“Why not just buy a Martin”? There is no doubt that Martin guitars ARE great guitars. BUT Martin’s are absolutely WAY OVER PRICED and there are MANY guitars that I would say are EQUAL in PRICE AND QUALITY. Honestly, I have played for 50 years and have played virtually every brand that I could find. I just cannot let myself pay the prices Martin and Taylor charge. I dont give a rats butt where in the world an acoustic guitar is made. A human being that takes great pride in the building of a quality acoustic guitar will take great pride in the building of a beautiful instrumental. For Example; 4 years ago I discovered “ZAGER” guitars. I decided to purchase a ZAD 900 E Dreadnought. It is built of solid East Indian Rosewood back/sides with a solid Sitka Spruce Top. The electronic pickup is a top L.R. Baggs or with the Fishman Aura top of the line pickup. The neck is Mahogany and the nut and saddle are bone. The guitar tuners are Grover. This model also comes with a cut away model like many other brands, to aid in playing further up the neck as most other brands offer. They also provide a decent hard shell case, and 20 ft cord included and a number of picks and extra sets of easy play coated strings and a quality leather strapI purchased a standard dreadnought and a cut away model and honestly could not be happier. Their customer service stands by each customer and provides top notch service 2nd to none. My point is, I paid approximately $2500-$2600 for each guitar and they have both performed beautifully out of the box and have played, sincerely good or better than any models Martin or Taylor or Matan or Eastman ,Takamine any or any other brands. While the Martin D-41, D-42, and the famous D-45 models with all the abalone inlay will set you back about $6,000 - $9,000. I am not saying ZAGER makes “BETTER” guitar, my feelings are they make an EQUAL guitar at a much more affordable price. If you want to pay 2-3 times the price and you can feel good about that by all means. Go ahead. Just remember playing a much more expensive guitar will not make YOU the next Eric Clapton or Tommy Emmanuelle. Long hours of practice and determination will bring the success you look for. Make sure you are determined to play well and put in the time and effort and buy a quality guitar you can afford before overspending on a guitar you know you can be happy with. Even Yamaha manufactures a decent quality model at a reasonable price that they wont need to bury you with. Many models are out now with new models hitting the market that may make you happier than you think. Evaluate what your objectives are and don’t let debt make you feel overburdened. Zager also gives you a free 30 day home trial period and a full one year home warranty. How can you beat it? And that includes shipping both ways👍😳😇🇺🇦🇺🇸🇮🇱Play on and keep music bringing joy to the world. We certainly need it in today’s world full of war and so death. Music has a way of soothing our lives and acoustic guitar is truly able to bring that blessing!
I own an E-10D that my wife bought for me on vacation at The Acoustic Shoppe. I’ve always wanted a Martin but they were a bit cost prohibitive for me. The Eastman checks all the boxes for what I like in terms of sound and playability. Your staff was so kind, patient and informative and let me play as many guitars as I wanted until I found “the one”. Thanks for being a great shop!
I lived in China for well over a decade, and visited the Eastman factory in Beijing, pre-Covid. I spoke to several of the craftsmen building guitars and mandolins, and they are rightfully proud of the instruments they build… just as the craftsmen in Nazareth, Pa. surely are! The three guitars all sounded great! But, there was one passage that really grabbed my attention, and it was B, the Martin.
@@ross9581 understood…. I have no love for the “Party” either. But, this is not an American or Japanese company building cheap guitars in China, while their high end stuff is built in the homeland. These are only built in China, the owner is an accomplished musician trained at Berklee School of music, and these are not “factory” instruments.
I just bought my first guitar. Because of this video I went and looked and tried. I had a friend play them so I can hear and just like I this video the E6 has a very rich and warm sound to me. It also has great volume, for someone with tinnitus, that will be very helpful on my journey. My friend has a 50’s era Gibson he loves and was his grandfathers. Even he was very impressed with the E6 and said he would choose it as well over the Martin of comparable cost that I was looking at. Solid wood vs laminate is def. A better sounding guitar.
Love these blind comparisons, and really all your content! I own an Eastman E10D-TC I’ve played a ton and put in over 100 hours of conditioning using a home brewed Tone Traveller (I’ve lost track of exactly how long). I picked “B” in the blind shootout because it sounded the most like my guitar to me (all sounded great though). To me, this proves two things: 1. CZcams videos are no replacement for playing an instrument yourself. 2. This goes to show just how much potential is in these Eastman instruments. Given that Eastman tops are a tad thicker than US made guitars, I think it just takes some patience and quality playing time for them to really come into their own. And all the best things in life require patience and quality time!
I think what “sounds best” in a guitar is a continuously dynamic opinion. For example I own a Martin HD 28 and a Gibson J45 Rosewood. I have had both of them for 15 + years and I have literally changed my mind on which is “best” at least 10 times. It changes with the kind of music that I am playing, how new the strings are, and how long it’s been since I last played, and other factors. I’m also swayed by memories of past experiences playing a particular guitar. So get what you like, play what you have, and the joy is in the music!
I have an E20D prototype that’s not quite an E20 and not quite the old AC420B. Still has the Adirondack top, no herringbone though. Bought in 2012, they offered to replace it because the neck is slightly crooked. I kept it and it after over 1000 gigs it has aged like fine wine!
I listened to the Eastman, but it tends to follow the Taylor sound, which is for country music. I am a bluegrass picker who like the deeper round sound of the Martin. Good video.
I think the newer Eastmans are great guitars and are a tremendous value. However, I also think that people generally tend to prefer "Martin sound" because it's familiar. That sound is on so many classic records, it's hard to break away from the expectation of what a guitar should sound like from that standpoint. That being said, there are definitely applications where one guitar might shine over the other. Great comparison!
Another great video. I own 3 Eastmans now, Cedar top, Spruce top OM both with Sapele backs and sides and a all koa. All 3 have a great sound and play wonderfully. I prefer them over the D18 and the D 35 as far as play ability for my old hands. I am still blown away by the sound of the OM for a smaller guitar. In the blind test, I did pick out B as the Martin right off but I thing I am use to hearing that sounds from the jams I play in. Eastman is without a doubt right there with Martian and every one that hears and plays mine are blown away with its sounds and play ability.
Just purchased an E10D-TC from you guys. And this video is what started me down this path. I’ve only owned Martins up to this point (D35 JC; 1998 D-15), but these Eastmans are very impressive! Thank you guys for taking the time to provide a ton of good info in your vids. Please keep it up!
For years my Holygrail guitars were aMartin D35 and the Gibson Songwritter, then a Road scarred beat up Eastman AC720 fell on to my lap. Man was I blown away by its Piano like loudness, rich and Bassy tones. My Eastman was the lovechild of my Martin and Gibson when they pornicated behind my back. Sold my Prize possessions D35 and my Songwritter and bought myself another Eastman E20ss, I never looked back.
$2700+ is a huge amount of dosh for most of us blue collar stiffs, so thankfully Eastman exist to make us feel like we can own a beautiful guitar for an unpretentious price. 🖖
Several other brands making fine guitars for a fair price besides Eastman. Alvarez and Recording King come to mind. Even Epiphone has a very nice J-45 clone. We are living in a golden age of sorts for extremely high quality, affordable guitars, both acoustic and electric. Get 'em now while the getting is good. One day they'll be held in the same regard as the classic Martin's and Gibsons.
I do like the Martin more, but it's not like the Eastmans are bad by any means. They're just a little different and brighter to my ear. There's really no losing no matter which one you pick. We're lucky there are so many great brands to choose from.
