I'm a luthier at Bourgeois Guitars in Lewiston Maine, for those of you not familiar Eastman has recently purchased Bourgeois and Dana has been working ti improve Eastman, you can see by that first Eastman the Bourgeois flare, I'd go Eastman any day of the week they sound absolutely amazing and built truly by hand. Our production manager and Bourgeois flew out to Eastman to teach how we voice. Not to mention Eastman is LIFE warranty and epi I don't believe offer a warranty.
@briandesjardins728 Do you know if Bourgeois already had an effect to eastman guitars today? I recently purchased an Eastman E40-OM TC that was made around september 2023. It’s a fantastic guitar. No complaints here, just asking out of curiosity. Thanks!
Great review. I’ve owned a Eastman E10SS for about 6 months. I absolutely love it. It is now my main guitar out of my stable. Beautifully crafted and stunning looks. I’ve shelved Gibson, Taylor 314, and a vintage Guild for my Eastman. It has really surprised me. All these guitars are fantastic though!
Okay, so recently I took my Epi Masterbilt AJ45me with me to Sweetwater to directly compare it to the Gibson J45 standard. I got in a private enclosed room and put them up against one another. Honestly I could not tell the difference. As much as I wanted the Gibson to beat the Epi, it did not and I cannot justify the extra cost of the Gibson. Great video! That Eastman E10 was extremely impressive!
I eventually bought the eastman e10ss after trying lots of sloped shoulder dreads. It blew all the others away, and the craftsmanship of it is absoloutly stunning. The adirondac spruce top with mahaogany back and sides just makes a perfect combination. The overtones are beautiful.
This is the best demo by far for comparing all these guitars and part of that reason you have very constant playing well done! The demos show each guitar's ability and tonal range. The Eastman E10ss really shines, and the Epiphone really surprises, very good guitar so close. Then the legend the Gibson J45. There is a difference part of it is that our ears have been hearing this guitar for 80 years on some of the best music ever made. One of the reasons was that this tone made the songs sound like they did so its familiar and a huge standard. It does have that fine vintage wine sweet tone like the finish on a fine wine. 95% of rest of the sound or tone is matched by the Epiphone its when you get to that last little bit that taste sweet to me does the difference become apparent, that is at the last little part of the music that is different than the Epiphone. The Eastman has a more refine sound all around that is more balance, clear yet pretty with catching the spirit of the J45 in its own way. I like it. Also one more thought the X bracing angle are a bit wider or larger and the Gibson X bracing angle is more acute smaller than the J35 and Epiphone J45. I would like to find out about the Eastman my ear would guess its more like the J35 more open tonally. The more acute angle tends to shift the focus slightly to the midrange, cutting down on the lows and highs making it a great strummer. The J35 and Eastman seems to have a more open range of tone. Again thanks for the fantastic demo and narration that was fun and informative. Its was a big help. I did sub you!
I like the Eastman E10SS even more than the original Gibson J45. I recently bought an Epiphone J45. I love it. I will probably buy the Eastman when I’m able. 🙂
I have the Eastman E20SS and it’s a beast! Plays amazing, has a total roaring tone that just kills live with a Lyric pickup. I’ll probably keep it for life. The Epiphone I tried at a local shop was ok, but I felt the finish was a bit thick and felt like plastic.
I’ll say, I was kinda shocked with what my ears heard and liked. I was expecting to LOVE the Gibson the best but I was blown away by the sound the Eastman E10SS had! So good! I think it’s louder than the Gibson, at least from your recording, that’s what I would pick for a budget friendly guitar if I couldn’t afford the Gibson.
Aloha Braddah! I’m back again since I’ve been shopping around and checking quite a few online demos out and yours is one of the best out there but the reason yours stood out a little better for say the….Epiphone, your strumming hand placement is different, over the sound hole. it brings out more of that bottom end. I strum at different places on the guitar depending on the projection and sound I’m trying to make. I notice that almost all of the demos I’ve watched show pretty much a stationary/stuck strumming hand position and for that matter, half play near the bridge which gives a sort of flatter and less bass….and yes I know all guitars have variance in sound and some may not be as good(bottom of the barrel compared to 5of the same exact type/brand in its own class)as far as what is being used to demo. Mahalo nui for your time again….excellent video just as I remembered it!
Great great video, best I’ve seen on doing a comparison. Thank you for all the time and effort. Your acoustic playing is superb by the way. Two thumbs WAY up 👍👍
Of course, Eastman has adi top and ebony fingerboard and bridge. Epiphone have the same materials as j45. Eastman is more a comparison to j45 pure voice custom shop. All 3 are top guitars. Its more of what you like and are willing to pay. For me adi top and mahogony is magic!
@@Itsme-vd3dx I would agree with you, the Eastman is a much different sound, strangely I own one and it sounds a bit brighter than this one, and doesn't have the figuring in the mahogany. Gibsons sound quite a bit different, I never see anyone comparing the Gibson J 45 True Vintage which has the Mahogany Back/ Sides and Adirondack Top to the Eastman. Would love to see the sound comparison on those two. To me the Eastman has a lot of overtone, and isn't nearly as dry or compressed sounding as the Gibson, which the Gibson J-45 sound traditionally is a DRY and compressed sound. To me the Eastman's are bright with overtones and sound a bit like Taylor Guitars.
I agree. Not a typical J45 sound but some might prefer that. The Epi does a pretty good job. And Gibson J45 vary quite a bit in quality and there are several versions.
@@TheOnlineBusker I picked one up used $800 with a hard shell case, it’s a monster. Keep an eye out if you’re interested and one will pop up hopefully for ya
Eastman E10SS, EPIPHONE J45, GIBSON J45, Eastman E10SS. This is my preference in order, but really there is very little that I can hear between them. All great-sounding guitars and any of the four would make me very happy to own. Very enjoyable video and well recorded. I really enjoyed it. Well done.
@@philhollins5471 that was his stop pick most likely. the e10 i liked the least too, sounded to metallic and twangy, buzzy basically. I'm not into that type of sound. the e20 was much better but you can tell this guy was trying to push the eastman. I didn't trust the recording. he held back on the gibson and the epiphone j45 sounded unaturally thin lacking low end. when in reality the epi j45 sounds very close to the gibson lol.
