Recording King RD-318 vs Cort Gold D6 vs Alvarez MD60E vs Blueridge BR-140

[CASD57]

Originally Posted by rabbuhl

I called a store which has a RK RD-328 and RO-318. A lady who works in the acoustic guitar department recommended the Eastman E3DE (Ovankal body) which is 899 EUR. The Eastman E6D (Mahagony body) is 1099 EUR. Both work checking out!



Nice, what is the model number of the one with the Mahogany body?



Yea, Cort Gold has some good reviews. I would love to be able to play one and compare it against some of guitars mentioned here.



A lady in the acoustic dept I called said the RK has a big neck. They have two models on sale due to being floor models. I'll go check them out soon!

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-jumbo-natural

[rabbuhl]

Originally Posted by wvblues

Used Eastman e10d-tc? That's your best affordable d-18 option.

Originally Posted by davenumber2

Yes.

E6D:Sitka top
E10D:Adi top
E10D-TC: Torrified Adi top

On of the shops I called said to check out those model Eastmans. I need to go play some in the shop soon!

Originally Posted by CASD57

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-jumbo-natural

Nice, thanks! That one goes for 938 EUR so on my list now.

[bobster7]

If you want to get the closest to the Martin aesthetically and tonally look at the all solid sigma d-18 clones the SDM18 and SDM-18E limited edition. Eastman build fabulous guitars but tonally they are very far from Martin. The all solid Sigma guitars are excellent especially their limited edition runs.

[rabbuhl]

Originally Posted by bobster7

If you want to get the closest to the Martin aesthetically and tonally look at the all solid sigma d-18 clones the SDM18 and SDM-18E limited edition. Eastman build fabulous guitars but tonally they are very far from Martin. The all solid Sigma guitars are excellent especially their limited edition runs.

Thx. The Sigma SDM-18 is 800 EUR. The Sigma SDM-18E is 1249 EUR. Is the difference between the SDM-18 comes with a gig bag and the SDM-18E comes with a pickup and a case?

[bobster7]

Originally Posted by rabbuhl

Thx. The Sigma SDM-18 is 800 EUR. The Sigma SDM-18E is 1249 EUR. Is the difference between the SDM-18 comes with a gig bag and the SDM-18E comes with a pickup and a case?

Bit more than that, in the limited model you get European spruce as opposed to Sitka spruce and flamed mahogany back and sides. You also get a 1-3/4 nut with the limited model compared to 1-11/16. And as you mentioned you get the LR bags pick up and a hard case. The other model comes with a soft case although it’s decent quality.

[Blackmore Fan]

Originally Posted by zmf

If it's important that it actually sound like a D-18, the Blueridge is pretty close (iMHO).

I'm aiming this at the larger forum, not you specifically, what are the Eastman alternatives to the D-18?

[rabbuhl]

Originally Posted by bobster7

Bit more than that, in the limited model you get European spruce as opposed to Sitka spruce and flamed mahogany back and sides. You also get a 1-3/4 nut with the limited model compared to 1-11/16. And as you mentioned you get the LR bags pick up and a hard case. The other model comes with a soft case although it’s decent quality.

The SDM-18E looks interesting!

Originally Posted by Blackmore Fan

I'm aiming this at the larger forum, not you specifically, what are the Eastman alternatives to the D-18?

The Eastman alternatives are the Eastman 6D TC [Torrified Sitka top], Eastman 10D [Adirondack top], and Eastman 10D TC [Torrified Adirondack top].

[bobster7]

Sigma also make the SDM-STE which is another all solid Sitka/Mahogany dreadnought but a bit cheaper than the other two I mentioned.

[rabbuhl]

Originally Posted by bobster7

Sigma also make the SDM-STE which is another all solid Sitka/Mahogany dreadnought but a bit cheaper than the other two I mentioned.

Thanks!

The SDM-STE comes with a Fishman Presys II pickup which is nice. It has a satin finish and a micarta fingerboard/bridge. The SDM-18 which is a gloss finish and ebony fingerboard/bridge. Given the two I'd prefer the SDM-18.

[bobster7]

Originally Posted by rabbuhl

Thanks!

The SDM-STE comes with a Fishman Presys II pickup which is nice. It has a satin finish and a micarta fingerboard/bridge. The SDM-18 which is a gloss finish and ebony fingerboard/bridge. Given the two I'd prefer the SDM-18.

Yeah the SDM-18 is definitely the better guitar.

[rabbuhl]

I was advised to go for a Martin. The RK, Sigma, Alvarez, and Blueridge are excellent guitars but it better to save up for a D-18.

[CASD57]

I would do that also... I wasn't impresssed with Martin Road Series and Gibson's Generation series both these are their entry all solid models and they felt unrefined to me...I couldn't connect no matter what it said on the headstock..

[Krab]

Originally Posted by CASD57

I would do that also... I wasn't impresssed with Martin Road Series and Gibson's Generation series both these are their entry all solid models and they felt unrefined to me...I couldn't connect no matter what it said on the headstock..

This is why I stopped caring what was on the headstock, but how it sounded to my ears.

[CASD57]

Originally Posted by Krab

This is why I stopped caring what was on the headstock, but how it sounded to my ears.

Yep me too but once in a while I like to confirm this by playing the latest and greatest
As you see by my signature...What sounds good comes home with me

[PappyVanWinkle]

Not sure if it's come up in here but there's also the BR-140A, although might be trickier to find one. It's got an adi top, pre-war style bracing, and no Blueridge bling on the headstock. I love mine.