Owned both at the same time (2019) and I preferred and still have the E10D. It fits me better and it sounded better between those two specific guitars. However I have played authentic style Martin’s that I have absolutely loved.
I just bought a 2019 D-18 and I never flinched at the price (vs buying a D-18 copy). I wanted the prestige and history of Martin. Actually, I'm getting ready to take a Martin factory tour and i bought a hardcover book (Martin Guitars: A History). If my family wants to sell my Martin some day when I'm dead, they will probably recover every penny I “spent” for my D-18. My D-18 is piece of history, vs a copy of a historical guitar. I wouldn't criticize someone for wanting to save $1,000 and still have a great-sounding, beautiful guitar…but they're not playing a Martin. I wanted to own and play a Martin and i love that feeling.
I love Martin as a company and they have very good guitars. I've had quite a few. My Special D 16 with satin Rosewood is a stripped down HD-28 which I got for less than $1600 new. I also love Eastmans and can you get a lot of guitar for your buck with with better tonewoods and themo cure. But I like them not because they sound like Martin. They have their voice and playability is usually great. With all that my true love is the Gibson sound. Even as a bluegrass player, I may pick up a full-scale dreadnought but overall, a short scale slope shoulder Gibson is my go-to, especially when I sing. Lesson: you need a collection.
I closed my eyes and listened so I didn't know when or even how many times you changed. I only opened my eyes when I heard what I describe as home,(anyone that plays and has that 1 guitar that nothing really compares to knows what I'm talking about) so every time I heard it ,I opened my eyes and close them back and listened until I heard it again. Every time I looked it was B. Having said that I personally have never liked the neck on a d18. I prefer a big thick d28 neck with a veloute. And the eastmans have that and feel better to me. Love you're content. Keep up the good work.
🎉it is pure joy to see you boys come on and demo these fine instruments and plsy wonderful music. Every time i wstch a new video its like being reacquainted with two old friends that i never met. Good salesmanship,good service,friendly people.
I've been pretty happy with my Eastman E10D Sunburst. Got it about 8 yrs ago it sounded terrible at first. I just kept playing it and now it's opened up and sounding good 👍
This was really helpful! I've been wanting a D-18 for YEARS, as every time I pick one up, I think to myself "this is exactly what I want in an acoustic guitar." Not because it was a Martin, or anything - I honestly fell in love with D-18s before I even knew anything about Martin Guitars! I'm in the midst of saving, and I'm not quite at the point of having enough for a D-18, but I do have enough for an E-10D, and I went down a rabbit hole thinking maybe the Adirondack would be a better spec and I could save some money with an Eastman. And the Eastmans do sound really good. But in the blind test, "B" was by FAR my preference. When I watched videos, I felt like, "oh, there's little differences", but in the blind shoot out, I was surprised that I had a very, very clear preference - and low and behold, it is the guitar that I've known I've wanted the last 10 years. Seems my D-18 fund is safe a while longer as I continue to save up! Not knocking the Eastman's though - I've tried a E-10D and is was a really remarkable sounding guitar, and I can see how someone might prefer the Eastman over the Martin too. Anyway, thanks again - where I live, I had been able to try both guitars, but never in the same shop, side-by-side.
Thanks for the feedback! We're glad we could help you in the decision making process, that's our goal when we make blind tests. That guitar will be worth the wait! 😀
I could hear the Martin. John alluded to iit when he said he'd like one or the other for certain things. For me, what am I signing or playing. Martin may have a better grade of woods and employee benefits. Eastman has a better price and a different voice. Listening over CZcams has issues also. It's best to play and hear them in person. Too far away? Ask for a tone sample. Or know and trust someone at the shop who understands what you do and are looking for. I have some Martin's and a few Eastman guitars because they fit my voice for different songs. That's what I think I heard John say: a different guitar voice for a different tune. Thanks for the comparison, John. Can't wait to hear my next guitar.
As a Beginning player this is way over my head, they all sound great, and I definitely think a person can overthink this, like anything else ! I think in the end ya just have to Happy Gilmore it! Just pick it up and go for it, stop nit picking, just play it ! For most hobbyists players I'd think it comes down to money, and for me the Eastman offering at around a thousand less wins hands down ! More expensive don't translate to better in many things !
One day you’re gonna wake up and think “man this guitar just doesn’t sound like such and such sound I’m going for” and you will then begin a journey of why people can become so nit picky. Then there’s also the fact that environment and style of music plays a big role. That said you’re absolutely right that it’s way more important to just play the dang thing. Also it doesn’t take thousands of dollars to have a great sounding guitar. I have cheap and expensive and love all of them.
I am a big Martin fan. I prefer Martin to Gibson or Taylor. I’ve played and owned over 125 guitars in my life. I’m down to 7 acoustics in my collection. Likes are definitely subjective, but I own two Martins, two American made Breedloves and an inexpensive Eastman E2OM. I claim these to be my forever guitars. I’ve owned other Eastman 00, OM, and D bodies in various wood combinations. I couldn’t find a bad Eastman. For the money, probably the BEST guitars available ( in my opinion). There is something about the Martin sound , feel, and even the SMELL, and if I had unlimited funds I’d own a few more. But it is very hard to tell the difference on some of these. Martin vs Eastman. Great video. Thank you
About the price difference: how often & long do you play, for who, and why. My "guitar of the week " will be played in front of folks at least 20 hours a week. I'll play another couple guitars a day for practice, lesson, and learning new material, probability another 30~40 hours a week, a little every day. Maybe a bit more if grandchildren come over for a lesson. So 200 hours a month, how much would a guitar's better sound/voice be worth for an investment? At a dollar an hour, the difference would be made up in 5 months. And if its that tone that causes one to play more, definitely worth the cost. Buying a good used one, even moreso.
Love you guys’ playing and singing. Top notch brother duet! I’d like to hear you do a similar comparison between Eastman and one of your other boutique brands, like Eastman vs Boucher, Eastman vs Bourgeois, or Eastman vs Gallagher. I think it was you guys said that you get deeper bass with more expensive guitars. I prefer the deeper bass and rounder trebles of the D-18 but as they say, there’s no accounting for taste. I’d be also curious to hear how the Eastmans sound after they’ve been played hard and often for a few years.
I struggled to hear a difference early in the blind test. Each clip was too brief and edited away too quickly. The number of clips made it possible for me to eventually discern a difference. I found I preferred guitar A, then B, then finally C. I appreciated the articulation and punch/projection that I heard over the other two. Guitar B had a nice punch and tone. Guitar C was a bit more quiet than I prefer. Thank you for the blind test.
Interesting! Thanks for this comparison. I found the A guitar the nicest sounding overall and funny enough it's with TC top like my E1-OM-SP is! I do think that thermocure tops make well made guitars even more responsive and open sounding.
They were so similar, I really struggled to discern any real, definitive difference between all three guitars. I think you’re getting a great sounding instrument any which way someone may choose. I personally wound up with a Yamaha FGX5, and don’t regret it a bit. I love, love, love Martin, but the Yamaha FGX5 is just what was right for me. I see that the price is going up on those considerably now, too.
I bought an E8D (non-torrified) a little over a year ago. It cost over $800 less than my next cheapest guitar. I now play it more than any of my other guitars combined.
My initial ranking is A then C with B last. Then I saw which was which. I am still partial to rosewood, but the Eastman guitars are certainly comparable. My question is do you have much variation in the mass produced guitars? Jp Cormier talks about differences and recommends that you have to play and hear each guitar before you buy. As an example I recently bought a used Martin road series dreadnaught ($500) and although I didn’t expect it to sound very good, it’s sound is great and in the ballpark with a few all solid guitars I have. Did I get the lucky with this one?