Thanks. Numerous trys to find THE Gibson J45 for me. I sing and the guitar needs to fit. I got an Eastman E20SS-V-sb, with the vintage varnish that made a difference. For grandson, under $500, Guild Memoir 240 Sunburst. Thanks
Tried out the Eastman, a Gibson J45, and an Epi masterbilt J45. The Epi went home with me. The Eastman was too bright, the Gibby sounded really good, but was nearly 3k. The Epi was $700 out the door and sounds and plays fantastic!
I did the same comparison and came to the same conclusion. I bought a Line 6 Helix Floor unit with the money I saved plus a nice Gator Hardshell case. :)
This is flat out the best comparison bar none. Thanks. It is hard to compare the Eastman because it has an Adi top, much like the historial J45. I put my Eastman e10ss under a Tonerite for a week. It will take more time and playing to open it up. But I think I've found my slope-shouldered soulmate.
Nice comparison! I just want to throw this out there for anyone interested in the Eastman options. I just recently got an Eastman E20SS/V, and it is truly fantastic, significantly better than the regular E20SS I was able to demo. I found that the E20SS was very rich with overtones, too much so for my taste. The notes took a while to bloom (kinda like a martin D-35 I had played a while back), and that made single note runs kinda weird. It was a great strummer, as the chords were so thick and full. Any embellishments or runs (kinda like you'd have in bluegrass or acoustic country music) got lost though; they just didn't stand out. The E20SS/V has some of this, but the overtones are more tamed and the individual notes have far more definition. The guitar is more balanced too; I found the regular E20SS to be kinda bassy. The E20SS/V has a very strong bass response, but the treble is able to compete very well with the bass. Single notes have great definition and an immediacy that I'd typically expect from mahogany. It's kind of like a great mahogany guitar with the tonal character of rosewood. The E20SS/V has an overall vintage voice, kinda like a J45 crossed with a D-28, but maybe leaning more towards the D-28. I think it is worlds better than the regular E20SS. It is also extremely loud, which lets me play softer and still be heard well and just makes it easier to play more complicated stuff in a jam context.
Sound-wise I think Eastman with rosewood is best, with second Eastman on the second place. But these are a bit different guitars than the Gibson J45 with "modest" but very traditional "signature" sound. Finally I might also chose Epiphone for its price tag and sound somewhere between the Gibson and the Eastmans. Chinese productions are really good nowadays. But it is always good to consider the cost and value of environmental and human rights standards.
The Eastman E20 closely followed by the E10 blew the others away in my opinion. But then anyone that knows my channel knows im obsessed with Eastman haha, although there acoustics are new to me personally having only tried my first one a few weeks back. they are just the perfect guitars and long may they continue to be,.
Aloha Braddah! I really loved this comparison, the playing style and the commentary that went with it all, terrific job!! I don’t think that Gibson sounded as great as the Eastman E10…. Because….it didn’t sound as good as maybe another Gibson J45 that I’ve heard for this head to head ….make sense!? In other words, you’d have to compare several Gibsons to pick out the best sounding one….they all have slight differences. Then you can do a head to head. My preference, I like to hear that bottom end but balanced. And everyone hears differently which makes the choice of one over another unique. I have been in and out of music stores comparing Gibson branded J45 types….Studios, 50s Faded, etc. but trying to stick with “Original” or Standard J45….they all sounded slightly different. I compared many Epiphone IBGs as well and finally found my slope shoulder, I went with a Gibson J45….not just because I was able to afford one at that time, it was because the one I chose sounded the best….to my ears. Mahalo nui for sharing your professional talent!
Had both Eastmans. Adirondack top always makes a difference in lushness and dynamics. And pairs well with mahogany. Short scale E20 with rosewood is almost too dreamy and moves away from the woody tones. On a long scale dread, Addy+Rosewood is king.
J 45 s are amazing.I'm looking for a second guitar to my Waterloo.I keep thinking that I could get the slope shoulder ,but every time I try to find something that beats the J 45 it wins every time.The Eastman was close,but the bite and touch sensitivity of the Gibson gets it every time.
I love the Gibson J-45 and the Eastman E10-SS out of all of them, So much so that I bought a new Gibson 50’s J-50 series and to my ears and several musicians who have played it loved it. But that E10-SS is haunting me. I will buy one as soon I can. Also the Martin DSS-17 is another amazing my slope Shoulder as well. Thanks for this!
The epiphone j45 has more ... projection..?! It is how i describe its sound, wich i really like! Its why i recently bougth mine. After playing budget gitars for many years, i finally bougth a j45 slash signature in vermillion burst ❤ Such an improvement in sound😊 The eastman e10 i liked it to, it has a more dempened soft sound (mahagony) it sounds like my richwood in mahagony and sitka top. Nice video ! Greetings from holland 🇳🇱
They’re all great guitars but man oh man does that Eastman E10SS get my vote, what a looker. Such a beautiful instrument, resonant rich sounds and style. I never really noticed Eastmans before until i saw this video. It honestly sounded better than the rest and it was proven by you saying you preferred it over the others. “The Eastman is not a Gibson”, you are correct, it is WAY better than a Gibson, by a landslide. At $3000 i would expect the Gibson to sound better than that. Anyways great video and playing and thanks for introducing me to Eastmans.
They sound very different.. J45 is still king in my opinion.. Its got the bass and a better sparkle.. More "3d" sounding and bigger, if that makes sense.. It feels like it was miced in a different position than the rest.
The Gibby has big bottom, scooped mids and the ringing highs …more open sounding. The Eastman’s have warmer and more pronounced mids that are almost a bit much. None of these guitars sound bad.
Great video! would have been nice to hear more about your thoughts on the differences between the guitars in your opinion, particularly how the epiphone stacked up against the othere, cheers
Considering the Eastman is in the same price bracket as the walnut J45 studio and not much more than the G45... I think it's wonderful, but an instrument all of itself for sure. Great playing as always 👍
The Gibson sounds sooo badasss! It’s light built, loud, very good separation between notes, fast responding and immediacy. If I pay an certain amount of money for the Eastman I would definitely give an extra more for the Gibson, you just can’t go wrong with J-45.
