2017 historic series BR180A has rosewood back and sides and Adirondack spruce top
I agree regarding the standard series Martins.
I've got a modern Gibson J35 (mahogany back and rims) that has a distinctive tone, with loads of volume and punch (I'm a flatpicker) - far better than a 2017 Martin D-18 I owned.
A friend owned a Blueridge D-45 style guitar - I'm not sure of the model, maybe the same as the one you own, but it had a beautiful sound.
Let's get a 2nd video: comparing the sound of each dread!
Another Gold Medal episode. Thanks!!
Great list of guitars. I love the Bedell parlors
Thankful to own two of the brands on this list, Eastman, and Yamaha, both of which I bought from TAC.
Nice to see a couple of British makers getting a shout, but you missed Fylde. I know everyone will be saying 'you missed so & so', but there are two reasons I mention Fylde over the many well-known UK brands: longevity - Roger Bucknall has been building under the Fylde label since the 70s; output - Roger was one of the first single handers to build guitars on anything like a mass scale, bringing some level of automation to the work. This is exactly how modern day 'boutique' instruments are made. Otherwise,. thank you for a really interesting list.
Nicely done video, thanks. Of course, you did not include my Santa Cruz guitars but I do have a Martin OM28V so we are still ok...kidding.
Let’s do the 15 worst. I’ll start.
1. Esteban.
2. Zager
Denver
My first guitar was a Silvertone sold by Sears and Robuck. It was the worst guitar I have ever owned.
@@1deadtoe707 Ah yes. Silvertone should definitely be on the list. I think I blocked out the memory of my first Harmony. It was a Gibson hummingbird copy. Absolutely unplayable.
I'm surprised Wayne Henderson and Santa Cruz isn't on the list.
Wayne Henderson is a very small shop. The waiting list for one of his guitars is years. They are not widely available for the general public.
Omissions of various types: Santa Cruz, Larrivee, Guild, Huss & Dalton, Goodall - impossible to only have 10.
Great choices, it is very impossible!
@@AcousticShoppe'Very impossible '😮 You're gonna get a call from the grammar police😮
My dream guitar is a custom build from Michael Bashkin.
Absolutely, Larrivee was the first major alternative to Martin. He was the first to show that there was another path. Bruce Cockburn in his finger style phase, way back in the 70’s switched from Martin to Larrivee. Some of the biggest individual luthiers - Laskin and Manzer were Larrivee apprentices. I can go with, Santa Cruz ans Froggy Bottom would be on my list but not yours but the omission of Larrivee is just wrong.
Great list, and I agree with the statement of fact that there are so many builders right now that produce a good instrument. The gap between a 1k guitar and a 2k or 3k guitar is not that big anymore. Time is being put into producing good instruments, and the tech these days make it easier for "off brands" to give you something worth looking at when you consider where to spend your money. As a result, I have a decent collection going and only because I was willing to step outside of the "big brands" to try other options. Even though the big brands use the same tech, they just charge much more for it.
Good list but it should have been top 16 Builders
I would have added Guild to the list!
Definitely Guild - I've owned several. As well as the USA-built series, there are some beauties among the GAD (Chinese built) instruments at amazingly affordable prices.
Noever owned a Guild, but you are right. There contribution is enormous.
There was a guy in Georgia.. smooth stone guitar... his website is down now tho..
John, Molly Tuttle is now touring with a Martin as well as her Thompson and Pre-War (?).
Very cool!
That Martin sounds superb, too.
So I loved this video, don't get me wrong, I just think having a list alone really fell flat without at least a short representation of what each of these brands sounds like.
Precisely
What about Gallagher Guitars? I know you sell them and I nearly bought one from y’all at IBMA this year.
They are certainly one of the brands that was hard to leave out of this list and we love their guitars, if we re-visited this I think they would make their way in the top 15, again too many brands to leave out!
Guild😮
A more intetesting list might be Most Influential Luthiers of the last 30 years. Do Gibson and 😮Martin😮 even come into that conversation? So many of the newer boutique brands and the qualify asian brands have driven the acoustic industry. Can we say the same for the legacy brands?🤔
Yes, we can. As the guys say, 90% of other brands wouldn't even exist without Martin. Most of the asian brands began by copying Martin and Gibson. The design of almost all of today's acoustics rely on the X brace. I cannot call to mind a single innovation from an asian brand. Even innovations such as the bridge doctor pale into insignificance when compared with body shape, wood combination and the X brace. That's not to say other brands don't produce great products, but Martin and Gibson remain the standard against which all others are judged, even if those others exceed that standard (which is often the case with Gibson IMO). That is influence.
@@robertnewell5057 Hm. So what's the limit on that argument? Does that make Kodak influential to the camera on the latest Apple phone? If you look at Martin's modern history, they abandoned their 'classic' and influential bracing designs decades ago, hence the end of the 'classic' Martins and the prices of the survivors. If the boutique brands hadn't begun making guitars developed from those obsolete Martin designs, I very much doubt Martin would have followed the market back. We also have to acknowledge that there are new and very successful body styles, including some of the Asian ones, and certainly the OM, which owe little to the grand old brands. I agree they are venerable, but they haven't led the way in decades.
Huss and Dalton not mentioned at all is just mean.
Zaar Guitar new comer
nice list, no argument here
Yamaha is the best dollar for dollar. Especially in the acoustic world.
Nope. Yairi Masterworks, the Honduran Mahogany series - handbuilt, 50 year old aged hog, 5A adi tops and bracing. Its a Collings quality guitar for about 1/3 of the price.
Nope. Yamaha.
Surprised that Takamine did not make the cut
That is a really interesting comment. I have never owned a Tak, but they were hugely influential back in the 70s when they were producing budget Martin clones that sounded fantastic, and continue to be distinctive instruments. Seriously under-rated.
You talk about Boucher but no mention of Godin or Seagull? WTF???
Omitting Larrivee from this list is a joke.
Couldn’t agree more! Amazing guitars! Should be on the list!
We don't say K--bec We say Qua bec
Where's that then? In Quebec? In England, we would say Kwubec. In France we would say Kebec (More or less. I cannot write phonetics). Leonard Cohen got a right telling off in France for his pronounciation of the French language verses in 'The Partisan', but they are actually pretty spot on for Canadian French!