It was really hard for me to choose which I liked better. That being said, I did end up liking B (Martin) just a hair more. Again, really hard to choose and they all sounded great. For me, it would come down to which had the best playability since I know the sound is there for all 3.
I think the Covid era Martins are some of the best made. I was told that a ton of the custom shop guys moved back on the main line for a bit. I bought a D-18 Standard Amberburst '21 but I love the Eastman neck shape with the radius fretboard.
Audience question answer- A friend of mine had his father’s 1955 D 18. I had a Martin DR1. As wonderful as it was to hold and play a Martin that was manufactured the year I was born, my DR1 sounded so much better in tone and volume. I presently have an Eastman E3D I wouldn’t trade for a Martin of any type.
Thanks for putting together these blindfold test shootouts. You guys are the gold standard for this type of video. John’s an exceptionally good bluegrass picker (he also has a masterful ear and does a great job of getting and keeping the guitars under test in tune). The sound quality of the recordings is excellent, and whoever does the editing of the video and audio to make the blind test and reveal videos has really got it down to a science. My only question about the process is how you selected the particular guitars you used for the test? In my experience, you could play three or four brand new D-18s, and they’d all sound different, and one would probably sound noticeably better than the others. Same goes (possible more so) for Eastman E10Ds. I know that the engineering has improved, and that consistency in build has improved along with it, but isn’t there still a certain amount of guitar-to-guitar variation that makes some examples of a particular guitar model just sound much better than average right out of the box? So how did you pick the D-18 and the E10D you used for this video? If one was selected by the manufacturer as the best-sounding one they had in stock, and the other was just randomly picked off the assembly line, the test might not be that meaningful. PS - I really like the Chapmans music videos you make. I hope that you have a local place to go out and play live, because you’re both very talented performers, and it’s being wasted somewhat if you never leave the store…
Thanks so much for the feedback, we really hope these videos help folks decide which models they prefer! As far as exactly how we pick the instruments, it's honestly just what we have in stock. We can't carry Martins so when we get one used like this case, then we try to jump on the opportunity to film a comparison. The Eastmans are definitely just picked at random, in general, we also don't really overstock Eastmans but rather keep a variety of their line in stock. I believe these were the only E10s and E6s we had in at the time. So they kinda are random but that can be a test of the manufacturer. I can compare it to secret shopping or an undercover boss situation, you should always put out your best quality because you never know when your product might be put to the test. These videos are meant to help those deciding which model to buy and they can in general show which direction they should lean. But of course, in a buying situation, you should always listen to or play the exact model you're looking at. Kind of a long answer but I just wanted to cover your questions. Thanks so much for watching and for the feedback - truly! If we have the choice, we do try to put the best vs the best.
Def buy used. That’s the real value. Just bought used Martin d18 and the new price of the Eastman was too close to go with Eastman. Great value used but if goin new pay a little more for the used martin
I have three Martins and I love them all. However, I wanted to experiment with lower tunings and with Nashville tuned guitars and I wasn’t going to spend thousands of euros (Netherlands, Dutchie here) for a guitar to experiment with. So I bought an Eastman E1OM for €695,- brand new (approximately the same in dollars). It’s a 000 sized guitar with an all solid wood construction, perfectly built, beautiful looks, bone nut and saddle, ebony fingerboard and bridge, good tuners and it plays like a dream. It is such a good guitar that I started to doubt my decision to use it for experimental purposes. And now I’m in doubt again, because I can buy a 2nd hand E6OM and that’s basically the equivalent of a Martin 000-18, but this thing would cost me €775,- with a case. BUT I ALREADY HAVE AN UNBELIEVABLY GOOD SOUNDING MARTIN 000-18!!! We’re talking about a great guitar for such a small amount of money that I find it hard NOT to buy it. But hey, it’s still approximately 775 dollars. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I’ll get rid of the cheap guitar that I use for Nashville tuning, buy the E6OM and use that for Nashville tuning. I don’t know. HELP ME!!! 😮
It can be great to build your collection, even with very similar instruments because they do still sound different. If it encourages you to play and create more, go for it! In our opinions, the E6 is a great step up from the E1 (Dread or OM).
I was nervous about this blind test but I chose B I thought it stood out of the 3 !! And low and behold it was the Martin d-18 !! I own a 2018 martin d-18 and I love it !!!
I was able to pick out the Martin, but had to listen twice through. For the price difference though I might be buying an eastman as my next guitar over a comparable Martin. ALL of these guitars will get better with age. I will say playing the same riff on all three guitars back to back helps me hear the difference rather than one continuous song. Great job guys.
I know squat about high end guitars but I picked B … which coincidentally I own Martin Dx Cash model ( which sounds nothing like that D-18 lol) . Good video !
I have played Martins for years, and did pick the Martin out of this video. I had a custom guitar built for me last year by a boutique builder. Its a mahog with adi top. Compared to my D18GE its about like this video. the Custom build is a killer guitar, more clarity and punch. Just a little different sound than my Martin. I really enjoy them both. The Eastmans are good sounding guitars, usually.
I was unsure until I heard him strum and guitar B really stood out to me, I really liked a and c when he flatpicked but to me the d-18 had a much better strumming sound
A is full blast attack. Sounds like AD/IR forward, scalloped, tuned top, etc etc...for the money.... 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮 B&C are identical subdued straight across volume/tone. 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮 I know you guys played this by the book. But: How????????????????????????????
Sheesh that was a lotta pre-amble yackin'...heh With such good playing, nice instruments and a flattering-to-neutral recording chain, it's down to about a 1-3% of difference in preference and taste. At this level its kind of impossible to go wrong here. Through my Focal CMS 50s A) Is most present and sounds the least complicated, perhaps easier to work with in a multitrack session B) is balanced and the most dimensional with depth and size, C) is jangle-y but still pretty smooth. The answer is "Yes".
B or the Martin was my first choice, then A, then C. Very interesting. I have played prewar Martins and I believe the number one positive was the Adirondack tops. Cheers, Tomeh
I have an Eastman acoustic, mandolin and banjo. Great value. But. Warranty is very iffy. If they quit making a particular instrument they can’t provide you replacement parts. Something you should consider.
The differences among the 3 are noticable, but subtle to my ears. If I were purchasing a guitar to play in a club, bar or cafe, I'd pick the one with the lowest number on the price tag. I might take a more particular attitude for recording or my own listening/playing in a private setting.
I guessed right on the Martin. Hooray for me. So, here is a remark having nothing to do with Martin dreadnoughts. I picked up a well played 2016 Gibson J45 Standard last night and just spent an hour bouncing back and forth as fast as I could between it and my Eastman E10D. They are both dreds and both have sitka spruce tops with mahogany back and sides so it seemed natural to compare the two. Considering how much the Gibson cost, I really wanted it to be the better guitar. It has more bass and wider note separation but I honestly can't pick a favorite... so far. At first I thought that Gibson was louder but now I'm not so sure. It seems the Eastman tone is more balanced and sophisticated (whatever that means). With flame mahogany back and sides, the Eastman is the prettiest guitar by far. Eastman gives a lot of bang for the buck.
I found the Martin to sound best in the blind test, but the E10D was very close. If I had to choose, I would probably go for the Eastman for sheer bang-for-buck. I did not enjoy the E6D-TC, it was way too bright for my liking.