@@Narrowboat.and.offgrid.living Eastmans are great for the value, but they often use 2-3 piece necks(which is ok), but the build isn't as light and as quality as Gibson, are they work 3k? Prolly not, but as long as u have ppl willing to spend the money ppl will buy them.
The eastman is built better than the gibson, plus better woods. Gibsons can be great, but their quality control is not great, so you can play a lot of bad j45s before you find a good one. Not the same case with eastman.
@@brbadge the Eastman is Adirondack top. It won't have the bite of sitka out of the box. Will take time to develop unfortunately. But I'll be buying one anyway because I want to experience that bloom myself
Great comparison of four beautiful guitars. I have the Eastman E20-OM and I'm really starting to fall in love with it. To start with I thought it would be more boomy on the base side but now that I have played it for allmost a week I'm more aware of how well balanced it is. I'll have a LR Baggs Anthem to be installed in it on monday instead of the crappie SD MagMic system. I really hate that system with a passion. An acoustic should sound like an acoustic and not sound like a semi electric. E20-SS have Adirondack top and as you say Indian rosewood back and sides. That might explain why it sounds a bit different than you would expect it to sound. And btw; who does not like you? Imho you have so may great videos with a down to earth evaluation of different guitars and gear and for that reason I really enjoy watching you. Så the conclusion is KEEP ON THE GOOD WORK. You rock Max.👍🏻🙏
Great review. For me, I liked the Eastman E20. I liked the fuller sound and better definition of rosewood. Just a personal preference. If price no concern. But it is so I would do the Epi. This Gibson J45 just didnt sound right, like EQ not the same?
I have an epiphone dr100 . And when I got it, it needed setting up, badly. I left it back at the store I got it and when I got it back, it was amazing and everyone loves the tone , amazing guitar for £120: . Saying that I would the Gibby if I had the money 🤘👌
My Head says EASTMAN - My Heart laced with a mixture of Nostalgia and Snobbery says GIBSON, probably also reflects the FACT that I'm almost as old as this Gibson Model.😂🤣😂
In this video, the Epi sounds quite Gibsony - just lacking a bit in depth.. The e10 is its own thing, with plenty of depth - but lovely. The e20 sounds very Martin-like to me. And the J-45 sounds just as one would expect a new J-45 to sound. Great video, thanks! By the way, what strings are one each? That could make a huge difference if they are not the same. All things being equal string-wise, I would also pick the e10. But every example of every guitar sounds different.
They all sounded great, money no object I’d get the Gibson, then the Eastman E10 but for me the Epiphone would be my pick because it’s so much cheaper and still sounds and looks great.
A wonderful comparison, All are Top of the line Acoustic's, however by Only a margin, my choice was ,Eastman 20ss-1, Eastman 10ss- 2, Epiphone -3 Gibson, - Last😊😊😮
Actually the Eastman e10ss is very traditional. Gibson has a historical model with the same darker sunburst and Adirondack top. We are used to the later sitka-topped J45 with the brighter sunburst.
Thanks for your review & I went with the Eastman E10SS, plays & sounds great, beautifully constructed & the tuners work as expected perfectly. Sadly not so with the IBG Epiphone J45 & warranty wasn't respected & worthless .
Thanks for the video! I have headphones on to actually hear better quality. The Epi looks nice as a guitar but to me literally sounds like a $300 guitar.. Gibson of course sounds soothing to the ears but not the one you started playing on- gotta know what year to pick because sadly some years are just a bit trash and only paying for the logo and that sounds like a made in Mexico Martin. Eastman is such a stunning guitar as you said, people hear China and kinda run away though.. I never heard of them til just last week and sort of want one now. I love Gibson not hating on them by any means just was never lucky with them and I wouldn't be satisfied with that particular model for the pricing too.
Loved this video. I always want to buy American made guitars. But my budget doesn't always allow. I have two American Martins, but do not own a sloped shouldered dreadnought yet. Of course, my Gibson ambition is to own a J45, and and perhaps a Humingbird. However, if I had to pick only one of these four gutairs, it would be the E10ss. hands down.. Not just because of the price. It sounds wonderful too. To my ear at least, on the treble side, it sounded better than the J45. That might have just been the high E-string on the J45.
I have an E10SS that is about 5 yrs old and has really opened up and the mid-harmonic bloom has become gorgeous. Mine has a rosewood neck though. I wonder when they switched to ebony?
I'm strictly a Taylor guitar player but I'm gonna try to pick honestly the one I like the best.well also Martin guitars I play as well but in this comparison I have to go with the Eastman I really wanted to pick the Gibson but I gotta be honest the Eastman was the superior sounding guitar.
I thought the Gibson sounded the dullest of all four. I liked the sound of the Epiphone and the E10ss the best. Either one of those you can't go wrong.
I own an Epi J-45 and I love it. It's 90% of the Gibson vibe at a small fraction of the cost and the build quality is probably better than a Gibson. I've recently discovered Eastman too and they are A LOT of guitar for the money; sound great, high quality construction, but they don't sound like a Gibson. They are their own thing, and it's a good thing. But if you're looking for something that sounds like a Gibson, buy a Gibson or save a lot of money and buy the Epiphone. If you're just looking for a guitar that delivers a ton of value and sounds great, check out Eastman.
I’m biased (!) as I have an E20SS with LR Baggs Anthem fitted and it’s my go-to acoustic most of the time - magnificent guitar. I also have an E1SS and E100SS and the quality of these guitars is amazing if you get past headstock snobbery. Bourgeois guitars have entered into an agreement with Eastman for Eastman to build guitars for them - says it all about the quality IMO.
