I’m a longtime ex-professional guitarist who now plays semi-professionally (meaning I get paid but I don’t do it for a living anymore). I had a high-end OM which I foolishly let go of years ago, but I can’t afford to replace it these days, especially given the run-up in prices over the last 3-5 years. I love the idea of a high-end Bourgeois or other boutique OM guitar but I can’t justify $7-8K, whereas this makes perfect sense to me. I also have several Eastman guitars. I know exactly what they are and have no problem owning them, but for me, they are working instruments, not precious collector’s items intended to show off how much disposable income you have. My instruments get used, and they are tools. I’d love to know what kind of microphones you all are using. You get a really good sound.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, we love to talk about how Eastman makes it very affordable to own an arsenal of different instruments for different needs, from OM to Jumbo to 12-string -ect. The mics in this video are audio technica, I believe the at4041sp mics. We have since switched over to Ear Trumpet Labs.
@@AcousticShoppe I have an E20OO, a E20OM, and a E10SS, plus three Eastman archtops for my jazz gigs. The flatops have all been hotrodded a bit (I.e., replaced tuners and pickguards, installed K&K passive pickups, and fret dressings and setups). The quality of Eastmans have been rising steadily, and they are competitive with most modern factory guitar makers like Martin. As a semiprofessional guitarist not interested in stardom, no one is going to give me a guitar to endorse, and the price of Gibson, Martin, Collings, Santa Cruz, etc. instruments are quite steep for your average working musician imho. Eastman certainly has allowed me to build a stable of instruments that allow me cover the bases w/o taking on a vow of poverty. I know there are a lot of people who do not like Chinese made instruments, but they are frequently posting on Chinese made cell phones and computers. Like it or not, China is now the West’s primary manufacturing site. That’s reality.
Wow! Sounds really good! I have an Eastman OM, (bought off you guys - yeah! thanks!) which sounds so good too - but this is even more resonant and punchy. We were playing last Saturday night, about midnight, campfire in the backyard with friends and other musicians - I was playing standup bass, and my brother says, hey, grab that blonde one (the eastman OM), and went upstairs, grabbed it and played it ... it sounded so good, especially blended with another guitar, and bass and fiddle. Really love that guitar.
Alot of comments on the price for being made in china. But i have some very quality acoustics, yet my favorite guitar EVER was an eastman ac808 that I found in someones attic and paid 900 euro's used for. That was a sweet guitar. I can only imagine this thing being better
You guys are great, Jeremy is exceptional!!I don't really care for mandolin. I also prefer a real dovetail and a beefy neck. Honestly, at this "everyman's" guitar, I bought a CEO 7 for $3k.
The best job I ever had was taste-testing Doritos for $10/hr back in college. We also got to take home all the bags we could eat, because they wanted to track how much we would eat of them on our own. Gutsy move when dealing with starving college kids, lol. "Yes, could I have another couple dozen bags of the new Cool Ranch flavor, please?" If only Doritos had also made guitars...
These sound great! The one question I have is do we know anything about the work conditions of the Eastman factory where these are made? That’s my largest hesitation with pulling the trigger on one of these.
We are planning a trip to tour the factory in the future. Eastman is full of skilled workers and they are valued as such. Their employees are treated very well from what we understand.
I really do not think you should advertise these as "budget minded". Are they cheaper than a US made Bourgeois new? Sure. But you can buy a similarly spec'd used Bourgeois for around the same as a touchstone. Not trying to ruffle feathers just offering some feedback.
The Touchstone is a brand new Bourgeois guitar at a more affordable price. You could buy a similarly spec'd Bourgeois guitar that's used, but it won't be as affordable as these (nor will it be brand new).
I don't know guys for 3K I want it made in the USA, but that's just me. Now Andrew White make an import that's both impressive, affordable, and definitely next level. Review some of those.
@@tylerhartman604 I agree, this is a nice sounding well built guitar, and a lifetime keeper regardless of cultural background or where made. Whoever gets it won't be disappointed.
If I had to guess, this joint venture flopped and is soon to be on its way out if it isn’t already cancelled. Always fun to check my predictions and intuitions so I’ll look into this in a year. It just makes zero sense on any level to create a 3k Chinese guitar.
@@tylerhartman604...at least it does say "Martin "on the headstock. But it has a mortise and tennon neck joint with, most likely, laminated back and sides I am sure that they are fine, but...
Both those Bourgeois instruments sound great! I would love one of each!!
I’m a longtime ex-professional guitarist who now plays semi-professionally (meaning I get paid but I don’t do it for a living anymore). I had a high-end OM which I foolishly let go of years ago, but I can’t afford to replace it these days, especially given the run-up in prices over the last 3-5 years. I love the idea of a high-end Bourgeois or other boutique OM guitar but I can’t justify $7-8K, whereas this makes perfect sense to me. I also have several Eastman guitars. I know exactly what they are and have no problem owning them, but for me, they are working instruments, not precious collector’s items intended to show off how much disposable income you have. My instruments get used, and they are tools.