I think all the Eastmans have similar philosophy. They could copy 1-for-1 all the brands/models but doesn't go as far as exactly replicate the tone. I have the E10SS/V, the build quality, the neck, the woods are all similar or even better than anything offered by Gibson short of custom shop. However, when played side by side with a J45 Standard, the tone of the J45 is unmistakablely classic with a more growling low. My E10SS/V feels much better on the neck and the low fundamentals seem at a slightly higher frequency, better high-mids and high sparkle and refinement on the Eastman. It almost sound more like a D18 than a J45. So, if you are talking about whether or not they're "good" guitars, they're excellent guitars. If you are going for the classic tone of a Martin/Gibson etc, you should stick with the original brands.
I own an old 75’ Alvarez 5024. That is the only non USA acoustic I own. I love the Eastman E-10SS but struggle with anything from China. I would rather keep my money state side. 🇺🇸
I immediately recognized the Martin. Very much surprised how good guitar A and B sounded! The Eastman punched really nice, but I love that deep Martin sound.
The “Test of Time” is also very important. What will my Eastman e10 sound like in 50-60-70+ years from now. Unknown? Hopefully my grandson will be happy with it,🎉😂
I have a couple Eastmans. The acoustic I play and the electric archtop I dont. I believe these guitars have been undervalued and in 10 years the price gap between a Martin and Eastman will close.
I used to have an Eastman e20om, great guitar but finally sold it because it had some subtle high frequency sound on the high e string that anoyed me at some point. These ones seems to have that sound too. If it hadn't had that subtle high end sound, I would have kept it cause all other strings sounded great !
I’ve really enjoyed this show They all have a great tone and think anyone can enjoy these guitars . But being a Martin fan it’s hard to not njoy these sounds !
Pleased to say I got guitar B as the Martin. That said, I own an Eastman E20-OM-TC and a E10-OO-M and I’ve sold a Martin OOO-28. Martin and Taylor prices are just so silly. Eastman are nicely made guitars at a fair price.
I wish you would have played longer passages on each guitar and then repeat the same passage or an entire verse or A section of a tune then repeat the same thing on guitar b and c. Trying to compare 3 second segments of each guitar as you progress through the form of a tune made it more difficult to really compare each guitar. I owned a slope shoulder Eastman I can’t remember the model number and it was a great guitar but it didn’t have as much of a woodsy earthy tone to it as even my current epiphone j45. No disrespect to eastman, they make great guitars but it was interesting for me to find more of that aged woodsy tone in a reissue 700-ish dollar epiphone copy of a Gibson j45. And I’d say the same thing holds true for martins verse eastman. A Martin just sounds like a Martin, something classic sounding about them that is really a noticeable sonic difference.
My lead guitarist has a Martin 0-18 from the 1940’s. We did out last album’s acoustic stuff with it. I was seriously considering hiring a magician to make him disappear because I wanted that guitar so bad. Lol
I picked out a guitar for my pastor in 1996. It was the best one in the store that day. It was the cheapest Martin at the time. A DM. It's special. Ive owned it for probably 20 years now. Everybody likes it or wants it. I think $600 and change at the time.
Overall John's favorite strings are the GHS Americana's, or D'Addario EJ17's or XS Strings if you prefer them lasting longer. All of these instruments we sound much more open the more they are played and guitars typically just get better and better over time. Hope this helps!
I have a Martin D-28 re-imagined and a Eastman E10D-SB. I must admit that the Eastman is a tone canon. The D-28's top is slightly more tolerant to heavy strumming but not worth the price difference. Amazing guitar for the price!
On a good set of headphones I could tell the Martin from the Eastmans, but not by a far stretch. At this level, it´s 100% about the player, not the box. That said, if you are looking for that vintage sound, the Martin is still a better choice. Don´t forget to put on Monels, though ...
It would help to hear you play a song separately on each guitar instead of switchong suring the song in what seems like every 30 seconds. It's hard to get a true representation of what each guitar sounds like.
These Eastman's and Martin's have been scoped. They are virtually identical on the low end: the Martin's do not have a better bottom end and the science proves it. Instead, the Eastman's have more pronounced highs in addition to the low end of a Martin. So, it's a matter of taste. As a finger-stylist, I prefer the Eastman's because they deliver both qualities. I can play bluegrass and fingerstyle w/ one...they remind me of the Mark Whitebook Dreadboughts that I played in the 1970s that James Taylor played on "Mexico" etc. They project a great low end and have sparkling highs....These are GREAT guitars...
better? - what is your definition of better?....better sound?...ok...I get that. I once bought a guitar from China that sounded great. When I decided to upgrade to a Martin the guitar store would not even offer me a trade in value. So I suggest you consider trade in value when you buy an 'off brand.' If you plan to keep it then trade in value may not matter to you. Also, consider durability. Will the guitar hold up over the years? Does it have a good reputation? If it develops problems after a few years then it may not be a bargin afterall. So if it has better sound (or even as good as for a lower price) you should also ask - does it have equal or better trade in value and does it have equal or better durability. I own an Eastman 805c archtop that I bought for well less than an equal 'brand name'. I like it a lot and have no plans to trade it. So trade in value is not an issue for me with it. I've had it maybe 10 years and no issues so durability seems good.
I love those Eastmans and Martins... I was strumming that tune and singing along to it... but the lyrics I sang were "I shipped on a Yankee coffin ship... Davey Crockett is her name, and Burgess is the captain of her, and they say that she's a floating hell..." and realized I was singing another tune Bob Dylan ripped off, tweaked the words a little, and then he ran down to the copyright office and copyrighted it as his own composition... "It's not the leaving of Liverpool that's grieving me, but my darling when I think of thee..."
Trust your ears and your hands, not the label. If you like the sound and it plays well, you're going to play it.
My E20D knocks most others out
“Why not just buy a Martin”? There is no doubt that Martin guitars ARE great guitars. BUT Martin’s are absolutely WAY OVER PRICED and there are MANY guitars that I would say are EQUAL in PRICE AND QUALITY. Honestly, I have played for 50 years and have played virtually every brand that I could find. I just cannot let myself pay the prices Martin and Taylor charge. I dont give a rats butt where in the world an acoustic guitar is made. A human being that takes great pride in the building of a quality acoustic guitar will take great pride in the building of a beautiful instrumental. For Example; 4 years ago I discovered “ZAGER” guitars. I decided to purchase a ZAD 900 E Dreadnought. It is built of solid East Indian Rosewood back/sides with a solid Sitka Spruce Top. The electronic pickup is a top L.R. Baggs or with the Fishman Aura top of the line pickup. The neck is Mahogany and the nut and saddle are bone. The guitar tuners are Grover. This model also comes with a cut away model like many other brands, to aid in playing further up the neck as most other brands offer. They also provide a decent hard shell case, and 20 ft cord included and a number of picks and extra sets of easy play coated strings and a quality leather strapI purchased a standard dreadnought and a cut away model and honestly could not be happier. Their customer service stands by each customer and provides top notch service 2nd to none. My point is, I paid approximately $2500-$2600 for each guitar and they have both performed beautifully out of the box and have played, sincerely good or better than any models Martin or Taylor or Matan or Eastman ,Takamine any or any other brands. While the Martin D-41, D-42, and the famous D-45 models with all the abalone inlay will set you back about $6,000 - $9,000. I am not saying ZAGER makes “BETTER” guitar, my feelings are they make an EQUAL guitar at a much more affordable price. If you want to pay 2-3 times the price and you can feel good about that by all means. Go ahead. Just remember playing a much more expensive guitar will not make YOU the next Eric Clapton or Tommy Emmanuelle. Long hours of practice and determination will bring the success you look for. Make sure you are determined to play well and put in the time and effort and buy a quality guitar you can afford before overspending on a guitar you know you can be happy with. Even Yamaha manufactures a decent quality model at a reasonable price that they wont need to bury you with. Many models are out now with new models hitting the market that may make you happier than you think. Evaluate what your objectives are and don’t let debt make you feel overburdened. Zager also gives you a free 30 day home trial period and a full one year home warranty. How can you beat it? And that includes shipping both ways👍😳😇🇺🇦🇺🇸🇮🇱Play on and keep music bringing joy to the world. We certainly need it in today’s world full of war and so death. Music has a way of soothing our lives and acoustic guitar is truly able to bring that blessing!