Hi Stephen, I also have the E1ss and I’m itching to get an E20ss, does the rosewood make a big enough difference to have both? I’m really wanting a slope dread with extra bass and high end and think the E20ss would be perfect. Thanks
@@stephentyndall159 - Hi Stephen (!) - well, it’s difficult to ‘describe’ a sound, of course, (and the strings probably make a difference - I’ve settled on Martin P-B ‘flexible core’ for both) ) but I would describe the the E20SS as a bit more ‘mellow’, more ‘depth’ (bass, without question) - to my ears (and others) the E1SS sounds a tad ‘brighter’ (not harsh), more ‘attack’ than the 20SS. I would say that the difference in sound is more noticeable between these two guitars than any other pair of acoustic guitars I have ever heard, where the only difference is the top (the 20SS has a nitro finish of course). To be specific re bass/bottom end/ ‘warmth’ (what does that mean !!?) IMO the 20 SS has it over the 1SS. Neither of them are going anywhere! Good Luck.
@@stephenfranklin8258 Thanks for detailed response Stephen! From what you have described I definitely need to try the E20ss, it sounds like it’s exactly what I need. Thanks again.
Nice demo. I have the Epiphone. It's a joy to play, whether with fingers, plectrum or finger picks. I could buy the others but don't see the point. I bought it for acoustic sessions and a better pickup would not cost a lot anyway.
In this particular video, Eastman is so much better than Epiphone. There's no denying in that, although I wanted to like Epi more. East is just 2 heads above. Gibson sounds so poor after luxurious full deep Eastmans. I'd say Gib is slightly better than Epiphone, or just different. Epi has lovely warmth and powerful midrange. The Gibson is scooped in the middle, but it "breathes" more and has better trebles.
all fantastic sounding guitars that very few people could tell apart in a blind test, and the Eastman E10 is a stunner visually.......now the question; is the Eastman E10 worth DOUBLE what the Epi costs? That's what I'm gonna have to figure out.
I just bought a used Eastman E20ss for 1.2k usd. Its like new except a few cat wiskers on the strumming side. I think the owner play less than 20 times. I change the strings in a shop and the guy did a little set up, and when I strum it, it was 'wow' . I think I have to put the 2003 Taylor 414ltd imbuia back n side to rest. Its a collector's item, but Eastman's playability on my small hand is easy while the Taylor's neck is not for my hand.The sound of this E20SS took the Taylor hands down.
Errr. Utube! Iv been tossing up which j45 to buy. Not keen on the hit and miss approach to QC that Epiphone has. I own a ibg hummingbird 12str, which is brilliant instrument (hit). I also own a Masterbilt Zenith Archtop, (hit), and a Masterbilt Texan (miss). My grandson has adopted the Texan, and he belts out Nirvana tunes on it. I have a '06 335, and a '93 LP Custom. Im definitely a Gibson devote, having bought my 1st, a SG in 1978. So...J45.. im now DEFINITELY going to play an Eastman E10ss. In Australia currently, they are $2,500aud, a j45 standard $4,700. If the Eastman i play, sounds like the one here. im buying it. This old guitar snob, is sold.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm a luthier at Bourgeois Guitars in Lewiston Maine, for those of you not familiar Eastman has recently purchased Bourgeois and Dana has been working ti improve Eastman, you can see by that first Eastman the Bourgeois flare, I'd go Eastman any day of the week they sound absolutely amazing and built truly by hand. Our production manager and Bourgeois flew out to Eastman to teach how we voice. Not to mention Eastman is LIFE warranty and epi I don't believe offer a warranty.
Thanks for the insider input. Incredible value and tone from eastman. Thinking of buying e10ss.
@@jaylee3925ya can’t go wrong with an Eastman Mahogany they all shine. I’ve owned several all fantastic
@briandesjardins728
Do you know if Bourgeois already had an effect to eastman guitars today? I recently purchased an Eastman E40-OM TC that was made around september 2023.
It’s a fantastic guitar. No complaints here, just asking out of curiosity. Thanks!
What year it all starter?
@@jaylee3925 do it ! You will never ever regret it !
best and useful demo of the slope shoulder J45-type guitars that I've ever seen. I believe you are gonna have 1 million subscribers very soon.
Since it's better to compare the same thing back to back:
2:17 Epiphone
6:48 Eastman E10SS
11:18 Easmant E20SS
15:42 Gibson J45
*_Open Strumming:_*
1:07 Epiphone
5:20 Eastman E10SS
9:32 Eastman E20SS
13:21 Gibson J45
@@digable_celestial_dwarfs6778 The best balanced guitar is the j45 without hesitation
@@Patrick.Kopytowski Which one??
Gibson k45 for me has just never had it to much B and e sustain
@@philhollins5471 gibson
Great review. I’ve owned a Eastman E10SS for about 6 months. I absolutely love it. It is now my main guitar out of my stable. Beautifully crafted and stunning looks. I’ve shelved Gibson, Taylor 314, and a vintage Guild for my Eastman. It has really surprised me. All these guitars are fantastic though!
Okay, so recently I took my Epi Masterbilt AJ45me with me to Sweetwater to directly compare it to the Gibson J45 standard. I got in a private enclosed room and put them up against one another. Honestly I could not tell the difference. As much as I wanted the Gibson to beat the Epi, it did not and I cannot justify the extra cost of the Gibson. Great video! That Eastman E10 was extremely impressive!
I eventually bought the eastman e10ss after trying lots of sloped shoulder dreads. It blew all the others away, and the craftsmanship of it is absoloutly stunning. The adirondac spruce top with mahaogany back and sides just makes a perfect combination. The overtones are beautiful.
That was my pic also!!...lovely balanced tone!!...
Fully agree! I love mine as well. Did you compare it to Gibson J45's whenyou got your e10ss?
Well done. Great choice.