I’d love to know what kind of microphones you all are using. You get a really good sound.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, we love to talk about how Eastman makes it very affordable to own an arsenal of different instruments for different needs, from OM to Jumbo to 12-string -ect.
The mics in this video are audio technica, I believe the at4041sp mics. We have since switched over to Ear Trumpet Labs.
@@AcousticShoppe I have an E20OO, a E20OM, and a E10SS, plus three Eastman archtops for my jazz gigs. The flatops have all been hotrodded a bit (I.e., replaced tuners and pickguards, installed K&K passive pickups, and fret dressings and setups). The quality of Eastmans have been rising steadily, and they are competitive with most modern factory guitar makers like Martin. As a semiprofessional guitarist not interested in stardom, no one is going to give me a guitar to endorse, and the price of Gibson, Martin, Collings, Santa Cruz, etc. instruments are quite steep for your average working musician imho. Eastman certainly has allowed me to build a stable of instruments that allow me cover the bases w/o taking on a vow of poverty. I know there are a lot of people who do not like Chinese made instruments, but they are frequently posting on Chinese made cell phones and computers. Like it or not, China is now the West’s primary manufacturing site. That’s reality.
Wow! Sounds really good! I have an Eastman OM, (bought off you guys - yeah! thanks!) which sounds so good too - but this is even more resonant and punchy. We were playing last Saturday night, about midnight, campfire in the backyard with friends and other musicians - I was playing standup bass, and my brother says, hey, grab that blonde one (the eastman OM), and went upstairs, grabbed it and played it ... it sounded so good, especially blended with another guitar, and bass and fiddle. Really love that guitar.
It’s a great one! 😄
Alot of comments on the price for being made in china. But i have some very quality acoustics, yet my favorite guitar EVER was an eastman ac808 that I found in someones attic and paid 900 euro's used for. That was a sweet guitar. I can only imagine this thing being better
I would REALLY love to hear a comparison between the Touchstone Dreadnought and OM!!!!!
We'll see what we can do!
You guys are great, Jeremy is exceptional!!I don't really care for mandolin. I also prefer a real dovetail and a beefy neck. Honestly, at this "everyman's" guitar, I bought a CEO 7 for $3k.
I also enjoy my D18GE
How does that Touchstone OM compare to the Eastman E40OM TC
this is the question I have too
Great job guys!
The best job I ever had was taste-testing Doritos for $10/hr back in college. We also got to take home all the bags we could eat, because they wanted to track how much we would eat of them on our own. Gutsy move when dealing with starving college kids, lol. "Yes, could I have another couple dozen bags of the new Cool Ranch flavor, please?" If only Doritos had also made guitars...
Ah, it's your fault ... don't open the bag unless you want to eat at least half of it ... heh heh.
Great story, Jeremy!
These sound great! The one question I have is do we know anything about the work conditions of the Eastman factory where these are made? That’s my largest hesitation with pulling the trigger on one of these.
We are planning a trip to tour the factory in the future. Eastman is full of skilled workers and they are valued as such. Their employees are treated very well from what we understand.
What’s the song in the intro so beautiful!
What is the name of the song in the intro ?
That would be Mr. Bojangles!
@@AcousticShoppe😂
They should build a Tony rice model
I really do not think you should advertise these as "budget minded". Are they cheaper than a US made Bourgeois new? Sure. But you can buy a similarly spec'd used Bourgeois for around the same as a touchstone.
Not trying to ruffle feathers just offering some feedback.
The Touchstone is a brand new Bourgeois guitar at a more affordable price. You could buy a similarly spec'd Bourgeois guitar that's used, but it won't be as affordable as these (nor will it be brand new).
I don't know guys for 3K I want it made in the USA, but that's just me. Now Andrew White make an import that's both impressive, affordable, and definitely next level. Review some of those.
USA doesn’t automatically equal better.
@@tylerhartman604 I agree, this is a nice sounding well built guitar, and a lifetime keeper regardless of cultural background or where made. Whoever gets it won't be disappointed.
If I had to guess, this joint venture flopped and is soon to be on its way out if it isn’t already cancelled. Always fun to check my predictions and intuitions so I’ll look into this in a year. It just makes zero sense on any level to create a 3k Chinese guitar.
It does look like a Boursois, but a Mexican Martin looks like a real Martin, but it isn't. Just being real I might buy one 4o years ago.
A Mexican Martin is a real Martin. It’s a Martin.
@@tylerhartman604...at least it does say "Martin "on the headstock. But it has a mortise and tennon neck joint with, most likely, laminated back and sides I am sure that they are fine, but...
I get that talking is part of what we get from your videos.. but, 14 minutes of talking and two minutes of actual tone samples? :(