I own an E-10D that my wife bought for me on vacation at The Acoustic Shoppe. I’ve always wanted a Martin but they were a bit cost prohibitive for me. The Eastman checks all the boxes for what I like in terms of sound and playability. Your staff was so kind, patient and informative and let me play as many guitars as I wanted until I found “the one”. Thanks for being a great shop!
I lived in China for well over a decade, and visited the Eastman factory in Beijing, pre-Covid. I spoke to several of the craftsmen building guitars and mandolins, and they are rightfully proud of the instruments they build… just as the craftsmen in Nazareth, Pa. surely are!
The three guitars all sounded great! But, there was one passage that really grabbed my attention, and it was B, the Martin.
Build in China...thanks but no thanks..
@@ross9581 understood…. I have no love for the “Party” either. But, this is not an American or Japanese company building cheap guitars in China, while their high end stuff is built in the homeland. These are only built in China, the owner is an accomplished musician trained at Berklee School of music, and these are not “factory” instruments.
To me A was the best Sounding One, Clear Mids and Highs, Projected nicely and had just enough low end aswell. Eastman is just superb value honestly.
I agree 100%. I was debating between the e6d and e10d and I like the sound of the e6d better for the exact reasons that you listed.
I just bought my first guitar. Because of this video I went and looked and tried. I had a friend play them so I can hear and just like I this video the E6 has a very rich and warm sound to me. It also has great volume, for someone with tinnitus, that will be very helpful on my journey. My friend has a 50’s era Gibson he loves and was his grandfathers. Even he was very impressed with the E6 and said he would choose it as well over the Martin of comparable cost that I was looking at. Solid wood vs laminate is def. A better sounding guitar.
Love these blind comparisons, and really all your content!
I own an Eastman E10D-TC I’ve played a ton and put in over 100 hours of conditioning using a home brewed Tone Traveller (I’ve lost track of exactly how long). I picked “B” in the blind shootout because it sounded the most like my guitar to me (all sounded great though). To me, this proves two things:
1. CZcams videos are no replacement for playing an instrument yourself.
2. This goes to show just how much potential is in these Eastman instruments. Given that Eastman tops are a tad thicker than US made guitars, I think it just takes some patience and quality playing time for them to really come into their own. And all the best things in life require patience and quality time!
I think what “sounds best” in a guitar is a continuously dynamic opinion. For example I own a Martin HD 28 and a Gibson J45 Rosewood. I have had both of them for 15 + years and I have literally changed my mind on which is “best” at least 10 times. It changes with the kind of music that I am playing, how new the strings are, and how long it’s been since I last played, and other factors. I’m also swayed by memories of past experiences playing a particular guitar. So get what you like, play what you have, and the joy is in the music!
They all sounded so close that it's proof that some new strings and a good player matter more than what's on the headstock.
I have an E20D prototype that’s not quite an E20 and not quite the old AC420B. Still has the Adirondack top, no herringbone though. Bought in 2012, they offered to replace it because the neck is slightly crooked. I kept it and it after over 1000 gigs it has aged like fine wine!
I listened to the Eastman, but it tends to follow the Taylor sound, which is for country music. I am a bluegrass picker who like the deeper round sound of the Martin. Good video.
I think the newer Eastmans are great guitars and are a tremendous value. However, I also think that people generally tend to prefer "Martin sound" because it's familiar. That sound is on so many classic records, it's hard to break away from the expectation of what a guitar should sound like from that standpoint. That being said, there are definitely applications where one guitar might shine over the other. Great comparison!
Thanks. I actually preferred the Eastmans. Bonus is that they are incredible value for the money!
They really are.
Best Pac Rim guitar company imo.
I have a e20d MR TC it is a killer sounding acoustic guitar 😅😅😁😁😁
"Used Eastman E6/E10 vs. used Martin D-18..."
Another great video. I own 3 Eastmans now, Cedar top, Spruce top OM both with Sapele backs and sides and a all koa. All 3 have a great sound and play wonderfully. I prefer them over the D18 and the D 35 as far as play ability for my old hands. I am still blown away by the sound of the OM for a smaller guitar. In the blind test, I did pick out B as the Martin right off but I thing I am use to hearing that sounds from the jams I play in. Eastman is without a doubt right there with Martian and every one that hears and plays mine are blown away with its sounds and play ability.
Just purchased an E10D-TC from you guys. And this video is what started me down this path. I’ve only owned Martins up to this point (D35 JC; 1998 D-15), but these Eastmans are very impressive!
Thank you guys for taking the time to provide a ton of good info in your vids. Please keep it up!
Thanks so much for supporting us and for the feedback!
I love my 2019 eastman e20d I changed the pins to bone and added the old round tuners and honestly it's a beautiful guitar
For years my Holygrail guitars were aMartin D35 and the Gibson Songwritter, then a Road scarred beat up Eastman AC720 fell on to my lap. Man was I blown away by its Piano like loudness, rich and Bassy tones. My Eastman was the lovechild of my Martin and Gibson when they pornicated behind my back. Sold my Prize possessions D35 and my Songwritter and bought myself another Eastman E20ss, I never looked back.
$2700+ is a huge amount of dosh for most of us blue collar stiffs, so thankfully Eastman exist to make us feel like we can own a beautiful guitar for an unpretentious price. 🖖
Several other brands making fine guitars for a fair price besides Eastman. Alvarez and Recording King come to mind. Even Epiphone has a very nice J-45 clone. We are living in a golden age of sorts for extremely high quality, affordable guitars, both acoustic and electric. Get 'em now while the getting is good. One day they'll be held in the same regard as the classic Martin's and Gibsons.
I do like the Martin more, but it's not like the Eastmans are bad by any means. They're just a little different and brighter to my ear. There's really no losing no matter which one you pick. We're lucky there are so many great brands to choose from.
Owned both at the same time (2019) and I preferred and still have the E10D. It fits me better and it sounded better between those two specific guitars. However I have played authentic style Martin’s that I have absolutely loved.
I just bought a 2019 D-18 and I never flinched at the price (vs buying a D-18 copy). I wanted the prestige and history of Martin. Actually, I'm getting ready to take a Martin factory tour and i bought a hardcover book (Martin Guitars: A History). If my family wants to sell my Martin some day when I'm dead, they will probably recover every penny I “spent” for my D-18. My D-18 is piece of history, vs a copy of a historical guitar. I wouldn't criticize someone for wanting to save $1,000 and still have a great-sounding, beautiful guitar…but they're not playing a Martin. I wanted to own and play a Martin and i love that feeling.
I love Martin as a company and they have very good guitars. I've had quite a few. My Special D 16 with satin Rosewood is a stripped down HD-28 which I got for less than $1600 new.
I also love Eastmans and can you get a lot of guitar for your buck with with better tonewoods and themo cure. But I like them not because they sound like Martin. They have their voice and playability is usually great.
With all that my true love is the Gibson sound. Even as a bluegrass player, I may pick up a full-scale dreadnought but overall, a short scale slope shoulder Gibson is my go-to, especially when I sing.