Such a brilliant video. The Eastman mahogany is a stunner, both sonically and aesthetically
This is the best demo by far for comparing all these guitars and part of that reason you have very constant playing well done! The demos show each guitar's ability and tonal range. The Eastman E10ss really shines, and the Epiphone really surprises, very good guitar so close. Then the legend the Gibson J45. There is a difference part of it is that our ears have been hearing this guitar for 80 years on some of the best music ever made. One of the reasons was that this tone made the songs sound like they did so its familiar and a huge standard. It does have that fine vintage wine sweet tone like the finish on a fine wine. 95% of rest of the sound or tone is matched by the Epiphone its when you get to that last little bit that taste sweet to me does the difference become apparent, that is at the last little part of the music that is different than the Epiphone. The Eastman has a more refine sound all around that is more balance, clear yet pretty with catching the spirit of the J45 in its own way. I like it. Also one more thought the X bracing angle are a bit wider or larger and the Gibson X bracing angle is more acute smaller than the J35 and Epiphone J45. I would like to find out about the Eastman my ear would guess its more like the J35 more open tonally. The more acute angle tends to shift the focus slightly to the midrange, cutting down on the lows and highs making it a great strummer. The J35 and Eastman seems to have a more open range of tone. Again thanks for the fantastic demo and narration that was fun and informative. Its was a big help. I did sub you!
Great review.
Hats off to Epiphone for building a guitar for this price that can be compared to these other fine beauties.
I like the Eastman E10SS even more than the original Gibson J45. I recently bought an Epiphone J45. I love it. I will probably buy the Eastman when I’m able. 🙂
Honestly it's the best purchace I've ever made.
La j45 IBG, es tan buena como dicen? Muchas gracias.
Do it ! No regret here.
I have the Eastman E20SS and it’s a beast! Plays amazing, has a total roaring tone that just kills live with a Lyric pickup. I’ll probably keep it for life. The Epiphone I tried at a local shop was ok, but I felt the finish was a bit thick and felt like plastic.
That J45…BOOM!
Took my breath away.
Great comparison video …thanks
I’ll say, I was kinda shocked with what my ears heard and liked. I was expecting to LOVE the Gibson the best but I was blown away by the sound the Eastman E10SS had! So good! I think it’s louder than the Gibson, at least from your recording, that’s what I would pick for a budget friendly guitar if I couldn’t afford the Gibson.
Aloha Braddah! I’m back again since I’ve been shopping around and checking quite a few online demos out and yours is one of the best out there but the reason yours stood out a little better for say the….Epiphone, your strumming hand placement is different, over the sound hole. it brings out more of that bottom end. I strum at different places on the guitar depending on the projection and sound I’m trying to make. I notice that almost all of the demos I’ve watched show pretty much a stationary/stuck strumming hand position and for that matter, half play near the bridge which gives a sort of flatter and less bass….and yes I know all guitars have variance in sound and some may not be as good(bottom of the barrel compared to 5of the same exact type/brand in its own class)as far as what is being used to demo. Mahalo nui for your time again….excellent video just as I remembered it!
Great great video, best I’ve seen on doing a comparison. Thank you for all the time and effort. Your acoustic playing is superb by the way. Two thumbs WAY up 👍👍
This is how to shoot a comparison video. Brilliant 👍🏼
Eastman are great sounding guitars but they don't sound like a J45. The epiphone sounds very similar to a J45, insane value for money.
Of course, Eastman has adi top and ebony fingerboard and bridge. Epiphone have the same materials as j45. Eastman is more a comparison to j45 pure voice custom shop. All 3 are top guitars. Its more of what you like and are willing to pay. For me adi top and mahogony is magic!
The Eastman sounds great and the Epiphone isn't a long shot better. But the Gibson J45 comes out on top. It's deeper and more bass!
@@Itsme-vd3dx I would agree with you, the Eastman is a much different sound, strangely I own one and it sounds a bit brighter than this one, and doesn't have the figuring in the mahogany. Gibsons sound quite a bit different, I never see anyone comparing the Gibson J 45 True Vintage which has the Mahogany Back/ Sides and Adirondack Top to the Eastman. Would love to see the sound comparison on those two. To me the Eastman has a lot of overtone, and isn't nearly as dry or compressed sounding as the Gibson, which the Gibson J-45 sound traditionally is a DRY and compressed sound. To me the Eastman's are bright with overtones and sound a bit like Taylor Guitars.
I agree. Not a typical J45 sound but some might prefer that. The Epi does a pretty good job. And Gibson J45 vary quite a bit in quality and there are several versions.
I agree, the Eastman E10SS is the one, a real tone monster, and affordable too.
yup just bought one. Liked it better than Martin, Gibson or Collings.
Just ordered one.. excited to get it in. First full sized guitar in years, should be booming
Affordable??? $1500 ?? "Affordable" to me means less than 4/500.... wouldn't mind being a dollar behind you haha :))
@@TheOnlineBusker I picked one up used $800 with a hard shell case, it’s a monster. Keep an eye out if you’re interested and one will pop up hopefully for ya
@@McDowellCountyYoungLife Wow really? That's a great deal!! Enjoy it man! Here in Spain guitars are SUPER expensive (like everything else..)
Eastman E10SS, EPIPHONE J45, GIBSON J45, Eastman E10SS. This is my preference in order, but really there is very little that I can hear between them. All great-sounding guitars and any of the four would make me very happy to own.
Very enjoyable video and well recorded. I really enjoyed it. Well done.
2 x E10SS placings! Which is the E20SS?
@@philhollins5471 that was his stop pick most likely. the e10 i liked the least too, sounded to metallic and twangy, buzzy basically. I'm not into that type of sound. the e20 was much better but you can tell this guy was trying to push the eastman. I didn't trust the recording. he held back on the gibson and the epiphone j45 sounded unaturally thin lacking low end. when in reality the epi j45 sounds very close to the gibson lol.
Terrific honest review thanks. Enjoyed your playing too...
Thanks. Numerous trys to find THE Gibson J45 for me. I sing and the guitar needs to fit. I got an Eastman E20SS-V-sb, with the vintage varnish that made a difference. For grandson, under $500, Guild Memoir 240 Sunburst. Thanks
Tried out the Eastman, a Gibson J45, and an Epi masterbilt J45. The Epi went home with me. The Eastman was too bright, the Gibby sounded really good, but was nearly 3k. The Epi was $700 out the door and sounds and plays fantastic!
I did the same comparison and came to the same conclusion. I bought a Line 6 Helix Floor unit with the money I saved plus a nice Gator Hardshell case. :)
Where did y’all demo and buy at ?
