[gfirob]

In a big picture sense he wasn’t just comparing Eastman and Taylor guitars (and that Taylor really sounded like it came from the shallow end of the pool in this case) but the comparison of all mass produced CNC dominant American guitars (including Martin and Gibson) to Chinese guitars. And in sound, fit and finish (at least as much as we can tell on a Youtube video) the genuinely hand built guitars from China were superior and of course you get way more for your money.

So with a partnership between a high end American company and a low-wage Chinese manufacturer we could be seeing a real ice-pick aimed at the heart of mass produced American guitars. I mean, these Eastman guitars seem to be very, very good (and I am a Martin owner).

We have seen in other products that the Chinese have upped their game in terms of quality control and marketing and at some point there is just not going to be any point in spending 3 times as much for a guitar just to have it made in the United States with a famous brand. Bragging rights are great, and sometimes a brand name looms large in our dream guitar visions, but if you sit in a room and play both kinds of guitars, at some point it will become a no brainer.