Lesson: you need a collection.
Comparing a D-18 to any other guitar is a hard task for the other guitar 🤣 great vid!
I closed my eyes and listened so I didn't know when or even how many times you changed. I only opened my eyes when I heard what I describe as home,(anyone that plays and has that 1 guitar that nothing really compares to knows what I'm talking about) so every time I heard it ,I opened my eyes and close them back and listened until I heard it again. Every time I looked it was B. Having said that I personally have never liked the neck on a d18. I prefer a big thick d28 neck with a veloute. And the eastmans have that and feel better to me. Love you're content. Keep up the good work.
The great thing about Eastman is that the binding will stay attached as opposed to Martin over the last 12 years or so.
🎉it is pure joy to see you boys come on and demo these fine instruments and plsy wonderful music. Every time i wstch a new video its like being reacquainted with two old friends that i never met. Good salesmanship,good service,friendly people.
Thanks so much for supporting us!
I've been pretty happy with my Eastman E10D Sunburst. Got it about 8 yrs ago it sounded terrible at first. I just kept playing it and now it's opened up and sounding good 👍
That's some amazing editing! I picked #1 -A, #2-C, #3 -B (E6, E10, D28)
This was really helpful! I've been wanting a D-18 for YEARS, as every time I pick one up, I think to myself "this is exactly what I want in an acoustic guitar." Not because it was a Martin, or anything - I honestly fell in love with D-18s before I even knew anything about Martin Guitars! I'm in the midst of saving, and I'm not quite at the point of having enough for a D-18, but I do have enough for an E-10D, and I went down a rabbit hole thinking maybe the Adirondack would be a better spec and I could save some money with an Eastman. And the Eastmans do sound really good. But in the blind test, "B" was by FAR my preference. When I watched videos, I felt like, "oh, there's little differences", but in the blind shoot out, I was surprised that I had a very, very clear preference - and low and behold, it is the guitar that I've known I've wanted the last 10 years. Seems my D-18 fund is safe a while longer as I continue to save up! Not knocking the Eastman's though - I've tried a E-10D and is was a really remarkable sounding guitar, and I can see how someone might prefer the Eastman over the Martin too. Anyway, thanks again - where I live, I had been able to try both guitars, but never in the same shop, side-by-side.
Thanks for the feedback! We're glad we could help you in the decision making process, that's our goal when we make blind tests. That guitar will be worth the wait! 😀
I could hear the Martin. John alluded to iit when he said he'd like one or the other for certain things. For me, what am I signing or playing. Martin may have a better grade of woods and employee benefits. Eastman has a better price and a different voice. Listening over CZcams has issues also. It's best to play and hear them in person. Too far away? Ask for a tone sample. Or know and trust someone at the shop who understands what you do and are looking for. I have some Martin's and a few Eastman guitars because they fit my voice for different songs. That's what I think I heard John say: a different guitar voice for a different tune. Thanks for the comparison, John. Can't wait to hear my next guitar.
The differences are so subtle [A-B-C] that l think neck feel is more important than tonal distinctions. Thanks for doing this.
As a Beginning player this is way over my head, they all sound great, and I definitely think a person can overthink this, like anything else ! I think in the end ya just have to Happy Gilmore it! Just pick it up and go for it, stop nit picking, just play it !
For most hobbyists players I'd think it comes down to money, and for me the Eastman offering at around a thousand less wins hands down ! More expensive don't translate to better in many things !
One day you’re gonna wake up and think “man this guitar just doesn’t sound like such and such sound I’m going for” and you will then begin a journey of why people can become so nit picky. Then there’s also the fact that environment and style of music plays a big role. That said you’re absolutely right that it’s way more important to just play the dang thing. Also it doesn’t take thousands of dollars to have a great sounding guitar. I have cheap and expensive and love all of them.
I am a big Martin fan. I prefer Martin to Gibson or Taylor. I’ve played and owned over 125 guitars in my life. I’m down to 7 acoustics in my collection. Likes are definitely subjective, but I own two Martins, two American made Breedloves and an inexpensive Eastman E2OM. I claim these to be my forever guitars. I’ve owned other Eastman 00, OM, and D bodies in various wood combinations. I couldn’t find a bad Eastman. For the money, probably the BEST guitars available ( in my opinion).
There is something about the Martin sound , feel, and even the SMELL, and if I had unlimited funds I’d own a few more. But it is very hard to tell the difference on some of these. Martin vs Eastman.
Great video. Thank you
Great concept to fairly compare. I own a Martin but I just love guitars for the music over the headstock. Thanks
Great show guys! Thanks!
my favorite was A. Turns out that’s the exact guitar that I own that I bought from you guys.
exact model I mean
I love the videos and comparisons. Keep them coming. And the songs too. Always a highlight.
I bought an Eastman E10D because of you guys. Thank you thank you!! Love it so much
About the price difference: how often & long do you play, for who, and why. My "guitar of the week " will be played in front of folks at least 20 hours a week. I'll play another couple guitars a day for practice, lesson, and learning new material, probability another 30~40 hours a week, a little every day. Maybe a bit more if grandchildren come over for a lesson. So 200 hours a month, how much would a guitar's better sound/voice be worth for an investment? At a dollar an hour, the difference would be made up in 5 months. And if its that tone that causes one to play more, definitely worth the cost. Buying a good used one, even moreso.
You still have to come up with the difference and maybe you can't budget it.
I played a e10ssv yesterday and it blew my socks off. Really surprised me sounded awesome
Challengers and competition is a great thing too. Makes all stronger and building better.
Good point!
Love you guys’ playing and singing. Top notch brother duet! I’d like to hear you do a similar comparison between Eastman and one of your other boutique brands, like Eastman vs Boucher, Eastman vs Bourgeois, or Eastman vs Gallagher. I think it was you guys said that you get deeper bass with more expensive guitars. I prefer the deeper bass and rounder trebles of the D-18 but as they say, there’s no accounting for taste. I’d be also curious to hear how the Eastmans sound after they’ve been played hard and often for a few years.
I struggled to hear a difference early in the blind test. Each clip was too brief and edited away too quickly. The number of clips made it possible for me to eventually discern a difference. I found I preferred guitar A, then B, then finally C. I appreciated the articulation and punch/projection that I heard over the other two. Guitar B had a nice punch and tone. Guitar C was a bit more quiet than I prefer. Thank you for the blind test.
Interesting! Thanks for this comparison. I found the A guitar the nicest sounding overall and funny enough it's with TC top like my E1-OM-SP is! I do think that thermocure tops make well made guitars even more responsive and open sounding.
They were so similar, I really struggled to discern any real, definitive difference between all three guitars.
I think you’re getting a great sounding instrument any which way someone may choose.
I personally wound up with a Yamaha FGX5, and don’t regret it a bit. I love, love, love Martin, but the Yamaha FGX5 is just what was right for me.
I see that the price is going up on those considerably now, too.
I preferred the Martin, because I like the deeper bass. They all sounded pretty good.
I bought an E8D (non-torrified) a little over a year ago. It cost over $800 less than my next cheapest guitar. I now play it more than any of my other guitars combined.
My initial ranking is A then C with B last. Then I saw which was which. I am still partial to rosewood, but the Eastman guitars are certainly comparable. My question is do you have much variation in the mass produced guitars? Jp Cormier talks about differences and recommends that you have to play and hear each guitar before you buy.
As an example I recently bought a used Martin road series dreadnaught ($500) and although I didn’t expect it to sound very good, it’s sound is great and in the ballpark with a few all solid guitars I have. Did I get the lucky with this one?