@@carsonnguyen4423 Pianos n' Stuff, Pittsburgh, PA
@@pittsbull I’m in dallas area lol. Too far for me to demo all of those models
@@carsonnguyen4423 tall toad in Petaluma.
This is flat out the best comparison bar none. Thanks.
It is hard to compare the Eastman because it has an Adi top, much like the historial J45. I put my Eastman e10ss under a Tonerite for a week.
It will take more time and playing to open it up. But I think I've found my slope-shouldered soulmate.
Nice comparison! I just want to throw this out there for anyone interested in the Eastman options. I just recently got an Eastman E20SS/V, and it is truly fantastic, significantly better than the regular E20SS I was able to demo. I found that the E20SS was very rich with overtones, too much so for my taste. The notes took a while to bloom (kinda like a martin D-35 I had played a while back), and that made single note runs kinda weird. It was a great strummer, as the chords were so thick and full. Any embellishments or runs (kinda like you'd have in bluegrass or acoustic country music) got lost though; they just didn't stand out. The E20SS/V has some of this, but the overtones are more tamed and the individual notes have far more definition. The guitar is more balanced too; I found the regular E20SS to be kinda bassy. The E20SS/V has a very strong bass response, but the treble is able to compete very well with the bass. Single notes have great definition and an immediacy that I'd typically expect from mahogany. It's kind of like a great mahogany guitar with the tonal character of rosewood. The E20SS/V has an overall vintage voice, kinda like a J45 crossed with a D-28, but maybe leaning more towards the D-28. I think it is worlds better than the regular E20SS. It is also extremely loud, which lets me play softer and still be heard well and just makes it easier to play more complicated stuff in a jam context.
Excellent information. I love my E20ssV/sb
Sound-wise I think Eastman with rosewood is best, with second Eastman on the second place. But these are a bit different guitars than the Gibson J45 with "modest" but very traditional "signature" sound. Finally I might also chose Epiphone for its price tag and sound somewhere between the Gibson and the Eastmans. Chinese productions are really good nowadays. But it is always good to consider the cost and value of environmental and human rights standards.
The Epi Master Builts are made in Indonesia.
Eastman’s “factory” is actually a large shop and it’s not slave labor conditions, but rather pretty well done,
Eastman factory is full of real luthiers, all instruments are handmade, like custom shop. It's not a typical chinese line machine factory.
Good information
Great demo and review! Thank you so much for sharing this with us all. Real world playing with no nonsense 🌠🌌🌅👌🙋♂️
Great review!! Thanks for this, exactly what I needed!
The Eastman E20 closely followed by the E10 blew the others away in my opinion. But then anyone that knows my channel knows im obsessed with Eastman haha, although there acoustics are new to me personally having only tried my first one a few weeks back. they are just the perfect guitars and long may they continue to be,.
The Eastmon sounds amazing! And for the price? WOW!
Great comparison. I ordered the e10ss today. Looking forward to getting to know it.
Aloha Braddah! I really loved this comparison, the playing style and the commentary that went with it all, terrific job!! I don’t think that Gibson sounded as great as the Eastman E10…. Because….it didn’t sound as good as maybe another Gibson J45 that I’ve heard for this head to head ….make sense!? In other words, you’d have to compare several Gibsons to pick out the best sounding one….they all have slight differences. Then you can do a head to head. My preference, I like to hear that bottom end but balanced. And everyone hears differently which makes the choice of one over another unique. I have been in and out of music stores comparing Gibson branded J45 types….Studios, 50s Faded, etc. but trying to stick with “Original” or Standard J45….they all sounded slightly different. I compared many Epiphone IBGs as well and finally found my slope shoulder, I went with a Gibson J45….not just because I was able to afford one at that time, it was because the one I chose sounded the best….to my ears. Mahalo nui for sharing your professional talent!
listened with good headphones. The Gibson is the only one without the boomy bass especially with the g-accord. I like that
Well done!!
Great video with lots of interesting commentary.
Thank you!
My two-cents.. the E10SS is hands down the best sounding of them all...
Agree. I’m bias I own the E20ssv-sb
Had both Eastmans. Adirondack top always makes a difference in lushness and dynamics. And pairs well with mahogany. Short scale E20 with rosewood is almost too dreamy and moves away from the woody tones. On a long scale dread, Addy+Rosewood is king.
Which Dreadnought version did you like best, e10 or e20?
J 45 s are amazing.I'm looking for a second guitar to my Waterloo.I keep thinking that I could get the slope shoulder ,but every time I try to find something that beats the J 45 it wins every time.The Eastman was close,but the bite and touch sensitivity of the Gibson gets it every time.
I can afford the Eastmans
Nice sounds! What's the mic you're using man? I like it...
I love the Gibson J-45 and the Eastman E10-SS out of all of them, So much so that I bought a new Gibson 50’s J-50 series and to my ears and several musicians who have played it loved it. But that E10-SS is haunting me. I will buy one as soon I can. Also the Martin DSS-17 is another amazing my slope
Shoulder as well. Thanks for this!
Just found your website. Great demo, great playing.
The epiphone j45 has more ... projection..?! It is how i describe its sound, wich i really like!
Its why i recently bougth mine.
After playing budget gitars for many years, i finally bougth a j45 slash signature in vermillion burst ❤
Such an improvement in sound😊
The eastman e10 i liked it to, it has a more dempened soft sound (mahagony) it sounds like my richwood in mahagony and sitka top.
Nice video ! Greetings from holland 🇳🇱
They’re all great guitars but man oh man does that Eastman E10SS get my vote, what a looker. Such a beautiful instrument, resonant rich sounds and style. I never really noticed Eastmans before until i saw this video. It honestly sounded better than the rest and it was proven by you saying you preferred it over the others. “The Eastman is not a Gibson”, you are correct, it is WAY better than a Gibson, by a landslide. At $3000 i would expect the Gibson to sound better than that. Anyways great video and playing and thanks for introducing me to Eastmans.
Just found your channel... Great stuff! Love the little picking tune!
Great review man ! I like your style. You tell it like it is . Thanks again man ! Jeff Clark from Austin Texas
1:06 5:11 9:32 13:20
They sound very different.. J45 is still king in my opinion.. Its got the bass and a better sparkle.. More "3d" sounding and bigger, if that makes sense.. It feels like it was miced in a different position than the rest.
The Gibby has big bottom, scooped mids and the ringing highs …more open sounding.
The Eastman’s have warmer and more pronounced mids that are almost a bit much.
None of these guitars sound bad.
@@jimmy5634 I agree.
Great video! would have been nice to hear more about your thoughts on the differences between the guitars in your opinion, particularly how the epiphone stacked up against the othere, cheers
Considering the Eastman is in the same price bracket as the walnut J45 studio and not much more than the G45... I think it's wonderful, but an instrument all of itself for sure. Great playing as always 👍
Those models have been discontinued unfortunately.
Brilliant review - thank you.
I’m waiting for my Epiphone J 45 EC, it seems like a lot of guitar for the money. I prefer Mahogany as well and that Eastman was stunning.
Way more instrument for the dollar, with out any compromise in quality and tone. Eastman is the way to go.
Totally with you! Love my E20ssV/sb
I have a couple of epiphones and love them. Sound, comfort and they came ready to play right out of the box.
The Gibson sounds sooo badasss! It’s light built, loud, very good separation between notes, fast responding and immediacy. If I pay an certain amount of money for the Eastman I would definitely give an extra more for the Gibson, you just can’t go wrong with J-45.
@@Narrowboat.and.offgrid.living Eastmans are great for the value, but they often use 2-3 piece necks(which is ok), but the build isn't as light and as quality as Gibson, are they work 3k? Prolly not, but as long as u have ppl willing to spend the money ppl will buy them.
@@Narrowboat.and.offgrid.living But doesnt have the bite or response that the Gibson has.
The eastman is built better than the gibson, plus better woods. Gibsons can be great, but their quality control is not great, so you can play a lot of bad j45s before you find a good one. Not the same case with eastman.
@@brbadge the Eastman is Adirondack top. It won't have the bite of sitka out of the box. Will take time to develop unfortunately. But I'll be buying one anyway because I want to experience that bloom myself
Really good review. Thanks
Love the eastman. Epi surprised me
The epi is massively cheaper than the other 3 so in my opinion the epi is like a budget football team with a great manager that is top of the ague.
2:11
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Great comparison of four beautiful guitars. I have the Eastman E20-OM and I'm really starting to fall in love with it. To start with I thought it would be more boomy on the base side but now that I have played it for allmost a week I'm more aware of how well balanced it is. I'll have a LR Baggs Anthem to be installed in it on monday instead of the crappie SD MagMic system. I really hate that system with a passion. An acoustic should sound like an acoustic and not sound like a semi electric.
E20-SS have Adirondack top and as you say Indian rosewood back and sides. That might explain why it sounds a bit different than you would expect it to sound.
And btw; who does not like you? Imho you have so may great videos with a down to earth evaluation of different guitars and gear and for that reason I really enjoy watching you. Så the conclusion is KEEP ON THE GOOD WORK. You rock Max.👍🏻🙏
Great review. For me, I liked the Eastman E20. I liked the fuller sound and better definition of rosewood. Just a personal preference. If price no concern. But it is so I would do the Epi. This Gibson J45 just didnt sound right, like EQ not the same?
I have an epiphone dr100 . And when I got it, it needed setting up, badly. I left it back at the store I got it and when I got it back, it was amazing and everyone loves the tone , amazing guitar for £120: . Saying that I would the Gibby if I had the money 🤘👌
My Head says EASTMAN - My Heart laced with a mixture of Nostalgia and Snobbery says GIBSON, probably also reflects the FACT that I'm almost as old as this Gibson Model.😂🤣😂
What tuning are you using, standard or something else? Sounds great. Your choices show great variety in running the guitars through their paces.😊
E10SS pick 7:41
E20SS pick 12:08
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The mahogany on that E10...holy crap.... 😍
In this video, the Epi sounds quite Gibsony - just lacking a bit in depth.. The e10 is its own thing, with plenty of depth - but lovely. The e20 sounds very Martin-like to me. And the J-45 sounds just as one would expect a new J-45 to sound. Great video, thanks! By the way, what strings are one each? That could make a huge difference if they are not the same. All things being equal string-wise, I would also pick the e10. But every example of every guitar sounds different.
They all sounded great, money no object I’d get the Gibson, then the Eastman E10 but for me the Epiphone would be my pick because it’s so much cheaper and still sounds and looks great.
A wonderful comparison, All are Top of the line Acoustic's, however by Only a margin, my choice was ,Eastman 20ss-1, Eastman 10ss- 2, Epiphone -3 Gibson, - Last😊😊😮
Just got the Epiphone and Love it.
Actually the Eastman e10ss is very traditional.
Gibson has a historical model with the same darker sunburst and Adirondack top.
We are used to the later sitka-topped J45 with the brighter sunburst.
Great information and demo!
Thanks for your review & I went with the Eastman E10SS, plays & sounds great, beautifully constructed & the tuners work as expected perfectly. Sadly not so with the IBG Epiphone J45 & warranty wasn't respected & worthless .
Thanks for the video! I have headphones on to actually hear better quality. The Epi looks nice as a guitar but to me literally sounds like a $300 guitar.. Gibson of course sounds soothing to the ears but not the one you started playing on- gotta know what year to pick because sadly some years are just a bit trash and only paying for the logo and that sounds like a made in Mexico Martin. Eastman is such a stunning guitar as you said, people hear China and kinda run away though.. I never heard of them til just last week and sort of want one now. I love Gibson not hating on them by any means just was never lucky with them and I wouldn't be satisfied with that particular model for the pricing too.
Hey Sasha. Would you mind make a couple of vids with those licks / tunes you're playing?
Loved this video. I always want to buy American made guitars. But my budget doesn't always allow. I have two American Martins, but do not own a sloped shouldered dreadnought yet. Of course, my Gibson ambition is to own a J45, and and perhaps a Humingbird. However, if I had to pick only one of these four gutairs, it would be the E10ss. hands down.. Not just because of the price. It sounds wonderful too. To my ear at least, on the treble side, it sounded better than the J45. That might have just been the high E-string on the J45.