It was really hard for me to choose which I liked better. That being said, I did end up liking B (Martin) just a hair more. Again, really hard to choose and they all sounded great. For me, it would come down to which had the best playability since I know the sound is there for all 3.
I think the Covid era Martins are some of the best made. I was told that a ton of the custom shop guys moved back on the main line for a bit. I bought a D-18 Standard Amberburst '21 but I love the Eastman neck shape with the radius fretboard.
Audience question answer- A friend of mine had his father’s 1955 D 18. I had a Martin DR1. As wonderful as it was to hold and play a Martin that was manufactured the year I was born, my DR1 sounded so much better in tone and volume.
I presently have an Eastman E3D I wouldn’t trade for a Martin of any type.
You’re giving us one second to hear each guitar, who came up with that idea?
30’s-50’s martins -$$yay
60-2000’s martins- nay
Reimagined series- slay
Lol
Thanks for putting together these blindfold test shootouts. You guys are the gold standard for this type of video. John’s an exceptionally good bluegrass picker (he also has a masterful ear and does a great job of getting and keeping the guitars under test in tune). The sound quality of the recordings is excellent, and whoever does the editing of the video and audio to make the blind test and reveal videos has really got it down to a science. My only question about the process is how you selected the particular guitars you used for the test? In my experience, you could play three or four brand new D-18s, and they’d all sound different, and one would probably sound noticeably better than the others. Same goes (possible more so) for Eastman E10Ds. I know that the engineering has improved, and that consistency in build has improved along with it, but isn’t there still a certain amount of guitar-to-guitar variation that makes some examples of a particular guitar model just sound much better than average right out of the box? So how did you pick the D-18 and the E10D you used for this video? If one was selected by the manufacturer as the best-sounding one they had in stock, and the other was just randomly picked off the assembly line, the test might not be that meaningful.
PS - I really like the Chapmans music videos you make. I hope that you have a local place to go out and play live, because you’re both very talented performers, and it’s being wasted somewhat if you never leave the store…
Thanks so much for the feedback, we really hope these videos help folks decide which models they prefer! As far as exactly how we pick the instruments, it's honestly just what we have in stock. We can't carry Martins so when we get one used like this case, then we try to jump on the opportunity to film a comparison. The Eastmans are definitely just picked at random, in general, we also don't really overstock Eastmans but rather keep a variety of their line in stock. I believe these were the only E10s and E6s we had in at the time. So they kinda are random but that can be a test of the manufacturer.
I can compare it to secret shopping or an undercover boss situation, you should always put out your best quality because you never know when your product might be put to the test. These videos are meant to help those deciding which model to buy and they can in general show which direction they should lean. But of course, in a buying situation, you should always listen to or play the exact model you're looking at.
Kind of a long answer but I just wanted to cover your questions. Thanks so much for watching and for the feedback - truly! If we have the choice, we do try to put the best vs the best.
I knew as soon as you hit the open E (6th) string, the the "B" was the D-18. Beautiful.
I like Eastman guitars. I have an Eastman parlor. I also have an HD-28 Martin that I love. Can I ask, does an Eastman hold it's value?
I’ve owned an Eastman (E10D) a while ago.
They don’t hold their value in the used market compared to Martin and other USA built guitars.
Def buy used. That’s the real value. Just bought used Martin d18 and the new price of the Eastman was too close to go with Eastman. Great value used but if goin new pay a little more for the used martin
I have three Martins and I love them all. However, I wanted to experiment with lower tunings and with Nashville tuned guitars and I wasn’t going to spend thousands of euros (Netherlands, Dutchie here) for a guitar to experiment with. So I bought an Eastman E1OM for €695,- brand new (approximately the same in dollars). It’s a 000 sized guitar with an all solid wood construction, perfectly built, beautiful looks, bone nut and saddle, ebony fingerboard and bridge, good tuners and it plays like a dream. It is such a good guitar that I started to doubt my decision to use it for experimental purposes. And now I’m in doubt again, because I can buy a 2nd hand E6OM and that’s basically the equivalent of a Martin 000-18, but this thing would cost me €775,- with a case. BUT I ALREADY HAVE AN UNBELIEVABLY GOOD SOUNDING MARTIN 000-18!!! We’re talking about a great guitar for such a small amount of money that I find it hard NOT to buy it. But hey, it’s still approximately 775 dollars. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I’ll get rid of the cheap guitar that I use for Nashville tuning, buy the E6OM and use that for Nashville tuning. I don’t know. HELP ME!!! 😮
It can be great to build your collection, even with very similar instruments because they do still sound different. If it encourages you to play and create more, go for it! In our opinions, the E6 is a great step up from the E1 (Dread or OM).
@@AcousticShoppe : Thanks! 😊
I was nervous about this blind test but I chose B I thought it stood out of the 3 !! And low and behold it was the Martin d-18 !! I own a 2018 martin d-18 and I love it !!!
I have owned many high end acoustics and sold them for years. I was also thinking B was the 18. But, I love Eastmans too.
I was able to pick out the Martin, but had to listen twice through. For the price difference though I might be buying an eastman as my next guitar over a comparable Martin. ALL of these guitars will get better with age. I will say playing the same riff on all three guitars back to back helps me hear the difference rather than one continuous song. Great job guys.
I know squat about high end guitars but I picked B … which coincidentally I own Martin Dx Cash model ( which sounds nothing like that D-18 lol) . Good video !
My favorite surprised me. I thought A sounded best and thought for sure I had picked the D18 till you revealed.
same!
I have played Martins for years, and did pick the Martin out of this video. I had a custom guitar built for me last year by a boutique builder. Its a mahog with adi top. Compared to my D18GE its about like this video. the Custom build is a killer guitar, more clarity and punch. Just a little different sound than my Martin. I really enjoy them both. The Eastmans are good sounding guitars, usually.
I was unsure until I heard him strum and guitar B really stood out to me, I really liked a and c when he flatpicked but to me the d-18 had a much better strumming sound
A is full blast attack. Sounds like AD/IR forward, scalloped, tuned top, etc etc...for the money.... 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮
B&C are identical subdued straight across volume/tone. 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮
I know you guys played this by the book.
But:
How????????????????????????????
In the blind test I liked A the best, with B very close 2nd. So based on price and sound only it'd be a no brainer.
I have an E10D and a D28 and I like them both!
Sheesh that was a lotta pre-amble yackin'...heh
With such good playing, nice instruments and a flattering-to-neutral recording chain, it's down to about a 1-3% of difference in preference and taste. At this level its kind of impossible to go wrong here. Through my Focal CMS 50s A) Is most present and sounds the least complicated, perhaps easier to work with in a multitrack session B) is balanced and the most dimensional with depth and size, C) is jangle-y but still pretty smooth.
The answer is "Yes".
If you can afford the Martin get one, otherwise get an EASTMAN E10D - both are excellent brands!
B or the Martin was my first choice, then A, then C. Very interesting. I have played prewar Martins and I believe the number one positive was the Adirondack tops. Cheers, Tomeh
I have an Eastman acoustic, mandolin and banjo. Great value. But. Warranty is very iffy. If they quit making a particular instrument they can’t provide you replacement parts. Something you should consider.
The differences among the 3 are noticable, but subtle to my ears. If I were purchasing a guitar to play in a club, bar or cafe, I'd pick the one with the lowest number on the price tag. I might take a more particular attitude for recording or my own listening/playing in a private setting.