The Epi had the best note separation and j45 sound to me. All were nice.
I have an E10SS that is about 5 yrs old and has really opened up and the mid-harmonic bloom has become gorgeous. Mine has a rosewood neck though. I wonder when they switched to ebony?
10::34 lol .. altogether Great relaxing video, well done. Just watched acoustic comparison viideos for 2 Hours. This one was the most relaxing. Cheers
E10 mahogany is best sound for me. little less 'sweet' than E20 but everything else stronger.
Own an Eastman e10ss/v. Fabulous guitar. Highly recommend.
I second that mate
Great review. Eastman 10ss wins by a country mile. Thanks.
Man, I like all the guitars but there’s something about that gibson J 45 sound that just does it for me. The Eastman e10 is a close second for me
I'm strictly a Taylor guitar player but I'm gonna try to pick honestly the one I like the best.well also Martin guitars I play as well but in this comparison I have to go with the Eastman I really wanted to pick the Gibson but I gotta be honest the Eastman was the superior sounding guitar.
What mic is that? It sounds superb
I thought the Gibson sounded the dullest of all four. I liked the sound of the Epiphone and the E10ss the best. Either one of those you can't go wrong.
He was overly palm muting the J45.
Excellent votre présentation. Bravo Jean
I own an Epi J-45 and I love it. It's 90% of the Gibson vibe at a small fraction of the cost and the build quality is probably better than a Gibson. I've recently discovered Eastman too and they are A LOT of guitar for the money; sound great, high quality construction, but they don't sound like a Gibson. They are their own thing, and it's a good thing. But if you're looking for something that sounds like a Gibson, buy a Gibson or save a lot of money and buy the Epiphone. If you're just looking for a guitar that delivers a ton of value and sounds great, check out Eastman.
I’m biased (!) as I have an E20SS with LR Baggs Anthem fitted and it’s my go-to acoustic most of the time - magnificent guitar. I also have an E1SS and E100SS and the quality of these guitars is amazing if you get past headstock snobbery. Bourgeois guitars have entered into an agreement with Eastman for Eastman to build guitars for them - says it all about the quality IMO.
Hi Stephen, I also have the E1ss and I’m itching to get an E20ss, does the rosewood make a big enough difference to have both? I’m really wanting a slope dread with extra bass and high end and think the E20ss would be perfect. Thanks
@@stephentyndall159 - Hi Stephen (!) - well, it’s difficult to ‘describe’ a sound, of course, (and the strings probably make a difference - I’ve settled on Martin P-B ‘flexible core’ for both) ) but I would describe the the E20SS as a bit more ‘mellow’, more ‘depth’ (bass, without question) - to my ears (and others) the E1SS sounds a tad ‘brighter’ (not harsh), more ‘attack’ than the 20SS. I would say that the difference in sound is more noticeable between these two guitars than any other pair of acoustic guitars I have ever heard, where the only difference is the top (the 20SS has a nitro finish of course). To be specific re bass/bottom end/ ‘warmth’ (what does that mean !!?) IMO the 20 SS has it over the 1SS. Neither of them are going anywhere! Good Luck.
@@stephenfranklin8258 Thanks for detailed response Stephen! From what you have described I definitely need to try the E20ss, it sounds like it’s exactly what I need. Thanks again.
I heard Bourgeois were going to offer advice to improve Eastman guitars. Imho Eastman could make their guitars a bit lighter.
Eastman E10 for me as well. There is just something tonally about Rosewood back & sides that I don't prefer over mahogany.
Love the warmth of mahogany...
Nice demo.
I have the Epiphone. It's a joy to play, whether with fingers, plectrum or finger picks. I could buy the others but don't see the point. I bought it for acoustic sessions and a better pickup would not cost a lot anyway.
All sound great but that adi topped E10SS is unreal.
The pair of Eastman guitars would be my choice.
Very good demo
In this particular video, Eastman is so much better than Epiphone. There's no denying in that, although I wanted to like Epi more. East is just 2 heads above.
Gibson sounds so poor after luxurious full deep Eastmans. I'd say Gib is slightly better than Epiphone, or just different. Epi has lovely warmth and powerful midrange. The Gibson is scooped in the middle, but it "breathes" more and has better trebles.
Great demo thanks just subscribed 👍 published on my birthday, Gibson J45 was my dream but this makes you think?
all fantastic sounding guitars that very few people could tell apart in a blind test, and the Eastman E10 is a stunner visually.......now the question; is the Eastman E10 worth DOUBLE what the Epi costs? That's what I'm gonna have to figure out.
Eastman E10SS sounded best to me - by far - will now consider!
honestly guild ds-240 best value for you money, super comfortable and nice looking for under 500.00 and it sounds really good. plus it has a solid top
I agree with u brother 💯
The Eastman E10 SS just blows the others away, it's like Gibson tried to copy it and failed in every way, just stunning really.
I just bought a used Eastman E20ss for 1.2k usd. Its like new except a few cat wiskers on the strumming side. I think the owner play less than 20 times. I change the strings in a shop and the guy did a little set up, and when I strum it, it was 'wow' . I think I have to put the 2003 Taylor 414ltd imbuia back n side to rest. Its a collector's item, but Eastman's playability on my small hand is easy while the Taylor's neck is not for my hand.The sound of this E20SS took the Taylor hands down.
That sounds so beautiful 😍
Errr. Utube! Iv been tossing up which j45 to buy. Not keen on the hit and miss approach to QC that Epiphone has. I own a ibg hummingbird 12str, which is brilliant instrument (hit). I also own a Masterbilt Zenith Archtop, (hit), and a Masterbilt Texan (miss). My grandson has adopted the Texan, and he belts out Nirvana tunes on it. I have a '06 335, and a '93 LP Custom. Im definitely a Gibson devote, having bought my 1st, a SG in 1978. So...J45.. im now DEFINITELY going to play an Eastman E10ss. In Australia currently, they are $2,500aud, a j45 standard $4,700. If the Eastman i play, sounds like the one here. im buying it. This old guitar snob, is sold.
The first chord of the Gibson 👌