I guessed right on the Martin. Hooray for me. So, here is a remark having nothing to do with Martin dreadnoughts. I picked up a well played 2016 Gibson J45 Standard last night and just spent an hour bouncing back and forth as fast as I could between it and my Eastman E10D. They are both dreds and both have sitka spruce tops with mahogany back and sides so it seemed natural to compare the two. Considering how much the Gibson cost, I really wanted it to be the better guitar. It has more bass and wider note separation but I honestly can't pick a favorite... so far. At first I thought that Gibson was louder but now I'm not so sure. It seems the Eastman tone is more balanced and sophisticated (whatever that means). With flame mahogany back and sides, the Eastman is the prettiest guitar by far. Eastman gives a lot of bang for the buck.
I found the Martin to sound best in the blind test, but the E10D was very close. If I had to choose, I would probably go for the Eastman for sheer bang-for-buck. I did not enjoy the E6D-TC, it was way too bright for my liking.
I think all the Eastmans have similar philosophy. They could copy 1-for-1 all the brands/models but doesn't go as far as exactly replicate the tone. I have the E10SS/V, the build quality, the neck, the woods are all similar or even better than anything offered by Gibson short of custom shop. However, when played side by side with a J45 Standard, the tone of the J45 is unmistakablely classic with a more growling low. My E10SS/V feels much better on the neck and the low fundamentals seem at a slightly higher frequency, better high-mids and high sparkle and refinement on the Eastman. It almost sound more like a D18 than a J45. So, if you are talking about whether or not they're "good" guitars, they're excellent guitars. If you are going for the classic tone of a Martin/Gibson etc, you should stick with the original brands.
I own an old 75’ Alvarez 5024. That is the only non USA acoustic I own. I love the Eastman E-10SS but struggle with anything from China. I would rather keep my money state side. 🇺🇸
I love the top end of C, the Mid Push of B, and the low end of A lol
I'd like to see this test with a D28, since I'm very much torn between the D28 and the E20D-TC
I immediately recognized the Martin. Very much surprised how good guitar A and B sounded! The Eastman punched really nice, but I love that deep Martin sound.
Same that depth is hard to miss
I like them both the Eastman is more pleasing to my ear, yet the the Martin is still great, I could get by either one
The “Test of Time” is also very important. What will my Eastman e10 sound like in 50-60-70+ years from now. Unknown? Hopefully my grandson will be happy with it,🎉😂
I liked C initially and then switched to A by the end of the demonstration
I have a couple Eastmans. The acoustic I play and the electric archtop I dont. I believe these guitars have been undervalued and in 10 years the price gap between a Martin and Eastman will close.
Awesome video!
I used to have an Eastman e20om, great guitar but finally sold it because it had some subtle high frequency sound on the high e string that anoyed me at some point. These ones seems to have that sound too. If it hadn't had that subtle high end sound, I would have kept it cause all other strings sounded great !
I’ve really enjoyed this show
They all have a great tone and think anyone can enjoy these guitars . But being a Martin fan it’s hard to not njoy these sounds !
I’ll take both, thank you and please.
This is the right answer
Hats off to Eastman for producing a great sounding guitar, it has a D-18 /sound and feel..... the Martin D/18 GE has its own place in every venue!
Pleased to say I got guitar B as the Martin. That said, I own an Eastman E20-OM-TC and a E10-OO-M and I’ve sold a Martin OOO-28. Martin and Taylor prices are just so silly. Eastman are nicely made guitars at a fair price.
I wish you would have played longer passages on each guitar and then repeat the same passage or an entire verse or A section of a tune then repeat the same thing on guitar b and c. Trying to compare 3 second segments of each guitar as you progress through the form of a tune made it more difficult to really compare each guitar. I owned a slope shoulder Eastman I can’t remember the model number and it was a great guitar but it didn’t have as much of a woodsy earthy tone to it as even my current epiphone j45. No disrespect to eastman, they make great guitars but it was interesting for me to find more of that aged woodsy tone in a reissue 700-ish dollar epiphone copy of a Gibson j45. And I’d say the same thing holds true for martins verse eastman. A Martin just sounds like a Martin, something classic sounding about them that is really a noticeable sonic difference.
My lead guitarist has a Martin 0-18 from the 1940’s. We did out last album’s acoustic stuff with it. I was seriously considering hiring a magician to make him disappear because I wanted that guitar so bad. Lol
I picked out a guitar for my pastor in 1996. It was the best one in the store that day. It was the cheapest Martin at the time. A DM. It's special. Ive owned it for probably 20 years now. Everybody likes it or wants it. I think $600 and change at the time.
Which strings do you prefer on the Eastman E10? Also, I wonder what they will each sound like after 10 years of playing ?
Overall John's favorite strings are the GHS Americana's, or D'Addario EJ17's or XS Strings if you prefer them lasting longer. All of these instruments we sound much more open the more they are played and guitars typically just get better and better over time. Hope this helps!
Does the E 10D have "wings" on the head stock ?
I have a Martin D-28 re-imagined and a Eastman E10D-SB. I must admit that the Eastman is a tone canon. The D-28's top is slightly more tolerant to heavy strumming but not worth the price difference. Amazing guitar for the price!
On a good set of headphones I could tell the Martin from the Eastmans, but not by a far stretch. At this level, it´s 100% about the player, not the box. That said, if you are looking for that vintage sound, the Martin is still a better choice. Don´t forget to put on Monels, though ...
It would help to hear you play a song separately on each guitar instead of switchong suring the song in what seems like every 30 seconds.
It's hard to get a true representation of what each guitar sounds like.
I liked B most and guessed that it was the D-18, but the E10 sounded very similar. I don’t have a Martin, but I do have a fantastic E2D and an E1OM.
These Eastman's and Martin's have been scoped. They are virtually identical on the low end: the Martin's do not have a better bottom end and the science proves it. Instead, the Eastman's have more pronounced highs in addition to the low end of a Martin. So, it's a matter of taste. As a finger-stylist, I prefer the Eastman's because they deliver both qualities. I can play bluegrass and fingerstyle w/ one...they remind me of the Mark Whitebook Dreadboughts that I played in the 1970s that James Taylor played on "Mexico" etc. They project a great low end and have sparkling highs....These are GREAT guitars...
better? - what is your definition of better?....better sound?...ok...I get that.
I once bought a guitar from China that sounded great.
When I decided to upgrade to a Martin the guitar store would not even offer me a trade in value. So I suggest you consider trade in value when you buy an 'off brand.' If you plan to keep it then trade in value may not matter to you.
Also, consider durability. Will the guitar hold up over the years? Does it have a good reputation? If it develops problems after a few years then it may not be a bargin afterall.
So if it has better sound (or even as good as for a lower price) you should also ask - does it have equal or better trade in value and does it have equal or better durability.
I own an Eastman 805c archtop that I bought for well less than an equal 'brand name'.
I like it a lot and have no plans to trade it. So trade in value is not an issue for me with it.
I've had it maybe 10 years and no issues so durability seems good.
In this test the Martin sounded quiet different. I liked the more direct in mid heavy tone. But Im still going to buy an Eastman.
I love those Eastmans and Martins... I was strumming that tune and singing along to it... but the lyrics I sang were "I shipped on a Yankee coffin ship... Davey Crockett is her name, and Burgess is the captain of her, and they say that she's a floating hell..." and realized I was singing another tune Bob Dylan ripped off, tweaked the words a little, and then he ran down to the copyright office and copyrighted it as his own composition... "It's not the leaving of Liverpool that's grieving me, but my darling when I think of thee..."
I got the D18 correct as the 2nd one but got the Eastmans mixed up.